"Humble" | ||||
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Single by Kendrick Lamar | ||||
from the album Damn | ||||
Released | March 30, 2017 | |||
Recorded | 2016 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 2:57 [1] | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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Kendrick Lamar singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Humble" on YouTube |
"Humble" (stylized as "HUMBLE.") is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It was released on March 30, 2017, by Top Dawg Entertainment, Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. The song was written by Lamar and Mike Will Made It, and produced by the latter. [5] It was provided to rhythmic contemporary radio as the lead single from Lamar's fourth studio album, Damn . [6] "Humble" is Lamar's second number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 after "Bad Blood" and his first as a lead artist. The song received four nominations at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, including, Record of the Year, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, and Best Music Video, winning the latter three. [7]
"Humble" was the first song to be recorded for Damn. [8] The beat for "Humble" was developed by Mike Will Made It, with the intention of recording the song with Gucci Mane. However, the song was later shown to Lamar. After recording, it was initially agreed upon that it would be released on Mike Will Made It's debut album Ransom 2 , but others convinced Lamar to keep it for his upcoming album. [8]
On the day of its release Pitchfork named it Best New Track, noting that, "[Humble] is a hard-nosed G check of his lessers, that pivots into imperfect critiques of beauty standards". [9] NPR's Andrew Flanagan thought, "the song, less exploration of contrition on the part of Lamar than an instruction to his peers, picks up a thread NPR Music first examined following that album teaser: how the 'best rapper alive' might explore the theme of God, religion and personal growth." [10] For Alex Young of Consequence of Sound , "it's got all the ingredients of a proper lead single: a Mike WiLL Made It-produced beat built on piano and 808 bass, a chorus you can spit along to ('Sit down/ Be humble'), and shoutouts to Grey Poupon and the former president." [11] Writing for The Guardian , Harriet Gibson explained how the song is, "sparse and rigid, beginning with the crunching swipes of an electric guitar, and is led by beats and sinister stabs of piano. It is a showcase for his authoritative lyricism and preacher-like message, while the instrumentation is far from the complex jazz and funk sounds of To Pimp a Butterfly ... In fact, Humble has more in common with grime's minimalism than it does the vintage stylings of his recent output." [12]
Entertainment Weekly labelled it the best song of the year. [13] Rolling Stone considered it the third-best, [14] and Billboard the sixth. [15]
"Humble" debuted at number two and later peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Lamar's first number one and highest-charting single as a lead artist, surpassing "Swimming Pools (Drank)", which peaked at number 17 in 2012. [16] [17] It is his second number one single overall after "Bad Blood", by Taylor Swift featuring Lamar. It is also his fourth top 10 single, and marked the highest debut for a hip hop song since "Love the Way You Lie" by Eminem featuring Rihanna. Selling well over 111,000 copies in its first week, "Humble" became Kendrick Lamar's second number one on the Digital Songs chart, following "Bad Blood". [16] The song spent its first 15 weeks in the top 10 of the Hot 100 before finally falling to number 11 on the week dated August 5, 2017 [18] "Humble" is the only rap song in 2017 to sell over 1,000,000 digital copies and its certified 7× platinum in the United States. [19]
The song also peaked at number one in New Zealand, number two in Australia (where it was later voted into first place in the Triple J Hottest 100, 2017) and Canada, and reached the top 10 in Ireland and the UK.
The song's accompanying music video was released on March 30, 2017 on Kendrick Lamar's Vevo account. The video was directed by Dave Meyers and The Little Homies. [20] The video starts with Lamar dressed like the pope in a cope, the scene then shows Lamar in all black lying on a table of money, "ignorantly" shooting loads of bills from a cash cannon. It also features a reenactment of Leonardo da Vinci's 15th-century painting, The Last Supper . Lamar sits in Jesus' chair as his disciples "unappreciatively" gorge on wine and bread. [21] He is also seen teeing off on top of a car, passing mustard between cars mimicking a Grey Poupon commercial and at one point the top of his head is in flames. [22] Fellow TDE rapper Jay Rock and producer Sounwave appear in the video alongside other TDE members.
Reviewing the music video, Billboard editor Brad Wete thought it "is a poignant exercise in irony and is also filled with messaging that could be perceived as anti-conformist." He concluded saying "His raps are filterless; he tells it like it is. So it's no surprise that this dynamic video is essentially what Lamar is as an artist: balanced with a clear message." [21] Althea Legaspi of Rolling Stone described it as "richly symbolic." [22] For Harriet Gibson of The Guardian , "the brilliantly cinematic video, with its fish-eye lens and cartoonish stylising, recalls classic Hype Williams, and leads the viewer through these passages of assignation, fleshing out Lamar's ideas. It breathes life into a song that would hardly be considered his greatest creation, but neatly lays out a mood of intent." [12] Matt Miller of Esquire opined about the rapper's videography: "in recent years, Kendrick Lamar has revived the music video as a powerful form of social commentary." [23]
"Humble" was nominated for eight categories at the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards, winning six awards including Video of the Year.
