What's the Yams? Kendrick Lamar's Literary References

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ธ.ค. 2024

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  • @dentonmattt
    @dentonmattt 7 ปีที่แล้ว +3509

    Simple, it's the power that be

    • @Nani-hf9pc
      @Nani-hf9pc 7 ปีที่แล้ว +225

      Matt Denton You can smell it when I'm walking down the street.

    • @dskrocks1
      @dskrocks1 7 ปีที่แล้ว +165

      Oh yes you can, oh yes you can

    • @atomicvoid3549
      @atomicvoid3549 7 ปีที่แล้ว +90

      I could've did rapping, but a rapper with a ghostwriter, what the fuck happened

    • @Bigcheifer
      @Bigcheifer 7 ปีที่แล้ว +83

      Atomic Void "I can dig rappin"

    • @timmykkgb
      @timmykkgb 7 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Joe Alvarado ?

  • @10dimensionoflov
    @10dimensionoflov 5 ปีที่แล้ว +783

    Kunta wasnt a slave name, it was actually a free mans name. They tried to make him a slave , and change it to toby. Kunta was the name from his mother tongue. Kdot isnt saying he is a rich slave, he is saying that he is a free man, while others are trying to make him a subject, and cut him short.

    • @pedroferrer9436
      @pedroferrer9436 5 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      Underrated

    • @odanemcdonald9874
      @odanemcdonald9874 4 ปีที่แล้ว +18

      It is a damn dirty shame the narr aint have the cultural inclination to have had known that.
      It's not his fault, iait blamin him.
      I aint blamin nobody. Its just when where and how you were raised... and by who.

    • @gansach
      @gansach 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@odanemcdonald9874 king kunta means a king and a slave at the same time as the narrator referenced, if Kendrick mehnat what you said then this and many other lyrics wouldn't make any sense, it works cause it's an oxymoron, king slave, king kunta, that's my understanding of it

    • @10dimensionoflov
      @10dimensionoflov 4 ปีที่แล้ว +19

      @@gansach bru. King kunta does not mean king slave. You dont know the significance of the name kunta. Go watch roots before you comment on this because you have it wrong... If you knew what it meant, you would understand the lyrics better..

    • @odanemcdonald9874
      @odanemcdonald9874 4 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      @@gansach
      I take it you've never watched roots.

  • @malikcollins295
    @malikcollins295 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2408

    Lol "yams" is a code word for cocaine in the drug world. "The yams is the power that be." Is a reference to the power one can accumulate in the hood through drug dealing, also "the yams brought it out of Richard Pryor and filled Bill Clinton with desires" is in reference to their drug use. All that being said it doesn't take away from the other literary references explained in the video it just shows how good Kendrick actually is.

    • @canyonschultz5786
      @canyonschultz5786 6 ปีที่แล้ว +78

      True but what this guy said is credible to the bill clinton reference was vaguely connected to drug addiction

    • @Moneyg73
      @Moneyg73 6 ปีที่แล้ว +148

      I think yams = cocaine (drugs,money,power) makes more sense. Kendrick albums are crazy you can listen to it 30x and find something you missed each time.

    • @tomnorton3313
      @tomnorton3313 6 ปีที่แล้ว +117

      Hip hop is poetry with many different interpretations

    • @jadenmcgilbra8399
      @jadenmcgilbra8399 6 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      malik collins thank you so I can leave this lame ass vid

    • @kaingates
      @kaingates 5 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      malik collins Bill was never reported to do any drugs? Not even the sleaziest conspiracy website even claimed that.

  • @martinamakek9608
    @martinamakek9608 7 ปีที่แล้ว +558

    books mentioned:
    Roots by Alex Haley
    The Colour Purple by Alice Walker
    Things Falll Apart by Chinua Achebe
    The Blacker the Berry Wallace Thurman
    Invisible Man by Ralph Elison

    • @drdrai7479
      @drdrai7479 4 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      Thank you! I’m in a bookshop right now and didn’t want to play the video

    • @debolinabhattacharyya5179
      @debolinabhattacharyya5179 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Thanks a lot !

    • @HeVn7LaO
      @HeVn7LaO 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Thank you, I appreciate this for future book references…

  • @wujibifan9245
    @wujibifan9245 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2262

    And this album got beaten by Taylor Swift smh

    • @deezylightbeam
      @deezylightbeam 5 ปีที่แล้ว +40

      IT DID????????

