My Top Five Favorite Kendrick Lamar Songs

      Kendrick Lamar is without a doubt the best hip hop artist of this generation, and if you ask me he's one of the greatest to ever do it. Similar to someone like Kanye West, no two Kendrick albums sound the same. In fact, each one is wildly different from the next. From the east coast influenced lyrical showcase that was Section 80, to the modern trap influenced DAMN. K Dot blesses us with something entirely unique with every outing. I've decided to compile a list of my personal favorite tracks from him. So without further ado, here are my top five favorite Kendrick Lamar tracks.

#5. The Heart Pt. 2

      The Heart series consist of some of Kendricks strongest cuts, and serve as a way for him to get certain things off his chest, with these songs usually conveying a greater sense of urgency than the average Kendrick Lamar track. While I love the entire series (especially Pt. 4) I think that the second installment is without a doubt the best of the bunch. As with nearly every track in the series he kicks things off rapping in a more laid back manner for the former half of the track. As the song progresses, the emotion in his words and voice keep building up until he closes the track yelling every bar in earnest, urging the listener to digest what he's saying. This is no doubt the strongest track on Overly Dedicate, and serves as a perfect introduction to him as an artist. Fittingly so, as this mixtape was many peoples' introduction to the greatness that is Kendrick Lamar Duckworth.

#4. Poe Man's Dreams (His Vice)

      Smoke good eat good live good, smoke good eat good live goooddd.... Poe Man's Dreams is easily one of the realest songs that Kendrick's ever released. It's in the dead center of his debut album, and perfectly encapsulates the concept and vibe of the project. It also has my favorite opening to a K Dot track ever with:
I used to want to see the penitentiary
Way after elementary
Thought it was cool
To look the judge in the face when he sentenced me
Since my uncles was institutionalized
My intuition had said I was suited for family ties

And on top of that, the instrumental, lyrical performance, and hook is just perfection. This is one of the clearest windows into the psyche of Kendrick Lamar that we've ever gotten, and it's one of the strongest songs of his discography. Of course, I can't forget GLC's contribution, which compliments the track perfectly. Especially in the outro: "Apply yourself to supply your wealth/Only limitations you'll ever have are those that you place upon yourself."

#3. DNA.

      I got I got I got I got DNA at the number 3 spot. This is the best opening track to an album that Kendrick has ever made, and is honestly one of the best openers to a hip hop album I've ever heard. When I put on DAMN. for the first time I absolutely did not expect him to kick things off this fucking hard. Mike Will created a god damn banging ass beat with 808s that will blow out your speakers if you play it too loud, and Kendrick comes through with one of the best vocal performances of his career. The in your face abrasive lyrics and delivery leave you with no other option than to run it back upon first listen, and the beat switch at the end just proves once again how incredible of an MC that he is.

THIS IS MY HERITAGE ALL I'M INHERITIN' MONEY AND POWER THE MECCA OF MARRIAGES.

#2. Institutionalized Ft. Bilal, Anna Wise, Snoop Dogg

      This is by far my most listened to song off of TPAB, and my unpopular opinion is that it's leaps and bounds better than anything else on the album. That's a testament to how much I love this song, because To Pimp a Butterfly is a damn masterpiece. A lot of people don't like Kendrick's high pitched "alien" voice and delivery that he often uses, especially on this album, and even more people think this song in particular is boring. To me it's criminally underrated though. It has what's probably my favorite Kendrick Lamar line ever with:

Life to me, like a box of chocolate
Quid pro quo, somethin' for somethin', that's the obvious
Oh shit, flow's so sick, don't you swallow it
Bitin' my style, you're salmonella poison positive 

Snoop serves as the perfect transition from verse to verse, and his bridges compliment the vibe of the song perfectly. I don't think Kendrick has more chemistry with any artist than he does with Anna Wise, and Bilal kills the chorus. If it weren't for the sheer amount of times that I've listened to the next song on the list then this would easily make my number one spot.

#1. Untitled 2

     Get God on The Phone! This is by far my most listened to Kendrick Lamar song. I've played it so many times that I can almost recite it in reverse. While I've over played it to the point that I don't return to it as much anymore, it's still my favorite track by him. There's just something about the eerie high pitched singing for the first half of the song combined with the sinister instrumental that just hits. When I first listened to Untitled Unmastered I thought "This track cannot get any better" and then the verse at the end kicks in with "Corn row Kenny he was born with a vision..." This song is just utter perfection in my books, from the intro:
I'm sick and tired of being tired
Can't pick a side, the Gemini
Prophesize if we live or not
Promise momma not to feel no lie
Seen black turn 'em Burgundy
Hundred of them, I know I'm greedy
Stuck inside the belly of the beast
Can you please pray for me?

To the slow build up of the verse at the end, there's not a Kendrick cut which has resonated with me as much as this one has, and for that I commend him. All hail King Kendrick.

If it's not readily apparent by now, I'm an unapologetic Stan.

Now for some Honorable Mentions

Money Trees

This one almost made it, but just fell the tiniest bit short to The Heart Pt. 2. This is the song that really got me into Kendrick when I first listened to GKMC. I think it has the strongest chorus of his entire career, his verses are so perfectly laid back, and Jay Rock murdered this beat.

DUCKWORTH

Like Money Trees this one almost made it, and if I had to rank it I might place it at # 7. In my opinion this is the most vivid story telling of Kendricks career, 9th wonder crafted a beat oozing with perfection, and it's the perfect closer for DAMN.

Hol' Up

This is such a chill song that it's impossible not to vibe to it. It's a bit of a novelty because this is a song that Kendrick would never create today, but as it stands it's an incredible display of musical ability, and the perfect second track to Section 80.

Rigamortus

Easily one of my favorite lyrical showcases in his discography, Kendrick proves here that he can be a top notch punchline MC with ease. Plus that last verse.... oh my.

You Ain't Gotta Lie (Momma Said)

This is probably the song that influenced my life the most. As TPAB came out towards the end of my highschool career, I was often still very guilty of what Kendrick raps about in this song. Hearing it really stuck in my mind and was a meaningful part of me finally growing up and gaining confidence in my quirks.

LOVE

Just loooooooooove... This is a song that I wouldn't expect myself to enjoy as much as I do. It shows Kendrick stepping into a lane that in the past I would say he has no business in, but against all odds it just works. Zacari comes in with a hook so incredible that it gives me the chills, and Kendrick flows over this strange for him beat effortlessly.

i

This is a song that once upon a time I really needed to hear. I've dealt with serious self esteem and inadequacy issues in the past, and this song was an almost integral part of me learning to accept myself for who I was. On top of that it's catchy as all hell.