"Meet The Duckworths" lyrics
Dear Kendrick
I seen you — young, skinny bones, scribblin' on them stoops
Dreamin' past that Section 80, flippin' rhymes into troops
You got that glow, lil' homie, that fire behind your frown
And if the glow too bright, the white man gon' dim you down
So slow it down
I ain't here to shame ya, I'm here to lace you up in advance
'Cause this world don't love poets — they just auction our stance
He'll slide a deal in your lap, but don't mistake it for rap...
They'll call you conscious, but they'll market your grief
Turn your trauma to streams while they dine like a thief
So befriend him, Kendrick—
So befriend him, Kendrick—
Red light, just play it cool
Let him think you blind
While you studied his every line
Get so close he don't notice when you vanish like mist...
Learn his tongue, help 'em stack his paper, but never forget your fist
Remember, this melanin runs deeper than abyss
They try to take it to institution—
Not right now, but they'll come, time for your mass retribution
Don't bow for Grammys, don't cry for validation
'Cause they'll quote your bars and still fund mass incarceration
Hahaha
Unless its in ya favor Kendrick
Hahaha... unless it's in ya favor, Kendrick
Your gift is your curse, but your voice is a blade
You'll see fame come fast — just like the corners here in Compton
But shine wrong, and you'll wake up all alone on your throne
You don't have to wife them broads
Tell her you want to — and get ya money
You'll be a prophet — don't become they puppet
Don't let 'em use your pain just to show they love it
You gon' hear "King Kendrick" a lot
They'll flood you with praise
But remember — pedestals flip
When the trends start to fade
So diss 'em, Kendrick... gasp
So when the time is right, diss 'em, Kendrick
You from Bompton, not Paula — don't let that mix you
They love our rhythm, but hate what we been through
They'll dress you in silk or a Canadian suit
And say you healed the culture...
Then cast you in roles where you cracked out and vultured
Just so you can remember what path you used to be on
Damn, what a statistic —
A pipe in your hand, twitchin' on them TV show sets
Like that was always your fate — no dignity left
I seen that scene before, boy
Future in plain sight
They gon' use your gift until you a ghost in the night
This a mirror, held still
A letter from the real to the dream you going to build
Get your shine, Duckworth — but peep the cost of the climb, Duckworth
And if the white man's your friend, try to leave him far behind
Before he betrays ya...
Before he betrays ya
Oh yeah, he gon' betray ya
So betray him first
Dear Paula
You named him Kendrick, after Temptation's fame
But ain't no harmony in hardship
When the streets taming his name
You gave him melody
But never taught him peace in the chorus — no guidance, just force
And the silence with the belt
He was scribblin' bars while the roaches crept through the stove
That hunted his eyes
You was strong — but where was love when he fell from faith?
A young king with big dreams
Writin' pain in his rhyme scheme
You just prayed he'd grow strong
Without addressing the crimes
You just let him roam the streets
That just taught him how to be... how to be so shysty
K-Dot — he wore it heavy, like y'all passed down the load
He forgave you on the track — but in life, who really knows?
He found God, but not comfort
Fame, but not ease
So he put the thorns on his head just to forget the screams
You raised a lion, sure
But never showed him how to breathe
Played a crackhead on screen
But that was therapy too
He survived the role you wrote
Though it barely fit you
You said, "Be a man"
But where's the model in that phrase?
Told him life ain't fair
Then stepped back from the maze
He a poet with a wound
Dressed in Pulitzer & Grammy threads
But you ain't hug him
After verses where he spoke to the dead
He healed you in Morale
Laid it all on the track
But I wonder, Mrs. Paula —
Have you ever gave that love back?
After accusing him of being molested...?
You a Black mom, no doubt — and the world been cold
But I'ma tell you 'bout this boy I know
His name is Karmelo Anthony
He's influenced by ya son
So this message ain't hate —
It's the truth from the block
Where OGs seen boys turn men, Glock
How can I say this...?
