If I could only bring one song with me to a desert island, it would “i” by Kendrick Lamar. The song’s infectious melody is impossible not to dance to, just as Kendrick does in the music video. At the same time, the lyrics have a message of self-acceptance that rings true even after the initial novelty of the song has worn off. The result is an evergreen song that is apropos in both good and bad times.
As the first song released by Lamar since his beloved major label debut, Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City, “i” was highly anticipated. But reception to the song was largely negative, with fans criticizing Lamar for selling out, prompting headlines like “Why Do People Hate Kendrick Lamar’s ‘i’ So Much?”
But once Lamar’s magnum opus, To Pimp A Butterfly, was released, the brilliance of “i” was clear. It is the last song on the album, save for “Mortal Man” which is arguably more of a conversation than a song. The songs preceding “i” are a rigorous examination of racism in America and its devastating impacts on African Americans. In particular, in the song “u”, Lamar talks to himself in a mirror, revealing his self-loathing. In the context of the album, “i” is not a platitude about self-love, but rather an embrace of self-love as an act of defiance against a racist world and Lamar’s own depressive thoughts.
Even for those who have not experienced Lamar’s specific struggles, the message of self-love is so poignantly made that the song serves as a balm to anyone who has ever doubted themselves. He doesn’t need to explicitly reach out to listeners and exhort them to love themselves, because the song draws listeners in so organically.
Though the song’s overarching message is easy to understand (the refrain “I love myself” appears throughout the song), the verses are packed with metaphors, and I notice something new each time I listen to it. For example, he uses the phrase “fi-fie-fo-fum” from Jack and the Giant Beanstalk twice. The first time, he compares himself to Jack: a tenacious underdog. The second time, he uses the phrase to compare himself to an unstoppable giant. His most potent analogy is in his third verse, where he compares his fight with depression to going to war each night. The beat becomes more minimalist, allowing Lamar’s staccato lyrics to sound like a barrage that one might hear in a warzone.
Of course, the song would not be great without its fun, high tempo beat which perfectly matches its triumphant lyrics. Lamar wanted to sample the Isley Brothers’ 1973 hit, “That Lady,” a song which up till then had only been sampled in Swiffer commercials. Rather than sample the song, however, producer Rahki had musicians re-record the song to achieve the exact sound he wanted. The choice was well-made; a sample of the original song would not have matched the jazz-inspired sound of the rest of the album as well as the re-recording did. But the spirit of the original is still preserved, which is what gives “i” its catchiness. Presumably, The Isley Brothers were okay with the choice, as they are credited as songwriters, and Ronald Isley appears in the song’s music video.
While the song did enjoy critical success, it still feels under-appreciated to me. It’s far from Lamar’s most popular song, and often does not make his concert setlist. But he once said in an interview that it is the best song he’s ever written, and I agree.
Vikram Narayan 