    • @slimshady9200
      @slimshady9200 5 ปีที่แล้ว +141

      Well the majority of the nation is 60% white

    • @jawshy7265
      @jawshy7265 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      WUJIBIFAN wtf

    • @Moist_c0deRed
      @Moist_c0deRed 5 ปีที่แล้ว +147

      @@slimshady9200 no , it's not skin color , it's 60% of the nation that's sleep

    • @slimshady9200
      @slimshady9200 5 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      @@Moist_c0deRed really so white people weren't protesting against rap music

  • @AngusMokPhoto
    @AngusMokPhoto 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2217

    This is high level content right here

    • @gustavogabaldo6799
      @gustavogabaldo6799 7 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Angus Mok one of the best on yt

    • @wutaeworld
      @wutaeworld 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Angus Mok A poem just for you 👉🏽 th-cam.com/video/OJJZYsY9v5s/w-d-xo.html

    • @Doomer253
      @Doomer253 6 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Hmm...he missed a lot A Lot of context.

  • @thebalkanbull
    @thebalkanbull 7 ปีที่แล้ว +554

    Videos like this just enforce the fact that Kendrick is indeed the GOAT.

    • @MORNINGSTAR190
      @MORNINGSTAR190 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @Arthur Wall nah yo the 🐐

    • @Moneyg73
      @Moneyg73 6 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Yeah he took the baton from Pac.

    • @pavleilic7383
      @pavleilic7383 5 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      one of the goats for sure
      the very best? We'll see that when he releases a few more records

    • @goodplaylists8868
      @goodplaylists8868 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      Act like Nas doesn’t exist

    • @gio7388
      @gio7388 5 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      He’s up there, but he hasn’t taken #1 yet

  • @pierreisthebest
    @pierreisthebest 7 ปีที่แล้ว +572

    Incredible- I knew Kendrick's albums were meticulous but this was still an underestimation. Subbed!

  • @kingj282
    @kingj282 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1294

    I'm black and now have a lot of reading to do lol. Your channel will surely blow up; keep up the good content.

    • @robertcaban5306
      @robertcaban5306 7 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      And if you were white? Would this not compel you to read all of the books talked about?

    • @thesleepingbag8650
      @thesleepingbag8650 7 ปีที่แล้ว +94

      Robert Caban dude who the fuck cares what color you are? let him discover his own culture's literature without being harassed.

    • @robertcaban5306
      @robertcaban5306 7 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      My point exactly. There's no reason to say that he's black. Thanks for agreeing with me.

    • @djangomarkov7948
      @djangomarkov7948 7 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      Stop letting the white man and his puppets tell you what you should and shouldn't be doing

    • @CMDRJukan
      @CMDRJukan 7 ปีที่แล้ว +23

      someguy ihate to point out that he wasn't aware of some of his own culture, Christ Almighty

  • @hippydosa4202
    @hippydosa4202 7 ปีที่แล้ว +896

    such an underrated channel. This video and the video about bonzo, absolutely great content

    • @Coach.fisherman
      @Coach.fisherman 7 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      jaibir matthers he just needs to be more active on the channel

    • @DanRobards
      @DanRobards 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      The Bonzo video made me sub

    • @jbasti227
      @jbasti227 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      HippyDosa420 Just came from the Bonzo vid. Polyphonic is one my favorite music-related channel on TH-cam

    • @rupertorterga2387
      @rupertorterga2387 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      Yup.That vid on J.B. was mean!

  • @expealidocious
    @expealidocious 6 ปีที่แล้ว +31

    “they say the black the berry
    the sweeter the juice,
    i say the darker the flesh
    then the deeper the roots.”
    - tupac

  • @SporeKore
    @SporeKore 7 ปีที่แล้ว +728

    Excellent content - we need more video essays about music. Subbed.

    • @wutaeworld
      @wutaeworld 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      Peter Gabriel a spectacular poem 👉🏽 th-cam.com/video/OJJZYsY9v5s/w-d-xo.html

  • @OtterSC2
    @OtterSC2 3 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    It's amazing how they managed to cover almost every possible connotation for yams including money, sex and power, even highlighting the Pryor and Clinton mentions, without getting the drug reference.

