Rap Critic: Kendrick Lamar - HUMBLE. (...specifically the part about photoshop...)

Rap Critic talks about Kendrick Lamar's HUMBLE. and breaks down the feminist controversy behind the "photoshop" line.
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[@djangomarkov7948]

I never even considered he was talking to a woman in the chorus. I mean everyone thought it was big sean (or to an extent drake) and now it kind of seems like he might be talking to himself when you look at it in the context of the album. I mean talk about a humble brag

[@man4437]

I interpreted it as him asserting dominance on the rap game, being like "You can't stand up to me, so sit the fuck down". It IS a brag rap song after all.

[@mowglimancubs5286]

MAN Naw. For some reason most fans of Kendrick like to white wash everything he does and treat it with kid gloves because Kendrick is modern day Pope of the rap game and people turn a blind eye to his hypocrisy.

[@SaddisticSpeller]

Mowgli ManCubs What does white washing have to do with anything?

[@MrFroggyMan]

D'jango Markov that's what I'm saying I feel like he's talking to himself on this song

[@dabossman5650]

D'jango Markov yea

[@Treynine]

I can't be the only one that thought Kendrick said "taste buds" and not "Taste bloods", right?

[@dischordonthebeat]

No i did too

[@IsaiP]

All of my friends and I thought he said that

[@genesisosuna]

I mean... that makes sense...

[@aryamazandarani6373]

i think everyone thought that lol. One time i unintentionally listened closely and thought i heard "bloods" go i looked it up and it actually was bloods

[@coreragestudios3430]

True

[@whyme8848]

i think hes not talking about his sexual preference i think hes just sick of seeing all those "perfect" models knowing that looking like this is just unrealistic i think hes calling out the fashion industry for forming a stupid stereotype that will leave woman's depressed because they cant look like this and i think its just right for him to call it out it long over due to be real with you

[@NinjaTylerBlack]

why Me! it's same reason I only go to xtube for my porn more real looking people

[@louisianaplayer05]

why Me! wow you are right!

[@micahcarmichael4113]

why Me! Yeah, I'd be one to agree with you. Also, in the greater context of the song, it can be a dual meaning. It can be that, as well as a sort of prod at the hip-hop industry itself, where even though everyone claims to be owning a mansion and being a gangster (etc etc, the "photoshopped" life of perfection), maybe it'd be better off if the flaws of the people, of the lifestyle, etc were actually shown. Considering how often in art the idea of a woman is used to represent life or the bringing forth of life, maybe that's a note of it. It would sort of be a contradiction of some of his earlier brags in the song, but also line up with the idea of "bitch, be humble" (quit showing the fake photoshop life and be real) and this segment of the song lining up more. Just my thought though.

[@kenterminateddq5311]

why Me!, well, at least curvy models like Ashley Graham and Hunter McGrady are breaking that stereotype. Fo' real, those two are way more sexier than the skinny models.

[@HaczyKij]

e.g Nicki and her every vid or album cover, anaconda etc.

[@ax7160]

He is not referring to a woman, calling her a bitch. When he says "bitch" or "hol up" its mocking Big Sean, since those are his main ad libs, and you rarely see Kendrick ad libbing, so that's why he does it.

[@IrenaDeacon]

NBA PlayNow yep

[@vinizucko2365]

NBA PlayNow I

[@alexyoung1991]

If he was mocking Big Sean, he would've said "swerve." That is one of his main adlibs.

[@yaboi8415]

The hol up line kendrick been uaing since his mixtape days

[@OnePete12]

Besides the meaning of this video and the whole conversation resulting out of this, I just wanted to say... RC, he's not trying to rhyme "Photoshop" with "Richard Pryor". xD You have to look at that 4-Liner as a whole, because he rhymes "sick and tired" with "Richard Pryor", and rhymes "Photoshop" with "Polo socks" in the last line. It's a tricky "abab"-setup. He has to say "sick and tired" as an internal rhyme, although it really isn't, and "stretch marks" doesn't rhyme with anything else, really. But that's the point, he essentially breaks the bar line to make the rhyme scheme fit. I know, it's sounds all odd if you don't see it right away, but it works. :) But anyway, great video, as always. Shout out from Luxembourg. Keep the good work up. Love your videos. Peace. :D

[@sonikku956]

PwiePITTI96 Luxembourg? Aren't you guys pretty rich? What's it like?

[@OnePete12]

sonikku956 Yeah, Luxembourg, that tiny country in the middle of Europe. :) Haha, relatively. :P Although our jobs are pretty well paid in comparison to other countries and the living standard tends to be quite high, our taxes and other expenses, such as the housing market and so on, are according to those, so high as well. Not everybody is super rich. It's like everywhere else: the rich, middle class and the poor and homeless. Difference is, our middle is huge, so the rest is relatively low in percentage. :) But living here is great. It's small and overlookable (you can drive through the whole country in not even 2 hours), everybody knows everybody basically, nice, sympathetic and open people, a lot of nature, prices are alright, school system is above average, ... yeah. ^^

[@iiscd5970]

PwiePITTI96 I agree this is what he was trying to do. The execution is awkward though and I think he could have done better, but I don't think anyone really cares.