He took my advice from when we talked when I was younger
I want to apologize
Because of me, he showed these kids hate
When I told ya son this, I was in an immature state of mind
If we act like them, we are not the better man
I supported that boy's fund today, but just to let you know
Ya son's still a cracked-out nigga that's not from the Bay
Dear Adonis
Don't trust these broken niggas — they real dishonest
I promise
They do it to their own kin
Just to win
But it's a sin — and they don't know it
'Cause they don't aspire to leave the area code
They'll fake the funk 'cause they scared...
You'll take the rug from under they nose
They don't know who they are — and rightfully so
The system red-lined us into these ghettos
So their mamas can tweak it
Just to buy her Birkin
Missing her man that's locked up
Now he feel like a burden
Throw the money — so what?
And keep the same attitude
Look, we not all like this
We graduating and making money hand over fist
They not scared of you — they'll embrace you
Just like this
Them guys don't know your roots
That's that East Coast Memphis
Second home, second home of the 6
Deep South
Shoutout to the Ville
Fortunate enough to leave my ZIP code
And to be taught something trill
They gon' respect my wishes when they ride my wave
I done moved to the North
Now they know where I stay
Tell 'em Idaho is right next to Canada
I'm stuck in my ways — not a deadbeat
And I'm not in a cage
Lyrically trigga-happy like mom and pappy
Boppin' the rage with a yitta
Up in Emmett making this money
Credit score gone up past 735
What a time to be alive
What a time to be jin...
You think Boise ain't poppin'?
We in that wild wild west
Where you think they send the outlaws?
Certified of the Bay, Kaiser Permanente
Still throwin' them bows
Yeah, I got it from the system — I better behave
Young head, but I always got an old head with me
Ain't gotta lock no kitty down
'Cause kitty flock me heavy
Gone and resurrect the party now
'Cause I'm right behind a bitty
And I'm tryna get litty on a yacht
Middle finger to the red & blues on the water
Tryna hold me back
I'm just doing what I wanna do
You just doing what you can do
Bot train make it rain like it's voodoo
What?
Say haaaa
I seen you — young, skinny bones, scribblin' on them stoops
Dreamin' past that Section 80, flippin' rhymes into troops
You got that glow, lil' homie, that fire behind your frown
And if the glow too bright, the white man gon' dim you down
So slow it down
I ain't here to shame ya, I'm here to lace you up in advance
'Cause this world don't love poets — they just auction our stance
He'll slide a deal in your lap, but don't mistake it for rap...
They'll call you conscious, but they'll market your grief
Turn your trauma to streams while they dine like a thief
So befriend him, Kendrick—
So befriend him, Kendrick—
Red light, just play it cool
Let him think you blind
While you studied his every line
Get so close he don't notice when you vanish like mist...
Learn his tongue, help 'em stack his paper, but never forget your fist
Remember, this melanin runs deeper than abyss
They try to take it to institution—
Not right now, but they'll come, time for your mass retribution
Don't bow for Grammys, don't cry for validation
'Cause they'll quote your bars and still fund mass incarceration
Hahaha
Unless its in ya favor Kendrick
Hahaha... unless it's in ya favor, Kendrick
Your gift is your curse, but your voice is a blade
You'll see fame come fast — just like the corners here in Compton
But shine wrong, and you'll wake up all alone on your throne
You don't have to wife them broads
Tell her you want to — and get ya money
You'll be a prophet — don't become they puppet
Don't let 'em use your pain just to show they love it
You gon' hear "King Kendrick" a lot
They'll flood you with praise
But remember — pedestals flip
When the trends start to fade
So diss 'em, Kendrick... gasp
So when the time is right, diss 'em, Kendrick
You from Bompton, not Paula — don't let that mix you
They love our rhythm, but hate what we been through
They'll dress you in silk or a Canadian suit
And say you healed the culture...
