Wikipedia

DNA (Kendrick Lamar song)

"DNA." redirects here. For deoxyribonucleic acid, seeDNA.For other uses, seeDNA (disambiguation).

"DNA"(stylized as"DNA.") is a song by American rapperKendrick Lamarfrom his fourth studio albumDamn.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 theCollector's EditionofDamn),[3]it was written by Lamar, while the production was handled byMike Will Made It.[1]

"DNA"
SongbyKendrick Lamar
from the albumDamn
ReleasedApril 14, 2017
Recorded2016–2017
Genre
Length3:05
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Mike Will Made It
Music video
"DNA"onYouTube

The song'smusic videowas released on April 18, 2017, and features American actorDon Cheadle.[4]

Recording and production

edit

"DNA" was the second song fromDamnto 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 versea 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 "Mary Jane"byRick James.

Critical reception

edit

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

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

Music video

edit

The song's music video, directed byNabil Elderkinand released on April 18, 2017, features American actorDon 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 alie detectormachine.[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 rapperSchoolboy 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 "Công phu chịu ni" ( "Kung Fu Kenny", an alternate name used throughout theDamnalbum) and Kendrick's crew being given "Gia đình" (De jiātíng;"the family" ). TheTop Dawg Entertainmentlogo is presented alongside "Đỉnh cấp cẩu giải trí" (Dǐngjí gǒu yúlè,literally "top level dog entertainment" ).

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

Live performances

edit

Lamar performed "DNA" at theCoachella Valley Music and Arts Festivalon April 23, 2017.[18][19]Lamar also performed "DNA" onThe Damn Tour.[20]He also performed the song at the60th Annual Grammy Awards.[21][22]He also performed "DNA" at theSuper Bowl LIX halftime show.

Usage in media

edit

An unreleased version of the song, with a new verse, was used during ESPN's coverage of the2017 NBA Finals,and Lamar also appeared in accompanying promos.[23]It was also used to introduceNBA Live 18in promotional material. The song was also used as a part ofMadden NFL 18’s soundtrack, along withNBA Live 18.

The song was featured in aBeatsheadphones commercial starringNew England PatriotsquarterbackTom Brady.[24]The song was also featured in a Beats X commercial featuringDJ Khaled.[25]

The song was also featured onApple’sHomePodsmart speaker advertisement named "Beat".[26]

The song is featured in the first trailer forCreed II.[27]

On October 12, 2018, the soundtrack for the filmThe Hate U Givefeatured the song.[28]

The song appears in the third episode of theHuluscience fiction seriesUtopia Falls.[29]

The song was played to closeDave Chappelle's 2019 stand-up specialSticks & Stones.

The song was also featured in the launch trailer ofMortal Kombat 11:Aftermathexpansion.[30]

Credits and personnel

edit

Credits adapted from the officialDamndigital booklet.[1]

  • Kendrick Lamar – vocals, songwriter
  • Mike Will Made It– songwriter, producer
  • Matt Schaeffer – additionalguitar
  • Derek Ali –mi xing
  • Tyler Page – mix assistant
  • Cyrus Taghipour – mix assistant

Charts

edit

Certifications

edit
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[56] 4× Platinum 280,000‡
Austria (IFPIAustria)[57] Gold 15,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[58] 5× Platinum 400,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[59] Platinum 90,000‡
France (SNEP)[60] Gold 66,666‡
Germany (BVMI)[61] Gold 200,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[62] Gold 25,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[63] Gold 25,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[64] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[65] 3× Platinum 3,000,000‡

