King Kunta – English Lyrics

• By: Kendrick Lamar
• Album: To Pimp A Butterfly

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language is about more than just words; it's about understanding culture, history, and perspective. Kendrick Lamar's 'King Kunta' offers a powerful lesson in American English and Black culture. Through its dense slang, historical references to figures like Kunta Kinte, and literary allusions, you can explore themes of power, rebellion, and identity. The song's clever wordplay and driving funk beat make it a compelling and educational entry point into the social commentary that defines much of modern hip-hop.

[English]

I got a bone to pick

I don't want you monkey mouth motherfuckers sittin' in my throne again

(Aye aye nigga whats happenin' nigga, K Dot back in the hood nigga)

I'm mad (He mad), but I ain't stressin'

True friends, one question

Bitch where you when I was walkin'?

Now I run the game got the whole world talkin', King Kunta

Everybody wanna cut the legs off him, Kunta

Black man taking no losses

Bitch where you when I was walkin'?

Now I run the game, got the whole world talkin', King Kunta

Everybody wanna cut the legs off him

When you got the yams (What's the yams?)

The yam is the power that be

You can smell it when I'm walking down the street

(Oh yes we can, oh yes we can)

I can dig rapping, but a rapper with a ghost writer?

What the fuck happened? (Oh no) I swore I wouldn't tell

But most of y'all share bars, like you got the bottom bunk in a two man cell

(A two man cell)

Something's in the water (Something's in the water)

And if I got a brown nose for some gold then I'd rather be a bum than a motherfuckin' baller

Bitch where you when I was walkin'?

Now I run the game got the whole world talkin', King Kunta

Everybody wanna cut the legs off him, Kunta

Black man taking no losses

Bitch where you when I was walkin'?

Now I run the game, got the whole world talkin', King Kunta

Everybody wanna cut the legs off him

When you got the yams (What's the yams?)

The yam brought it out of Richard Pryor

Manipulated Bill Clinton with desires

...

24/7, 365 days times two

I was contemplatin' gettin' on stage

Just to go back to the hood see my enemies and say...

Bitch where you when I was walkin'?

Now I run the game got the whole world talkin', King Kunta

Everybody wanna cut the legs off him, Kunta

Black man taking no losses

Bitch where you when I was walkin'?

Now I run the game, got the whole world talkin', King Kunta

Everybody wanna cut the legs off him

(You goat mouth mammy fucker)

I was gonna kill a couple rappers but they did it to themselves

Everybody's suicidal they don't even need my help

This shit is elementary, I'll probably go to jail

If I shoot at your identity and bounce to the left

Stuck a flag in my city, everybody's screamin' "Compton"

I should probably run for Mayor when I'm done, to be honest

And I put that on my Mama and my baby boo too

Twenty million walkin' out the court buildin', woo woo!

Ah yeah, fuck the judge

I made it past 25 and there I was

A little nappy headed nigga with the world behind him

Life ain't shit but a fat vagina

Screamin' "Annie are you ok? Annie are you ok?"

Limo tinted with the gold plates

Straight from the bottom, this the belly of the beast

From a peasant to a prince to a motherfuckin' king

Bitch where was you when I was-

*POP*

(By the time you hear the next pop, the funk shall be within you)

*POP*

Now I run the game got the whole world talkin', King Kunta

Everybody wanna cut the legs off him, (King) Kunta

Black man taking no losses

Bitch where was you when I was walkin'

Now I run the game got the whole world talkin', King Kunta

Everybody wanna cut the legs off him

(Funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk)

We want the funk

We want the funk

(Now if I give you the funk, you gon' take it)

We want the funk

(Now if I give you the funk, you gon' take it)

We want the funk

(Now if I give you the funk, you gon' take it)

We want the funk

(Do you want the funk?)

We want the funk

(Do you want the funk?)

We want the funk

(Now if I give you the funk, you gon' take it)

We want the funk

I remember you was conflicted, misusing your influence

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
run /rʌn/ A1	verb - to move quickly on foot verb - to manage or operate
talk /tɔːk/ A1	verb - to say words
man /mæn/ A1	noun - an adult male human
walk /wɔːk/ A1	verb - to move at a regular and fairly slow pace by lifting and setting down each foot in turn
world /wɜːld/ A1	noun - the earth, together with all of its countries, peoples, and natural features
friend /frend/ A1	noun - a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection
cut /kʌt/ A2	verb - to use a sharp tool to divide or injure
share /ʃeər/ A2	verb - to have a portion of something with another or others
tell /tel/ A2	verb - to communicate information to someone
cell /sel/ A2	noun - a small room in which a prisoner is locked up
judge /dʒʌdʒ/ B1	noun - a public official appointed to decide cases in a law court
power /ˈpaʊər/ B1	noun - the ability to do something or act in a particular way
enemies /ˈenəmiz/ B1	noun - a person who is actively opposed or hostile to someone or something
influence /ˈɪnfluəns/ B2	noun - the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something verb - have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something
contemplating /ˈkɒntəmpleɪtɪŋ/ C1	verb - look thoughtfully for a long time at.

Key Grammar Structures

• I don't want you monkey mouth motherfuckers sittin' in my throne again

  ➔ Nonstandard use of present participle 'sittin'' as a verb

  ➔ The line uses 'sittin'' instead of the standard 'sitting', a common feature in informal dialects and hip-hop. It adds to the song's colloquial and aggressive tone. The structure is "I don't want you... sitting..." showing the action that is not desired.

• Bitch where you when I was walkin'?

  ➔ Incorrect tense and word order ('where were you when' is standard)

  ➔ This is an example of vernacular English. The standard form would be "Where *were* you when I was walking?". The use of "where you when" is grammatically incorrect but stylistically intentional to reflect a certain dialect and to create a raw, personal tone.

• Now I run the game got the whole world talkin'

  ➔ Ellipsis (omission) of 'and' or a relative pronoun such as 'which' or 'that'

  ➔ This line is grammatically compressed. It could be rephrased as 'Now I run the game, *and* I've got the whole world talking,' or 'Now I run the game, *which* got the whole world talking.' The omission adds to the rhythm and pace of the verse.

• When you got the yams (What's the yams?)

  ➔ Use of 'got' to indicate possession (non-standard but common)

  ➔ The phrase "When you got the yams" uses 'got' in a way that's more common in informal speech. The standard English equivalent would be "When you *have* the yams." It's a shortened, colloquial way of expressing possession.

• I can dig rapping, but a rapper with a ghost writer?

  ➔ Ellipsis/Omission of subject and verb in the second clause: (implied: 'is acceptable' after 'rapping')

  ➔ The sentence implies a contrast, suggesting Kendrick is okay with rapping itself, but questions the integrity of a rapper using a ghostwriter. The full sentence could be 'I can dig rapping, but *is* a rapper with a ghost writer *acceptable*?' The omission creates a more immediate, conversational tone.

• But most of y'all share bars, like you got the bottom bunk in a two man cell

  ➔ Non-standard 'y'all' (you all) and colloquial simile

  ➔ 'Y'all' is a contraction of 'you all,' common in Southern American English dialects. The simile comparing rappers sharing bars to sharing a bottom bunk in a small cell is creative and vivid, highlighting the confined and unoriginal nature of their work.