[@iiscd5970]

I wonder if they hadn't cut the beat out when he's saying "I'm so fuckin' sick and tired of the photoshop" and then restarted immediately afterward if the rhyme scheme would have been more apparent. I presume they did that to emphasize the line as a whole and draw attention to what is being said, but I think it also makes the listener expect that the next sentence will rhyme with "photoshop" in doing so.

[@OnePete12]

@iiscd I totally agree with everything you're saying. It is a bit weird how they did it, because of the beat dropping out in that part, you don't fully get the rhyme scheme right away, you probably have to listen to it a couple of times to grasp it. It messes the flow up, kinda, and the fact that that rhyme scheme is as "complex" as it is, doesn't help. :) Haha, that is kinda true. I guess just because it's K.Dot, because of how well he rhymes and how great he is. If it were any other rapper than him, he would have been asked about this a million times by now. But I guess just by the fact that it is Kendrick, people really don't give a shit. Also, it's just a minor flaw in an all-round enjoyable song. :) It probably would have been easier if they did it like that. I think so too, otherwise it wouldn't make any sense of making the beat cut out right there. :) Exactly, I think that's what it is, and RC fell for that. That's what makes the rhyme scheme so complex, because you expect a rhyme on "photoshop", but there is none in the next 2 lines, and then, all of a sudden, there is one in the fourth line, so you're like completely overwhelmed by the second line because the is no apparent rhyme that you can't even focus correctly on the rest of it. :D

[@scumbagshepard6007]

When he talks about photoshop and being sick and tired of it, he's directing it at rappers who use attractive women with seemingly no physical flaws in their videos (eg Big Sean) . He's sick of the fake act that they put on to attempt to lift themselves above other rappers and wants them to realise that HE HIMSELF is the true king of hip hop. They need to "sit down" and "be humble"

[@FernieCanto]

It's pretty amazing to realise people would *still* make simplistic readings of Kendrick's lyrics without realising he's *always* putting a second layer of meaning in them. Also, since when does the "Photoshop" he refers to has to be literal Photoshop? It could refer to fakeness in general, and when he asks for something natural, he's referring to his own rawness and sincerity. Also, I'm surprised a lot of people missed that the "bitch" he's calling out in the chorus is HIMSELF.

[@peteralbrecht9688]

the "bitch" he is referring to in the chorus is his competition in the rap game not women using Photoshop

[@GreenJedia04]

Peter Albrecht but when u listen to Damn. backwards it goes from love to lust to humble, so he is talking about a woman.

[@SamiELImamGames]

www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/kendrick-lamar-damn-album-collectors-edition-backwards-reverse-back-to-front-explanation-why-twitter-a8098561.html

[@kennymccornmilk12]

He rhymed Richard pryor with sick and tired not photoshop

[@mychaeljones7526]

Rap Critic thinks rhymes have to end at the end of the sentence.

[@WildAgainYT]

Mychael Jones They do..

[@mychaeljones7526]

That's not how poetry works.

[@larsspargur97]

Corrupted Vault you obviously don't understand rap.

[@MrDamojak]

Corrupted Vault But it helps when they are.

[@ImMitchellCox]

How are you not going to mention the song No Makeup (Her Vice) when talking about Kendricks views on this topic

[@The_Broke_Gamer]

Mind of Mitchell exactly!!

[@suckmyartauds]

To be honest that song is ACTUALLY condescending to women, imo. Also that chorus and Linkin Park vibe ain't a good look. Definitely my least favorite song on Section.80.

[@PersianLeonidus]

+TheNameNerd I agree it is condescending to women, but I think its more satirical towards men who hold the views of the man in the first verse. Especially since Section.80 was one of the more forward thinking and conscious albums of that year, the condescension served a purpose. That purpose, as I see it, is aimed at men who think that "natural beauty" is one those things that women should embrace without question. For me, I took it as, "so women put on make-up for a reason other than objectifying themselves." That might be just me though.

[@suckmyartauds]

That seems like a real cop-out. There's nothing in the song that tells me this is a character even if that is pretty common for Kendrick. Taking it at face value makes sense, and at face value it's sending the message "women put on make-up mostly to objectify themselves." It is just an isolated story of one man and one woman's experiences, though.

[@gshooting]

TheNameNerd of course there's evidence that he's playing a character. It's a brag rap on a new album. He starts out the track bragadocious and seemingly parodying mainstream artists. So now when it comes to the photoshop lyric, all of a sudden that's what he thinks?

