| Feel | |
| Artist: | Kendrick Lamar |
| Album: | Damn |
| Recorded: | 2017 |
| Genre: | Jazz rap |
"Feel" (stylized as "FEEL.") is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, from his fourth studio album Damn, released on April 14, 2017. The fifth track on the album (tenth on the Collector's Edition of Damn[1]), the song was written by Lamar and Mark Spears, Sounwave, and produced by Sounwave. The song features bass from bass guitarist Thundercat and vocals from Chelsea Blythe. The song originally had a music video which was never released and randomly leaked on YouTube.
The song sees Lamar taking a deeper look into the void and isolation caused by fame and success, specifically how he feels detached from his family and friends.[2]
A common recurrence in "Feel" is the phrase "Ain't nobody prayin' for me", a sentiment that Lamar "revisits elsewhere".[3]
In a positive review, writers of Rolling Stone magazine said "with round, textured notes from the Grammy-winning bass virtuoso Thundercat and a rickety, rim-shot drum pulse, "Feel" nods to the live-musician inflections of To Pimp a Butterfly – or the sixth track from last year's untitled unmastered.[4] Ann Powers of NPR Music also gave a positive review, saying "Feel" was the first song that "jumped out" at her on Damn. Powers also commented that the song is reminiscent of To Pimp a Butterfly.[5]
The song contains a sample of the song "Stormy" by American musician O. C. Smith from the album For Once in My Life.[6] It also contains interpolations from "Don't Let Me Down" by Fleurie from the album Love and War.[7] [8]
Lamar has performed "Feel" as an encore on the Damn tour.[9]
Credits adapted from the official Damn digital booklet.
| Chart (2017) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Ireland (IRMA)[10] | 34 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[11] | 32 |