  • @spastheghost
    @spastheghost 7 ปีที่แล้ว +133

    I am more and more amazed by Kedrick's genius every day

    • @michaelcampbell2390
      @michaelcampbell2390 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      n

    • @Theohybrid
      @Theohybrid 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      I dont think anywhere else the song would be dissected so nicely.

  • @Marco-er4ql
    @Marco-er4ql 7 ปีที่แล้ว +74

    It's pretty funny that I was studying African history, like the African empires and Zulu Nation, colonization, and apartheid and read All Things Fall Apart the semester of the release of the album in my freshmen year of high school. It just makes me appreciate one of the greatest albums of all time even more

    • @samaraisnt
      @samaraisnt ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Everyone should read Things Fall Apart and Ellis' Invisible Man. Also the others I feel are widely read by everyone! Color Purple & Toni Morrison's work is so important in America !!

  • @elliottkoriath4038
    @elliottkoriath4038 7 ปีที่แล้ว +52

    I feel like Kendrick Lamar will win the Nobel Prize for Poetry in the future, just like Bob Dylan and his lyrics

  • @JessicaHaug
    @JessicaHaug 5 ปีที่แล้ว +140

    Important to note that you call Chinua Achebe's novel Things Fall Apart as an "African American Novel" but it isnt American at all. Just straight African

    • @taiwowilliams1418
      @taiwowilliams1418 5 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      God bless you

    • @oliedaily8746
      @oliedaily8746 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      You're enlightened my fellow human

    • @VintageNarwhal
      @VintageNarwhal 4 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      Jessica Haug I’ve noticed a lot of people seem to refer to all people who look black as African Americans but that’s just a huge generalization.

    • @Mhhhhmmh
      @Mhhhhmmh 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Jessica Haug the man be full on Nigerian

    • @psicopato2460
      @psicopato2460 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@VintageNarwhal why are balck people who were born in the US, and whose parents were born in the US, refered to as "African American"? I'm not american, so I never got that

  • @catsrbeautiful8254
    @catsrbeautiful8254 7 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Yes! Finally someone makes a video about the yam reference. Thanks to my high school teachers, I read both "Things Fall Apart" and "Invisible Man." Kendrick deserves even more respect for his work on this album alone.

  • @s.fatima5180
    @s.fatima5180 7 ปีที่แล้ว +257

    It would be great if you added in a list of all the literature references you make in your videos in the description. Great content btw!

    • @ann1ka_
      @ann1ka_ 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      Suha Fatima i was just about to comment that

    • @iluvearth99
      @iluvearth99 7 ปีที่แล้ว +21

      1. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
      2. The Blacker the Berry
      3. Roots: the Saga of an American Family by Alex Haley
      4. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
      5. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
      I agree he should add a list of the references, I just thought I could help fill the void in this video :^)

  • @gnarman1358
    @gnarman1358 7 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    That's why I fuck with this album so much. You could do a video on every song of the album. Good shit

  • @gerbilpmc
    @gerbilpmc 7 ปีที่แล้ว +22

    This channel is so high quality you should have at least a 100,000ish subs

  • @ashantinyongo7632
    @ashantinyongo7632 7 ปีที่แล้ว +527

    2:05 "I can fix that"

    • @kingpotpie4132
      @kingpotpie4132 7 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Ashanti Nyongo bruh lmfaooooooooo

    • @primoultra
      @primoultra 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Ashanti Nyongo bruh clam down 😹😹

    • @nillabeatsamples5292
      @nillabeatsamples5292 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      Yeeeee

    • @memphiskash
      @memphiskash 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      u won homie

    • @RustleXer
      @RustleXer 7 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      you got me good with that. holes is my jam. or should i say yam.

  • @arkgramywgry
    @arkgramywgry 5 ปีที่แล้ว +33

    The blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice.

  • @diel.mp3
    @diel.mp3 7 ปีที่แล้ว +21

    Man, LOVING these videos. Hoping to see more from this channel!

