“The Blacker the Berry," was released on March, 15th, 2015 on Kendrick Lamar’s album "To Pimp a Butterfly." The album was released exactly 3 years ago; however, the powerful message behind the lyrics still remain. Listen, enjoy, and recognize the powerful meaning behind his lyrics.
[Intro]
Everything black, I don't want black (They want us to bow)I want everything black, I ain't need black (Down to our knees) Some white, some black, I ain't mean black (And pray to a God)I want everything black (That we don't believe) Everything black, want all things black I don't need black, want everything black Don't need black, our eyes ain't black I own black, own everything black
I believe the intro represents the thoughts that go through the minds of Black people, and the internal conflicts between themselves. The words in parenthesis in the background of the song remind me of a quote by Desmond Tutu, "When the missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said 'Let us pray.' We closed our eyes. When we opened them we had the Bible and they had the land." Christianity is sometimes referred to as "the white man's religion." I believe Kendrick is referring to this with the words in parenthesis. When Europeans came to Africa, they also brought their religion, Christianity, with them and tried to erase the traditional religions that Africans practiced. Thus, Europeans forced their religion upon the places they colonized and the people they enslaved.
[Bridge]
Six in the morn', fire in the street Burn, baby, burn, that's all I wanna see And sometimes I get off watchin' you die in vain It's such a shame they may call me crazy. They may say I suffer from schizophrenia or somethin' But homie, you made me. Black don't crack, my nigga
Kendrick Lamar released this song less than a year after the police shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager. Lamar refers to the "fire in the street," which represents the riots, vandalism, and looting that occurred in Ferguson after the shooting of Brown, which is now known as the "Ferguson Unrest." However, Lamar's response to the shooting was criticized by many, Lamar stated, "What happened to [Michael Brown] should’ve never happened. Never. But when we don’t have respect for ourselves, how do we expect them to respect us? It starts from within. Don’t start with just a rally, don’t start from looting — it starts from within.” His response correlates with the second half of the Bridge of the song. He was considered crazy because he called out the lack of respect in the black community. Lamar points out that "you made me." He is referring to Amerikkka. Amerikkka has made him the way he is today. At the end, he says, "Black don't crack." Usually, this term is used to say black people never age, but Lamar uses this phrase to say he's not crazy because black don't crack. He changes the meaning behind the word crack.
[Verse 1]
I'm the biggest hypocrite of 2015. Once I finish this, witnesses will convey just what I mean. Been feeling this way since I was 16, came to my senses You never liked us anyway, fuck your friendship, I meant it. I'm African-American, I'm African. I'm black as the moon, heritage of a small village. Pardon my residence, Came from the bottom of mankind
Lamar explains the struggle of how some black people do not like to refer themselves as "African-American." Because of the racism black people face every day in America, it is hard to consider themselves "Amerikkkan." Instead, Lamar changes it and refers to himself as African. In addition, Kendrick Lamar is from Compton, which is located on the south-side of Los Angeles. Compton is known as the "hood" or "ghetto" part of Los Angeles and has been populated with many minorities both Black and Latinx for several years. He refers to this place as the bottom of mankind.
[Verse 1 continued]
My hair is nappy, my dick is big, my nose is round and wide You hate me don't you? You hate my people, your plan is to terminate my culture You're fuckin' evil I want you to recognize that I'm a proud monkey You vandalize my perception but can't take style from me.
Here, Lamar takes pride in the stereotypes created against Black people by calling himself a proud monkey. Also, he takes pride in the unique features of black people, such as having nappy hair and big noses. Lamar calls out Amerikkka for hating black people, and trying to terminate our culture by appropriating it themselves. The last line also refers to cultural appropriation. Lamar is saying that Amerikkka can vandalize black culture with appropriation, but they can't take the style away from black people as much as they try.
[Verse 1 continued]
And this is more than confession. I mean I might press the button just so you know my discretion. I'm guardin' my feelings, I know that you feel it. You sabotage my community, makin' a killin. 'You made me a killer, emancipation of a real nigga.
Lamar refers to the War on Drugs and the Raegan administration that sabotaged the black community with drugs starting in the 1970's.
[Pre Hook]
The blacker the berry, the sweeter the juiceThe blacker the berry, the sweeter the juiceThe blacker the berry, the sweeter the juiceThe blacker the berry, the bigger I shoot
The blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice is the introductory line from Tupac's song, "Keep ya head up." Tupac used this line to say the blacker you are the better; therefore, if you are a darker shade you shouldn’t feel ashamed. However, Lamar changes the last line. "The bigger I shoot" referring to black people shooting each other and police shooting black people because the blacker you are, the more you are seen as a threat to society.
