Ranking Kendrick Lamar's Verses in 2014

We count down Kendrick's most memorable verses of the year.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Kendrick Lamar didn't drop his follow-up to good kid, m.A.A.d city this year. Which was a bit of a letdown, considering the grand statement TDE's head honcho, Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith, delivered in the dying embers of 2013. 

Still, that doesn't mean we weren't treated to some lyrical highlights from Compton's finest, as Kendrick showed out on a number of guest spots alongside his own crew, celebrated rock acts, and R&B stars. He also dropped "i," his first single in over a year, which imparted his new message of positivity, along with a passionate performance that won't soon be forgotten.

Just in case you missed out on everything Kendrick touched this year, we've got you covered with a definitive list of his verses in 2014, ranked.

 

18. Jasmine V f/ Kendrick Lamar “That's Me Right There”

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Producer: Harmony Samuels

Album: That's Me Right There EP

As far as Kendrick Lamar bars go, “That's Me Right There” is the closest he gets to mailing in a verse. A few sexual innuendos and a clever Disney reference mask an overall performance that lacks persuasion.

17. Alicia Keys f/ Kendrick Lamar “It's on Again”

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Producer: Pharrell

Album: The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Soundtrack

Kendrick packs a ton of energy into his verse for “It's on Again,” rapping from the perspective of a courageous individual persevering through the struggle. His words don’t necessarily point toward a specific struggle endured, but instead adhere to a basic theme that makes sense for a record included on the Amazing Spider-Man 2 soundtrack. It doesn’t happen too often, but this is what commercial Kendrick sounds like.

16. Mike WiLL Made It f/ Future, Lil Wayne, and Kendrick Lamar “Buy the World”

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Producer: Mike WiLL Made It, Tapez

Album: Ransom

A boast or two from Kendrick Lamar is always appreciated, and he certainly gets them in on “Buy the World,” Mike WiLL Made It’s silent heater of a single. “Twenty songs that I'm on, number one that shit/My name gon' ring and my team gon' win,” he raps with a charismatic bounce. All the cock talk near the end of the verse could have been avoided, though.

15. Blue, the Misfit f/ Kendrick Lamar “Drugs on the Schoolyard”

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Producer: Blue, the Misfit

Album: N/A

Kendrick channels the chilling duality of the streets on his contribution to Blue, the Misfit's “Drugs on the Schoolyard,” delivering rhymes that feel apropos given recent incidents in Ferguson and Staten Island. “The ruckus that won't stop, the city that hate cops/The niggas that's fed up, shoot and shake cops.” His actual vocals sound slightly dated here, which detracts from an otherwise commendable performance.

14. Reek da Villian f/ Kendrick Lamar, Ace Hood, and Swizz Beatz “Go Off”

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Producer: Swizz Beatz

Album: N/A

Kendrick is on his lyrical miracle shit on “Go Off,” lacing Swizz Beatz’s break-beat production with verbal Molotov cocktails marked for haters in the game. “Acquire many choirs for your funeral/Be quiet before I stand over you like a urinal,” he spits with ease. His verse was certainly a highlight considering who the Compton rapper was sandwiched in between on the track.

13. Jay Rock f/ Kendrick Lamar and Chantal Kreviazuk “Pay for It”

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Producer: Sounwave

Album: N/A

It wasn't too long ago that Kendrick Lamar anointed himself a rap king. Since then, he's been on the offensive as others have challenged his claim. He takes a no-prisoners approach on "Pay for It," once again asserting his dominance in the rap game and putting the competition on notice. "I tell 'em all to hail King Kendrick, resurrectin' my vengeance/Been dissectin' your motormouth, 'til I break down the engine."​ Still, Kendrick takes a backseat to his TDE brother as he is one-upped by Jay Rock's gritty narrative. Not exactly “Money Trees” level, but a clear take nonetheless.

12. Flying Lotus f/ Kendrick Lamar “Eyes Above (Unreleased)”

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Producer: Flying Lotus

Album: N/A

The Compton rapper and Flying Lotus are quickly becoming a much-needed tag team in music, as evidenced by Kendrick Lamar’s verse on the unreleased version of “Eyes Above,” where he delivers a double-time flow over booming production. Kendrick’s intensity is palpable, spouting off rhymes like, “This is no radio fluke, this is me takin' your food/This is you bullied at school, give up your jacket and shoes.” It’s too bad we’ll never get the finished product.

11. Hitta J3 f/ Problem, Kendrick Lamar, and YG “Do Yo Gudda (Remix)”

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Producer: Blast

Album: N/A

Kendrick joins his Compton compadres on the remix for “Do Yo Gudda,” flexing over the record with slick rhymes about his grimy demeanor. This is more in line with the "m.A.A.d city" version of K.Dot, as his lyrics are the sort of tough talk meant to inspire those still grinding away in the streets. “What’s happenin’? I’m bagging through a bitch and gettin' richer/Bought some toys for the kids, bought a chopper for my nigga.” Christmas time in the hood is always turnt.

10. Ab-Soul f/ Kendrick Lamar “Kendrick Lamar's Interlude”

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Producer: Terrace Martin

Album: These Days…

Halfway through Ab-Soul’s These Days…, K.Dot pops up on an interlude that sees the Compton rapper returning a lyrical favor to his TDE brethren. The opening salvo of the verse is taken from a freestyle done for GQ last year, with Kendrick turning up the intensity through his spastic flow and illustrative rhymes: “I'll sabotage this game, a good kid?/Yeah that's only in my mama's eyes/I seen a dead body at five and that shit made me traumatized.” This gritty delivery blends well with Terrace Martin’s avant-garde production, where Kendrick also shouts out Ab-Soul, TDE, and even an elder statesman.

