Man at the Garden

Last updated
"Man at the Garden"
Song by Kendrick Lamar
from the album GNX
ReleasedNovember 22, 2024
Genre Hip-hop
Length3:53
Label
Songwriters
Producers

"Man at the Garden" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar from his sixth studio album GNX (2024). It was produced by Sounwave, Jack Antonoff, Craig Balmoris (of Best Kept Secret) and Tyler Reese Mehlenbacher, with additional production from Matthew "M-Tech" Bernard. The song contains an interpolation of "One Mic" by Nas.

Contents

Composition and lyrics

The instrumental is composed of a "lush, moody synthscape". [1] Lyrically, the song revolves around Kendrick Lamar's conviction that he deserves all of his accolades and material rewards, [2] as he details the accomplishments, hard work, sacrifices, trials and tribulations of his life and career, [3] [4] [5] [6] repeatedly declaring the phrase "I deserve it all". [1] [7] He additionally expresses anger and resentment at his enemies: "I did it with integrity and niggas still try to hate on me / Just wait and see, more blood will be spillin', it's just paint to me". [5] [8] [9] Lamar ends the song with the rhetorical question, "Tell me why you think you deserve the greatest of all time, motherfucker?" [6] [10]

Critical reception

Michael Saponara of Billboard ranked it as the seventh best song from GNX. [5]

Charts

References

  1. 1 2 Breihan, Tom (November 22, 2024). "Premature Evaluation: Kendrick Lamar GNX". Stereogum . Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  2. ↑ Empire, Kitty (November 29, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar: GNX review – amply backed-up grandstanding". The Observer . Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  3. ↑ McLean, Wesley (November 25, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar Is in Rarefied Air on the Triumphant GNX". Exclaim! . Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  4. ↑ Wohlmacher, John (November 25, 2024). "Album Review: Kendrick Lamar – GNX". Beats Per Minute . Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  5. 1 2 3 Saponara, Michael (November 22, 2024). "All 12 Songs From Kendrick Lamar's 'GNX' Album Ranked". Billboard . Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  6. 1 2 Blakesley, Karl (November 26, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar – GNX". Clash . Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  7. ↑ Petridis, Alexis (November 25, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar: GNX Review – Stunning Surprise From a Rapper Determined to Be the Greatest". The Guardian . Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  8. ↑ Wood, Mikael (November 24, 2024). "For Kendrick Lamar, spite is an engine on the exhilarating 'GNX'". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  9. ↑ Barilleaux, Michael G. (January 7, 2025). "Kendrick Lamar :: GNX". RapReviews. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
  10. ↑ Mitchell, Matt (November 25, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar Reimagines Rap's Future and Reckons With His Past on GNX". Paste . Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  11. ↑ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. December 2, 2024. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  12. ↑ "ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. December 2, 2024. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Straumēšanas TOP 2024 – 48. nedēļa" [Streaming TOP 2024 – Week 48] (in Latvian). LaIPA. December 2, 2024. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  16. ↑ "2024 48-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. December 7, 2024. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Official Top 40 Singles". Recorded Music NZ. November 29, 2024. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  18. ↑ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (South Africa Songs)". Billboard . Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 48". Sverigetopplistan . Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Official Streaming Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company . Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  21. ↑ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  22. ↑ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
  23. ↑ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2025". Billboard . Retrieved December 11, 2025.
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