The Top 10 Worst Lyrics of 2022 (part 1)

NOW ON PATREON:
PART 2: (the upper half of) The Top 10 Worst Lyrics of 2022
www.patreon.co...
REQUEST A MOVIE, MUSIC, OR STREAM REQUEST HERE:
ko-fi.com/rapc...
#DojaCat #YoungThug #KodakBlack #KendrickLamar

[@RapCritic]

REQUEST A MOVIE, MUSIC, OR STREAM REQUEST HERE: ko-fi.com/rapcritic

[@Spanishdog17]

If you look up the cup of water line on Rapgenius it says, and I quote: “Not gonna lie, I have genuinely no idea what the fuck he meant by this.”

[@viola308]

It's so obvious he saying that the girl he with is as wet as a cup of water but y'all slow ig

[@hetbypierrelouissinal5203]

​@@viola308nah fam, there is a way netter way of saying this than "cup of water" he could've lead in with another verse saying she wanted him or something before throwing that line. It was a bad verse, that's all

[@viola308]

@@hetbypierrelouissinal5203 wait I listened to it again, he said I just flushed a cup of water.

[@magicalmysteryperson]

Not gonna lie, that annotation is the funniest genius annotation I have ever seen. ....Also I have no idea why that dude f--ked a cup of water. (Also, Thugatar: The Way with a Cup of Water made me laugh harder than I expected.)

[@fiveplussixequals]

@@viola308 i personally thought it was referring to like, when someone has cotton mouth from weed and then a cup of nice, cold water just really hits yk.. one might even say they “fucked up that cup of water” after downing it fast. ik i added some words but like my interpretation makes the most sense in my mind

[@shxwnkxmp]

“super wet, but… alarmingly spacious” i’ve never laughed this hard my whole life

[@EvolvementEras]

Same my friend 😂

[@beatsbygoldie2383]

Just burst out as he said it then I read this lol

[@RubyDynamite]

I have no idea what that term even means, so yeah - RC's new definition is the one I'm going with lol

[@AnInnocuousBlueCube]

"Yo, this one for all my alarmingly spacious girls out there! Make some NOISE!"

[@Tom_Hillman]

@@RubyDynamite Does there have to be a pre-established term for everything any rapper says? Can't he just be creating a metaphor to describe a wet woman? why don't we afford thugger the same creative interpretation we would to a renowned poet?

[@otaking3582]

And I thought a "pesbian" was someone that's sexually attracted to candy dispensers.

[@barsinc2662]

Good one 😂

[@Yayer3k]

Cringiologist

[@otaking3582]

@@Yayer3k You just don't have humor

[@Ryboflavin00]

No no, that’s a ‘Pezbian’ 😬

[@anonymousinkproductions8624]

Feel free to respectfully call me out if I’m wrong, but I interpret the Kendrick lyric differently. I feel like by “set free you abusers, this is transformation”, he means to transform them by holding them accountable, like he did for himself when he held himself accountable earlier in the album for his infidelity and daddy issues. I think the following line is the more important line. “This is transformation.” Just like he transforms himself from Mr. Morale to Kendrick through the album, what he wants is the abusers to take notes and work on being better people. He broke his family curse and any abuser has the power to stop the spread of trauma by their own actions. Again, this is my interpretation and I may be missing something, but please be respectful.

[@dameazize]

I also admit that I could be wrong about the interpretation (and then your interpretation of the interpretation, the internet is fun like that), but as good as your point is I feel like it is kind of incompatible with the "set free all you abusers" lyric. How can you hold people accountable by setting them free? This isn't like a Kesha "I am letting go of my hatred and praying you become a better person", it's Kendrick (seemingly) telling other people that he sets free their abusers as he sets free the weight of the abused's hearts. I can see why people who do have some kind of feelings about their abuser looking at that lyric and saying no, you don't get to let my anger go for me and then make the implication that you forgive my abuser. I get the impression he is trying to do what you are suggesting, but when you ask abuse victims to let go of hate and in the next line "free abusers" it's hard not to read that as "setting abusers free of the shackles created from their own actions".

