I (Kendrick Lamar song)

"I" (stylized as “i”) is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It was

"I"
released on September 23, 2014 as the lead single from Lamar's third studio
album To Pimp a Butterfly. The song utilizes 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.

Contents
Background
Album version
Single by Kendrick Lamar
Music video
from the album To Pimp a
Critical reception and awards
Butterfly
Chart performance
Released September 23, 2014
Usage in popular culture
Track listing
Format Digital download

Charts Recorded Late 2013–14

Year-end Genre Hip hop · funk · soul
Certifications Length 3:51 (single version)
References
5:36 (album version)
External links
Label Top Dawg ·
Aftermath ·
Background Interscope
Songwriter(s) Kendrick Duckworth
"i" was produced by Los Angeles producer Rahki, who also produced the song
· Marvin Isley ·
"Institutionalized". Although the version of "i" that appears on the album is
O'Kelly Isley ·
drastically different from the single release, both versions contain a sample of
Ronald Isley ·
the song "That Lady" by The Isley Brothers. Lamar personally visited Isley
Rudolph Isley ·
Brothers' lead vocalist Ronald Isley to ask his permission to sample the song: "I
Ernie Isley ·
actually had to go to St. Louis and get the blessings from Ronald Isley," he said.
Christopher Jasper ·
"That was a trip. We got in the studio and just vibed and talked about how things
Columbus Smith
were back then and how they are now, and you can actually hear him on the
record with a few ad-libs that he actually did. We got it on camera and things Producer(s) Rahki
like that, it’s a beautiful thing." Isley also performs on the song "How Much a Kendrick Lamar singles
Dollar Cost?" with singer-songwriter James Fauntleroy.[1] chronology

The single cover for "i" features members of gangs the Bloods and the Crips "It's On "i" "Never
forming a heart, on the subject of the cover art Lamar said in an interview with Again" (2014) Catch Me"
AMP Radio: "Where I'm from, there's a lot of gang culture and things like that, (2014) (2014)
so instead of throwing on up gang signs, which we used to, I put a Blood and I Music video
put a Crip together and we’re throwing up hearts...sparking the idea of some type "i" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?
of change through music or through me because I go back to the city now and v=8aShfolR6w8) on YouTube
people give me the honor and respect that, you know, this kid can change a little
bit something different that’s been going on in the community."[2]

The song's title has a significant connotation. In Hip Hop America, journalist Nelson George writes, "'i' is a powerful word in the
vocabulary of the African American male," as it can be related to pride. While pride is one of the seven deadly sins, George's
study explains how "this has been an invigorating source of self-empowerment," similar to the self-love Lamar preaches in his
song.[3]

Album version
A different version of "i" was released for Lamar's third studio album To Pimp a Butterfly. The version which appears on the
album was produced in a way that emulates a live performance, as opposed to the clean production on the single. Also, during the
third verse, the song is interrupted as an argument breaks out in the crowd to which Lamar is performing. After Lamar speaks to
the crowd he proceeds to perform an a cappella verse which finishes the song.

Music video
The video for the song premiered on Vevo and YouTube on November 4, 2014. It features cameos from singer Ron Isley and
George Clinton. References are made to 2Pac and The Joker in the video. A short instrumental was played in the intro of the clip.
The video is directed by Alexandre Moors.[4]

Critical reception and awards

"i" received critical acclaim from music critics. The track was placed at number ten on Rolling Stone's 50 Best Songs of 2014
list.[5] Billboard listed "i" as the second best song of 2014.[6] "i" also was placed at number 14 on Spin's list of "The 101 Best
Songs of 2014".[7] In January 2015, "i" was ranked at number five on The Village Voice's annual year-end Pazz & Jop critics'
poll.

"i" was nominated for Outstanding Music Video and Outstanding Song at the 46th NAACP Image Award.[8] The song received
two nominations at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards and won both Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song.[9]

Chart performance
The song debuted and peaked at number 39 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it his fourth top 40 hit in the US.

Usage in popular culture

The song has been used in film trailers for Top Five,[10] Dope, How to Be Single, The Intern, and Roman J. Israel, Esq. In 2014, it
was the official song for the NBA.

Track listing
Digital download[11]

