"These Walls" | ||||
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Single by Kendrick Lamar featuring Bilal, Anna Wise and Thundercat | ||||
from the album To Pimp a Butterfly | ||||
Released | October 13, 2015 | |||
Recorded | 2012–2013 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 5:01 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) |
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Kendrick Lamar singles chronology | ||||
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Bilal singles chronology | ||||
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Anna Wise singles chronology | ||||
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Thundercat singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"These Walls" on YouTube |
"These Walls" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It was released on October 13,2015,as the fifth and final single from his third album, To Pimp a Butterfly (2015). [1] [2] The track was written by Kendrick Lamar,Terrace Martin,Larrance Dopson,James Fauntleroy and Rose McKinney. It won Best Rap/Sung Performance at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards on 15 February 2016. [3] Lamar has stated that this song is his favourite from the album.
Rolling Stone stated the song "teases the dark underbelly of sudden fame and offers a peek at the rapper's life when he hit his lowest points", [4] while Billboard editor Kris Ex wrote that Lamar is "pondering sex and existence in equal measure;it's a yoni metaphor about the power of peace,with sugar walls being escape and real walls being obstacles." [5]
The song's music video premiered on October 28,2015,on Lamar's Vevo account. It was directed by Colin Tilley and The Little Homies. Entitled "Behind the Walls:A Black Comedy",the clip opens in a jail cell with Corey Holcomb and then flashes back to a wild night at an apartment complex –from strippers,to drugs,altercations,and skits. [6] Lamar first appears in his room grinding with a girl while her girlfriends catch it all on camera. He then crashes the stage at a talent show and performs "Hit the Quan" alongside Terry Crews. Meanwhile,Isaiah Rashad gets tied up and seduced in his bedroom,and SZA finds Lamar crashing through her apartment wall. By the end of the night,the cops come calling and Holcomb's character gets arrested. [7] The video ends with "To be continued". For Rap-Up ,"the Compton rapper shows his comedic side (and dance moves) in the cinematic clip." [8]
On May 27,2015,Lamar performed the song live on The Ellen DeGeneres Show ,complete with a white-clad couple who danced around the stage as a nearby artist painted a portrait of them. [9] "These Walls" was featured on the Kunta's Groove Sessions tour. [10]
Chart (2015) | Peak position |
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UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC) [11] | 12 |
US Billboard Hot 100 [12] | 94 |
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [13] | 34 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA) [14] | Gold | 35,000‡ |
Canada (Music Canada) [15] | Gold | 40,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Kendrick Lamar Duckworth,known professionally as Kendrick Lamar, is an American rapper and songwriter. 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 be honored.
Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) is an American independent record label. Specializing in hip hop and R&B artists,TDE is based in Carson,California. The label was founded in 2004 by record producer Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith,who is the chief executive officer. His son,Anthony "Moosa" Tiffith Jr.,and Terrence "Punch" Henderson are the presidents of the label.
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"Memories Back Then" is a song by American hip hop recording artist T.I.,featuring guest appearances from fellow American rappers B.o.B and Kendrick Lamar,as well as vocals from American singer-songwriter Kris Stephens. The song,produced Maurice "Kenoe" Jordan,was initially released as a single by Hustle Gang on April 22,2013. The song debuted and peaked at number 88 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.
"I" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar featuring Ronald Isley of The Isley Brothers. It was released on September 23,2014 as the lead single from Lamar's third studio album To Pimp a Butterfly. The song uses music from "That Lady",written by and originally performed by R&B group The Isley Brothers,elements from which were re-recorded rather than being directly sampled from the original record. "I" won two awards at the 2015 Grammy Awards:Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song.
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To Pimp a Butterfly is the third studio album by American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It was released on March 15,2015,by Top Dawg Entertainment,Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. The album was recorded in studios throughout the United States,with production from Sounwave,Terrace Martin,Taz "Tisa" Arnold,Thundercat,Rahki,LoveDragon,Flying Lotus,Pharrell Williams,Boi-1da,Knxwledge,and several other high-profile hip hop producers,as well as executive production from Dr. Dre and Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith. Guest appearances include Thundercat,George Clinton,Bilal,Anna Wise,Snoop Dogg,James Fauntleroy,Ronald Isley,and Rapsody.
"Never Catch Me" is a song by American music producer Flying Lotus from his fifth studio album You're Dead! (2014). The song features vocals from American hip hop recording artist Kendrick Lamar. "Never Catch Me" received a nomination for Best Dance Recording at the 58th Grammy Awards.
"For Free? (Interlude)" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It is the second track on his third studio album To Pimp a Butterfly,released on March 15,2015. It features uptempo bebop instrumentals,with Lamar rapping over them. A music video for the song was uploaded to Vevo and YouTube on July 31,2015.
"Alright" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar featured on the artist's third studio album,To Pimp a Butterfly (2015). The song expresses ideas of hope amid personal struggles and features uncredited vocals in its chorus from co-producer Pharrell Williams. "Alright" was released to radio stations as the album's fourth single on June 30,2015. Many music publications considered it among the best songs and videos of the year. "Alright" received four nominations at the 58th Grammy Awards:Song of the Year,Best Music Video,Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song,winning the latter two. It was also nominated for a MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year.
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Damn is the fourth studio album by American rapper Kendrick Lamar,released on April 14,2017,through Top Dawg Entertainment,Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. Lamar assembled numerous artists and producers to produce the album,including executive producer and Top Dawg Entertainment label-head Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith,Sounwave,DJ Dahi,Mike Will Made It,and Ricci Riera,as well as further production contributions from James Blake,Steve Lacy,BadBadNotGood,Greg Kurstin,The Alchemist,and 9th Wonder,among others. It features guest appearances from Rihanna,Zacari,and U2.
"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. The song originally had a music video which was never released and randomly leaked on YouTube.
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