‡Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

edit
  1. ^abc"Digital Booklet - DAMN. copy.pdf".DocDroid.RetrievedApril 18,2017.
  2. ^"Rhythmic Airplay Adds".All Access.
  3. ^India, Lindsey (December 8, 2017)."Kendrick Lamar Surprises Fans With 'Damn.' Collector's Edition".XXL.RetrievedDecember 9,2017.
  4. ^ab"Watch Kendrick Lamar's New" DNA. "Video Starring Don Cheadle | Pitchfork".Pitchfork.18 April 2017.RetrievedApril 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.RetrievedApril 26,2017.
  6. ^"Buckle Up, Here's the Video for Kendrick Lamar's" DNA "".Noisey.18 April 2017.RetrievedApril 18,2017.
  7. ^"Kendrick Lamar's DAMN. Is Solemn, Arresting, and Timely. We gave it an A."EW.April 18, 2017.RetrievedApril 18,2017.
  8. ^McCormick, Neil (14 April 2017)."Kendrick Lamar is the star hip hop has been waiting for - Damn, review".The Telegraph.RetrievedApril 18,2017.
  9. ^"Best Songs of 2017: Billboard's Top 100 Picks".Billboard.December 13, 2017.RetrievedDecember 17,2017.
  10. ^ab"Kendrick Lamar Shares" DNA. "Video Starring Don Cheadle".The FADER.RetrievedApril 18,2017.
  11. ^"Kendrick Lamar releases video for 'DNA.' co-starring Don Cheadle".FACT Magazine: Music News, New Music.April 18, 2017.RetrievedApril 18,2017.
  12. ^abc"Kendrick Lamar Drops" DNA "Video Starring Don Cheadle".Highsnobiety.April 18, 2017.RetrievedApril 18,2017.
  13. ^ab"Watch Kendrick Lamar's Ruthless 'DNA' Video".Rolling Stone.Archived fromthe originalon September 27, 2017.RetrievedApril 18,2017.
  14. ^ab"Kendrick Lamar drops new video for" DNA. "starring Don Cheadle — watch".Consequence of Sound.April 18, 2017.RetrievedApril 18,2017.
  15. ^"Kendrick Lamar Releases" DNA. "Video Starring Don Cheadle".Spin.April 18, 2017.RetrievedApril 18,2017.
  16. ^"Don Cheadle Interrogates Kendrick Lamar In The 'DNA' Video".UPROXX.April 18, 2017.RetrievedApril 18,2017.
  17. ^"Kendrick Lamar Brings the Aggression of" DNA. "to Life".The Ringer.April 18, 2017.RetrievedApril 18,2017.
  18. ^"Kendrick Lamar Setlist at Coachella Festival 2017".setlist.fm.RetrievedApril 25,2017.
  19. ^"Kendrick Lamar sends off Coachella weekend 2 on a high note".USA TODAY.RetrievedApril 25,2017.
  20. ^Masley, Ed (July 13, 2017)."Kendrick Lamar launches DAMN. Tour in Glendale with triumphant one-man show of force".AZ Central.RetrievedOctober 30,2017.
  21. ^"Kendrick Lamar | 2018 GRAMMYs Performance".Grammy Award.January 28, 2018.RetrievedApril 1,2018.
  22. ^Fernandez, Matt (January 28, 2018)."Kendrick Lamar, U2, Dave Chappelle Open Grammys With Politically Charged Performance".Variety.Archived fromthe originalon January 29, 2018.RetrievedApril 1,2018.
  23. ^"Kendrick Lamar's" DNA "Gets New Version for NBA Finals | Pitchfork".pitchfork.15 June 2017.Retrieved2017-08-04.
  24. ^"Tom Brady 2017 Beats by Dre Commercial".The Fashisonisto.September 17, 2017.RetrievedNovember 20,2017.
  25. ^Beats by Dre (November 10, 2017),Beats by Dre | DJ Khaled | #BuiltForBosses,retrievedDecember 19,2017
  26. ^Apple HomePod TV Spot, 'Beat' Song by Kendrick Lamar,retrieved2023-07-04
  27. ^"CREED II Official Trailer MGM".YouTube.MGM.20 June 2018.Retrieved27 January2019.
  28. ^"Every Song On The Hate U Give Soundtrack".ScreenRant.2019-09-06.Retrieved2023-06-27.
  29. ^Paige, Rachel."Hulu's Utopia Falls Is Pretty Out There — But Its Soundtrack Is Mercilessly Cool".Refinery29.Retrieved28 June2023.
  30. ^Wilson, Mike (2020-05-21)."[Video] Launch Trailer for 'Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath' Expansion Punches Online".Bloody Disgusting!.Retrieved2023-07-06.
  31. ^"ARIA Australian Top 50 Singles".Australian Recording Industry Association.April 24, 2017.RetrievedApril 22,2017.
  32. ^"Kendrick Lamar – DNA. "(in German).Ö3 Austria Top 40.Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  33. ^"Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)".Billboard.Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  34. ^"ČNS IFPI "(in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic.Note: Select 16. týden 2017 in the date selector.Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  35. ^"Track Top-40 Uge 16, 2017".Hitlisten.RetrievedApril 26,2017.