[Hook]
I said they treat me like a slave, cah' me black Woi, we feel a whole heap of pain, cah' we black And man a say they put me inna chains, cah' we black Imagine now, big gold chains full of rocks How you no see the whip, left scars pon' me back But now we have a big whip parked pon' the block All them say we doomed from the start, cah' we blackRemember this, every race start from the block, jus 'member dat
The hook compares the past and the present forms of oppression black people face. First, the hook starts with recognizing how black people have been and are currently still treated like slaves and go through hardships because of the color of their skin. Furthermore, the hook explains how black people once wore chains during slavery but now wear gold chains. Next, the hook explains how slaves were whipped and had scars, but now they have a "big whip," a nice, fancy car. People considered black people as doomed during slavery, and they still see them as doomed because they use expensive materialistic things to make up for the way they are seen to society, but society's perception does not change. The last line refers to the fact that every person has some form of African descent in them. There are beliefs that black people were the first humans on earth; therefore, everyone comes from black people.
[Verse 2]
I'm the biggest hypocrite of 2015. Once I finish this, witnesses will convey just what I mean. I mean, it's evident that I'm irrelevant to society. That's what you're telling me, penitentiary would only hire me.
Throughout history, it is obvious that Amerikkka does not care about black people, and many people in society think black people only belong in jails and prisons.
[Verse 2 continued]
Curse me till I'm dead. Church me with your fake prophesizing that I'mma be just another slave in my head.
Lamar makes another reference to how the Bible and Christianity were forced upon slaves. Europeans used the Bible as proof to say that slavery was a part of God's will because it is stated in the Bible. Lamar calls this fake prophesizing.
Institutionalized manipulation and lies. Reciprocation of freedom only live in your eyes You hate me don't you?
Institutionalized refers to institutionalized racism through institutions such as jails and prisons because there is a disproportionate number of African-Americans in prison. Also, the second line represents that people believe that prison is not a form of institutional racism; therefore, Lamar states, freedom only lives in the eyes of white people.
I know you hate me just as much as you hate yourself. Jealous of my wisdom and cards I dealt. Watchin' me as I pull up, fill up my tank, then peel out. Muscle cars like pull ups, show you what these big wheels 'bout, ah Black and successful, this black man meant to be special Katzkins on my radar, bitch, how can I help you? How can I tell you I'm making a killin'? You made me a killer, emancipation of a real nigga.
Lamar takes pride in being black and successful despite all the hardships black people endure. Moreover, the last two lines reflect how racism in Amerikkka has ultimately turned Lamar into a killer. He is what Amerikkka has made him. Now, he too is a part of the killing of African-Americans.
[Pre-Hook]
The blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice. The blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice. The blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice. The blacker the berry, the bigger I shoot
[Hook:]
I said they treat me like a slave, cah' me black. Woi, we feel a whole heap of pain, cah' we black. And man a say they put me inna chains, cah' we black. Imagine now, big gold chains full of rocks. How you no see the whip, left scars pon' me back. But now we have a big whip parked pon' the block. All them say we doomed from the start, cah' we black. Remember this, every race start from the block, jus 'member dat
[Verse 3]
I'm the biggest hypocrite of 2015. When I finish this if you listenin' then sure you will agree. This plot is bigger than me, it's generational hatred It's genocism, it's grimy, little justification I'm African-American, I'm African I'm black as the heart of a fuckin' Aryan I'm black as the name of Tyrone and Darius Excuse my French but fuck you — no, fuck y'all That's as blunt as it gets, I know you hate me, don't you? You hate my people, I can tell cause it's threats when I see you I can tell cause your ways deceitful Know I can tell because you're in love with that Desert Eagle Thinkin' maliciously, he get a chain then you gone bleed him
Lamar calls this generational hatred within the black community. I believe this hared is caused by Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome. After slavery black people were traumatized, and this was passed on to generations of African-Americans that has caused hatred between themselves. Lamar also notes the stereotypical names for black men Tyrone and Darius to say how black he is.
[Verse 3 continued]
It's funny how Zulu and Xhosa might go to war Two tribal armies that want to build and destroy Remind me of these Compton Crip gangs that live next door Beefin' with Pirus, only death settle the score
Lamar compares the similarities between the South African tribes and gangs in Amerikkka. The Zulu and Xhosa tribes are at war with each other just as predominately black gangs such as the bloods and crips are at war with each other in places like Compton. Therefore, black people are at war with each other all over the world, not just in Amerikkka.
So don't matter how much I say I like to preach with the Panthers. Or tell Georgia State "Marcus Garvey got all the answers" Or try to celebrate February like it's my B-Day Or eat watermelon, chicken, and Kool-Aid on weekdays Or jump high enough to get Michael Jordan endorsements Or watch BET cause urban support is important So why did I weep when Trayvon Martin was in the street when gang banging make me kill a nigga blacker than me? Hypocrite!
Lamar makes a reference to the Black Panthers, a black political organization formed in 1966. He also makes a reference to Marcus Garvey who was a political leader that preached Pan-Africanism and moving back to Africa. Then, he refers to celebrating February as his birthday because it is Black History Month. Moreover, he turns the stereotypes that black people eat watermelon, chicken, and drink cool-aid into a positive statement. Next, he raps about the importance of supporting BET because it is a television network dedicated to black entertainment and excellence. Last, throughout the entire song, Lamar refers to himself as a hypocrite because of this very reason: He is distraught when unarmed black people are killed by police officers, yet he participates in the killing of African-Americans himself through gang banging. Thus, how can he weep when he is no better than the police officers?
This article is a part of the Music w/ a Message Series.