[@anonymousinkproductions8624]

@@dameazize I want to preface by saying I like and respect your response. However, I think it was badly worded, admittedly, but the honest reason I don’t think he meant it in that way is because in every album but this one, he mentions Keisha/his sister. He’s protective in “Keisha’s Song”, regretful she didn’t get the message in “u”, and mentions “I better not hear you humpin on Keisha’s daughter” in FEAR. Not only that, but in the same song, he sees what his mom, and possibly other women from Compton went through. It doesn’t make sense to me if he were to absolve them for those actions. And once again, I agree that I could be overlooking and you might be right. I’m not saying that you’re wrong, just that I feel that with someone who typically abhors this stuff is absolving it all of a sudden. Especially when this album wasn’t really about abuse as much as infidelity and knocking off his Mr. Morale status. It seems out of place imo to say this lyric when no other lyric built up to it. The previous lyric seems less like an absolving of the hearts filled with hatred, but rather a plea to rid the hatred from the heart and to keep others’ bodies sacred, rather than their own. That’s why I think he’s talking to the abusers, not the victims in that previous line. Ik I keep saying that I might be wrong, but that’s just so I’m not misinterpreted as acting all holier-than thou. This is an engaging conversation that should be had Edit: if you managed to read this far, I found an interpretation on Reddit that says that what he means is setting free the effect the abuser has on the abused. As in focusing on the future rather than the past. Obviously not forgetting/forgiving, but moving forward in life in spite of that.

[@aryamazandarani6373]

I agree, but I do think the lyrics are ambiguous enough that you can interpret them in different ways. I think the sequence of tracks from Auntie Diaries to Mr. Morale to Mother I Sober is interesting: Auntie Diaries tells the story of Kendrick's change in attitude towards derogatory slurs once a close family member underwent a gender change. It enlightened him and he felt more comfortable around a type of person that he was once disrespectful towards and through this experience, changed his attitude towards giving meaningless words harmful substance. Mr. Morale details some childhood trauma as well as generational pain. It feels like more of a transition between the two songs though. Mother I Sober tells the story of Kendrick's mother's childhood abuse as well as Kendrick's experience with watching her struggle. Like Auntie Diaries, there's an underlying message with Kendrick essentially saying that many abusers and harsh people, such as some rappers who get in trouble for domestic violence, come from traumatic childhood experiences that leave them scarred for life. It all ties in with the album's theme of generational trauma

[@blakty2]

Critic’s inclusion feels like a “leave a comment” listing rather than genuine worst lyric

[@uforad170]

i can agree in theory but the presence of Kodak Black on the record really does kinda make it ring hollow even if this was his intention. At least in my opinion.

[@livingabstraction2206]

Like the fact that both Rap Critic and Todd put the Post Malone on the worst list

[@gunfighter009]

And in both cases it was for Doja Cat

[@jonahfalcon1970]

@@gunfighter009 Todd specifically cited the lyrics, so there's an intersection there.

[@starcherry6814]

I actually preferred Doja Cat’s verse over Post Malone’s

[@livingabstraction2206]

@@starcherry6814 Honestly, I agree, I wish Post was the featuring artist because while he's great on the hook, he really has no idea what to do on the song for the most part

[@starcherry6814]

@@livingabstraction2206 Oh yeah the hook was good, the verse was meh

[@makingmediamatter]

I always interpreted the Kendrick lyric as he understands the cycles of abuse that motivate so many people to abuse others. If we want to talk about Kendrick’s transphobia or cheating on his wife as types of abuse than Mr. Morale is all about Kendrick learning to understand what factors led to his own abusing of others and how that abuse was motivated by abuse done onto him as a child (seeing his mother abused, being accused of being abused himself, ingrained homophobia as a result of toxic masculinity, etc). He’s only able to forgive himself by understanding that committing bad actions doesn’t mean you are an inherently bad person, usually it means you were molded to do something bad by your surroundings. That doesn’t mean no responsibility for people who do wrong, Kendrick definitely holds himself accountable on Morale, but it does mean acknowledging the humanity of people, even the worst of them, and allowing a path for understanding if not redemption. It’s basically this idea of “you can’t forgive yourself until you learn to forgive others”. Kendrick is able to understand others and therefore come to terms with his flaws and how they are perpetuating through generations, thus ending generational curses and setting everything “free” as he says-free from the weight of that generation trauma and baggage. He brings generational trauma into the light, shows the system that perpetuates it, and as a result, is able to dispel the burden of that trauma in a sense. Just my reading, feel free to disagree.

