| Kendrick Lamar – How Much a Dollar Cost Lyrics | 10 years ago |
|
Analysis In the first verse we see Kendrick is pondering on this idea of “how much a dollar cost.” He says “”The question is detrimental, paralyzin' my thoughts Parasites in my stomach keep me with a gut feeling.” Kendrick is referring parasites to his sins and stomach to his soul. His sins are feeding off of his soul and he can feel it. He tells us this story of him running into a homeless man at a gas station. This homeless man asks for a ten rand, which is South African currency. Ten Rand is worth about 1 dollar. But Kendrick does not trust this man fearing that he will spend the money on drugs. The homeless man then goes to say “My son, temptation is one thing that I've defeated. Listen to me, I want a single bill from you. Nothin' less, nothin' more.” Here we can compare the homeless man to Jesus after he says “temptation is one thing that I’ve defeated.” Kendrick still refuses to give this man a dollar ending the verse with how much a dollar cost. Now we can understand the question a little more. See a dollar has a different value to every one. To Kendrick a dollar is nothing but to this homeless man a dollar is substantially more. In verse 2 we mostly see Kendrick continue his story about the homeless man. The homeless man is just staring at Kendrick as he is getting ready to leave. Kendrick becomes angry at this homeless man because he doesn’t understand how he can beg for goods. But then the homeless man says “have you ever opened up Exodus 14? A humble man is all we ever need.” Exodus 14 tells the story of Moses leading his fellow Israelites through the red sea. See Moses was an unlikely, humble leader to these scared and confused Israelites. This is why he says “a humble man is we ever need.” All it takes is one humble man to lead a group of people into righteousness. This verse is again ended by the question “How much a dollar cost” but this time it is coming from the homeless man. He is asking Kendrick if his greediness or selfishness for this dollar is worth him getting denied to righteousness or Heaven. In the third and final verse of the song, Kendrick finishes his story with this homeless man. Kendrick realizes that he is in the wrong. But he refuses to admit it so he starts to come up with reasons why the old man does not deserve the dollar. He says “I need all of mines, and I recognize this type of panhandlin' all the time I got better judgement, I know when n***** hustlin'.” Kendrick is saying that him being selfish is the reason why he is rich so why should he give the man a dollar. They then get into an argument. “You looked at me and said, "Your potential is bittersweet" I looked at him and said, "Every nickel is mines to keep."” The homeless man is saying that kendricks potential is spoiled by his greed. And then the homeless man reveals himself to be God. He also answers kendricks question “How much a dollar really cost?” which is his spot in Heaven. You see in Matthew 19:24, Jesus says “ And again I say unto you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Kendricks greed is the reason he loses his spot in Heaven. In the hook we hear James Fauntleroy say, “It's more to feed your mind. Water, sun and love, the one you love. All you need, the air you breathe” We can infer that this is God sharing his wisdom. He is saying that all you need are the things God gave everyone. Everything else is just a distraction. |
|
* This information can be up to 15 minutes delayed.