1. "i" – 3:51

Charts
 Peak
Chart (2014)
position

Australia (ARIA)[12] 48

Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[13] 22

Belgium Urban (Ultratop Flanders)[14] 24

Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[15] 61

Denmark (Tracklisten)[16] 36

France (SNEP)[17] 68

Netherlands (Single Top 100)[18] 82

New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[19] 31

Scotland (Official Charts Company)[20] 20

UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[21] 20

UK R&B (Official Charts Company)[22] 3

US Billboard Hot 100[23] 39

US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[24] 11

US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[25] 31

US Rhythmic (Billboard)[26] 5

Year-end

Chart (2014) Rank

Australia Urban (ARIA)[27] 42

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales

United Kingdom (BPI)[28] Silver 200,000

United States (RIAA)[29] Platinum 1,000,000

sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

References
1. NME News Desk (September 24, 2014). "NME News Kendrick Lamar says he visited Ronald Isley to ask to use
'That Lady' on new track 'I' | NME.COM" (http://www.nme.com/news/kendrick-lamar/79966). NME.
2. HipHopDX (September 24, 2014). "Kendrick Lamar Discusses Blood, Crip Presence On "i" Cover Art" (http://ww
w.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.30789/title.kendrick-lamar-discusses-blood-crip-presence-on-i-cover-art).
HipHopDX.
3. George, Nelson (2005-04-26). Hip Hop America (https://play.google.com/books/reader?printsec=frontcover&outp
ut=reader&id=7TRApef2zW4C&pg=GBS.PT56). Penguin. ISBN 9781101007303.
 4. "Kendrick Lamar Dances Through the Streets in 'i' Video" (https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/kendrick-la
mar-dances-through-streets-i-clip-20141104). Rolling Stone. November 4, 2014. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
5. "50 Best Songs of 2014" (https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/50-best-songs-of-2014-20141203/sam-smith-s
tay-with-me-20141202). December 3, 2014. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
6. "The 10 Best Songs of 2014" (http://www.billboard.com/articles/events/year-in-music-2014/6405564/10-best-song
s-of-2014?facebook_20141211). 11 December 2014. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
7. "The 101 Best Songs of 2014" (https://www.spin.com/2014/12/101-best-songs-2014/?page=9).
8. "NAACP Image Awards: The Winners" (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/naacp-image-awards-2015-winn
ers-771018). The Hollywood Reporter. February 6, 2015. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
9. "57th Annual GRAMMY Awards Nominees" (http://www.grammy.com/nominees?genre=28). Grammy Awards.
10. "Kendrick Lamar - "i" Featured In "Top Five" Movie Trailer" (http://hiphopdx.com/videos/id.17910/title.kendrick-la
mar-i-featured-in-top-five-movie-trailer). HipHopDX.
11. "i – Single by Kendrick Lamar" (https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/i-single/id921042833). iTunes Store. United
States: Apple. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
12. "Australian-charts.com – Kendrick Lamar – i" (https://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Kendrick+La
mar&titel=i&cat=s). ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
13. "Ultratop.be – Kendrick Lamar – i" (https://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Kendrick+Lamar&titel=i&ca
t=s) (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
14. "Ultratop.be – Kendrick Lamar – i" (https://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Kendrick+Lamar&titel=i&ca
t=s) (in Dutch). Ultratop Urban. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
15. "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)" (https://www.billboard.com/music/Kendrick-Lamar/chart-histo
ry/canadian-hot-100). Billboard. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
16. "Danishcharts.com – Kendrick Lamar – i" (https://danishcharts.dk/showitem.asp?interpret=Kendrick+Lamar&titel=
i&cat=s). Tracklisten. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
17. "Lescharts.com – Kendrick Lamar – i" (https://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Kendrick+Lamar&titel=i&cat
=s) (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
18. "Dutchcharts.nl – Kendrick Lamar – i" (https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Kendrick+Lamar&titel=i&cat
=s) (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
19. "Charts.nz – Kendrick Lamar – i" (https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Kendrick+Lamar&titel=i&cat=s). Top
40 Singles. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
20. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100" (https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/20141
122/41/). Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
21. "Official Singles Chart Top 100" (https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20141122/7501/). Official
Charts Company. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
22. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40" (https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/r-and-b-singles-chart/20141122/114/).
Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
23. "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Hot 100)" (https://www.billboard.com/music/Kendrick-Lamar/chart-history/hot-10
0). Billboard. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
24. "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)" (https://www.billboard.com/music/Kendrick-Lamar/cha
rt-history/r-b-hip-hop-songs). Billboard. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
25. "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Pop Songs)" (https://www.billboard.com/music/Kendrick-Lamar/chart-history/pop-
songs). Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
26. "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Rhythmic)" (https://www.billboard.com/music/Kendrick-Lamar/chart-history/rhyth
mic-40). Billboard. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
27. "ARIA Top 50 Urban Singles Chart" (http://cdn.aria.com.au/pdfs/FFC0D91B1F04B08BA023C046AE3930EAEF97
1B69D8AC5C2436EDD7707F0350A4/ARIA%20Top%2050%20Urban%20Singles%20Chart%20-%202014.pdf?s
eq=13). ARIA Charts. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
28. "British single certifications – Kendrick Lamar – I" (https://www.bpi.co.uk/brit-certified/). British Phonographic
Industry. Retrieved April 5, 2018. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type I
in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
29. "American single certifications – Kendrick Lamar – I" (https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-aw
ard&ar=Kendrick+Lamar&ti=I#search_section). Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 13,
2018. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH.

External links
Lyrics of this song (http://www.metrolyrics.com/i-lyrics-kendrick-lamar.html) at MetroLyrics

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This page was last edited on 15 July 2019, at 02:34 (UTC).

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