[@ravenfrancis1476]

Yeah, except telling abuse victims they have to forgive their abusers so they can forgive themselves (even though they've done nothing that needs forgiven) is still insensitive at best.

[@makingmediamatter]

@@ravenfrancis1476 yea I think it’s definitely shitty if you view it in that context but I don’t think Kendrick is demanding abuse victims forgive their abusers, he’s just speaking a personal message of healing and forgiving that so happens to translate onto the wider world too. But art is all subjective ofc so thats just my perspective on it.

[@Crenshaw17]

This is a great interpretation. It’s sad people can’t get past looking at everything though this “I’m right, you’re wrong” lens & rather than genuinely trying to understand something only seek to condemn it.

[@simonbright2975]

@@Crenshaw17 Not everything has to be analysed to death until you can find a clean angle. Sometimes, even the most esteemed people say dumb shit, lol.

[@letranger4461]

2:31 I think he was attempting to say the girl he was with is “a tall glass of water”, which is another way of saying she’s hot. I don’t think I’ve heard anyone under 50 use that euphemism

[@MoltandMigrate]

I'd say we've shifted the euphemism to the man being "thirsty."

[@amollo01]

I’ve been wracking my brain for a way for that lyric to make sense. Thank you for clarifying

[@Tom_Hillman]

No I think he just used a metaphor. There doesn't have to be a slang term or a pre established saying for someone to create a metaphor. A poet saying "I'm an eagle soaring over the landscape" can be interpreted as "I feel free and liberated". "I just fucked a cup of water" can be interpreted as "I get women very sexually aroused, thus they are wet". We must afford rappers the same creative liberties and interpretation as we would to a poet.

[@heymistercarter.]

Well if that's what he was going for, there's a reason the saying is "tall GLASS of water", not "CUP of water" like ^that guy said. Glasses at least show a sense of beauty, and can shine under the light or whatever. Same can't be said for a cup.

[@letranger4461]

@@Tom_Hillman If the metaphor is about girl being wet then, imo, it was way too oblique. It's said so offhandedly without much real buildup which is why I think people are interpreting it literally

[@freedbygsus]

I think Kendrick didn't consider how his words sounded like forgiving abusers for being abusive. I'd like to think that he was making a larger point about breaking the cycle of abuse understanding that abusers are almost always abuse victims. One of the most significant points of the song is showing how that generational trauma was specifically designed to make perpetrators out of victims. What I first heard from the song was setting the abusers "free" like he was setting the victims free because abusers are victims. The transformation comes when the cycle of abuse is broken which only happens when abusers stop making victims.

[@DouglasCarter69]

This is correct but rap critic isn’t very smart so he misinterpreted it

[@Bloodinhoo]

@@DouglasCarter69 that's low quality bait.

[@Caernath]

It looks like Kodack Black is so reprehensible that he truly needs to spend outrageous amounts of money for a woman to hug him.

[@ChuckBrowning]

And I thought that Future spending $250,000 on a handjob was a bit much.

[@troycummings709]

He flew her out to him 😂 buying your girl a plane ticket to see You while your a touring artist for emotional support isn't crazy

[@JakeNubbin]

Thugatar - the way with a cup of water made this whole year worth it. Thank you rc

[@delusi0n]

Kendrick absolutely missed the mark: if every abuser is also a victim then the only thing that separates them from other victims is continuing the cycle; so we haven't really gone anywhere with all this logic.

[@FlyGuyLaFlare]

I mean.. but that’s how it happens tho tbh

[@christopherbennett5858]

Unfortunately, the cycle of abuse is misappropriated It was supposed to detail how abuse usually goes about eg things like the honeymoon period which is usually one of the reasons why victims can’t bring themselves to leave. In reality, only 30% of abuse victims at most become abusive. And a lot of that is being angry for short bursts in the recovery stages.

[@mickferguson8850]

Careful the Kendrick stans are here

[@heavenly2k]

​@christopherbennett5858 I have a hard time believing that. People are often taught insidious behaviors, or enabled by toxic societal factors, so i would think that number would be higher

[@TheGoldKing]

In kodaks defense he denied the accusations. So why apologize for something I said I didn't do

[@bthsr7113]

It's always interesting seeing how much overlap you and Todd have in your lists.