ESPN and ABC used the song, along with "DNA" and "Loyalty", as their lead song for their NBA Playoff coverage.
The 21st season premiere of South Park , "White People Renovating Houses", featured a character performing the song in a country-style parody. [24] [25] [26] The song is also heard in other television shows such as Skam and Black-ish. [27] [28]
"Humble" is featured and remixed in YouTube Rewind: The Shape of 2017 . [29] "Humble" is also featured on NBA 2K18 ’s in-game soundtrack.
The song was sampled by Eminem for the track "Greatest" on Kamikaze . [30]
A remix of the song is also featured in the teaser trailer for Shazam! [ citation needed ]
Many remixes have been made, including by singer Ne-Yo, released on May 3, 2017, [31] and by electronic dance music producer Skrillex, released on September 22, 2017. [32]
Lamar performed "Humble" live as a closer [33] at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 23, 2017. [34] [35] Lamar has also performed "Humble" on the Damn tour. [36] Lamar performed the song during his 2017 MTV Video Music Awards. Lamar also performed the song as part of his special performance at halftime of the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship Game
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "HUMBLE." | 2:57 |
No. | Title | Length |
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1. | "HUMBLE." (Skrillex Remix) | 2:36 |
Credits adapted from the official Damn digital booklet. [2]
Weekly charts | Year-end charts
Decade-end charts
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Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA) [103] | 5× Platinum | 350,000![]() |
Belgium (BEA) [104] | Platinum | 30,000* |
Canada (Music Canada) [105] | 7× Platinum | 560,000![]() |
Denmark (IFPI Denmark) [106] | Platinum | 90,000![]() |
France (SNEP) [107] | Platinum | 133,333![]() |
Germany (BVMI) [108] | Gold | 200,000![]() |
Italy (FIMI) [109] | 2× Platinum | 100,000![]() |
New Zealand (RMNZ) [110] | 3× Platinum | 90,000![]() |
Portugal (AFP) [111] | 3× Platinum | 30,000![]() |
Sweden (GLF) [112] | Platinum | 40,000![]() |
United Kingdom (BPI) [113] | 2× Platinum | 1,200,000![]() |
United States (RIAA) [114] | 7× Platinum | 7,000,000![]() |
*sales figures based on certification alone |
Region | Date | Format | Version | Label | Ref. |
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Various | March 30, 2017 | Digital download | Original | [43] | |
United States | April 4, 2017 | Rhythmic contemporary radio | [6] | ||
May 16, 2017 | Contemporary hit radio | [115] | |||
Various | September 22, 2017 | Digital download | Skrillex remix | [44] | |
American rapper Kendrick Lamar has released four studio albums, one compilation album, one extended play (EP), five mixtapes, 43 singles, three promotional singles, and 55 music videos. Lamar initially performed under the stage name K-Dot, releasing three mixtapes under that moniker: Y.H.N.I.C. (2004), Training Day (2005), and C4 (2009). He gained major attention after the release of his fifth mixtape Overly Dedicated, which was released in 2010. It was Lamar's first full-length project to be released under his birth name and fared well enough to enter the United States Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, where it peaked at number 72.
"Swimming Pools (Drank)" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It was released on July 31, 2012 as the lead single from his major-label debut studio album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012), by Top Dawg, Aftermath and Interscope. The song was written by Lamar and Tyler "T-Minus" Williams, the latter of whom also produced the song. The song, mixed by Dr. Dre and Top Dawg's engineer Derek "MixedByAli" Ali, propelled Lamar to mainstream popularity. The song peaked at number 17 on the US Billboard Hot 100, in its thirteenth week of charting, after gradually climbing up the chart. It debuted on the Hot 100 at number 100 and progressed from number 55 and 32 to its peak. "Swimming Pools (Drank)" also serves as Lamar's first entry on the UK Singles Chart, where it debuted at number 63.
"King Kunta" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Kendrick Lamar, taken from his third album, To Pimp a Butterfly (2015). It was released as the album's third single on March 24, 2015. Lamar co-wrote the song with Thundercat and Redfoo, while Terrace Martin, Michael Kuhle, and Sounwave served as producers. The song features interpolations and references to lyrics written by Michael Jackson, James Brown, Fred Wesley, John Starks, Ahmad, and Johnny Burns, who are all credited as songwriters.
"Goosebumps" is a song by American rapper Travis Scott, featuring fellow American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It was sent to rhythmic radio on December 13, 2016 by Grand Hustle Records and Epic Records as the third single from Scott's second studio album Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight.
"The Greatest" is a song recorded by Australian singer and songwriter Sia for the deluxe edition of her seventh studio album, This Is Acting (2016). Being made available for digital consumption as the record's third single on 5 September 2016 through Monkey Puzzle and RCA Records, "The Greatest" features a new part with the American rapper Kendrick Lamar. The electropop song was written by Sia, Greg Kurstin, and Lamar while production was only handled by Kurstin. The solo version was written only by the former two. The song was originally intended to be in a new album called We Are Your Children.
