“Wacced Out Murals” by Kendrick Lamar is a powerful opening track from his album GNX, released in November 2024. The song begins with a melancholic Spanish intro by Deyra Barrera, setting a reflective tone.
Kendrick Lamar’s lyrics delve into themes of betrayal, resilience, and authenticity, using a vandalized mural as a metaphor for the challenges he faces in his career and personal life. The track critiques industry hypocrisy and personal feuds, showcasing Lamar’s determination to maintain his integrity despite adversity. Through sharp storytelling, he navigates the complexities of fame, loyalty, and cultural impact.
In this article, we’ll explore the message conveyed in the song’s lyrics.
“Wacced Out Murals” Lyrics Meaning
[Intro: Deyra Barrera]
Siento aquí tu presencia
La noche de anoche
Y nos ponemos a llorar
The Spanish intro sets a melancholic tone, reflecting on presence and shared emotions.
[Verse 1]
Yesterday somebody whacked out my mural
That energy’ll make you niggas move to Europe
But it’s regular for me, yeah, that’s for sure
The love and hate is definite without a cure
All this talk is bitch-made, that’s on my Lord
I’ll kill ’em all before I let ’em kill my joy
I done been through it all, what you endure?
It used to be fuck that nigga, but now it’s plural
Fuck everybody, that’s on my body
My blick first, then God got me
I watch ’em pandеr with them back-handed compliments
Put thеy head on a Cuban link as a monument
I paid homage and I always mind my business
I made the—
I never lost who I am for a rap image
It’s motivation if you wonder how I did it
The first verse then immediately addresses a real-life incident where Lamar’s mural was vandalized. This act becomes a metaphor for the challenges and disrespect he faces in his career. Lamar asserts his resilience, stating that such negativity is “regular” for him, highlighting his ability to withstand criticism and attacks on his legacy.
He expresses his determination to maintain his joy and authenticity despite industry pressures. The lines about “back-handed compliments” and putting heads on a “Cuban link as a monument” critique the superficiality and insincerity he encounters in the music world.
[Chorus]
Yeah, nigga, go and up your rank
Know you a god even when they say you ain’t
Yeah, nigga, keep your feelings out the way
Never let no one put smut up on your name
Yeah, nigga, keep your head down and work like I do
But understand everybody ain’t gon’ like you
Yeah, nigga, if they say it’s love, you’ve been lied to
A couple rules of engagements, I’ma guide you
The chorus serves as a motivational message, encouraging self-belief and perseverance in the face of adversity. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining one’s integrity and not letting others’ opinions diminish one’s self-worth.
[Verse 2]
Ridin’ in my GNX with Anita Baker in the tape deck, it’s gon’ be a sweet love
Fuck apologies
, I wanna see y’all geeked up
Don’t acknowledge me, then maybe we can say it’s fair
Take it to the internet and I’ma take it there
Miss my uncle Lil’ Mane, he said that he would kill me if I didn’t make it
Now I’m possessed by a spirit and they can’t take it
Used to bump Tha Carter III, I held my Rollie chain proud
Irony, I think my hard work let Lil Wayne down
Whatever, though, call me crazy, everybody questionable
Turn me to an eskimo, I drew the line and decimals
Snoop posted “Taylor Made,” I prayed it was the edibles
I couldn’t believe it, it was only right for me to let it go
Won the Super Bowl and Nas the only one congratulate me
All these niggas agitated, I’m just glad they showin’ they faces
Quite frankly, plenty artists, but they outdated
Old-ass flows, tryna convince me that you they favorite
This is not for lyricists, I swear it’s not the sentiments
Fuck a double entendre, I want y’all to feel this shit
Old soul, bitch, I probably built them pyramids
Ducking strays when I rap battled in the Nickersons
Where you from? Not where I’m from, we all indigenous
Against all odds, I squabbled up for them dividends
Against all odds, I showed up as a gentleman
I done lost plenty friends, sixteen to be specific
Put that on my kids’ children, we gon’ see the future first
They like, “Dot big trippin’,” I just want what I deserve
What bridge they done burnt? All of them, it’s over with
I’m doin’ what COVID did, they’ll never get over it
This verse delves deeper into Lamar’s personal experiences and relationships within the industry. He references disappointments with figures like Lil Wayne and Snoop Dogg, expressing his disillusionment with once-admired peers. The line about winning the Super Bowl likely refers to his 2022 halftime performance, with only Nas congratulating him, highlighting feelings of isolation in his success.