Then cast you in roles where you cracked out and vultured
Just so you can remember what path you used to be on
Damn, what a statistic —
A pipe in your hand, twitchin' on them TV show sets
Like that was always your fate — no dignity left
I seen that scene before, boy
Future in plain sight
They gon' use your gift until you a ghost in the night
This a mirror, held still
A letter from the real to the dream you going to build
Get your shine, Duckworth — but peep the cost of the climb, Duckworth
And if the white man's your friend, try to leave him far behind
Before he betrays ya...
Before he betrays ya
Oh yeah, he gon' betray ya
So betray him first
Dear Paula
You named him Kendrick, after Temptation's fame
But ain't no harmony in hardship
When the streets taming his name
You gave him melody
But never taught him peace in the chorus — no guidance, just force
And the silence with the belt
He was scribblin' bars while the roaches crept through the stove
That hunted his eyes
You was strong — but where was love when he fell from faith?
A young king with big dreams
Writin' pain in his rhyme scheme
You just prayed he'd grow strong
Without addressing the crimes
You just let him roam the streets
That just taught him how to be... how to be so shysty
K-Dot — he wore it heavy, like y'all passed down the load
He forgave you on the track — but in life, who really knows?
He found God, but not comfort
Fame, but not ease
So he put the thorns on his head just to forget the screams
You raised a lion, sure
But never showed him how to breathe
Played a crackhead on screen
But that was therapy too
He survived the role you wrote
Though it barely fit you
You said, "Be a man"
But where's the model in that phrase?
Told him life ain't fair
Then stepped back from the maze
He a poet with a wound
Dressed in Pulitzer & Grammy threads
But you ain't hug him
After verses where he spoke to the dead
He healed you in Morale
Laid it all on the track
But I wonder, Mrs. Paula —
Have you ever gave that love back?
After accusing him of being molested...?
You a Black mom, no doubt — and the world been cold
But I'ma tell you 'bout this boy I know
His name is Karmelo Anthony
He's influenced by ya son
So this message ain't hate —
It's the truth from the block
Where OGs seen boys turn men, Glock
How can I say this...?
He took my advice from when we talked when I was younger
I want to apologize
Because of me, he showed these kids hate
When I told ya son this, I was in an immature state of mind
If we act like them, we are not the better man
I supported that boy's fund today, but just to let you know
Ya son's still a cracked-out nigga that's not from the Bay
Dear Adonis
Don't trust these broken niggas — they real dishonest
I promise
They do it to their own kin
Just to win
But it's a sin — and they don't know it
'Cause they don't aspire to leave the area code
They'll fake the funk 'cause they scared...
You'll take the rug from under they nose
They don't know who they are — and rightfully so
The system red-lined us into these ghettos
So their mamas can tweak it
Just to buy her Birkin
Missing her man that's locked up
Now he feel like a burden
Throw the money — so what?
And keep the same attitude
Look, we not all like this
We graduating and making money hand over fist
They not scared of you — they'll embrace you
Just like this
Them guys don't know your roots
That's that East Coast Memphis
Second home, second home of the 6
Deep South
Shoutout to the Ville
Fortunate enough to leave my ZIP code
And to be taught something trill
They gon' respect my wishes when they ride my wave
I done moved to the North
Now they know where I stay
Tell 'em Idaho is right next to Canada
I'm stuck in my ways — not a deadbeat
And I'm not in a cage
Lyrically trigga-happy like mom and pappy
Boppin' the rage with a yitta
Up in Emmett making this money
Credit score gone up past 735
What a time to be alive
What a time to be jin...
You think Boise ain't poppin'?
We in that wild wild west
Where you think they send the outlaws?
Certified of the Bay, Kaiser Permanente
Still throwin' them bows
Yeah, I got it from the system — I better behave
Young head, but I always got an old head with me
Ain't gotta lock no kitty down
'Cause kitty flock me heavy
Gone and resurrect the party now
'Cause I'm right behind a bitty
And I'm tryna get litty on a yacht
Middle finger to the red & blues on the water
Tryna hold me back
I'm just doing what I wanna do
You just doing what you can do
Bot train make it rain like it's voodoo
What?
Say haaaa