    • @Polyphonic
      @Polyphonic  7 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Thanks! There's a lot more coming, a new video every 2 for the time being

  • @jeremystumpp6462
    @jeremystumpp6462 6 ปีที่แล้ว +23

    "Things Fall Apart" is also the name of a Roots album

  • @F22Raptor723
    @F22Raptor723 7 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    I've never subscribed to a channel so quickly after discovering it. You're gonna be huge. Also love how you do all kinds of music from Led Zeppelin to Arcade Fire, to Kendrick. Keep it up man

  • @horeja009
    @horeja009 7 ปีที่แล้ว +386

    The clips showing the person cutting 'yams' on the cutting board, those aren't actually yams. Those are sweet potatoes, you can tell because of the orange hue when it's been cut, yams have a white/pale hue and they taste bitter naturally. Idk why I see so many call sweet potatoes yams. The only yams I saw in this video was the clip in the end where the man literally dug it out from under the ground.

    • @iredi2663
      @iredi2663 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      justme18 and

    • @CasperTheGhost64
      @CasperTheGhost64 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      LOL

    • @mfdoom2451
      @mfdoom2451 7 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Ikr too many people mix them up

    • @shayanalipour9386
      @shayanalipour9386 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      justme18 does i really matter tho?

    • @whereismysonicantfindhim1816
      @whereismysonicantfindhim1816 6 ปีที่แล้ว +24

      People where I'm from often refer to sweet potatoes when they say "yams". I grew up eating "yams" from a can, "yam" casserole. I don't like to make generalizations but I believe it's a southern United States thing.

  • @AustinJ2
    @AustinJ2 5 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    Kendrick is the lyrical goat

  • @mauriciocorrea4811
    @mauriciocorrea4811 7 ปีที่แล้ว +25

    What an awesome channel you got! Keep the good work.
    Salutes from Mexico!:)

  • @richkingtodd7679
    @richkingtodd7679 7 ปีที่แล้ว +39

    like nobody already knew Kendrick is a genius.

  • @johnjr578
    @johnjr578 7 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    The more and more i learn of this album and dig, i become even more stunned by him & his work

  • @dhruvkhurana6058
    @dhruvkhurana6058 7 ปีที่แล้ว +224

    DAMN. doesn't even come close to To Pimp a Butterfly imo

    • @johnkerr3050
      @johnkerr3050 6 ปีที่แล้ว +52

      True but DAMN is still good though

    • @deezylightbeam
      @deezylightbeam 5 ปีที่แล้ว +34

      All my white friends are like OMG I LOVR DAMN but they never heard section.80, Good kid, TPAB, or Overly Dedicated **SIGH** all these fake fans.

    • @jayrusso1589
      @jayrusso1589 5 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      DAMN. Is his best album I think y'all just don't understand it

    • @duck8624
      @duck8624 5 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      @@jayrusso1589 im pretty sure you don't understand TPAB... far more deep

    • @eyjo3094
      @eyjo3094 5 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      If you fully understand DAMN. you'll see the difference isn't that big

  • @jh-ci9qj
    @jh-ci9qj 7 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    Well done! Extremely informative and easy to understand. Just found your channel and I'm really enjoying the content.

  • @chayseSchutter
    @chayseSchutter 7 ปีที่แล้ว +42

    so stoked i found this channel

    • @SZ-wt3nk
      @SZ-wt3nk 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      chayse Schutter Same man

  • @thomasboehnlein5205
    @thomasboehnlein5205 7 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    This channel is so going to blow up. The fuse has been lit.

  • @brayant2693
    @brayant2693 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    My favorite kendrick album! People need more videos like these to show them why it is a masterpiece.

    • @DAVV-99
      @DAVV-99 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      BRAND-ish we need way less of these videos

  • @xenan7889
    @xenan7889 5 ปีที่แล้ว +45

    Only Kendrick can make a lyric that takes 7 minutes to explain

    • @SilsufDreamy333
      @SilsufDreamy333 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Eminem , anderson paak

    • @apurvashanker
      @apurvashanker 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@SilsufDreamy333
      Em has a lot too.
      Since Kendrick sites Em as an inspiration, it is no surprise that both are such elite/complex lyricists.

    • @James-vy5jg
      @James-vy5jg 4 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@apurvashanker Kendrick is a better lyricist than enimen

    • @apurvashanker
      @apurvashanker 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@James-vy5jg
      Here we go..

    • @James-vy5jg
      @James-vy5jg 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@apurvashanker i aint starting no argument, theres no comp here. kendrick is just better.

