Kendrick Lamar – Meanings Behind ‘Loyalty’

His love for H.E.R came from the depth of his reckless heart

His love for H.E.R. might lead him to the death of his reckless life

Damned or blessed, depends on who you’re loyal to.

Fourth single off of Kendrick Lamar’s most successful album, previously analysed, DAMN., LOYALTY covers many layers and is illustrated with a very clever music video.

The song in itself begins like Poetic Justice, with the intro having that voice all turnt up, in the background during the introduction.

Every second, every minute
Man, I swear that she can get it
Say if you a bad b*tch, put your hands up high (Poetic Justice)

I said I’m geeked and I’m fired up 
All I want tonight is just to get high up 
Girl, you look so good, it’s to die for (Loyalty)

She may look good on the outside, but this flower may be full of bees and no honey. – Kendrick Lamar

Indeed, the woman you’re loyal too, might refer to some kind of metaphore for your fall, or your death .

Connection with For Sale? and God Is Gangsta

There is a theory that implies that DAMN. is the follow up of the end of the music video for God Is Gangsta, previously analyzed.

The music video ends up with Kendrick having a lone walk, when the album opens up with the statement “So I was takin’ a walk the other day”. There is a reflection indeed.

As  God Is Gangsta incorporates the track For Sale?, where Kendrick does the impression of Lucy’s  voice of Lucy (the evil), in a picture illustrated with red colors, and sinful party with naked women.

As far as Loyalty is concerned, the video direction takes the exact same coloring codes. The beginning of this clip really pictures a hellish kind of atmosphere, with a throne where a damned Kendrick is sitting, blindly waiting for his end.

Before we picture Kendrick losing his life, let’s keep in mind that tracks like  the Duckworth, rewind the whole story up: this suggests that all this hell and damnation never happened; this suggests  that the man has the choice between life and death (as it is said in the Bible).

Then we have the happening of Rihanna. Her presence reminds of the blind woman’s introduction, that caught Kendrick’s attention in BLOOD.

So after watchin’ her struggle for a while,
I decide to go over and lend a helping hand, you know?

“Hello, ma’am, can I be of any assistance? It seems to me that you have lost something. I would like to help you find it.”

She replied: “Oh yes, you have lost something.
You’ve lost… your life.”(BLOOD)

This video is really the showcase for sins – Pride -,violence – Element – and temptation –Lust.

Tell me who you loyal to
Is it money? Is it fame? Is it weed? Is it drink?
Is it comin’ down with the loud pipes and the rain?
Big chillin’, only for the power in your name
Tell me who you loyal to
Is it love for the streets when the lights get dark?
Is it unconditional when the ‘Rari don’t start?
Tell me when your loyalty is comin’ from the heart

Tell me who you loyal to
Do it start with your woman or your man? (Mmm)
Do it end with your family and friends? (Mmm)
Or you’re loyal to yourself in advance?
I said, tell me who you loyal to
Is it anybody that you would lie for?
Anybody you would slide for?
Anybody you would die for?
That’s what God for

One of Kendrick Lamar’s cleverest music videos. From Alright, to For Free?, then to DNA, Element and now this, Kendrick never stops amaze his audience.