DNA (Kendrick Lamar song)

"DNA" (stylized as "DNA.") is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar from his fourth studio album Damn. Despite not being released as a single, the song received support at rhythmic radio after its official music video was released.[2] The second track on the album (thirteenth on the Collector's Edition of Damn),[3] it was written by Lamar, while the production was handled by Mike Will Made It.[1]

"DNA." redirects here. For deoxyribonucleic acid, see DNA. For other uses, see DNA (disambiguation).
"DNA"
Song by Kendrick Lamar
from the album Damn
ReleasedApril 14, 2017
Recorded2016
Genre
Length3:06
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Mike Will Made It
Music video
"DNA" on YouTube

The song's music video was released on April 18, 2017, and features American actor Don Cheadle.[4]

Recording and production

"DNA" was the second song from Damn to be recorded by Lamar and Mike Will, after "Humble". After the first verse was recorded with the beat that Mike Will had already prepared, Lamar started rapping the second verse a capella, requesting that Mike Will build the beat around the rap. Lamar proposed that it sound like "chaos", and Mike Will put together the second half of the song with the intention to make it "sound like he's battling the beat".[5] The song samples a bit of "Mary Jane" by Rick James.

Critical reception

The song has been described as "the most virtuosic display" on Damn by Vice.[6] Entertainment Weekly praised the song as "technically peerless" and Lamar's "astonishing flow".[7] Music critic Neil McCormick, for The Telegraph, called "DNA" a "punchy electro mantra about identity".[8]

Billboard named "DNA" as the thirty-first best song of the year in their list of the 100 best songs of the year.[9]

Music video

The song's music video, directed by Nabil Elderkin and released on April 18, 2017, features American actor Don Cheadle.[4][10] The video, directed by Nabil and The Little Homies,[11] begins with Cheadle entering an interrogation room, where Lamar is being held captive and attached to a lie detector machine.[10] After Cheadle mocks Lamar,[12] he turns the machine on where he's shocked with Lamar's life force and begins rapping the track.[13] From here, Cheadle and Lamar switch back and forth from rapping the song, mirroring each other's movements along the way until Cheadle finally succumbs to Lamar and lets him go.[13] Afterwards, scenes of Lamar rapping alone along with some of his friends, including American rapper Schoolboy Q, follow.[12][14] The video ends with an extended outro for the song, as Schoolboy Q approaches and punches the camera in slow motion.[12][14][15] The video features the use of Chinese in the second half, with Kendrick subtitled "功夫肯尼" ("Kung Fu Kenny", an alternate name used throughout the Damn album) and Kendrick's crew being given "的家庭" (De jiātíng; "the family"). The Top Dawg Entertainment logo is presented alongside "顶级狗娱乐" (Dǐngjí gǒu yúlè, literally "top level dog entertainment").

Upon release, the music video received positive reviews from critics.[16][17]

Live performances

Lamar performed "DNA" at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 23, 2017.[18][19] Lamar also performed "DNA" on The Damn Tour.[20] He also performed the song at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards.[21][22]

Usage in media

An unreleased version of the song, with a new verse, was used during ESPN's coverage of the 2017 NBA Finals, and Lamar also appeared in accompanying promos.[23] It was also used to introduce NBA Live 18 in promotional material. The song was also used as a part of Madden NFL 18’s soundtrack, along with NBA Live 18.

The song was featured in a Beats headphones commercial starring New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.[24] The song was also featured in a Beats X commercial featuring DJ Khaled.[25]

The song was also featured on Apple’s HomePod smart speaker advertisement named "Beat".

The song is featured in the first trailer for Creed II.[26]

The song was sampled in Odesza's single "Loyal".

On October 12, 2018, the soundtrack for the film The Hate U Give featured the song.

The song was played to close Dave Chappelle's 2019 stand-up special Sticks & Stones.

The song was also featured in the launch trailer of Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath expansion.

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the official Damn digital booklet.[1]

  • Kendrick Lamar – vocals, songwriter
  • Mike Will Made It – songwriter, producer
  • Matt Schaeffer – additional guitar
  • Derek Ali – mixing
  • Tyler Page – mix assistant
  • Cyrus Taghipour – mix assistant

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[53] Gold 45,000*
France (SNEP)[54] Gold 75,000*
Italy (FIMI)[55] Gold 25,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[56] Silver 200,000
United States (RIAA)[57] 3× Platinum 3,000,000*

*sales figures based on certification alone
sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

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References
  1. "Digital Booklet - DAMN. copy.pdf". DocDroid. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  2. "Rhythmic Airplay Adds". All Access.
  3. India, Lindsey (December 8, 2017). "Kendrick Lamar Surprises Fans With 'Damn.' Collector's Edition". XXL. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  4. "Watch Kendrick Lamar's New "DNA." Video Starring Don Cheadle | Pitchfork". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  5. Carmichael, Rodney (April 25, 2017). "How Mike WiLL Made-It And Kendrick Lamar Created The Year's Most Urgent Music". NPR Music. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  6. "Buckle Up, Here's the Video for Kendrick Lamar's "DNA"". Noisey. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  7. "Kendrick Lamar's DAMN. Is Solemn, Arresting, and Timely. We gave it an A." EW.com. April 18, 2017. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  8. McCormick, Neil. "Kendrick Lamar is the star hip hop has been waiting for - Damn, review". The Telegraph. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  9. "Best Songs of 2017: Billboard's Top 100 Picks". Billboard. December 13, 2017. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  10. "Kendrick Lamar Shares "DNA." Video Starring Don Cheadle". The FADER. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  11. "Kendrick Lamar releases video for 'DNA.' co-starring Don Cheadle". FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music. April 18, 2017. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  12. "Kendrick Lamar Drops "DNA" Video Starring Don Cheadle". Highsnobiety. April 18, 2017. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  13. "Watch Kendrick Lamar's Ruthless 'DNA' Video". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  14. "Kendrick Lamar drops new video for "DNA." starring Don Cheadle — watch". Consequence of Sound. April 18, 2017. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  15. "Kendrick Lamar Releases "DNA." Video Starring Don Cheadle". Spin. April 18, 2017. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  16. "Don Cheadle Interrogates Kendrick Lamar In The 'DNA' Video". UPROXX. April 18, 2017. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
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  19. "Kendrick Lamar sends off Coachella weekend 2 on a high note". USA TODAY. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
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  25. Beats by Dre (November 10, 2017), Beats by Dre | DJ Khaled | #BuiltForBosses, retrieved December 19, 2017
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  40. "Portuguesecharts.com – Kendrick Lamar – DNA.". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  41. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 29, 2017.
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  43. "Swedishcharts.com – Kendrick Lamar – DNA.". Singles Top 100. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
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  48. "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
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  53. "Danish single certifications – Kendrick Lamar – DNA". IFPI Denmark. Retrieved November 21, 2018. Scroll through the page-list below until year 2018 to obtain certification.
  54. "French single certifications – Kendrick Lamar – DNA" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
  55. "Italian single certifications – Kendrick Lamar – DNA" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved April 9, 2018. Select "2018" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "DNA." in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli online" under "Sezione".
  56. "British single certifications". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 19, 2017. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. 
  57. "American single certifications – Kendrick Lamar – DNA". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 7, 2018. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
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