Untitled 03 – 05.28.2013. Explained

Untitled 03 | 05.28.2013.| cover = | alt = | type = | artist = Kendrick Lamar| album = untitled unmastered.| released = | format = | recorded = May 28, 2013| studio = | venue = | genre = * Hip hop

| length = | label = | writer = | producer = }}"Untitled 03 | 05.28.2013.", titled "Untitled 1" before its official release, is a song by the American rapper Kendrick Lamar, featured on his compilation album, Untitled Unmastered.

Content

The song tells a story of four people that give Lamar advice: an Asian, Indian, black and white man, the latter of whom attempts to financially exploit him.[1] Anna Wise prompts the section for each person.[2] The song also explores the concepts of Afrofuturism and freedom.[3] The original repeated ending line "Tell 'em we don't die, we multiply" has been viewed as a reference to the movie Bebe's Kids (1992)[4] [5] and the N.W.A song "Real Niggaz Don't Die" (1991).[6] This line was removed on the official release, with Consequence reasoning that this was to make the "solution remain vague".[7]

Critical reception

Justin Davis of Complex wrote that Lamar's fast rapping near the end of "Untitled 03 | 05.28.2013." showcased "his outrageous technical skill". He described the song as impactful and reckoned that fans who did not like the single "I" would be "very relieved" by Lamar's return to more jazz-style music.[8] In 2022, Consequence listed "Untitled 03" as Lamar's ninth-best song, complimenting its exploration of the topic of maintaining personal integrity when confronted with tempting rewards from manipulative record executives.[9] Graham Corrigan of Complex listed it as one of his ten favorite songs of 2016.[10]

Live performances

The song was performed publicly for the first time on December 16, 2014, on The Colbert Report, during promotion for Lamar's third studio album, To Pimp a Butterfly.[11] This made it the first Untitled Unmastered song ever publicly revealed. According to Terrace Martin, the lyrics were composed the day before the show because of Lamar's reluctance to perform "I".[12]

References

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: Russell . Brooklyn . Music Review: Kendrick Lamar - untitled unmastered. . 2024-06-26 . Tiny Mix Tapes . en.
  2. Web site: Bartleet . Larry . 2016-03-04 . Kendrick Lamar's 'untitled unmastered.' – Track By Track First Listen . 2024-06-26 . NME . en-GB.
  3. Web site: Tardio . Andres . 2016-03-04 . TDE’s Punch Details Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Spiritual Side’ & Prince Inspiration on ‘Untitled Unmastered’ Project . 2024-06-26 . Billboard . en-US.
  4. Web site: Mansfield . Brian . Kendrick Lamar premieres untitled song on 'Colbert' . 2024-06-26 . USA TODAY . en-US.
  5. Web site: Hooton . Christopher . December 19, 2014 . Kendrick Lamar debuted a powerful, experimental new track on The Colbert Report . The Independent.
  6. Web site: Lockett . Dee . 2014-12-17 . Watch Kendrick Lamar Perform a New Song as The Colbert Report’s Final Musical Guest . 2024-06-26 . Slate Magazine.
  7. Web site: Kivel . Adam . 2016-03-07 . Kendrick Lamar's untitled unmastered. Lives in the Same Cathartic World as To Pimp a Butterfly . 2024-06-26 . en-US.
  8. Web site: Davis . Justin . December 17, 2014 . Kendrick Lamar Premieres "Untitled" on "The Colbert Report" . 2024-06-24 . Complex . en-us.
  9. Web site: 2022-05-10 . Kendrick Lamar's 10 Best Songs: See The List . 2024-06-24 . en-US.
  10. Web site: December 21, 2016 . The Complex Staff Lists Their Favorite Songs and Albums of 2016 .
  11. Web site: Kendrick Lamar Debuts New Song on 'The Colbert Report'. Pitchfork Media. 17 December 2014 .
  12. Web site: Khoury . Olivia Jade . 2015-02-12 . Kendrick Lamar Wrote His Untitled ‘Colbert Report’ Song The Day Before? . 2024-06-24 . VIBE.com . en-US.
  13. Web site: Veckolista Heatseeker, vecka 10, 2016. Sverigetopplistan. sv. May 9, 2021.