Jan 31, 2016

“Loving you is complicated.”

That’s how Kendrick Lamar describes the struggle to love himself in the face of ghetto strife on “u.” The tag line for “i,” by comparison, is “I love myself” and it’s called out so strongly and so often that it uplifts all the other fiery emotions stuffed inside the song. “u” is the dark twin to “i”, the GRAMMY Award winner and ode to positive thinking. Even with dual tones set this far apart, both sides of the spectrum promote love and hope as the real cures for our self-doubt. They’re close in name for that reason too.

Kendrick chose these songs as each other’s complement on To p---- A Butterfly because “i” is the welcoming pop decoy, contrasting profound personal faith with warring police mobs just down the street. It drums along to the rhythm of a Top 40 anthem while carrying heavier themes in the trunk. “u” is a low-key prayer, an earnest attempt at forgiving his many sins by revealing them out loud. The bare blues that shape the somber tone in “u” mingle with its voice of forgiveness and vulnerability.

We all get how they work together in their own way to express feelings, but which one do you prefer?

Personally, i prefer the message of i, but the raw emotion of u


source: http://uproxx.com/smokingsection/how-to-unlock-kendrick-lamars-inspiring-message-on-u-and-i/

 

Jan 31, 2016

U, for me.

I like I's message, but i just don't enjoy the song, no replay value at all for me. Haven't bothered to listen to it since TPAB dropped.

 

Jan 31, 2016

"in the face of ghetto strife"

how has it almost been a year and people are still awful at writing about tpab

 

Jan 31, 2016

i like how "i" sounds

 

Jan 31, 2016

literally the only article i could quickly find comparing the two

in the face of ghetto strife tho

 

Jan 31, 2016

I listened to 'i' today and I'll always remember how it gave me the confidence and courage to leave my ex boyfriend. I would go for long drives just playing it over and over thinking about how much I loved myself. Kendricks music is surely a blessing.

 

Jan 31, 2016

This more or less sums it up for me.

Nevertheless, I like "u" more because it is such a powerful song and you always feel the emotion whenever you hear it. Also, it's extremely creative.

 

Jan 31, 2016

just the whole second half of u is amazing
the raw emotion is unlike any other artist near him

 

Jan 31, 2016

I really like i, but I like u better.

 

Jan 31, 2016

both

 

Jan 31, 2016

Which version of I?

 

Jan 31, 2016

probably the studio version as its the OG
but choose either i dont mind

 

Jan 31, 2016

the snl version >>>>>

 

Jan 31, 2016

u is artistically better but i is a better song imo

 

Jan 31, 2016

v

 

Jan 31, 2016

i prefer v too

 

Jan 31, 2016

I really loved i

 

Jan 31, 2016

The album version of i

 

Jan 31, 2016

i

 

Jan 31, 2016

corny way to open the piece tbfh

i is criminally underrated but u is Kendrick's codeine crazy