  36. ^"Kendrick Lamar – DNA. "(in French).Les classement single.Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  37. ^"Kendrick Lamar – DNA. "(in German).GfK Entertainment charts.Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  38. ^"Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ "(in Hungarian).Stream Top 40 slágerlista.Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  39. ^"IRMA – Irish Charts".Irish Recorded Music Association.RetrievedApril 21,2017.
  40. ^"Classifica settimanale WK 16"(in Italian).Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana.RetrievedApril 22,2017.
  41. ^"Kendrick Lamar – DNA. "(in Dutch).Single Top 100.Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  42. ^"NZ Top 40 Singles Chart".Recorded Music NZ.May 1, 2017.RetrievedApril 28,2017.
  43. ^"VG-lista – Kendrick Lamar / DNA".VG-lista.Archived fromthe originalon April 29, 2017.RetrievedApril 22,2017.
  44. ^"Kendrick Lamar – DNA. ".AFP Top 100 Singles.Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  45. ^"Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100".Official Charts Company.Retrieved April 29, 2017.
  46. ^"ČNS IFPI "(in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic.Note: Select 16. týden 2017 in the date selector.Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  47. ^"Kendrick Lamar – DNA. ".Singles Top 100.Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  48. ^"Kendrick Lamar – DNA. ".Swiss Singles Chart.Retrieved April 24, 2017.
  49. ^"Official Singles Chart Top 100".Official Charts Company.Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  50. ^"Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Hot 100)".Billboard.Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  51. ^"Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)".Billboard.Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  52. ^"Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2017".Billboard.RetrievedDecember 17,2017.
  53. ^"Top AFP - Audiogest - Top 100 Singles 2017"(PDF)(in Portuguese).Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa.RetrievedAugust 14,2020.
  54. ^"Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2017".Billboard.RetrievedDecember 12,2017.
  55. ^"Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2017".Billboard.RetrievedAugust 23,2019.
  56. ^"ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles"(PDF).Australian Recording Industry Association.RetrievedMay 15,2024.
  57. ^"Austrian single certifications – Kendrick Lamar – DNA"(in German).IFPIAustria.RetrievedDecember 4,2024.
  58. ^"Canadian single certifications – Kendrick Lamar – DNA".Music Canada.RetrievedMarch 18,2021.
  59. ^"Danish single certifications – Kendrick Lamar – DNA".IFPI Danmark.RetrievedMay 15,2024.
  60. ^"French single certifications – Kendrick Lamar – DNA"(in French).Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique.RetrievedJanuary 22,2018.
  61. ^"Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Kendrick Lamar;'DNA.') "(in German).Bundesverband Musikindustrie.RetrievedJune 2,2023.
  62. ^"Italian single certifications – Kendrick Lamar – DNA"(in Italian).Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana.RetrievedApril 9,2018.
  63. ^"OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień"(in Polish).Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry.RetrievedSeptember 6,2023.Click "TYTUŁ" and enterDNA.in the search box.
  64. ^"British single certifications – Kendrick Lamar – DNA".British Phonographic Industry.RetrievedOctober 27,2021.
  65. ^"American single certifications – Kendrick Lamar – DNA".Recording Industry Association of America.RetrievedJune 7,2018.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=DNA_(Kendrick_Lamar_song)&oldid=1275578782"