[@Fantallana]

You, at the end of this video: “we can take this opportunity to learn ... instead of just throwing up our hands and yelling “UGH, THESE FEMINISTS WILL NEVER BE SATISFIED, RIGHT MEN?” Morons in the comments below: “UGH, THESE FEMINISTS WILL NEVER BE SATISFIED, RIGHT MEN?”

[@bigpulgalokes]

I mean both sides are right, feminist could be cunty and men can be sexist and awful

[@Cdr2002]

You nailed it EXACTLY

[@nikk796]

I thought you were going to explain flame heads, fish eyed lense and other imagery but nevermind

[@devobeardmen]

Nikhil Bhagat My mans mainly analyzes lyrics. Just uses the vid as reference.

[@foreveryonee]

Nikhil Bhagat there's a video breakdown somewhere on here just look it up

[@nikk796]

the week where ??

[@foreveryonee]

Nikhil Bhagat well there's actually a lot of them just look up humble video breakdown

[@IrenaDeacon]

Nikhil Bhagat lol I also thought that cause it's puzzling😕

[@KaPowSplat]

Honestly, I don't think this is a brag rap song, or, at least not directly. When I first listened I was thinking "why does he sound like every other trap rapper in the game right now?" But after a few more listens I pin-pointed it, he's making fun of the typical rap style, and showing that, even when he is using other people's styles of flow and lyrics, he does it even better.

[@miciarokiri5182]

To be fair, the "bitch be humble" part made me think of Phillip DeFranco's gender neutral use of bitch, it's not male or females, just bitches be bitches.

[@IrenaDeacon]

Hayley Rodgers truth

[@theoneandonlyjs19]

Hayley Rodgers but bitch inherently isn't a gender neutral word! It never will be - that's just the origins of the word itself no matter what intentions you have when using it. Hell I really appreciate people trying to show that their slurs are gender neutral that's really fucking cool - but you just can't shift the origins of a word because you don't like them!! I'm sorry but *bitch* is steeped in outdated power dynamism and you could probably fairly well argue that its almost lost that connotation by now but let's face it - people still call women bitches way more than they call men that. And when they do call men bitches they're trying to emasculate them by pushing feminine syntax onto them. Therefore obviously using the dynamic that men >> women because no man would ever want to be called *woman-like*. I just tend to use different words when I'm calling people out. Bitch just isn't one that sits right with me die to what I've just explained. Sure people can still use it!! I just don't - and I don't think it works when people try to simplify it and pretend it's gender neutral nowadays because that's just a cowardly way of saying I don't want to have to think about these issues that the word brings up because I can't be bothered / don't understand. That's some weak shit

[@miciarokiri5182]

So Gay cant be used for homosexual men? It was a slur, and it had a completely different meaning less than a generation ago. By your logic gay should never be used for homosexual. Also, no more using cool to mean something you like, or hot to describe a person. Words evolve and adapt. That is the nature of language, most especially the English language. I mean, if you want to stand by you claims go ahead, but just be sure you are consistent and apply that to every word in the in English language

[@saoisbad3158]

"Ok, let's talk about the real reason you're here." *proceeds to talk about a bar that wasn't the "real reason" I was here* Oh. I-I see.

[@litigatedparadox8946]

SAOisBad SAO is Bad

[@neostar0]

its very obvious he is making fun of rappers who contradict them-selvs in their own song.

[@Treesuh]

For real.

[@mowglimancubs5286]

Richard Mensah Oh I see. By being one of those rappers? Sliiiick! He almost had me fooled! lmao Kendrick honestly talks out his ass

[@jfmhunter375]

nah. if you came to that conclusion from this song only, it's because its layered in irony. If you just think kdot "talks out his ass" in general, you probably need to listen a bit more lmao

[@Dijonaroni]

No, he's talking about the obnoxious rappers who brag about the shit they got on every one of their songs and telling them to "sit down" "be humble". If you think he's talking out of his ass you honestly need to listen more.

[@IrenaDeacon]

Richard Mensah yep

[@multiply98]

taste bloods is a reference to his Compton bloods routes

[@ChrististKing]

ASTHROWS roots*

[@sergiomendoza4040]

ASTHROWS this is not true it’s just part of his rhyme scheme to the song

[@Bendanna93]

Sergio Mendoza Except taste buds, the original phrase, is just as acceptable of a rhyme

[@snake4322]

*blud

[@Mayhamsdead]

No.

[@Zach-lc6bs]

He says, "show me something natural *like*..." He then lists off two things that are naturally occuring. I think the point of these similes was to say that he wishes people (especially African-Americans) wouldn't cover up their flaws, and instead, *embrace* the fact that they have an afro, or stretchmarks, or whatever.

