"Sherane a.k.a Master Splinter's Daughter" | |
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Song by Kendrick Lamar | |
from the album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City | |
Released | October 22, 2012 |
Length | 4:33 |
Label | |
Songwriter(s) | |
Producer(s) | |
Audio video | |
"Sherane a.k.a Master Splinter's Daughter" on YouTube |
"Sherane a.k.a Master Splinter's Daughter" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, from his major-label debut studio album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012). [1]
"Sherane a.k.a Master Splinter's Daughter" delves into Lamar's experiences growing up in Compton, particularly focusing on his interactions with a girl from his past. [2] The track was produced by Tha Bizness, a production duo consisting of Dow Jones and Henny, who had been working with Lamar since 2007. [2] The song's creation began when Lamar was in Atlanta and received the beat from Tha Bizness. [2] According to Lamar, he was immediately inspired by the track, which evoked memories of a specific girl from his youth. [2] He described the writing process as natural, noting that his songs are often based on real-life experiences rather than fabricated stories. [2]
Tha Bizness had been collaborating with Kendrick for some time, having first worked together on songs like Jay Rock's "Westside" and the inaugural Black Hippy track "Zip That, Chop That". [2] The duo explained that when Lamar began working with them on this song, he was looking for something different and distinct. [2] Henny noted that they used Native Instruments Maschine along with live instruments, including bass, and even incorporated experimental sounds. [2] Kendrick was immediately drawn to the track, describing it as an anthem that captured his personal sound and vibe, reminiscent of his earlier Section.80 days. [2]
The track's production evolved throughout the process, with several versions of the song being created before the final version appeared on the album. [2] TDE president and rapper Punch, who assisted with the song's structure and sequencing, explained that the song initially had awkward elements in its narrative, and adjustments were made to ensure the song fit cohesively within the album. [2]
"Sherane a.k.a Master Splinter's Daughter" is an introduction to the storyline of Good Kid, M.A.A.D City . The song opens with a prayer for eternal salvation, recited by Kendrick Lamar's longtime friends. An eerie beat, produced by Tha Bizness, is introduced at the end of the prayer. The lyrics discuss a sexual relationship between Lamar's 17-year-old self and a young woman under the fictional name Sherane. While driving to Sherane's house for a sexual encounter, he is attacked by two gang members, saying "I pulled up, a smile on my face, and then I see / Two niggas, two black hoodies / I froze as my phone rang". The song ends with a voicemail of Lamar's mother asking him for her car back and his father asking for his Dominoes which is slang for amphetamines. [3] [4] [5]
The song received generally positive reviews from music critics. In a review of Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, XXL praises the song for its lyrics and usage of skits, saying, "Every record is both complexly arranged and sonically fitting, foregrounding Kendrick's vivid lyricism and amazing control of cadence. There’s not a single loophole. From the prayers on 'Sherane a.k.a. Master Splinter's Daughter' to the triumphant ending on 'Compton', each skit and track interweaves one another, solidifying a complete picture". [6]
Chart (2012) | Peak position |
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US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [7] | 42 |
Credits for "Sherane a.k.a Master Splinter's Daughter" adapted from Good Kid, M.A.A.D City's liner notes. [8]
Technical
A hip hop skit is a form of sketch comedy that appears on a hip hop album or mixtape, and is usually written and performed by the artists themselves. Skits can appear on albums or mixtapes as individual tracks, or at the beginning or end of a song. Some skits are part of concept albums and contribute to an album's concept. Skits also occasionally appear on albums of other genres.
Kendrick Lamar Duckworth is an American rapper. Regarded as one of the most influential hip-hop artists of his generation, and one of the greatest rappers of all time, he is known for his technical artistry and complex songwriting. He was awarded the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Music, becoming the first musician outside of the classical and jazz genres to receive the honor.
Good Kid, M.A.A.D City is the second studio album by the American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It was released on October 22, 2012, by Interscope Records, Top Dawg Entertainment and Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment. The album features guest appearances from Drake, Dr. Dre, Jay Rock, Anna Wise and MC Eiht. It is Lamar's first major label album, after his independently released first album Section.80 in 2011 and his signing to Aftermath and Interscope the following year.
Black Hippy was an American hip hop supergroup from South Los Angeles, California, formed in 2008. The group consisted of West Coast rappers Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar and ScHoolboy Q. Black Hippy was constructed after all of its members had signed to Carson-based indie record label, Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE).
"Swimming Pools (Drank)" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It was released on July 31, 2012, as the lead single (second overall) from his major-label debut studio album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012), by Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), 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.
"A.D.H.D" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar from his debut studio album, Section.80 (2011). The song was produced by frequent collaborator and Top Dawg in-house producer Sounwave, of Digi+Phonics.
"Poetic Justice" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, from his major-label debut studio album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012). The song, produced by American record producer Scoop DeVille, features a verse from Canadian rapper Drake. The song was released as the album's fourth official single, due to its positive response.
"Fuckin' Problems" is a song by American rapper ASAP Rocky, featuring Canadian rapper Drake and fellow American rappers 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar. It was released on October 24, 2012, as the second single from Rocky's debut studio album Long. Live. ASAP (2013), and was later released to radio on November 27, 2012.
"m.A.A.d city" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, from his second studio album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012). The song, which appears as the eighth track on the album, features a guest appearance from fellow Compton native and West Coast rapper MC Eiht. The song was produced by Top Dawg in-house producers THC and Sounwave for the first part of the instrumental, and Terrace Martin for the second part. The song peaked at number 75 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" edited for radio as "Trick, Don't Kill My Vibe" or simply "Don't Kill My Vibe", is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, from his major-label debut studio album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012). The song, produced by frequent collaborator Sounwave of Top Dawg Entertainment in-house production team Digi+Phonics, heavily samples "Tiden Flyver", by Danish electronic group Boom Clap Bachelors. It was originally intended to be a collaboration with American singer Lady Gaga, but her contributions were ultimately excluded from the final recording due to timing issues. A remix of "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" featuring American rapper Jay-Z was sent to radio as the album's fifth single on March 21, 2013, with the original version and another remix featuring British singer Emeli Sandé later being released.
"Backseat Freestyle" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It debuted on October 15, 2012 in the United Kingdom as the third single from Lamar's second studio album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012). It was released in the United States with the album's release on October 22, 2012. "Backseat Freestyle" was written by Lamar and Chauncey Hollis and produced by Hollis under his stage name Hit-Boy.
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Mark Anthony Spears, known professionally as Sounwave, is an American record producer and songwriter. He is a frequent collaborator of rapper Kendrick Lamar, having worked on all of his projects since his 2009 self-titled extended play. Sounwave has also worked with artists such as Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Kali Uchis, Schoolboy Q, Mac Miller, and Bleachers. He has won three Grammy Awards, including two for Best Rap Album.
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