Blood (Kendrick Lamar song) explained

Blood
Artist:Kendrick Lamar
Album:Damn
Recorded:2017

"Blood" (stylized as "BLOOD.") is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, from his fourth studio album Damn, released on April 14, 2017. As the opening track on the album (fourteenth and final on the Collector's Edition of Damn[1]), the song was written by Lamar, Daniel Tannenbaum, and Anthony Tiffith, and produced by Bēkon and Tiffith.

Composition

The track consists of Lamar telling a story in which he is shot by a blind woman he tries to help.[2] According to Genius, the woman represents the consequences that leads to Damnation from the Book of Deuteronomy.[3] The intro is followed by audio of Fox News' reporters criticizing Lamar.[4]

Lamar himself has stated the intro as a struggle between wickedness and weakness, essentially the battle between good and evil.[5]

Samples

The track contains an excerpt from Fox News' The Five members Eric Bolling, Kimberly Guilfoyle, and Geraldo Rivera criticizing Lamar's performance of "Alright" at the 2015 BET Awards.[6] [7] [8] Lamar would later call out Rivera and Fox News on the album's third track, "Yah".

Critical reception

According to rap-up.com, the song is enough for one to say "DAMN." (a play on the title of the album), and begs the listener to "further analyze the flawed system [the song] dissects."

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the official Damn digital booklet.

Charts

Chart (2017)Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)[9] 41
New Zealand Heatseekers (Recorded Music NZ)[10] 1

Notes and References

  1. Web site: India. Lindsey. Kendrick Lamar Surprises Fans With 'Damn.' Collector's Edition. XXL. December 9, 2017. December 8, 2017.
  2. Web site: Tardio. Andres. 14 Times Kendrick Lamar Made Us Say 'DAMN.' on His Album. Rap-Up. April 20, 2017. April 24, 2017.
  3. News: Cook-Wilson. Winston. Lil Yachty's Reaction to Kendrick Lamar's "BLOOD." is Extremely Good. April 14, 2017. Spin. April 24, 2017.
  4. Kendrick Lamar's 'Damn.': A Track-by-Track Guide. Rolling Stone. April 14, 2017. April 24, 2017.
  5. News: Britton. Luke Morgan. Kendrick Lamar - 'DAMN.': First-listen track-by-track review – NME. April 14, 2017. NME. April 24, 2017. en-US.
  6. Web site: Watch the Fox News Clip Kendrick Lamar Sampled on 'DAMN.' - XXL. XXL. 14 April 2017 . en-US. April 24, 2017.
  7. News: Kendrick Lamar Calls Out Fox News and Geraldo Rivera on His New Album. Carter. Terry. POPSUGAR News. April 24, 2017. en-US.
  8. Web site: Kendrick Lamar's 'BLOOD.' – Discover the Sample Source. WhoSampled. April 24, 2017.
  9. Web site: IRMA – Irish Charts. Irish Recorded Music Association. April 21, 2017.
  10. Web site: NZ Heatseekers Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. April 21, 2017. April 21, 2017.