[@zombiehunter2002]

EXACTLY MAN, I WAS LOOKING FOR THIS SHIT

[@CharlBeaton]

uh

[@ashleyashleym2969]

Although, I don't think afros look good on anyone. It looks better when it's styled in some way, but natural black hair is pretty.

[@seltjk]

I'm pretty sure it's about Rappers using women with no flaws in their videos

[@IMnatureboy]

It in my opinion was still extremely jarring tho, it didn't feel right in the song. Also I fuck with afros.

[@edwinzuniga123]

At times it seems like you intentionally misconstrued what's being said

[@jericho222]

SN E To explain for him, he mentions plenty of things in this review that are either wrong of interpreted in a way it wasn't meant to. For example: "Taste Bloods" isn't trying to create new slang, its a play on the phrase "Tasting blood" meaning excitement, and the word "taste buds" which, well, we all already know. He wasn't rhyming "Photoshop" with "Richard Pryor", he was creating an ABAB rhyme scheme, which means that they rhymed with something else in the 4 lines. (Photoshop-Polo Socks) just little things like that make it seem like he was looking so deep into one bar from the song he messed up on everything else

[@Therealvielo]

Kendrick ass bruh

[@jcdx87]

Vielo fuck outta here

[@Therealvielo]

Juan A. Do you not hear his voice ? It's annoying, why do people only care about lyrics when a voice can't evem back it up just cuz it's rap you don't need a good voice, it's music 😑

[@jcdx87]

Vielo dude what are you even talking about?

[@mindofwaves4470]

Dear Rap Critic, I enjoy your videos and criticism, but one thing confuses me. You say not everything has to rhyme, but when something doesn't rhyme, you bring up the fact that it doesn't rhyme... elaborate. 🤔

[@Angryblonde]

MindOfWaves I think it's because Kendrick says it as if it were meant to rhyme but it doesn't

[@elifults2642]

MindOfWaves I mean, if something is meant to rhyme, but doesn't, it should be brought up by a critic.

[@maj.peppers3332]

Slant rhyming is the bane of poetry imo

[@NancyNegative0808]

MindOfWaves I think he just likes to pick out the funny ones that really don't rhyme.

[@lunabearsong2043]

Maj. Peppers LOL! Agreed.

[@ethanbryan1444]

Damn. I wanted to hear his commentary on the grey poupon line

[@sandrahenriksson6257]

Ethan Bryan I feel you... Was that "damn" a pun? 😂

[@whoknows4260]

DAMN. grows on you...

[@leon1234578]

The thing I love about kendrick, all his fucking albums grow on you. There are some albums that are dope the first time around, but you start disliking it the more you listen to it.

[@lukeboyer1594]

leon1234578 I still like all his albums

[@crazyluigi6664]

Honestly, I enjoyed both Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City and To Pimp A Butterfly the first time around myself.

[@kixotek]

I've never really heard the chorus as being anything but inner voices directed at himself. The back and forth between self depreciation and boastfulness is what gives the track depth, for me.

[@glysief8044]

I’m pretty sure your right on this one, why would he say all these things he’s doing that he hates he does then yell at someone else to be humble. It’s at himself

[@brandonshirey]

I just posted something similar, I agree

[@papiuzivert8775]

kixotek your right, I mean mostly

[@jonathaneby1440]

I feel like the chorus was about his opponents in the rap industry, seeing as most of his verses are about his credentials as an artist. "Get the f**k of my stage I'm the sandman" "Obama just paged me aye, I don't fabricate it aye, most a y'all be faking aye"

[@IrenaDeacon]

Jonathan Eby I have the same opinion

[@kyutracks]

Kendrick is back! nice critic ;)

[@bubbalou8140]

u should do DNA next

[@pantherjk9746]

Bubba Lou YESSSSSSS PLEEEEAAASEEE

[@Zach-lc6bs]

Bubba Lou DNA is probably going to be on his best rap songs of the year tbh

[@airzingis1169]

Bubba Lou DNA makes me feel conflicted. I hate the first part, but the second half after the beat switch is one of my favorite parts of the album

[@bubbalou8140]

AirZingis TRUE that second beat is insane

[@Hunterese123]

AirZingis the first part is as good as the second part

[@sudevsen]

As a true feminist,I respect all bitches.

[@TheJumpMan98]

Kendrick said "Taste Bloods" because he's loosely affiliated with the Pirus believe it or not. Don't give me that "He doesn't gang bang!" I know this.

[@durrymunchingcurrymuncher]

Jaden Johnson yeah his dad was a blood and all his friends were I believe

[@TheJumpMan98]

CD 2409 Well his Pops was originally from Chicago and he was a GD aka Gangster Disciple. They moved to Compton 3 years before he was born. And yes, Kendrick's homies were Bloods. Jay Rock is one.

[@mansourhaddad398]

Jaden Johnson but like Schoolboy Q is a Crip so wtf ?