9. Chris Brown f/ Kendrick Lamar “Autumn Leaves”

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Producer: B.A.M., RoccStar

Album: X

Kendrick takes the metaphorical route on “Autumn Leaves,” describing the trials of living life in the limelight. Fame comes with a price, and his words offer a rundown of the pitfalls, whether it be relationships or ridicule. Subsequently, celebs like Kendrick have to proceed with caution. It’s an especially ripe theme given Chris Brown’s own public status. Tension builds at the tail-end of the verse, before Kendrick delivers his reveal: “The iceberg is a reflection of you when you renew your vision/Just think if it had sunk Titanic, the fuck you would do to a critic, my nigga?”

8. Imagine Dragons f/ Kendrick Lamar “Radioactive (Remix)”

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Producer: Alex da Kid

Album: N/A

Imagine Dragons and Kendrick Lamar turned out to be a brilliant pairing and a clear highlight at this year's Grammy Awards, where they debuted the remix of Imagine Dragons' hit single, "Radioactive." Kendrick huffs and puffs his way through his verse, and as the melody climaxes, he's at his most ferocious, spitting each line as if his eyes are bulging with each syllable. He's reaching beyond the stars here—​"Sky's the limit, I gotta finish as the first rapper on Mars​"—his passion turning to near rage before bellowing his only peace offering: "Wishin' good luck on my enemies, all of my energy go to the almighty God/I could drown in a bottle of Hennessy, fuck your amenities, I'm gettin' better with time." 

7. SZA f/ Kendrick Lamar “Babylon”

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Producer: DJ Dahi

Album: Z

Kendrick Lamar enters SZA's chilled and ethereal world on "Babylon," a musical space he doesn't too often encounter. But he's certainly game here, delivering a dark tale of love. Or rather, a tale of love/hate, like The-Dream's debut album. Wearing his heart on his sleeve, Kendrick makes concessions in hopes that it will lead to a better relationship, but the results are far from satisfying. "Down and out on my luck/Salt water all on my tux/And I call, she don't pick up," he raps over moody production. It's a relatively grim story, and Kendrick tells it with conviction.

6. Tame Impala and Kendrick Lamar “Backwards”

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Producer: Kevin Parker

Album: Divergent: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Kendrick's soundtrack collaboration with Alicia Keys and Pharrell was not thoroughly satisfying. Thankfully the same can't be said about his contribution to the Divergent soundtrack. The rapper links up with Tame Impala for what's basically a reworked version of their 2012 single, "Feels Like We Only Go Backward," and he comes correct over the groovy rock-tinged production.

Both of his verses are impressive, but we'll choose the second one for the sake of this list as it features standout lines like "System ain't no system for justice if you would ask me/I'll tell you everything is corrupted, don't you walk past me" and "Trespass on your property/I am properly aimin' to go against ya democracy."​ Kendrick raps with aggression throughout, railing against those who play a negative role in society. "Big as the lies you tell I can tell you feel defeated/The truth will set you free and to me that's the only reason, capisce?" Capisce, K.Dot.

5. Jeezy f/ Kendrick Lamar “Holy Ghost (Remix)”

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Producer: Don Cannon, Lyle LeDuff, Frank Dukes

Album: N/A

Kendrick opens up his “Holy Ghost” verse with a Hail Mary of riches: “I swear the Lord is my shepherd, I'm 'bout to go cop a Lexus/I'm 'bout to go fuck Alexis, take this and flood my Rolexes.” It’s equal parts boastful and merited, his voice ringing over the production as he articulates each syllable with fiery execution. The notion of reaping life’s rewards continue, but like any great Kendrick verse, he brings in self-reflection for perspective. “My youngins asking me do you consider role models useful/It's hard to say when I'm neutral, I'm tryna find out myself.”

4. Kendrick Lamar “i”

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Producer: Rahki

Album: N/A

Love is the theme behind Kendrick’s lead single for his upcoming sophomore album, as the Compton rapper struts and strolls over a soulful backdrop while spreading his positive gospel. Though there’s technically three verses here, the first two short stanzas are really just a setup for the visceral bars that come as the beat switches up. “I went to war last night/With an automatic weapon, don't nobody call a medic/I'ma do it till I get it right,” Kendrick spits, before building up the strength to persevere through the turmoil. “Give my story to the children and a lesson they can read/And the glory to the feeling of the holy unseen.”

3. Flying Lotus f/ Kendrick Lamar “Never Catch Me”

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Producer: Flying Lotus

Album: You're Dead!

The first thought that comes to mind when listening to Kendrick's verse on "Never Catch Me": K.Dot spazzes. He starts off calm, delivering smooth vocals and equally slick rhymes about the metaphysical: "I can see the darkness in me and it's quite amazing/Life and death is no mystery and I wanna taste it." Kendrick's world then unravels into a spiritual state that matches the artwork of this record, his thoughts seemingly functioning on another wavelength. What's so great about this verse is that it's lyrically deep without sounding completely left field of Kendrick's regular approach. Flying Lotus' thrilling roller coaster of a beat is the icing on the cake here.

2. YG f/ Kendrick Lamar “Really Be (Smokin N Drinkin)”

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Producer: Ty Dolla $ign, Chordz

Album: My Krazy Life

It took a fellow Compton representative to bring out the best in Kendrick Lamar, with his verse on "Really Be (Smokin N Drinkin)" epitomizing the survival state of mind of nearly every South Central native. After YG delivers a haunting narrative of the struggle, Kendrick breaks down his own day-to-day paranoia. It's an issue that turns a relatively level-headed Kendrick to the tried-and-true stress remedy. "I've really been drinkin'/Muthafucka, I really been smokin', what the fuck? I'm the sober one," he spits. His delivery is captivating from the first syllable, pulling the listener into his world over lurking production. The m.A.A.d city never sleeps.

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