[@justitgstuff5284]

They're really the same person. That's why """Todd""" is always hiding in the dark.

[@ericb.4313]

@@justitgstuff5284 Wait, have RC and "Todd" been seen in the same room? Extra suspicious! Before anyone rides my ass like the Kentucky Derby, this is a joke since they have the "Mac and Devin go to High School" review.

[@thomastakesatollforthedark2231]

@@ericb.4313 but what if that was a body doublé ?

[@cheezemonkeyeater]

*punch You're supposed to forgive people. *punch You're supposed to forgive people. The new "Stop Hitting Yourself" for the 2020s.

[@Albert-xl3nx]

Love you rap critic, I’ve always watched your videos once in a while since a kid, thanks for the content, just wanted to show my appreciation real quick

[@babakazi808]

"Super wet, but alarmingly spacious" That's exactly what he means

[@fiveplussixequals]

at least 95% sure thug is talking about when you get cotton mouth from weed and water just hits really nice.. some might even say they “fucked (up that) cup of water”. ik that’s not what he said exactly but im pretty sure it’s smtn along those lines that he’s referring too

[@Alazulith]

been watching ya content for years man i hope all is well for you and yours had me rolling since i was like 16 keep up the work wherever youre going i know it will be worth all this dedication you put into your craft

[@MrMeltJr]

I think the leash in Doja's lines isn't referring to the guy trying to control her, it's her own feelings for him. Like she's really into him specifically because he's not trying to tie her down. The less he wants to force her to stay, the less she wants to leave.

[@ThejollyFrenchman]

Exactly.

[@axxwqw3117]

he was the same about nle choppa final warning "dont inform me who's informing that's your final warning".. "buhhh b-but you just said you hate informing?? why wouldnt you want to know who's snitching? buhh b-but that doesnt make any sense" i dont know how rap critic is a lyricist when he misses metaphor/hyperbole like that. like, it's one thing to say it's a dumb line (not the most clever obviously) but he reacts so ungenerously to lyrics when it's obvious to everyone else what was being said

[@CJ-ym7km]

Yeah she says “he got me on a leash” like it’s a result of him not controlling her and it just kind of happened, but Rap Critic quotes the line as the guy putting her on a leash which is not what the line says

[@keelanbarron928]

2:19 the best joke rapcritic has ever made.

[@InkAndPoet]

Indeed!

[@thefez-cat]

The "Thugatar" gag folded me, I'm done

[@jazzykrisis1783]

I hope this year's edition is as funny as the 2011 Worst Lyrics of the year RC video😭😭

[@landlocked_lifts332]

Lmao that was a classic year

[@lucasbell4831]

You’re hoping too hard. We all want 2011 RC back.

[@DreFromMaine8472]

The 2012 one was really funny, too!

[@peggyclark279]

When I throw on this bow chicka wow wow, whatcha gonna say?

[@jazzykrisis1783]

@@peggyclark279 "did u just say bow chicka wow wow" 😭😭

[@livingabstraction2206]

I love the new Kendrick Lamar album, but I skip the songs with Kodak and I feel weird about the Sober song. When it shines, it shines beautifully, but when it flops it kinda justifies not being able to put it on the level of previous album

[@michaelyoungboy5792]

4:28 I know it was a dark topic but that made me bust out laughing

[@Diana-mu7pc]

We're keeping your foot pain in our thoughts and prayers, RC.

[@a57rich94]

“…super wet but alarmingly spacious!?!” Had me laughing 😂😂

[@lethalboom3008]

I could see the Doha Cat lyric as saying that she just Wants to stay with him because of how he treats her, but haven’t heard the full verse so could be missing context

[@mychaeljones7526]

Ive heard the full verse a lot of times in the dance clubs and it's basically her doing the equivalent ending of "The Killer Inside Me" with Jessica Alba and Casey Affleck...with less punching in the face.

[@GriffinPilgrim]

There is a rather old fashioned term for an attractive person as a "tall drink of water" maybe...?