  • @tonyx8862
    @tonyx8862 7 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    I'm seeing Kendrick tomorrow, I'm so hyped #DAMNTour

  • @boschdt
    @boschdt 7 ปีที่แล้ว +124

    OMG THINGS FALL APART IS THE BOOK WE'RE STUDYING THIS SCHOOL YEAR

    • @thesleepingbag8650
      @thesleepingbag8650 7 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      Lol Lol ITS SO GOOD, YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO THE ROOTS' ALBUM NAMED AFTER IT

    • @Bigcheifer
      @Bigcheifer 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      Same lmao

    • @blckkeef
      @blckkeef 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Lol Lol I guess you're in 10th grade or something

    • @ttly1384
      @ttly1384 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      A year though?

    • @boschdt
      @boschdt 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      Blvckkeef I'm in 8th grade.

  • @zackbarlow
    @zackbarlow 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    You're killin it with these vids. Insightful thought provoking content and top notch production quality. This is what TH-cam should be.

  • @Elagabalus711
    @Elagabalus711 7 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    The more I look into Kendrick, the more impressed I am. TPAB is one of the best albums of this century, though its taken me years to even vaguely understand it.

  • @josiaholson3818
    @josiaholson3818 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you for going so in depth!! A lot of channels will just throw in opinions with no citations. Power to you!

  • @musicwatcher100
    @musicwatcher100 7 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    FUCKING FINALLY! Glad to see someone finally agreeing the reference is from Things Fall Apart

  • @alinoo1
    @alinoo1 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    Not only was this highly informative of this strange lyric, it also points out how god damn well read Kendrick Lamar is. Had no idea, just makes this talented man even more remarkable.

  • @mattbehindthewheel6901
    @mattbehindthewheel6901 5 ปีที่แล้ว +132

    bruh isn't "yams" slang for "grams of cocaine" .... Yams = grams?

    • @freindmaker4473
      @freindmaker4473 5 ปีที่แล้ว +38

      Yes, it also means that. Most of his songs have fun double meanings in the lyrics like this

    • @mandylindauer5004
      @mandylindauer5004 4 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Close. Its slang for kilos. Much bigger measurement and weight haha

    • @tiffanysmith8460
      @tiffanysmith8460 4 ปีที่แล้ว

      👏🏽 xxx

    • @lexxx89
      @lexxx89 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      double meaning, references to both literary works and drugs

  • @timmyt2981
    @timmyt2981 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    what a indepth analysis, i bow my head. Could never understand a single reference in king kunta but urged to do so. THANK YOU

  • @rayneozier
    @rayneozier 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Forever 1of my fav KDot lines; I swore I wouldn’t tell... BUT MOST OF YALL SHARE’N BARS LIKE YOU GOT THE BOTTOM BUNK IN A 2 MAN CELL. 🤯

  • @miamiassassin13
    @miamiassassin13 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Man, I'm loving your channel. These are great! Please keep them coming.

  • @liamstromberg320
    @liamstromberg320 7 ปีที่แล้ว +29

    Great Channel with Great content!

    • @theneovas1
      @theneovas1 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Liam Strömberg David Gilmour, I see you

    • @liamstromberg320
      @liamstromberg320 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Just Some Asian Dude haha heeey

  • @Jack-ku3bt
    @Jack-ku3bt 5 ปีที่แล้ว

    Holy fuck, Kendrick is a genius. I knew he could rap, but the significance of his lyrics blow my mind. Every single reference adds so much more meaning to his music that so many people will never understand.

  • @user-kh3nn6wd8f
    @user-kh3nn6wd8f 7 ปีที่แล้ว +20

    The yams is that power that 🅱️
    U can smell it when u walking down the street

    • @hollycline2427
      @hollycline2427 6 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      *La Chancleta*
      Oh yes you can

    • @TeethOfDead
      @TeethOfDead 5 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Holly Cline
      Oh yes yuh cannnnnn

  • @TheNumberScott
    @TheNumberScott 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Holy crap. It's like an English Literature essay, but in youtube form. I hope my kids have to make things like this in school instead of writing boring essays some day.

  • @jojoporter4139
    @jojoporter4139 6 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    had low expectations for this when i heard a white dude voice talkin about king kunta. pleasantly surprised at your celebration of black art. this was cool

  • @guy-wb4gr
    @guy-wb4gr 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    I remember reading Things Fall Apart right around the time To Pimp a Butterfly came out and honestly I'm happy I did. It completely changed the experience of the album for me and it has honestly made it one of my favorite albums.

