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Alright artwork

Listen to this when

Alright

Song · 2015 · Kendrick Lamar (performer; co-written with Pharrell Williams and Mark Spears/Sounwave; produced by Pharrell Williams and Sounwave; hook vocals by Pharrell) · from the album To Pimp

It became a protest chant for a reason. ✊🏾 Hope isn't pretending it's fine. It's deciding to keep going anyway.

Who it's for

Lamar doesn't pretend things are fine: the song admits danger, temptation and inner demons, and only then insists that things will be all right, so its hope feels earned rather than naive.

Hopeless→Empowered

Feelings it meets

What it is

"Alright" is a hip-hop track by Kendrick Lamar from his third studio album, To Pimp a Butterfly, released as the album's fourth single on June 30, 2015. Written by Lamar, Pharrell Williams and Sounwave and produced by Pharrell and Sounwave, the song expresses hope in the face of personal struggle. Lamar said he was inspired after visiting South Africa and seeing the hardships people there faced.

Where to find it

Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music (widely available). Official black-and-white music video (dir. Colin Tilley and The Little Homies) on Kendrick Lamar's YouTube channel.

Before you start

Heads up: Lyrics about police violence and guns.

Age: Ages 16+

Between me and the other world there is ever an unasked question:W. E. B. Du Bois, The Souls of Black Folk

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