[@mychaeljones7526]

Okay then just say the whole line? Or it's RAP music, make it clever with a set up. Like: I dont need any water, Im wetter this summer. I fucked a tall one and called her my baby mama.

[@GriffinPilgrim]

@@mychaeljones7526 Congrats on being better at a moment's notice on a KZbin comment! To be honest I think I'm reaching with the idea anyway.

[@davidthepangolin]

These thumbnails always look great and hype me up to hear some bad lyrics

[@supostofilhodogugu]

so funny i love these top 10 worst whatever lists and this is one of the best and funniest ive seen. Wish i could support you but have no rn, but everyone who can afford it should. Hope commenting makes a somewhat difference on boosting the algorithm. Have a great new year!

[@supostofilhodogugu]

These is why i hate shitty bars cause they always make these kinds of list even more entertaining i love being a hater honestly

[@heymistercarter.]

I'm kinda surprised that, in the DoJa Cat verse on the Post Malone song, you didn't mention the fact that she, not once, but TWICE, refers to the guy she's singing about by a certain word starting with the letter N. A word that sounds ESPECIALLY awkward considering the fact that POST MALONE of all people is right next to her, AND who she's singing about in the context of the song. Yea, something isn't right with this picture.

[@ChuckBrowning]

Pretty obvious Doja Cat recorded her verse without knowing anything about the song.

[@heymistercarter.]

@@ChuckBrowning okay, how does THAT work? I’m pretty sure that when someone like her would be tasked with working on a song like this, one of the first things she’d be informed is who the song is by and/or who she’s performing with. Because I have a feeling she was probably caught in an awkward situation when she arrived on the video set, or even when she heard the song, and found out who that word was pointed towards in the context of the song.

[@Arjay82]

@@ChuckBrowning Or just didn't care because it would get air play and people would listen to it anyway.

[@heymistercarter.]

@@Arjay82 considering DoJa is practically a Birdie Jay with how much she seems to lack self-awareness for a lot of the stuff she says (especially on social media), I'm not really sure what the case is with her. But could someone in her PR camp PLEASE get rid of her social media?

[@dominquebanton9758]

Wait is doja not black?

[@Tom_Hillman]

I'm guilty to say that young thug saying "I just fucked a cup of water" was hard to me. I just figured he used it as a metaphor for an extremely wet woman 😭

[@GABA-Gool]

To my knowledge, “fucking a cup of water” has never been a well known slang term, like, ever. Unless somebody can point something out I haven’t seen yet. So, you’re really just inserting your own interpretation to make it make sense. Which it still doesn’t.

[@Tom_Hillman]

@@GABA-Gool I didn't consider young thugs use of 'cup of water' as a slang term. As I said, I considered it a metaphor for an extremely wet woman. Anyone can make any metaphor for anything, there doesn't have to be a pre-established term.

[@TSFboi]

kendrick did the same thing again in the heart pt. 5, forgiving a murderer from the perspective of the victim like how he forgives all abusers. that one was especially ghoulish because he deepfaked the dead man's face over his to forgive him. it rubs me the wrong way.

[@TwoMarshmallows1]

Love your unique blend of humour and thoughtful commentary. Still laughing at the joke at 2:17, absolute genius. Happy new year and hope you have a great 2023!

[@witchfynder_finder]

I feel like that Doja Cat line is contradictory on purpose tbh.....

[@shoyuramenoff]

I think for the first Doja Cat verse, I think she means that she's no strings attached and into BDSM/kinky shit (like being on a leash), not saying that the "no strings attached" is one-sided.

[@starcherry6814]

I think she means both, because she follows it up with “Stole the 🐱” “Wonder what a n***** might do for that”

[@peacemaster8117]

It's a good lyric, it's a snappy metaphor that says a lot more more than the literal interpretation. Rap Critic is understanding the wordplay but then getting upset because it doesn't make literal sense, which makes no sense at all.

[@shoyuramenoff]

@@starcherry6814 Doja Cat apparently has had sex with women in the past, so it might be a reference to that.

[@ThejollyFrenchman]

I took it as her being really into the guy because he's not clingy and trying to make the relationship into something bigger than it needs to be. Could just be about bdsm, though.