[Verse 3]
Niggas from my city couldn’t entertain old boy
Promisin’ bank transactions and even bitcoin
I’ll never peace it up, that shit don’t sit well with me
Before I take a truce, I’ll take ’em to Hell with me
If that money got in the hands of a crash dummy
Could jeopardize my family and burden the ones who love me
Niggas mad ’cause I decided not to pretend
Y’all stay politically correct, I’ma do what I did
Ain’t no sympathy here, this shit’s hilarious
It’s a lot of opinions, but no power to carry it
2025, they still movin’ on some scary shit
Tell ’em quit they job and pay the real niggas they severance
Don’t insult my intelligence, I’m not just for the television
Teleport to Bullis Road and dig up all my relatives
Okay, nigga, let’s settle it, these niggas been fake loyal
Since y’all pandering to choose a side, let me do it for you
Okay, fuck your hip-hop, I watched the party just die
Niggas cackling about— while all of y’all is on trial
Niggas thought that I was antisocial when I stayed inside of my house
You better off to have one woman, everything tricky right now
You niggas live in denial
Ayy, fuck anybody empathetic to the other side, I vow
A bitch nigga love bitch niggas, they exist with ’em in style
Exterminate ’em right now
Make Katt Williams and them proud, the truth ’bout to get loud
No juice inside of my cup, I sober up and knock ’em all off
Don’t let no white comedian talk about no Black woman, that’s law
I know propaganda work for them, and fuck whoever that’s close to them
The niggas that coon, the niggas that bein’ groomed, slide on both of them
You ever ate Cap’n Crunch and proceeded to pour water in it?
Pulled over by the law, you ridin’ dirty, so you can’t argue with ’em?
Then make it to be a star, bare your soul and put your heart up in it?
Well, I did
Whacked the murals out, but it ain’t no legends if my legend ends
The final verse intensifies Lamar’s critique of the industry and his peers. He addresses conflicts within his city, possibly referencing tensions in Compton or the broader hip-hop community. Lamar reaffirms his commitment to authenticity, rejecting political correctness and fake loyalty. He also touches on broader social issues, including race relations and the commercialization of hip-hop culture.
Deeper Meaning Behind “Wacced Out Murals”
Kendrick Lamar’s “Wacced Out Murals” is a multifaceted exploration of betrayal, resilience, and authenticity in the rap industry. The song’s title refers to an incident where a mural dedicated to Lamar in Compton was vandalized, serving as a metaphor for the challenges and disrespect he faces in his career. This act of vandalism becomes a symbol for the broader themes Kendrick addresses throughout the track.
The song delves into Kendrick’s disillusionment with industry relationships and the complexities of fame. He tackles the issue of loyalty, or lack thereof, from figures he once admired, such as Lil Wayne and Snoop Dogg. Kendrick expresses his disappointment in Wayne’s public reaction to not being chosen for the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show, which Kendrick headlined instead. This situation highlights the often complicated and competitive nature of relationships within the hip-hop community.
Furthermore, “Wacced Out Murals” serves as Kendrick’s response to ongoing rivalries, particularly with Drake. The song references Drake’s AI-generated diss track “Taylor Made Freestyle,” which used synthesized voices of Tupac and Snoop Dogg. Kendrick interprets this as a betrayal, especially considering Snoop’s historical support for him as a torchbearer of West Coast rap. This incident underscores the theme of authenticity versus artificiality in the industry.
Throughout the track, Kendrick reaffirms his commitment to staying true to himself despite the pressures of fame and the music industry. He uses the vandalized mural as a metaphor for his resilience, stating that such acts are “regular” for him, emphasizing his ability to withstand criticism and attacks on his character and art. The song ultimately delivers a powerful message of strength, self-reliance, and the importance of maintaining one’s integrity in the face of adversity and betrayal.
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