[@thafinessekid7879]

He's also mocking the industry by saying all we do is make trap/brag rap anymore, so he raps over a fairly common beat and tells everyone to be humble.

[@lowkeyaspoon2723]

I feel like when he's saying "Bitch sit down, be humble" he's addressing the rap industry, rather than women.

[@megakirbyx]

1:30 "Let's talk about the real reason you're here: You wanna hear what I have to say about this lyric..." Uh, not really

[@Moliminous]

> people don't use Photoshop on Instagram? the fuck you been, men and women both of them do it a lot

[@datboiisnthome5516]

Moliminous been?

[@vascocarvalho2451]

Women do it more

[@talktozay]

SSJ5 Gogeta he never said it was nerdy you butthurt fucking weeb

[@seanorion2513]

Kendrick said the chorus was talking to himself

[@mattlyons9027]

As far as I can tell from his whole body of work, Kendrick using "bitch" is referring to literally anyone. It speaks more to the character of a person than their gender.

[@Posifam]

Kendrick isn't telling a woman to be humble when he is saying hol up bitch be humble, he is telling himself that because clearly after each braggadocios line he is basically telling himself to stop, sit down, an just be humble because the way he is saying things isn't right

[@idioume1]

The lyric about stretch mark isn't perfect because he doesn't want a perfect woman. It's done on purpose.

[@zachstirk791]

koppi Boér I don't think anyone can "accidentally" make a speeding bullet 2 heaven so they wouldn't be wrong

[@knxckz7578]

Zach Stirk It was just an example for shitty album. Damn you people already misunderstanding everything lol

[@zachstirk791]

koppi Boér Nope I understood perfectly lol

[@knxckz7578]

Zach Stirk Actually you're right. But wtf Cudi were thinking in the studio when it was finishe

[@zachstirk791]

koppi Boér He probably thought it was super good and psychedelic honestly. Everyone knows Cudi has done some major drugs

[@3astralad399]

Kendrick: can I get some album art? Artist: no Kendrick: DAMN.

[@jpegmafia1260]

Boi taste bloods is a combination of bloods and taste buds because he is involved in gangs like this

[@bobolinkize]

Duckling Momo its not foreign for bloods, especially for Kendrick considering he was involved with Piru to replace words with blood

[@PrincessInuyasha890]

NOLAN TURBOTURTLE THOMPSON it's still a dumb line though

[@dajigsaw2010]

I always heard "buds" as that makes more sense

[@missnotsocool96]

My thoughts when I first heard that line was possibly him going down on some girl who happens to be on her period cycle. Still doesn't makes sense why it's worded like that.

[@multidimensionalentt7417]

NOLAN TURBOTURTLE THOMPSON it's all about the contrasts of the two albums. Blood crip red blue devil god

[@E-Man5805]

My favorite take I'd see every now and then was "He shouldn't be looking at a woman for her body anyway!" Like women don't judge men on purely aesthetic merits either. See a guy rolling with some Sanford and Son's jalopy with his close all mussed and smelling bad, like a woman would look at him and go "I wonder what his hopes and dreams are?" Maybe if he looks like Shemar Moore or Idris Elba....

[@Jake-ku1rw]

Maybe this is just me, but I prefer curls on a black girl tbh

[@Commandosoap777]

Jake H same

[@PrincessInuyasha890]

Jake H that's exactly what causes the insecurities

[@NothingYouHaventReadBefore]

chilewith carnage What? Personal preferences?

[@sherekhanxii]

that soul glo.

[@IrenaDeacon]

Jake H curls and natural is always beautiful 😊

[@nateds7326]

The Photoshop tangent is kind of fun, it has the energy of like a guy giving a speech, and he knows he's on a role and he's got the audiences attention, and hes like "AND ANOTHER THING-" and just spits fire about hwatever is on his mind at the moment cause he can

[@brandonbrueschke7830]

I was hoping you would talk about that bomb ass Tetris bar.

[@mowglimancubs5286]

Shy Giygas It just so happens that stacking bricks in the game in an excellent analogy for dealing drugs.

[@MisterOrange1]

Favorite bar

[@motorwayt-s628]

I heard the "hol' up little bitch" line was Kendrick telling him self to simmer down. Also this isn't the first time Kendrick's talked about appreciating the natural look being No Make up from Section 80

[@rickdalton9351]

I want to sit down with this guy and just talk about social issues one day... he seems knowledgeable

[@Asushlo]

It's just brag raps? That's like saying Voodoo Child was just a brag song.

[@yakovhadash]

taste bloods is a reference to bloods in compton

[@ffjreviews9029]

That photoshop part was good, how is it only a 4/5, it deserves a 5/5.

[@zaranis602]

the non rhyme scheme is so clever, it sounds right and sound as if it rhymes by his tone...not many of rappers can do that

[@BrokenSet]

The people who have a problem with this are probably the same people who thought Nicki Minaj's "Anaconda" was a fem-positive statement.