[@TayRayReads]

2:31 I know I am late to comment but the only way I can even get close to the "i just f*cked a cup of water" making any sense, is thinking he meant to call the girl "a tall drink of water" but that still doesn't make the lyric that actually made it into the song make sense. "A tall drink of water" is a beautiful woman that typically is longer legged. So...the fuck is a cup of water by comparison? A short queen? And even if that is what they were trying to say it is old-fashioned and dated phrase that outside of people who have seen Disney's Tangled, it is unlikely that it would be a common phrase people would recognize. It just feels out of place.

[@187btokes]

Like how he begged for money because "he is giving out free videos" and then a minute later brings up trying to avoid being demonized. Which one is it bro? You get paid or not?

[@jeremyusreevu237]

That Kodak Black section is accurate, but we also shouldn't forget that Kodak Black is a hack who should've been left in 2017.

[@Diana-mu7pc]

Holy shit. I forgot Pushin P was even this year.

[@amnm920]

Yeah, but it's kind of hard to forgive someone who feels absolutely no remorse... and shows no signs of changing.... except maybe artificial ones...yet keeps being abusive... perhaps even in more subtle ways that make it less obvious and harder to put a stop to.

[@Cdr2002]

I learned of your channel via your rap history lesson cameos in some Linkara reviews and I gotta say I’m already loving your content

[@johneubank8543]

Hey, I always look forward to these! Thanks.

[@TrillyThough]

I was wondering where you were going with that Dot line...but you stuck the landing. Yeah, that's a great call out there.

[@MrAgLi]

I thought that Kendrick's line is more about he was assaulted, but he lied to us or something and then he forgive all the people that assaulted and abused him not every other one.

[@jman1235980]

No one abused him

[@mickferguson8850]

Reach for the stars

[@thema1998]

Since I just watched Part 2, I figured that I might as well tune into Part 1. When the hell did the censor bleeps come back? That was both annoying and distracting. I hadn't watched any of your episodes in a long time! 😅

[@synchronizedelbow5702]

Yo. Caught your rebuttal.... Good point.

[@covagotnext8337]

Always look forward to these lists. I hope we get a lot of mainstream artists. The Grammy's give enough shout outs to nobodies 😂

[@livingabstraction2206]

Lol I am absolutely going to be praying tonight that despite all of my awful luck with women I'm never going to stoop so low as to spend money on a private jet on a woman for a hug. I may be down bad, but I'm praying that God does not curse me anymore than I've already been cursed.

[@meechy9166]

RapCritic!!! I always enjoy and appreciate all of your content!!! Keep up the great work fam!!! Always look forward to these videos!!! Happy New Year!!! Sending blessings and good health!!🙌🙌🙌💫💫💫💙💙

[@Houndnwolf]

Nice to see that your wall hasn't changed since the last time I saw you. Some people's walls change and it keeps me from focusing. Good job.

[@MakeVarahHappen]

The Doja Cat seemed to mean like, guys will say "no strings" and that dynamics is actively more controlling than a real relationship.

[@carlzombie6722]

You're a true hip hop head and I love it brother. I think Kendrick was being Ironic at the end of 'Mother I Sober'. I believe you're misreading the message of the song. I respect n appreciate your opinions tho. One Love brother ❤️🎵💜♾️🖤💯💯💯♠️

[@FlipWarBucks]

This is why I stayed subscribed. These are your strength Man.

[@ddjsoyenby]

that cup of water lyric was gold lol.

[@Lastrit_JME]

I believe Cup of Water refers to a girl who’s refreshing from your last girl

[@YoopGuff]

There are no strings attached which keeps me on a leash (or, wrapped around his finger). I kinda like that line, its intentionally contradictory on paper but you understand that having no strings is what she values so it keeps her interested. I think it passes

[@cainsalim4802]

Bro spent nearly 2 minutes confused about BDSM then went to the p song lmao

[@TortoiseMaximus]

Kodak segment drags on

[@HisVirusness]

It's that time of year...

[@imjusthappytobedepressed1123]

When you hear "I just fucked a cup of water" and you realize it's only number 9. Oh boy.

[@TheShadowManz]

He's back Yall!! Love this vids.

[@DagmaraDevour]

Great work as usual!

