Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp A Butterfly Medley (The Late Show with Stephen Colbert) lyrics

[Intro: Kendrick Lamar] You know once upon a time, not long ago There was a caterpillar that lived life slow And a couple inches he stood And he said to the bu*terfly, "What's good?" And the bu*terfly told him one day he gon' make him rich And then they said something else I don't remember what they said But I think it was something like the lines of: Wesley's Theory: [Verse 1: Kendrick Lamar] When I get signed, homie, I'mma act a fool Hit the dance floor, strobe lights in the room Snatch your little secretary thing for the homies Blue-eyed devil with a fat old monkey I'mma buy a brand new Caddy on fours Trunk the hood up, two times, deuce-four Platinum on everything, platinum on wedding ring Married to the game and a bad thing chose When I get signed, homie, I'ma buy a strap Straight from the CIA, set it on my lap Take a few M-16s to the hood Pa** them all out on the block, what's good? I'mma put the Compton swap meet by the White House Republican run up, get socked out Hit the Pres with a Cuban link on my neck Uneducated, but I got a million-dollar check hold on [Pre-Hook: Kendrick Lamar & Thundercat] We should've never gave We should've never gave brothers Money go back home, money go back home We should've never gave We should've never gave brothers, money go back home, money go back home Momma: [Verse 2: Kendrick Lamar] This feeling is unmatched This feeling is brought to you by adrenaline and good rap Black Pendleton ball cap We don't share the same synonym, fall back Been in it before internet had new acts Mimicking radio's nemesis made me wack My innocence limited the experience lacked Ten of us with no tentative tactic that cracked The mind of a literate writer, but I did it in fact You admitted it once I submitted it wrapped in plastic Remember scribbling scratching diligent sentences backwards Visiting freestyle cyphers for your reaction [Interlude: Kendrick Lamar (Anna Wise)] (Kendrick Lamar) Oh, what's going on? (Something's on my mind) I think something on my mind, too (I think it's about that time) I think it's about that time (Put a little pimping in my pocket) Hit me! King Kunta: [Intro 2: Kendrick Lamar] I got a bone to pick I don't want you monkey-mouth... sitting in my throne again (Hold up) I'm mad (he mad!), but I ain't stressing, noo True friends, one question [Hook: Kendrick Lamar] Tell me, where you when I was walking? Now I run the game, whole world talking, King Kunta Everybody wanna cut the legs off him, Kunta Black man taking no losses, oh yeah Tell me where you when I was walking? Now I run the game, whole world talking, King Kunta Everybody wanna cut the legs off him [Verse 3: Kendrick Lamar & (Anna Wise)] When you got the yams (What's the yams?) The yam is the power that be, be, be, be, be You can smell it when I'm walking down the street (Oh yes we can, oh yes we can) I can dig rappin' But a rapper with a ghost writer, tell me what happened to you? (Oh no!) No, I swore I wouldn't tell But most of y'all sharing bars like you got the bottom bunk in a two man cell (A two man cell?) Something's in the water (Something's in the water) And if I gotta brown nose for some gold Then I'd rather be a bum than a dumb, dumb baller [Hook: Kendrick Lamar] Tell me, where were you when I was walking? Now I run the game got the whole world talking, King Kunta Everybody wanna cut the legs off him, Kunta Black man taking no losses, oh yeah Tell me where were you when I was walking? Now I run the game, whole world talking, King Kunta Everybody wanna cut the legs off him [Verse 4: Kendrick Lamar (Anna Wise)] When you got the yams... (What's the yams?) The yam brought it out of Richard Pryor, R.I.P. Manipulated Bill Clinton with desires 24/7, 365 days times two, I was contemplating getting on stage Just to go back to the hood, see my enemy and say [Hook: Kendrick Lamar] Tell me, where were you when I was walkin'? Now I run the game got the whole world talkin', King Kunta Everybody wanna cut the legs off him, Kunta Black man taking no losses, oh yeah Tell me where were you when I was walkin'? Now I run the game, whole world talkin', King Kunta Everybody wanna cut the legs off him When you got the yams... (What's the yams?) [Verse 5: Kendrick Lamar] (You goat-mouth, mammy f-) I was gonna k** a couple rappers but they did it to themselves Everybody's suicidal, even need my help This is elementary, I'll probably go to jail If I shoot at your identity and bounce to the left Stuck a flag in my city, everybody's screaming "Compton!" I should probably run for Mayor when I'm done, to be honest And I put that on my Mama and my baby boo, too (Twenty million walkin' out the court building, woo woo!) u: [Verse 6: Kendrick Lamar] Aahh, aahh, aahh! I place blame on you still, place shame on you still Feel like you ain't it, feel like you don't feel Confidence in yourself, breaking on marble floors Watching anonymous strangers, telling me that I'm yours But you ain't it, I'm convinced your tolerance nothing special What can I blame you for, I can name several Situations, I'll start with your little sister baking A baby inside, just a teenager, where your patience? What was your influence, where was the influence you speak of? You preached in front of 100,000 but never reached her I tell you, you damn failure — you ain't no leader! I never liked you, forever despise you — I don't need you! The world don't need you, don't let them deceive you Numbers lie too, buck your pride too, that's for dedication Thought money would change you, made you more complacent I hate you, I hope you embrace it I swear [Hook 2: Kendrick Lamar] Loving you is complicated, loving you is -mplicated Loving you is compli-, loving you is complicated Loving you is complicated, loving you is complicated Loving you is complicated, loving you is complicated Loving you is complicated Loving you, not loving you, one hundred proof [Bridge] (I can feel your body recognize that you're ashamed of me) You're afraid of me (Yes I hate you too) Yes I [Outro] When you look in my eye Tell me there's more inside Tell me you're feeling high Tell me you're here tonight Tell me you hear my pain Hear my soul, how you feeling? Now you know If you see it, if you would, God Now get the gold yeah Wooh!