  • @kingsiah5103
    @kingsiah5103 7 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    Damn when u think Kendrick couldn't get any deeper

  • @jonasmaya941
    @jonasmaya941 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    Your graphic design skills are on another level compared to other TH-camrs. Awesome aesthetic.

  • @came_leon
    @came_leon 7 ปีที่แล้ว +191

    Great content but just one thing : I'm pretty sure the 'Blacker the Berry' is NOT about skin tone discrimination or colorism, but about systemic racism against African Americans (and the hypocrisy of gang members protesting police brutality while killing each others). 'Complexion' tho, as the title suggests is about skin tone discrimination.

    • @came_leon
      @came_leon 7 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Armz maybe, tbh I haven't listened to it in a while but to me that's the general idea i have in mind when thinking of that song. Need to listen to it again.

    • @came_leon
      @came_leon 7 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      hey so I've listened to it again and it really isn't about skin tone discrimination (to me at least) it is really is about institutionalised racism in the first two verses ("Church me til I'm dead, fuck me with your fake prophesising that I'm a be just another slave in my head, institutionalised manipulations and lies" etc). You could argue that the lines "I'm black as the name Darius, I'm black as the heart of a fucking Aryan" would be about skin tone (even though I think it's about being proud to belong to black culture and giving the finger to those that criticise it but whichever way you wanna read this) there's nothing about discrimination and skin tone per se in these lines. But feel free to point out lines that you think point to that!

    • @came_leon
      @came_leon 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Ah I see where you coming from. I guess for me the last verse stuck out since I first heard it, not only because that's where we get the answer as to why Kendrick was the "biggest hypocrite of 2015" but I just didn't expect him to turn the responsibility inwards so to speak and it's just the surprise of his honesty stayed with me. I'm from a minority myself so I'm obviously not gonna deny that racism is systemic and it makes things VERY difficult (especially in America), however, I do think we have a fair share of responsibility in bettering our lives (except when it comes to police brutality which is... inescapable it seems). With all that being said, that was a hasty comment, and I'm gonna edit it to be clear about what I meant. Cheers!

    • @KaizerMan
      @KaizerMan 7 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      Word. The theme of colourism is definitely more evident in Complexion than in Blacker The Berry

    • @came_leon
      @came_leon 7 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      I know right? It's almost like he didn't listen to the track and just placed it there for its title and analogy to that book...

  • @WhatWeDigtoday
    @WhatWeDigtoday 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    This was so well done. Great job on this. I just got schooled on why king kunta at its core is an uplifting cautionary literary piece.

  • @gillianapplegate1441
    @gillianapplegate1441 7 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    "I yam that I yam."-Invisible Man

  • @albertduluoz
    @albertduluoz 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    Don't forget the reference in the title itself (To Kill A Mockingbird). Seriously, time goes by and this album just keeps growing. Excellent video.

  • @amin9897
    @amin9897 7 ปีที่แล้ว +41

    Chinua Achebe was Nigerian not "African American".

    • @smartsport
      @smartsport 7 ปีที่แล้ว +18

      Technically, he was Igbo, not "Nigerian".

    • @winston7397
      @winston7397 6 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      +smartsport What? lol please shut up

    • @smartsport
      @smartsport 6 ปีที่แล้ว +19

      There're so many different cultures and languages and tribes in Nigeria that saying someone is "Nigerian" is basically as unspecific as saying someone is "African American". Neither indicate actual cultural heritage but just indicate very general geographic location.

    • @cutepool3393
      @cutepool3393 6 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      no its not. i from nigeria and i'm like "what? lol please shut up"

    • @KhalifaIBlue
      @KhalifaIBlue 6 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Chinua Achebe is Nigerian 🇳🇬 for God sake.... Any 9ja 4 here?

  • @roninvagabond261
    @roninvagabond261 6 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Subbed... As a black male in L.A. I think this was very well done. Down to the minutest of detail.

  • @mattalex2113
    @mattalex2113 7 ปีที่แล้ว +46

    This is great. But yams are white fleshed. Your video has footage of sweet potatoes. I say this from a place of love for sweet potatoes and my desire for them to get the credit they deserve.

    • @tyresehemingway8820
      @tyresehemingway8820 7 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      Matthew B Alexander Jr. Because in most communities yams is another word to identify sweet potatoes

  • @rdanielr93
    @rdanielr93 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    This channel is gold. You got a new subscriber. And Kendrick is a genius.