[@IPODsify]

Pushing p gotta be the most overt failure of trying to start new slang

[@popetaytv]

This felt phoned in

[@annegrey3780]

I get how, in Kendrick's case, it's hard to talk about cyclic abuse with enough nuance. I'm a child and domestic abuse survivor, and both my abusers were also abuse survivors (a woman abused me as a child after she was abused by a boyfriend, a male partner abused me after he was abused by his mother while living in poverty...I sometimes think about how the two of them could easily be their own cycle had she been his mom or had he been her boyfriend). On an individual level, most abuse survivors DO NOT become abusive...so you really can't use abuse as an excuse ....I mean if most people don't become abusive in response to being abused, you can't really argue any individual abuser had no other choice. BUT, on a society level, abuse does kinda work like a contagion - while the percentage of survivors who become abusive may be the minority, it is existent: abusers make more abusers, and if we have a culture that systemically ignores abuse (especially in a particular group, such as the black community) and the outcomes of trauma that can lead to things like generational poverty and broken families and vicarious exposure and inter-generational trauma (which also can be vehicles for "infection") then abuse is both an individual choice that should be seen as abhorrent, and a social issue that needs to be addressed, understood, and fixed. Unfortunately, I don't think Kendrick walked that line well at all...while I don't expect Kodak to show remorse (while ultimately whether or not a survivor becomes abusive is, imo, a choice, I do think certain personality traits make some people more susceptible than others, and difficulty considering that you could be wrong and taking accountability for your actions I would say is definitely one of those risk factors) Kendrick could expand that what Kodak experienced is part of the cycle (while more vicariously) and that throwing him away entirely as a person ignores the wider social issues that put people at risk for becoming abusive...and how hard it is to determine what's the right course when you can't morally condone Kodak's actions but also can't morally condone ignoring that something else is also going on here. What is the right call? To this day, I still don't know myself. A totally individual approach (ignoring that both of my abusers were survivors and just labeling them bad people without looking at how they became bad people) feels wrong (and feels like it's letting their abuser, and for all I know generations of abusers down the line, off) but on the other hand it also feels wrong to say "well, they were abused, so it's not really their fault and we forgive them" (cause like, they really hurt me, and other people...they are a link in a chain and it feels wrong to pretend that there wasn't a chain before them but it also feels wrong to say that they couldn't have decided the chain ended with them like I did).

[@Speculativedude]

As far as the "cup of water" line, there use to be the phrase describing a hot and laid back girl as "a cool drink of water." But I haven't heard anyone use that in more than a decade, so I doubt that's what he was going for.

[@Iamarobot69k]

man, how are you gonna misinterpret kendrick this badly, sheesh. Hes not giving a blanket pardon to all abusers, thats not his message at all. Hes saying that once you realize the pain and suffering youve been through because of generational trauma, you can understand cycles of oppression and break free. Setting free abusers isnt about giving them a get out of jail free card, its about getting them to understand their wrongs and doing better. Way to completely miss the message.

[@blakty2]

Think it’s a controversial pick to generate more traffic and convo, nothing more. No way rap critic fell off THAT hard

[@yusifudo46]

Or like a lot of people, regarding this particular album, he just wasn't feeling it.

[@mickferguson8850]

He didn't misinterpret it AT ALL. You're just defending Kendrick cos U like his music

[@tuckerpiedmont]

3:00 RC it’s because he has diamonds all over his teeth, so he CANT brush the tooth. His teeth are so jewelry-encrusted that when he goes to brush them before bed, he’s not touching enamel only carats. He doesn’t brush his TEETH, he brushes his DIAMONDS

[@youngpop8696]

My body is ready

[@jesuswalksforyou]

4:27 RAP CRITIC PREDICTED THE FUTURE???

[@ThatGuyUnknown]

I think he was doing about drinking water with hardcore drugs being high high like a lot other rappers reference

[@MerpOT]

talking about pouring lean in water.

[@thefourthcrow5627]

I took the doja lyric about the leash to mean shes attached herself to him..BECAUSE he gives her freedom.

[@tylerhackner9731]

It’s that time!

[@QuentinFUCKINParks]

I found it odd he used Kodak as a vessel on this album too. However, I think Kendrick pushed Kodak to do better music wise. Serving like an OG of sorts. He was rapping about the same shit, but it was far more refined and precise. I've never heard Kodak sound so focused in my life. I don't think he's going to change overnight, yet I think being around such a product of work should enlighten him to try to be better at least. Maybe Kendrick sees something in Kodak others don't. Just a thought.

