King Kunta
A funk-infused promotional single released March 23, 2015, referencing Kunta Kinte and classic soul influences.
"King Kunta" is a song by American hip-hop recording artist Kendrick Lamar, from his third album, To Pimp a Butterfly (2015). It was released as a promotional single on March 23, 2015. Lamar co-wrote the song with Thundercat, while Terrace Martin, Sounwave, and Thundercat served as producers. The song features interpolations and references to lyrics written by Michael Jackson, James Brown, Fred Wesley, John Starks, and Johnny Burns, who are all credited as songwriters. The title references the archetypal rebellious slave Kunta Kinte from Alex Haley's novel Roots: The Saga of an American Family, and the song also contains references to Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart and Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man.
- First Appears
- To Pimp a Butterfly (2015)
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
The song's writing and composition draws from multiple literary and musical sources. "King Kunta" is a reference to the archetypal rebellious slave Kunta Kinte, the basis of the main character from the Alex Haley novel, Roots: The Saga of an American Family. The song also contains references to Chinua Achebe's novel Things Fall Apart and Ralph Ellison's novel Invisible Man. Musically, it contains an interpolation of "Get Nekkid" (2000), written by Johnny Burns (a.k.a. Mausberg), performed by Mausberg, and produced by DJ Quik; resung lyrics from "Smooth Criminal" (1987), written and performed by Michael Jackson; and elements of the 1974 James Brown song "The Payback", written by Brown, Fred Wesley, and John Starks.
In Their Own Story
The music video was directed by Director X and filmed in Compton, California. Lamar stated in an interview with New York City radio station Hot 97 that the majority of the people in the video are friends of his who still reside in Compton. It was inspired by the video for Dr. Dre's "Still D.R.E.", and also makes reference to the video for "California Love" by 2Pac. The video premiered on Vevo and YouTube on April 1, 2015. Lamar has performed "King Kunta" on The Damn Tour, as well as on The Big Steppers Tour. He most recently performed it on The Grand National Tour.
Reader's Guide
Critically, "King Kunta" was met with critical acclaim for its production and lyricism. This led to it being placed at number seven on Rolling Stone's "50 Best Songs of 2015" list, with the editors commenting, "The fiercest and most funkadelic track on To Pimp a Butterfly takes aim at everything from Lamar's haters to 'the power that be.' We already knew Kendrick was a great lyricist; turns out he's kind of a badass, too." Additionally, Pitchfork ranked the song at number four on its "The 100 Best Tracks of 2015" list. Village Voice named "King Kunta" the second-best single released in 2015 on their annual year-end critics' poll, Pazz & Jop. It came in 2nd on the annual Triple J Hottest 100 for 2015.
Did You Know?
- "King Kunta" was released as a promotional single from To Pimp a Butterfly on March 23, 2015.
- The song's title references Kunta Kinte from Alex Haley's novel Roots: The Saga of an American Family.
- It contains an interpolation of "Get Nekkid" (2000) by Mausberg, produced by DJ Quik.
- The music video was directed by Director X and filmed in Compton, California.
- The song came in 2nd on the annual Triple J Hottest 100 for 2015.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is King Kunta?
This title refers to a specific track by Kendrick Lamar that draws inspiration from the character Kunta Kinte in Alex Haley's novel Roots. It symbolizes resistance and cultural pride within the context of the album To Pimp a Butterfly.
What are King Kunta's powers or role?
As a musical piece, its function is to critique systemic oppression while celebrating Black excellence through funk-infused beats. The song serves as a thematic anchor for Lamar's exploration of identity and heritage in 2015.
How does King Kunta's story end?
The narrative arc concludes with Lamar asserting his dominance in the music industry despite external pressures to conform. It remains a celebrated highlight from his third studio album rather than having a fictional ending.
Why is King Kunta important?
The track is significant for its heavy sampling of classic soul artists like James Brown and its bold commentary on race relations. It helped establish To Pimp a Butterfly as a critical masterpiece in modern hip-hop history.
Who created the King Kunta artifact?
Lamar co-wrote the song with Thundercat, while production duties were handled by Terrace Martin, Michael Kuhle, and Sounwave. Several legendary musicians are credited for interpolations used within the composition.
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