Everybody just clap your hands if you're real Middle finger up, give a fuck how they feel Be yourself, just show me you're real Middle fingers up Just let me be me, hmm That's the only way I know Just let me be me, hmm That's the only way I know (That's the only way I know how to hold it down That's-that's the only way I know how to hold it down) Uh, I just wanna be me No disrespect, but motherfuck you My education stopped at a high school degree but I can outsmart any high IQ Draped in some fly shit, call me Jeff Goldblum Cold, my style making my nose run Oh, I stare at the mirror, then realize that real lies, within me Some say I'm crazy cause I think like I need a shrink Ask too many questions about the stars and Earth shit Rather be in the studio than out buying drinks So if I'm not clubbing, don't think I'm on some jerk shit And California on that jerk shit But I'd just rather two-step like my first steps Jill Scott in my iPod as my head rests, yes Just let me be me, hmm That's the only way I know Just let me be me, hmm That's the only way I know (That's the only way I know how to hold it down That's-that's the only way I know how to hold it down) And yeah I know I'm from Compton, Cali' But I don't lace up Chucks or rock tan khakis And skinny jeans ain't quite the lick I probably would wear 'em but my dick don't fit Ha-ha-ha, I like to joke, got a sense of humor? Stale face, play me short like an Oompa-Loompa You ain't gotta screw up your face in front of the kids Won't you lighten up like Michael did? I grew up with killers man, people who killed man But my character never could be like them man And they respect that, say that I'm real man Not a fake person, that's the Sims man Live my life through some film man? I ain't acting out shit, I be packing out shows cause they know they'll know Kendrick fo' sho', and oh Just let me be me, hmm That's the only way I know Just let me be me, hmm That's the only way I know (That's the only way I know how to hold it down That's-that's the only way I know how to hold it down) Almost lost my life to the industry Had to look through a photo book to remember me These label heads ain't nothing but bullshit Have you with professional killers, chasing hits Lying to yourself all over an image Making records they want, that was wrecking my brilliance My mama said, boy that don't sound like you I said, this is the sound though, my only excuse Quite frankly, dusted off my shoes with my hankie and kicked it like he skate, make these motherfuckers hate me The reason why they hate, cause these motherfuckers ain't me And you can underrate me, but I know what I'm worth A diamond in God's dirt, a diamond in winter Watching Simpsons and eating some cereal for dinner See I give you my life to mix it up in a blender to make sure that you feel it Just let me be me, hmm That's the only way I know Just let me be me, hmm That's the only way I know (That's the only way I know how to hold it down That's-that's the only way I know how to hold it down) Kendrick Lamar, what are you trying to say? What are you trying to accomplish Kendrick Lamar? Kendrick Lamar, what are you trying to say? What are you trying to accomplish Kendrick Lamar? Is this really you? Is this who you are? What are you trying to say? What are you trying to accomplish Kendrick Lamar? Who are you? What are you trying to accomplish Kendrick Lamar? Kendrick Lamar, what are you trying to say? What are you trying to accomplish Kendrick Lamar? I think that I finally reached the pinnacle of finding myself as an individual The world is so typical I just wanna be higher than that I used to want to be the messiah of rap Infatuated with becoming a relevant star Trying to say goodbye to the glamorous chains and cars that I never had, but wrote it in my raps to make you mad Vanity, they say that it can damage me So do I really want it? If I didn't, I guess I'm a cool cocaine connect That means I'll be fronting, hmm Cooking in a laboratory, hoping I can tell a story that the whole world can feel, like the ones that came before me Knowing that I'm misunderstood So I gotta get my point across like a snitch would And I would never walk in the shadow that never was really there or try to fill the shoes of an invisible pair And Dame said he proud of my newfound honesty and all I could say is, will the radio care? Yeah, or should I say no? Or should I just stop and come with a whole new approach? You heard my Hip Hop when I was sixteen years old Well that was me then, now I'm an adult Twenty-two like the smallest of guns that you know, most determined but with the smallest of funds to show, but I'm not worried My talent should take me places I've never been The world should turn soon as my record spin I wanna be the highest, on top of all the bullshit The negative you bring, the stress, the violence The capital punishment, the loud police sirens Too focussed, one word, righteous And this is Kendrick Lamar and soon y'all know cloud nine y'all And that means I wanna be the highest Too focussed, one word (righteous) Mm, yeah That means I wanna be the highest Too focussed, one word Too focussed, too focussed, one word Too focussed, too focussed, one word Too focussed, too focussed, one word Too focussed, one word Too focussed, too focussed, one word