[@Imjustbored2023]

Lot of y’all forget Kendrick music is for dudes like youngboy n kodak not for Niggas who already got their life together

[@QuentinFUCKINParks]

@@Imjustbored2023 you could say that, but I think everyone could get something from Kendrick tbh. Being more enlightened I think Kendrick would want to reach everyone he possibly could too. But, I don't think you're wrong he's definitely for rappers/audience with a certain upbringing.

[@nikolasmokalis3425]

Are there any fans of Kendrick who are also victims of abuse who felt this passionately about Mother I Sober? I feel like I hear people be angry on behalf of victims more than I hear actual survivors of abuse

[@KLegyyn]

The Kendrick line could also be himself in different faces. . The allegory for the album is owning up to different types of abusers, and he put himself on the centre stage. . So, set free abusers could only be his personification of his abusive powers and what proper transformation is. . Or it could be him connecting with others, saying he’ll forgive but will call that their soul is forever questioned. . Or I could be wrong and its him being the talk of black folk again. . Life is perspective, and its nice to hear different angles. . .

[@KLegyyn]

But yo, we all need therapy. . .

[@sirticket4214]

really sad to hear about your foot-pain :( hope it gets better soon!

[@SomeRandomJackAss]

Here's your daily reminder that you don't "demand" respect. You earn it.

[@wearealldoods]

6:37 💀 cuz he a *Super Gremlin*

[@gblatt8472]

I'mma gonna trust your analysis, but my take away from Big Steppers as a whole was that Kendrick was telling us that he *was* abused as a child. Not abused by his cousin (he says as much) but someone else he's not ready to name. But I agree with every word you said about Kodak Black.

[@jcred350]

Cup of water could mean some wap.

[@xxxswaggod420xxx3]

yay yeat mention epic video rap critic

[@lmnisop5516]

I think the cup of water is a reference to the phrase "tall glass of water".

[@babakazi808]

These are my favorite videos lol

[@jonahfalcon1970]

Woo! New Worst Lyrics video.

[@socialmatrix8752]

YES FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@AdamFenton]

Have you checked out Freddie Gibbs, or Boldy James? Also Wiki released an album Half God this year that I think you'd really dig!

[@alexandermoshenko4416]

RC, brother, you may not know this but some people (like Doja Cat) enjoy being put in a collar and leash, and no strings means it's a no strings attached relationship. She is into BDSM and open relationships, it's a double entender, and not a bad one at that, either.

[@poshboy4749]

He brought up that it was kink reference. He clearly got that.

[@deenam2567]

THUGATAR: THE WAY WITH A CUP OF WATER wrecked meeeee

[@QuentinFUCKINParks]

Thugger and Avatar Collab confirmed? lmao

[@Kimura1313]

You think Kendrick Lamar has never donated to charity?

[@YoopGuff]

Aw yes, my favorite time of year

[@HeartBreakBonez]

That 2nd guess about the cup of water line actually might be it 🤔

[@stephensmith7327]

What if it's a leather leash with buttons and latches riveted on it? That's no string, right?

[@mitchiegotmovesy7635]

In your number 10 pick I think you gotta listen to the lyric right before it. “Brand new n**** with the same old team” new and old are antonyms. But he got her on a leash (he has her attention) because he’s not asking for commitment. Not only does it fully make sense, it works well with the scheme she’s using. I think there are worse bars you could have chosen but hey. 2022 was a pretty good year for rap maybe that was the worst you could find

[@Kimura1313]

Doja Cat is too big brained for Rap Feminist.

[@thel-iteralone4592]

Putting a Kodak Black song right after Kendrick Lamar's song where Kodak Black featured in it. I see what you did there.

[@EternalYorkieMom]

RC I hope your foot is okay.

[@williamjones1337]

"She's a tall glass of water," is what comes to mind RE: fucking a cup of water. Maybe? "He doesn't brush a tooth" because he's brushing diamonds. Not teeth.

[@barzguitarz1039]

I thought it was gonna be “battle rap lyrics”😂. Because I read it Rap critic, Battles: the worst rap lyrics of 2022