  • @LexicalNoScope
    @LexicalNoScope 7 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    I always thought it was either about asap yams rip or a sack of yams

  • @yanyanzen6922
    @yanyanzen6922 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    Dude this is insane. So much effort and info in one vid... Thanks man this is awesome!! :)

  • @darrelltimbers4864
    @darrelltimbers4864 7 ปีที่แล้ว +23

    Actually Yams when reference to Richard Pryor means "crack cocaine"

    • @FreyaEinde
      @FreyaEinde 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      Darrell Timbers Right it’s a reference to cocaine smuggling and how it goes all the way up the pipeline to the government

  • @noblemayombo9198
    @noblemayombo9198 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Amazing video! How did I just find it now? What a gem 💎

  • @AyeeLito
    @AyeeLito 5 ปีที่แล้ว +4

    I was in this Video .... WestSide Compton

  • @Neomorphinity
    @Neomorphinity 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    This is a treasure of a channel. Excited to see what else you put out. SUBBED.

  • @Hejdo8
    @Hejdo8 6 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    The next pac😤💯

  • @cmtexaslonghorn13
    @cmtexaslonghorn13 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    I knew this record was serious business, but I had no idea the depths to which Kendrick went. Thanks for the video man, gave me an even better understanding of a great artist

  • @elmervasquez4968
    @elmervasquez4968 7 ปีที่แล้ว +37

    nice vid even if I don't listen to kendrick lamar

    • @kyleblasberg
      @kyleblasberg 7 ปีที่แล้ว +29

      you're missing out if you don't listen to Kendrick

    • @jang23hide
      @jang23hide 6 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Yup missin out big time

    • @stonersing9888
      @stonersing9888 6 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Don't miss the goat man

    • @deezylightbeam
      @deezylightbeam 5 ปีที่แล้ว

      Bruh all of his music is deep J. Cole doesnt evnenen come close to him.

  • @whatif3271
    @whatif3271 4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    When we read "Things fall apart" in highschool, we always made jokes saying "YAM IS K I N G C R O P" didn't think it'd come up much again

  • @aJAGGZproduction
    @aJAGGZproduction 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    The yam is the power that be

  • @tigergaj
    @tigergaj 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    Just stumbled across this video and I have to say it's VERY well done. Great production quality dude. Good job.

  • @ap-mm6lp
    @ap-mm6lp 7 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    Can't keep my duck in my pants

    • @bushwicckbouleetbil
      @bushwicckbouleetbil 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      you right Ma bitch don't love me no more

    • @stanners1714
      @stanners1714 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      Stream Spirit she kicked me out im like vro

    • @tomasv26
      @tomasv26 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      That bitch dont wanna be friends

    • @jungo3747
      @jungo3747 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      tomasv26 and I know when that hotline bling!

  • @Hannahdabeast
    @Hannahdabeast 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    Things Fall Apart I got, but all the others I didn't know about. You're fantastic! Subscribed.

  • @boschdt
    @boschdt 7 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Do more videos on rap!

  • @iammack9
    @iammack9 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    This is a really good, educative and informative video. Keep up with this Polyphonic.

  • @samholmes9925
    @samholmes9925 7 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    I was with you until you failed to mention that yams are also a reference to coke aka the drug that took prior out

  • @lacroixboix
    @lacroixboix 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    This was written very well. Super happy it was in my feed. Must add tho: The tempo of the delivery doesn't feel right. Just a few pauses in there had me checking to see if my video was lagging. It wasn't. 8/10

  • @ashkechum101
    @ashkechum101 7 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    No mention of How Much A Dollar Cost? Damn

  • @SerWhiskeyfeet
    @SerWhiskeyfeet 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    Dude!!!! I've always loved that yams line and I could never figure out what exactly he meant. Thanks man. Also had no idea about those other lit(erary) references.

