I could talk about Kendrick Lamar’s record DAMN. for days, and if you want the full review you can read it here, as well as an argument to stop comparing him to Drake, but April felt fairly in Kendrick’s favor when it came to picking a best verse of the month. April saw releases from Young Dolph, Talib Kweli, 3d Na’Tee, Young M.A, Gorillaz, Wale, and even Kanye West on a Mary J. Blige track, but April 2017 was definitely owned by Kendrick Lamar. The one argument I can agree on is how great Joey Bada$$’ All Amerikkkan Bada$$ was, because it truly was an amazing album, but not giving Verse of the Month to Kendrick Lamar for his performances on DAMN. just seems sacrilegious.
On “FEEL.,” my personal favorite on DAMN. and one that I hinted would probably get this spot in my review of the record, his rhyme scheme is on a whole other level than most rappers today. It’s verbal poetry, and it holds all that DAMN. strives for in one emotional arc that follows a “build-up -> climax -> resolution” flow of powerful repetition reminiscent of a great speech.
Read the lyrics below via Genius and listen via Apple Music and Spotify:
[Kendrick Lamar – “FEEL.” 2nd Verse]
I feel niggas been out of pocket
I feel niggas tappin’ they pockets
I feel like debatin’ on who the greatest can stop it
I am legend, I feel like all of y’all is peasants
I feel like all of y’all is desperate
I feel like all it take is a second to feel like
Mike Jordan whenever holdin’ a real mic
I ain’t feelin’ your presence
Feel like I’ma learn you a lesson
Feel like only me and the music, though
I feel like your feelin’ ain’t mutual
I feel like the enemy you should know
Feel like the feelin’ of no hope
The feelin’ of bad dope
A quarter ounce manipulated from soap
The feelin’, the feelin’ of false freedom
I’ll force-feed ’em the poison that fill ’em up in the prison
I feel like it’s just me
Look, I feel like I can’t breathe
Look, I feel like I can’t sleep
Look, I feel heartless, often off this
Feelin’ of fallin’, of fallin’ apart with
Darkest hours, lost it
Fillin’ the void of bein’ employed with ballin’
Streets is talkin’, fill in the blanks with coffins
Fill up the banks with dollars
Fill up the graves with fathers
Fill up the babies with bullshit
Internet blogs and pulpit, fill ’em with gossip
I feel like this gotta be the feelin’ what ‘Pac was
The feelin’ of an apocalypse happenin’
But nothin’ is awkward, the feelin’ won’t prosper
The feelin’ is toxic, I feel like I’m boxin’ demons
Monsters, false prophets schemin’
Sponsors, industry promises
Niggas, bitches, honkies, crackers, Compton
Church, religion, token blacks, and bondage
Lawsuit visits, subpoena served in concert
Fuck your feelings, I mean this for imposters
I can feel it, the phoenix sure to watch us
I can feel it, the dream is more than process
I can put a regime that forms a Loch Ness
I can feel it, the scream that haunts our logic
I feel like say somethin’, I feel like take somethin’
I feel like skatin’ off, I feel like waitin’ for ’em
Maybe it’s too late for ’em
I feel like the whole world want me to pray for ’em
But who the fuck prayin’ for me?
What do you think? Vote here.