"Don't Wanna Know" is a song by American pop rock band Maroon 5. It features additional vocals from American rapper Kendrick Lamar. The song was released on October 12, 2016, as the lead single and was included on the deluxe version from their sixth studio album Red Pill Blues (2017). The song reached the top 10 in 23 countries, including number 6 in the United States.
"Mask Off" is a song by American rapper Future for his eponymous fifth studio album Future (2017). The track was later released as the second single after initially charting as an album track and receiving more popularity than the lead single "Draco". It was Future's highest-charting single as a lead artist, peaking at number five on the US Billboard Hot 100, until "Life is Good" debuted and peaked at number two in 2020.
Damn is the fourth studio album by American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It was released on April 14, 2017, through Top Dawg Entertainment, distributed by Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records.
"Blood" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, from his fourth studio album Damn, released on April 14, 2017. The opening track on the album, the song was written by Lamar, Daniel Tannenbaum, and Anthony Tiffith, and produced by Bēkon and Tiffith.
"DNA" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar from his fourth studio album Damn. Despite not being released as a single, the song received support at rhythmic radio after its official music video was released. The second track on the album , it was written by Lamar, while the production was handled by Mike Will Made It.
"Yah" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, from his fourth studio album Damn, released on April 14, 2017. The third track on the album, the song was written by Lamar, Mark Spears, a.k.a. Sounwave, DJ Dahi, and Anthony Tiffith, and produced by, Sounwave, DJ Dahi, and Tiffith, with additional production by Bēkon.
"Element" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, from his fourth studio album Damn, released on April 14, 2017. The fourth track on the album, the song was written by Lamar, Mark Spears, a.k.a. Sounwave, James Blake, and Ricci Riera and produced by Sounwave, Blake, and Riera, with additional production by Tae Beast and Bēkon. The song charted in multiple countries in 2017.
"Feel" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, from his fourth studio album Damn, released on April 14, 2017. The fifth track on the album, the song was written by Lamar and Mark Spears, a.k.a. Sounwave, and produced by Sounwave. The song features bass from bass guitarist Thundercat and vocals from Chelsea Blythe.
"Love" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, from his fourth studio album Damn, released on April 14, 2017. The tenth track on the album, the song was written by Lamar, Zacari Pacaldo, Teddy Walton, Sounwave, Greg Kurstin, and Anthony Tiffith, and produced by Walton, Sounwave, Kurstin, and Tiffith. The song features soul singer Zacari, who is one of three credited musicians on Damn, the others being Barbadian singer Rihanna on "Loyalty", and Irish rock band U2 on "XXX." The song was later sent to rhythmic radio as the album's third single October 2, 2017.
"XXX" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, from his fourth studio album Damn, released on April 14, 2017. The eleventh track on the album, the song was written by Lamar, Mike Will Made It, DJ Dahi, Mark Spears a.k.a. Sounwave, Anthony Tiffith, Bono, the Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr., and produced by Mike Will Made It, DJ Dahi, and Sounwave, with additional production by Top Dawg and Bēkon. The song features samples of the songs "America" by Bēkon and "American Soul" by Irish rock band U2. Although not released as a single, the song charted in multiple countries in 2017.
"God" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, from his fourth studio album Damn, released on April 14, 2017. The thirteenth and penultimate track on the album, the song was produced by Riera, Sounwave, DJ Dahi, Bëkon, Cardo, Tiffith, with additional production by Yung Exclusive, Mike Hector and Teddy Walton.
"Duckworth" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, taken from his fourth studio album Damn, released on April 14, 2017. The fourteenth and final track on the album, the song was written by Lamar and record producer Patrick Douthit, known professionally as 9th Wonder, and produced by 9th Wonder, with additional production by Bēkon. The song's title is Lamar's actual last name.
"Loyalty" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, from his fourth studio album Damn, released on April 14, 2017. The song was later sent to urban and rhythmic radio June 20, 2017 as the second single from the album. The sixth track on the album, the song features Barbadian singer Rihanna on vocals and was written by Lamar, DJ Dahi, Sounwave, Rihanna, and Terrace Martin. The song won the Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Performance.
"All The Stars" is a song recorded by American rapper Kendrick Lamar and American singer SZA. Written by Lamar, SZA, Sounwave, and Al Shux and produced by the latter two, the song was released on January 4, 2018, as the lead single to the soundtrack album of the film Black Panther. Its release coincided with Top Dawg Entertainment's announcement that its president, Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith, and Lamar himself would be producing the Black Panther soundtrack album. Marvel Studios confirmed the news and revealed that Lamar was hand-picked by Black Panther's director, Ryan Coogler, to produce the soundtrack album. The song appeared in the movie during the end credits.
"Pray for Me" is a song by Canadian singer the Weeknd and American rapper Kendrick Lamar from the soundtrack album of the Marvel Studios superhero film Black Panther. The song was released by Top Dawg Entertainment, Aftermath Entertainment, and Interscope Records on February 2, 2018, as the album's third single. It serves as the second overall collaboration between the two artists. The song appears in the movie during the scene where the titular hero along with his allies, Nakia and Okoye, enter a secret casino in Busan.