Assignment: Kendrick Lamar

ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS 9-A (H)
2022-11-21T17:07:11Z

Due: Jan 30, 2023 by 11:59pm

Kendrick Lamar is a Pulitzer Prize Winning artist, winner of 13 Grammy Awards,and the ASCAP Vanguard Award for his work as a composer.

Lamar grew up in Compton, California, and has been writing and rapping since his early teen years. His first mainstream album came out in 2012 (when Kendrick was 25). The song we’re going to listen to and analyze today comes from his third album, To Pimp a Butterfly. The award winning album blends rap, jazz, funk, soul, and spoken word. Today we’re going to listen and analyze the song How Much a Dollar Cost. Interesting side note- it was Obama’s favorite song in 2015.

This song makes several allusions to stories in the Bible. You might also notice this in Poet X.

First, let’s take a few minutes to really understand the type of figurative language that is Allusion. Other types of figurative language that you’ll notice and will want to pay attention to are simile, metaphor and repetition .Each of these help create the theme/ message of the song that Lamar creates. Make sure you have a clear understanding of these terms before you begin to listen and analyze.

Ok, now we get to listen to the song! This will just be the first listen, so don’t worry about catching everything.

Now, you’re reading to really start your analysis. We’re doing a deep dive on this one! You’re going to use two sources to help in your analysis.

First, you’re going to listen to an episode of a podcast called Dissect.

In it, the host really analyzes the song and gives you some insight and analysis that you’ll use.He’s done a ton of research for you! Listen here. (The first two and a half minutes are about the album as a whole, but I do think it helps with your understanding).

Now, you’re going to look at the lyrics with some detailed annotations on Genius. If you haven't used this site before, you can spend hours! There are videos, links, and more that really help you fully understand the song and its narrative story. For now, try to limit yourself to about 25 minutes clicking and reading here. Keep in mind, these lyrics aren’t censored here so there are several profanities.

Once you’ve listened to the song, Dissect podcast episode, and read through most of the annotations, you’re ready to answer these questions:

1. Find an example of each of the following types of figurative language:

Simile

metaphor

Repetition

Allusion

For each example,

Label the types of figurative language

Explain the impact of using that specific type of figurative language

Explain how this particular example adds to the message of the song

2. Much like in the Poet X, there are many references to the bible. What is one reference and what is its purpose in the text?

3. In a multi sentence paragraph, explain the theme or message of the song How Much a Dollar Cost? Use at least one piece of evidence (lyrics from the song) in your answer.

Kendrick Lamar is a Pulitzer Prize Winning artist, winner of 13 Grammy Awards,and the ASCAP Vanguard Award for his work as a composer.

Lamar grew up in Compton, California, and has been writing and rapping since his early teen years. His first mainstream album came out in 2012 (when Kendrick was 25). The song we’re going to listen to and analyze today comes from his third album, To Pimp a Butterfly. The award winning album blends rap, jazz, funk, soul, and spoken word. Today we’re going to listen and analyze the song How Much a Dollar Cost. Interesting side note- it was Obama’s favorite song in 2015.

This song makes several allusions to stories in the Bible. You might also notice this in Poet X.

First, let’s take a few minutes to really understand the type of figurative language that is Allusion. Other types of figurative language that you’ll notice and will want to pay attention to are simile, metaphor and repetition .Each of these help create the theme/ message of the song that Lamar creates. Make sure you have a clear understanding of these terms before you begin to listen and analyze.

Ok, now we get to listen to the song! This will just be the first listen, so don’t worry about catching everything.

Now, you’re reading to really start your analysis. We’re doing a deep dive on this one! You’re going to use two sources to help in your analysis.

First, you’re going to listen to an episode of a podcast called Dissect.

In it, the host really analyzes the song and gives you some insight and analysis that you’ll use.He’s done a ton of research for you! Listen here. (The first two and a half minutes are about the album as a whole, but I do think it helps with your understanding).

Now, you’re going to look at the lyrics with some detailed annotations on Genius. If you haven't used this site before, you can spend hours! There are videos, links, and more that really help you fully understand the song and its narrative story. For now, try to limit yourself to about 25 minutes clicking and reading here. Keep in mind, these lyrics aren’t censored here so there are several profanities.

Once you’ve listened to the song, Dissect podcast episode, and read through most of the annotations, you’re ready to answer these questions:

1. Find an example of each of the following types of figurative language:

Simile

metaphor

Repetition

Allusion

For each example,

Label the types of figurative language

Explain the impact of using that specific type of figurative language

Explain how this particular example adds to the message of the song

2. Much like in the Poet X, there are many references to the bible. What is one reference and what is its purpose in the text?

3. In a multi sentence paragraph, explain the theme or message of the song How Much a Dollar Cost? Use at least one piece of evidence (lyrics from the song) in your answer.