  • @ffnendhgrgd
    @ffnendhgrgd 7 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    why do rappers glorify domestic violence by constantly telling Anna Mae to "eat the cake". It's personally unnerving to me every time it comes up, mostly because the tone is so self affirming

    • @ffnendhgrgd
      @ffnendhgrgd 7 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      I'm sure you've heard it. J Cole and Jay Z have said it. I just wonder why rappers would choose to glorify being shitty to women and trying to forcefully put them in their place, especially in this so-called conscious era

    • @TRZI
      @TRZI 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      Armz 😑😑😑 gotta watch What's Love Got To Do With It to understand

    • @myncraft1
      @myncraft1 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Jesse Torres because when they say theyre getting cake. it means theyre getting rich. they throw in anna mae as a reference. Possibly meaning that they get rich even with things forcing them down.

    • @Grandmaster1up
      @Grandmaster1up 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Jesse Torres shut up sensitive bitch

    • @ffnendhgrgd
      @ffnendhgrgd 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      I beat her hard, cuz we real bangerz. what'd I tell you, bitch! No more wire hangers!

  • @djanthony6662
    @djanthony6662 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    Your channel is one of the best in TH-cam. Thanks!

  • @Tessitura9
    @Tessitura9 5 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Who knew yams had so many metaphors

  • @ErikGiovani
    @ErikGiovani 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Wow. I heard this before about the yams being important but never to this depth, thank you

  • @noahhysi8622
    @noahhysi8622 4 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    You're partly wrong about the Yams. They're a code word for cocaine,
    That comedians drug abuse is directly correlated
    Scandals involving Bill Clinton using it
    he also says "you can smell it..."
    He's referring to cocaine

  • @mdffwoodworker
    @mdffwoodworker 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    Can’t wait to see this channel explode

  • @okay0kokay
    @okay0kokay 7 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    No mention of yams as a euphemism for drugs?

  • @nurzafirahjamaludin9589
    @nurzafirahjamaludin9589 6 ปีที่แล้ว

    Thank you for this amazing content!!! Please make more videos like this, your channel help me understand more about music and the people behind it, keep up the amazing work :))

  • @Rab2485
    @Rab2485 7 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Many here laud the 'high level content' and yes indeed it is. Were it not that this theory was already thoroughly analysed 2 years earlier: www.avclub.com/article/kendrick-lamar-imbues-root-vegetable-literary-mean-228077
    If you wanna run a proper channel, you better make sure you reference your sources! It clearly isn't you and only you who put this body of thought together.

    • @AUMOTmusic
      @AUMOTmusic 6 ปีที่แล้ว

      Invisible Man and Things Fall Apart are both quite popular books. It's not a stretch to believe that two well-read people would come to the same conclusion after listening to "King Kunta" once.

  • @kimmykiddO
    @kimmykiddO 7 ปีที่แล้ว +1

    Love the content this is one of my favorite albums of my life hands down so to get even more up close and personal with it this way I love it 😁😁😁 keep up the great content !!!

  • @divyenduraina
    @divyenduraina 7 ปีที่แล้ว +37

    Did Kendrick really read those many books?

    • @XEVN7
      @XEVN7 7 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      Ian Evadar He's rich for a reason right

    • @nt4382
      @nt4382 7 ปีที่แล้ว +183

      Are you really asking if one guy read five books?

    • @OL4___
      @OL4___ 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Cat Birral Hahahahaha right? That's hilarious the way i read that

    • @nicecardude
      @nicecardude 7 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      Kung-fu Kenny studied the muthafuckin greats

    • @jba9964
      @jba9964 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      That seems like a lot

  • @101iswhatsup
    @101iswhatsup 4 ปีที่แล้ว

    Love the research bruh. Alright by K. Dot may be a classic from the previous decade. You., Not expected to grow up on the "Color Purple" caught the connection. Big blessings to you bruh! Keep sharing your understanding. Dope channel G. Peace!

  • @benvc7617
    @benvc7617 7 ปีที่แล้ว +16

    I thought he was referencing A$AP YAMS

    • @taliakellegg5978
      @taliakellegg5978 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      Ben Victoria I thought it was just a rap thing like 2 chains said yams in the clinton

    • @lethaltarget9798
      @lethaltarget9798 7 ปีที่แล้ว

      😂😂😂😂 stupid af

  • @wieliczkop
    @wieliczkop 7 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Awesome intro! Love it! Waiting for more.

  • @Prince_Luci
    @Prince_Luci 6 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    I didn’t like the way he said “his blackness”

  • @Afro21Ninja
    @Afro21Ninja 7 ปีที่แล้ว

    Wow wow wow, this channel needs to blow up soon. This is quality content 👏👏👏