[@xavierneal3067]

Get ready for the poor attempts to portray feminism as a hypocritical monolith of pearl-clutching women rather than a very loose term for a collection of schools of thought...

[@fredthebear277]

I've Covered Wars Ya Know we don't need to portray feminism like they doing that by themselves

[@xavierneal3067]

so either you didn't understand my comment or you're arguing that feminism is a monolith which would mean their would be no difference between pro-life conservative feminism, pro-choice trans-exclusionary radical feminism, trans-inclusive queer feminism, and equity feminism (which is pseudo-egalitarianism that borders on men's rights activism). I don't know why I'm even responding to you because I doubt you have any idea of what your talking about and I'd probably be wasting my time trying to educate you on fallacy of composition. Read up on the different forms of feminism if you want to make a decent argument against it, my dude.

[@mr.generic5100]

Who gives a Damn

[@ThePi314Man]

Mr. Generic clearly you did

[@MrPatrickbuit]

If the collection of thoughts was really so versatile, they wouldn't be able to form a union like they do. Their ideas might not be as transparent as some people think they are, but overall the red lines remain the same. Maybe instead of looking up complex vocabulary to use, you should be working on your arrogant ass attitude :). " doubt you have any idea of what your talking about and I'd probably be wasting my time trying to educate you on fallacy of composition."

[@youngjay9384]

keep making videos I've been waiting for this

[@Godlike-87]

Who cares? You can't please everyone... Just filter out the ones that get on your nerves.

[@jdshfjkwh]

That’s so obvious verse, how did you manage to screw it up? It’s not about feminism or body positive, he just implies that he is tired of artificiality and people who is trying to be someone they are not

[@chrishernandez3699]

This dude is way out of the loop with this song...

[@FlurpsieYT]

everyone song lol he takes stuff out of context listen to his reaction to i spy

[@tgraham8405]

"We can disagree and that's okay"-you are one in a million Rap Critic!!

[@cassiapinto9023]

really appreciated your commentary! However one of my main problems with it,was the video he talks about wanting to see an afro but then he shows a light skin girl who does not have an afro who has the loose curls that fall to her back. That goes against his whole message and makes it seem that even though he wants to see an afro he still doesn't show it making it seem less genuine. but I personally enjoyed the fact that he showed a woman with stretch marks and discoloration on her butt. Besides that,it's a pretty good song and video overall

[@IrenaDeacon]

Teana Andrade it's not about afro as in afro on the blackest shade of black .mixed raced girls with very fair skin can have afro . We saw natural curls and that's all that matters and in my opinion I love natural afro dark skinned people have and mixed raced people curles they have. Black is beautiful regardless of the shade 😊 and size of her curls .

[@evankovach5262]

for real just wanted to say I love what you do on this channel. You actually manage to take in to account more then one angle or opinion instead of just preaching what you see fit. Got me thinking more about that one line then I ever would have. Keep up the awesome work dude

[@deyshizzletv7175]

Dissapointing review

[@devobeardmen]

DeyshyzTV 👍

[@IrenaDeacon]

DeyshyzTV agreed

[@alaaranaranoya1499]

Extremely.

[@thatoneguyricardo]

True

[@emmanuelontiveros8094]

DeyshyzTV W

[@allahusnackbar3440]

Can you actually review the song. not only one lyric

[@mlovecraftr]

I think this was the reason he just created Wacklash

[@andxx0r_the_second671]

So basically it's the controversy that surrounded Baby Got Back again, just decades later. Meh.

[@thegeneralpopulace8513]

andxx0r_the_second Oh my god,right? I'm sorry glad that I wasn't the only one who got that vibe from this!

[@redfooharper1404]

the beginning of the song changes for video to audio. audio says "nobody pray for me, even a day for me"

[@lucayaki]

I really don't get why you never notices when someone is playing a character. The brag part is a parody for brag raps, like he was quoting someone, and when he finished quoting it, he said: "be humble", as a criticism. Another example was your review for XO Tour Llif3, that you said: "where's the tour life?", and then ou complained at the bragging part.

[@Kiiren]

It's been suggested that when he says bitch be humble, he's actually calling himself out, as sort of a call back to Now or Never "A fool if I take it all for granted A smart man if I keep my feet planted" In fact he even mentions the drive to stay humble elsewhere on the album.

[@muki2309]

Dude, he rhymed photoshop with polo socks in the same quatrain (4 bars) and mark with pryor (you hear his pronunciation for the rhyme although it is a pretty weak rhyme). You have these mistakes scattered around your videos and it's a problem to misinform people like that. Go check out lyricology 101's vid about different types of rhymes and vids overall, it'll help you get a better understanding of lyrical analysis

[@dennisf5774]

Drogon not everything is supposed to rhyme, it feels right and you can’t even notice so what’s the problem. It’s poetry and art.

