So, I was takin' a walk the other day…
Lamar later confirms that the album is palindrome. The way you listen to the album depicts two different fates for Lamar. If you listen to it the traditional way. You listen to the story of Lamar being who he is today. But if you listen to it in reverse order you get the story of how Lamar lets outside influences affect him thus leading him to a fate of him having a fallout and dying.
[Outro: Kendrick Lamar]
Lamar here uses symbolism. This part of the songs sounds like gibberish but in reality it's supposed to symbolize his album being rewinded and playing backwards. Hinting at his album being palindrome. Since the last words are the first words in his first song. If you listen to some of the gibberish you can hear lyrics from other songs in the album.
Twenty years later, them same strangers, you make 'em meet againInside recording studios where they reapin' their benefitsThen you start remindin' them about that chicken incidentWhoever thought the greatest rapper would be from coincidence?Because if Anthony killed Ducky, Top Dawg could be servin' lifeWhile I grew up without a father and die in a gunfight
Lamar showcase how fate played out for both of the protagonist of the song. And how their actions and fate lead to a better life for the both of them. Lamar then offers an alternative fate where Anthony kills Ducky and this would of lead to Kendrick never existing since he would've died due to the lack of a father who he credits to helping him stay on the right path of life.
That one decision changed both of they lives, one curse at a timeReverse the manifest and good karma, and I'll tell you whyYou take two strangers and put 'em in random predicamentsGive 'em a soul, so they can make their own choices and live with it
Lamar finally speaks on the theme of fate in the song here. By discussing the premise of fate and how we make our own choice and live with them since they build or path of life. And, how our good karma eventually comes back to repay us later in life.
Ducky was well-awareThey robbed the manager and shot a customer last yearHe figured he'd get on these niggas' good sidesFree chicken every time Anthony posted in line, two extra biscuitsAnthony liked him and then let him slide, they didn't kill him
Lamar shares how Ducky had realized the dangers he faced working there. So he gets on the good side of Anthony. Lamar once again brings up fate and how Ducky created a new path by avoiding being killed.
So many relatives tellin' us, sellin' us devilish works, killin' us, crime
Lamar uses consonance with the letters L's.
'Cross the street from the projects, Anthony planned to rob itStuck up the place before, back in '84
Here we reach the climax of the story and how Anthony was planning on robbing the KFC since he had successfully done it before. Here Lamar sets up how fate is leading for Ducky and Anthony to meet.
See, at this chicken spot, there was a light-skinned nigga that talked a lotWith a curly top and a gap in his teeth, he worked the windowHis name was Ducky, he came from the streets, The Robert Taylor HomesSouthside Projects, Chiraq, the Terror DomeDrove to California with a woman on him and five-hundred dollarsThey had a son, hopin' that he'd see collegeHustlin' on the side with a nine-to-five to freak itCadillac Seville, he'd ride his son around on weekendsThree-piece special with his name on the shirt pocket
Lamar here introduces the second protagonist of the story 'Ducky' who is Kendrick Lamar father. Lamar offers background of his father an how fate had lead him to work at this KFC in order to provide a better future for his family .
Ten-thousand dollars out of a project housing, that's on the dailySeen his first mill' twenty years old, had a couple of babiesHad a couple of shooters, caught a murder caseFingerprints on the gun they assumin', but witnesses couldn't prove itThat was back when he turned his back and they killed his cousinHe beat the case and went back to hustlin'Bird-shufflin', Anthony rangThe first in the projects with the two-tone Mustang, that 5.0 thing They say 5-0 came, circlin' parking lots and parking spotsAnd hoppin' out while harrassin' the corner blocksCrooked cops told Anthony he should kick it
Lamar keeps providing details on Anthony and how he quickly became famous in the streets and paints him as a dangerous person who has managed to slip by and not get caught. Lamar toys with the idea of how fate has shaped Anthony.
Anthony was the oldest of sevenWell-respected, calm and collectedLaughin' and jokin' made life easier; hard times, mama on crackA four-year-old tellin' his nanny he needed herHis family history: pimpin' and bangin'He was meant to be dangerous, clocked him a grip and start slangin'Fifteen, scrapin' up his jeans with quarter piecesEven got some head from a smoker last weekendDodged a policeman, workin' for his big homieSmall-time hustler, graduated to a brick on him
Lamar introduce one of the protagonist of the song Anthony. Who is Anthony Tiffith the ceo of Top Dawg Entertainment. The record label that signs Kendrick Lamar to his first major record deal. Lamar offers background of who Anthony is and how his family and surroundings led him down a path of gang and drug violence at an early age of his life.
See, once upon a time inside the Nickerson Garden projectsThe object was to process and digest poverty's dialectAdaptation inevitable: gun violence, crack spotFederal policies raid buildings and drug professionals
Lamar sets the mood of the songs. By introducing the setting of the story of the song. And the violence the protagonist face on a daily basis.
DUCKWORTH.
Kendrick Lamar last song of his album DAMN. Is a story where he discuss the idea of fate and how one things leads to another but also how an action can create a new path. This seems to be the theme throughout the song.
Life is one funny ma'fuckerA true comedian, you gotta love him, you gotta trust him
In this line Lamar connects to the theme of fate. And how life can be funny with the events it throws at an individual. Lamar keeps going by saying that we have to trust life since at the end of the day it has our best interest in mind.
Oh, LamarHail Mary and marijuana, times is hardPray with the hooligans, shadows all in the darkFellowship with demons and relatives, I'm a star
Lamar uses unstressed and stressed syllables in this section.
We gon' put it in reverse
Lamar hints at a theory that started circulating when the album first released that the album was a palindrome. Meaning it could be played forward and backwards.
Just remember, what happens on Earth stays on Earth!
We see Lamar use allusion to the popular saying of 'what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas'
It was always me versus the worldUntil I found it's me versus me
Lamar with this opening reflects on his mindset that he has carried in his life. He thinks that the world is against him but is realizing that in reality it is his mindset and actions that are setting him back.
seven other countries
I did not know this. Thought it was only in Brazil.