OJ Simpson, Kanye West, Jussie Smollet, Will Smith, Kobe Bryant, and Nipsey Hussle. These are the names of human beings that share more than one similarity. Indeed, they were all introduced to us as young, gifted, and Black, serving in their fields of specialty to the delight and enlightenment of society. That is, until they became fodder for “The Culture.”
Kendrick Lamar delves into the concept of “The Culture,” an embodiment of hip hop culture, Black culture, cancel culture, and the oppressor’s culture, in his poignant single “The Heart Part 5,” where he morphs into the aforementioned. He tackles the complex conundrum of hood psyche that encourages those entrapped to embrace a toxic cycle that perpetuates the very problematic institutions imposed on them, even while aspiring for life, liberty, and happiness.
Coded messages within the lyrics reveal some of Kendrick’s thoughts on the last couple of years of culture’s undoing. By definition, culture is “the customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular social group,” and includes the “human intellectual achievement regarded collectively,” according to Oxford Dictionary. With that said, Kendrick points out that culture has become unprincipled behavior that comes with a lackadaisical mentality. He specifically addresses the preordained prison system, taboo Black-on-Black violence, and embraced promiscuity.
In one particular bar, it appears he addresses the fumbled campaign to defund the police in which many people misinterpreted as a call to entirely remove police from Black and Brown communities, not considering the needs of the various segments within those communities.
He then throws in the age of using what is deemed today’s culture as a way of self-promotion. So, in other words, people are making choices all for the clout.
Mid-way through the song, Kendrick has morphed into Will Smith when he raps, “In the land where no equal is your equal / Never say I ain’t told ya’, nah / In the land where hurt people hurt more people / F*ck calling it culture.”
Again, Kendrick digs deep. The Grammy-winning artist touches on the reality of Black entertainers being surrounded by and compared to the “no equals,” giving much context to the bubbling conversation of mediocre talent surpassing those who are rightfully deserving of recognition, accolades, and promotion, but are often passed up. This is an interpretation, nonetheless.
In one of the most compelling moments of “The Heart Part 5,” Kendrick morphs into Nipsey Hussle and proceeds to give the realest, profound bars. In storytelling fashion, it arguably sounds like Kendrick is speaking from the perspective of Tupac Shakur, although his likeness is not used and his name is never mentioned.
However, when he raps about new life coming back around again, and uses key phrases such as “sacrifice personal gain,” “Temptation,” –the name of one of Pac’s songs — and references his work ethic when he says “my productivity had stayed urgent”, along with his “views made schools change curriculums, but didn’t change me staring down the barrel of that gun,” just as the visual shows Kendrick morphing into Nipsey, his lyrics appear to be an evolution of one rapper, being Tupac, to another rapper, Nipsey.
Kendrick is merciless in his targeted message. However, he’s not just criticizing the culture. A closer listen reveals he actually makes implications of resolve with one suggestion being that people stop forgetting the violations of the culture so that the starting point for progress doesn’t always begin at ground zero. Another suggestion is coded in the Marvin Gaye sampled hook, in which he sings “I want the hood to want me back.” His final touches include the chosen attributes, respect and unity.
In the age of people trying their best to avoid hard truths, this new installment of Kendrick’s ongoing love song to hip hop will be a subject of conversations and controversy, for sure. We can expect “The Culture” to follow Kendrick’s artistic contribution with a bunch of busybody headlines that ignores the heart of his protest. But, hopefully, “The Heart Part 5” will also be the spark that ignites a new flame.
Watch “The Heart Part 5” below:
