N95 (song)

Last updated
"N95"
Single by Kendrick Lamar
from the album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
ReleasedMay 20, 2022 (2022-05-20)
Recorded2019–2022
Genre
Length3:15
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Kendrick Lamar singles chronology
"Family Ties"
(2021)		"N95"
(2022)		"Silent Hill"
(2022)
Music video
"N95" on YouTube

"N95" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It was released as the lead single from his fifth studio album, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers , on May 20, 2022, through PGLang, Top Dawg Entertainment, Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. The song was produced by Boi-1da, Sounwave and Jahaan Sweet, with additional production by Lamar's cousin, fellow American rapper and record producer Baby Keem.

Contents

Composition and lyrics

"N95" has been described as "a seething cultural critique where Lamar spits bile in multiple directions over a bleakly catchy, bass-driven instrumental". [3] Lyrically, Lamar raps about masks that go with expensive clothing rather than the N95 respirator mask that was used during the outbreak of COVID-19, as he raps: "Take all that designer bullshit off and what do you have? Bitch you ugly as fuck". [4] During the bridge, Lamar uses a verse that was originally intended for the song "Vent" from his cousin Baby Keem's album The Melodic Blue (2021), yet did not make the cut. [5]

Critical reception

The song received generally positive reviews from critics. Chase McMullen of Beats Per Minute drew a comparison between "N95" and "the blistering raps of" Lamar's fourth studio album, Damn (2017). [6] The Guardian music critic Alexis Petridis noted that "the tone of his delivery changes so dramatically and so often that it sounds less like the work of one man than a series of guest appearances". [7] NME music critic Kyann-Sian Williams saw the song as "the most high-octane track" from Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, which includes "a plethora of zippy one-liners and humour, which you might not expect sandwiched between piercing commentary on materialism and society". [8]

Music video

Lamar was seen filming a music video in September 2020, which would later be confirmed as scenes of "N95" (said scenes were Lamar floating above the ocean and using a phone booth). The official music video for "N95", directed by Lamar himself and Dave Free, was released on May 14, 2022. Similar to his music video for "Element", the video features heavy imagery in the form of a wide range of scenes. At the beginning of the video, a sign reads "This Shit Hard" in big red capital letters and appears a few more times throughout the video. Scenes include Lamar in a Jesus-like crucified pose floating over ocean waves, Lamar doing workouts on the roof of a dilapidated apartment, Lamar running from a horde of black men (which serves as a reference to Childish Gambino's music video for "This Is America"), an example of the 20th century doll experiments, Lamar and Baby Keem walking through a hallway (the latter suddenly kissing the former on the cheek, causing both of them to stop in their tracks), Lamar using a phone booth, and more. [9] [10] [11]

Credits and personnel

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "N95"
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [40] 2× Platinum140,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [41] Gold20,000‡
Poland (ZPAV) [42] Gold25,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) [43] Silver200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release history for "N95"
RegionDateFormatLabelRef.
ItalyMay 20, 2022 Contemporary hit radio [44]

Notes

  1. ↑ Mancini, who publicly came out as a trans man in January 2023, [12] is credited by his deadname.

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References

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  2. ↑ Arcona, Ava (2022). "REVIEW: Kendrick Lamar self-reflects in emotional return to rap". The Harbinger.
  3. ↑ Thomas, Fred. "Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers – Kendrick Lamar". AllMusic . Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  4. ↑ Bryant, Ben (May 13, 2022). "Kendrick Lamar's Mr. Morale and the Bigsteppers is a tender, delicate opus – review". The Independent . Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  5. ↑ Songfacts. "N95 by Kendrick Lamar - Songfacts". www.songfacts.com. Retrieved 2022-05-30.
  6. ↑ McMullen, Chase (May 18, 2022). "Album Review: Kendrick Lamar – Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers". Beats Per Minute . Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  7. ↑ Petridis, Alexis (May 13, 2022). "Kendrick Lamar: Mr Morale & the Big Steppers review – rap genius bares heart, soul and mind". The Guardian . Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  8. ↑ Williams, Kyann-Sian (May 13, 2022). "Kendrick Lamar – Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers review: a cathartic, soul-bearing autobiography". NME . Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  9. ↑ Villa, Angelica (2022-05-20). "Kendrick Lamar's New Music Video Features Two Major Texas Landmarks". ARTnews.com. Retrieved 2022-05-23.
  10. ↑ Peters, Mitchell (May 14, 2022). "Kendrick Lamar Drops Striking New 'N95' Video: Watch". Billboard . Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  11. ↑ Lavin, Will (May 14, 2022). "Kendrick Lamar drops beautifully complex 'N95' video". NME . Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  12. ↑ Fekadu, Mesfin (January 31, 2023). "How Kendrick Lamar's "Auntie Diaries" Helped Music Engineer Emerson Mancini Come Out". The Hollywood Reporter . Eldridge Industries. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
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  14. ↑ "Kendrick Lamar – N95" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
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