[@OneMxnbrxnd]

21 Rose doesn't excuse sloppy writing

[@pokeyalx]

kendrick is too smart of a rapper for the "rap critic" as he calls himself

[@itrytoplaygaming7596]

michael he rhymes sick and tired with Richard Pryor not mark it's a weird rhyme scheme

[@joesosick1675]

Your video was not in my sub box, but it was in my recommendations. I know there was no way I would ignore the video for "Humble"

[@geotheartist98]

Are you wearing purple because of Prince?

[@thegreatazal5021]

Hysterical perpetual whiners have ruined the word problematic for any sane person with an ear to the ground

[@alexperryman23]

At the end of the day, everybody going to be offended about something. Don't lose sleep over it and you'll live a happy life.

[@kaptainkid4890]

I think the song is more about people in general trying to be picture perfect not just women and Kendrick is actually telling everyone to remember where they came from

[@jakenelson9571]

You completely missed the point of the song and didn't even mention it in the context of the album.

[@forge4119]

In his defense as someone who also hasn't listened to the album, the video title itself states the video is almost specifically about that line in particular.

[@Fantallana]

Thank you so much for discussing feminist ideas despite the fucking babies that will appear in your comment section. These people always say that they encourage critical thought and questioning things in society, but then when we actually try to do that, and have mature discussions about certain issues, they call it “being sensitive” or “offended”. They only call it “Critical thinking” when we say what they want to hear.

[@WhynoMoral]

Who are you Talking About? Every Feminist I had a discussion with Always had flaws in her critical thinking. I try to understand all sides but not all sides deserved to be considered when Talking About rights or just Logical conclusions. Which Feminist ideas are really there that make sense and how would you like them to be called? Rape men back? Kill all men? Feminism became a joke since feminists became equal and then weren't even done then and made up Problems in order to have some self-given Rights to Play the victim Card. Feminism is useless in the west. We Need equality and not superiority. And I have never met a Feminist who even would consider thinking critical even after seeing some Facts against their Points. Stoü p being offended and start thinking before claiming.

[@ecliptik8020]

Benne Y everybody has flaws on their critical thinking

[@tenthmaple5930]

I think in the Richard Pryor rhyme, the reason it goes unnoticed, is because he is using that lengthy "tired" to make it connect with Pryor. At least that is what I picked up from it.

[@colinakersakers44]

A a teenager, I've noticed that girls usually wear makeup to impress other girls. Most guys I know personally don't care about makeup all that much.

[@glysief8044]

Guys shhhh but the chorus is written about himself and the verses are given irony becase of it. It's a brag rap but he's yelling at himself to sit down and be humble

[@glysief8044]

Hell RC actually acknowledged this on his podcast about it

[@ElectrifiedBacon]

Feminists: women on magazines with Photoshop give an unnatural beauty expectation! Kendrick: I don't want to see these models with Photoshop. Feminists: wow, a woman should be able to enhance her beauty without your sexist opinion.

[@andrepardue6291]

I am pretty sure its taste buds not taste bloods

[@remy7092]

It’s really going over the head in the sense that we don’t know who he’s actually calling a bitch in the chorus... however, some might say that the bitch in the chorus is Kendrick looking in the mirror after every verse bragging his ass off. The person who needs to be a humble person should sit down and realize why he has all the money and power he does... aka Kendrick himself. “Sit down, be humble.” He could be reflecting on his braggadocious lyrics talking about money and women and really just saying, “holy fuck! I need to calm my little ass down and be more humble for what I have.” Who actually knows though, right?

[@ryanhawkos]

"taste bloods" was a reference to the bloods? the gang his father was in. does this guy not do any research or even read through genius.com?

[@qoure3980]

You know anyone can make anything up on genius.com. If a comment gets enough upvotes, then it always shows as soon as lyrics are clicked on.

[@hydrocondone]

Not Qoure his father was blood though and it's well known

[@grnd_ctrl8387]

Chris Pinzon His father was gd

[@behanthescene]

Ryan Hawkos GENIUS IS THE GOAT OF ALL LYRICAL ANALYSATION.

[@behanthescene]

Ryan Hawkos Thank you

[@GTBreezy]

He just came to Dallas on tour and IT WAS GREATNESS ALL OVER

[@cartersheehan7440]

honestly, i dont understand all of the feminist controversy over this. i think it would be safe to say that most feminists want women to be accepted as who they are. well, kendrick is sayin he DOES accept women for who they are, wanting to see their natural beauty over the media glamified one. yet, feminists are saying that is mysoginistic? I dont understand that logic

[@thegeneralpopulace8513]

Carter Sheehan He literally just explained why the controversy happened.

[@carikittygeek]

most people aren't criticizing Kendrick himself, I'd say they're looking at the people heralding the lyric as a win for body positivity and feminism and being like "y'all are giving this guy way too much credit over a few lyrics that aren't that deep." I don't think that many of the critics are saying what he said was a problem, I think they're saying it's weird for him to get celebrated for the lyrical equivalent of saying he thinks girls are prettier without makeup. One of the articles he showed a screenshot of in the vid references "the bar" being too low. does that help explain?

[@YAOES]

This was the first Kendrick music video I'd seen. I've been listening to Kendrick's music for over a year, but never bothered to watch the music videos, because I figured there was so much in the songs to unpack, the videos were probably pretty thin. This was the best video to start on. This video is NUTS. I love it, and I love the song.

[@xanderhakim6195]

I thought Kendrick said "taste buds" and not "taste bloods"???

[@mr.marvin]

Unjo Gratis the other line "My left stroke just went viral" I thought he said "My last stroke.."

[@kit5849]

It's most likely a wordplay on taste buds and the Blood gang that Kendrick's neighbourhood is deeply involved in and he himself was at some point (see: Good Kid m.A.A.d City), which sort of draws the lyric back to his roots in an abstract way. It's a stupid lyric but it isn't completely stupid.

[@Attachments.]

Saikoureality thank you

[@A.C.RARI99]

Saikoureality How is it stupid when you don't completely understand it ?

[@IrenaDeacon]

Unjo Gratis I heard bloods lol bit buds make more sense 😁

[@animeluver4291]

Dude, I love how you look at things from all sides. May not agree with all of it but love listening to your critiques!

[@finnjeffrey572]

You're the black nostalgia critic.

[@finnjeffrey572]

I agree

[@mackswans]

“That don’t rhyme with shit. It’s just true” - Gambino

[@TheJasonboteler]

So what about the rest of the song? smh...

[@RotaAbyssian]

I think if there's any true message to the lyric, it's this: Ladies, look however you want. Period. be it in makeup and whatever style, or completely natural. look how you want because that is how YOU want to look, not because other people want you to look that way.

[@gorillacrackprod]

i think he was rhyming pryor with marks

[@tonydub98]

JustJonahTV that still doesn't rhyme

[@evanwilliams7917]

JustJonahTV Are you actually dumb?

[@gorillacrackprod]

Anthony Witherow the way he fades away mark, yes it does Listen to the track

[@itzzToon]

JustJonahTV sick and tired, Richard Pryor, photo shop, Polo socks.

[@waelag]

in the video, when goes from the Photoshoped screen to the regular one Kendrick himself doesn't change,the lady does, which also can mean that he's real

[@CoconutPolarbear]

People are getting way too sensitive these days...

[@noahm7977]

"and what loser would spend hours doing that???" dead 😂

[@colecurran4323]

Feminism critic

[@Hi_My_Names_Ryan]

Damn, no joke just finished eating a syrup sandwich like 15 min ago. I took a piece of damn bread with maple syrup and ate that shit, we aint have pb or j

[@jqskaters8478]

your the rap critic not spend 5 minutes about one line and give a lesson in feminism

[@princeakio22]

I think the lyric "TASTE BLOODS" he is paying homage to his gang affiliations as a kid, He was a Piru, which is blood. He is from Bompton and Bloods typically switch up words to use a "b" in front of the word somehow.

[@kermittee4783]

Isn't this song basically supposed to be a parody of mainstream rappers?

[@nateds7326]

Just wanna say: "syrup sandwiches" sound absolutely disgusting.

[@makavelithelegend5738]

you were meant to review the song and discuss nearly all lyrics, not talk about feminism for the whole damn video.

[@blinkth3dog]

Jesus amem

[@mystical5868]

Make your own video, bruv.

[@KoiPuff]

In the context of the whole album this song is 1/2 brag rap, 1/2 self depreciation. In the chorus he's telling HIMSELF to be humble, using slang from another current artist.

[@Xpistophoros]

I like you rap critic, but you get pretty SJW-ish.

[@Awakeandalive1]

Yeah, to the point of indulging in that "benevolent sexism" he complains about.

[@artcooldude6711]

aint a problem with me

[@theoneandonlyjs19]

ClownFro is this all people can say when someone brings up progressive issues in any way whatsoever. It really seems like code for *It's too complicated for me to understand and that hurts my ego so I'm going to have a tantrum and call people names whenever anyone says anything I don't understand*

[@fredthebear277]

Sepulcher wrong

[@fredthebear277]

Jack Waterhouse you just described a sjw thanks

[@RitaSijelmass]

What I would have loved to see is some women in the music video that are there not just to be an object to gawk over. Sitting at the table eating with him, standing in the faceless mass, whatever. The only time you see a woman, it's for sexual reasons. Sure they can be imperfect when they do their job of "sex" for you, but that's still all they are. That's what could've elevated this music video to the next level.