Dissect - S1E13 – How Much a Dollar Cost? by Kendrick Lamar

Episode Date: November 22, 2016

We continue our serialized analysis of Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly by dissecting "How Much a Dollar Cost?" Follow Dissect on social media @dissectpodcast. Purchase Dissect merch at dissectpodcast.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to Dissect, long-form musical analysis broken into short digestible episodes. I'm your host, Kolkishna. Today, we continue our serialized examination of Tipinpa Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar. We're currently at the end of the album's third act, which we've titled Emerging Wings. Over the last four tracks, we followed Kendrick as he battled various metaphoric cacoons of his institutionalized upbringing, his newfound status as rap star, and the prison of his own mind. On All Right, through solidarity in God, Kendrick went to battle on the vices and inner conflicts that led him to depression and suicidal thoughts. On For Sale, we were privy to Kendrick's subconscious as he battled the seduction of Lucy, the devil incarnate.

On Mama, Kendrick worked towards resolution by returning home to Compton, where his choice between picking, quote, destiny or rest in peace, laid out the fundamental question that album poses. How will Kendrick use or pimp his success? for good or for evil? Will he run from destiny given to Lucy's temptations and live a selfish life filled with riches, drugs, and sex? Or does he choose destiny, pimp his situation for the betterment of mankind, and become a selfless advocate for the competence of the world? It's a question Kendrick wasn't yet ready to answer.

On our last episode, Kendrick reverted to an adolescent mentality on hood politics, triggered by insecurities about his authenticity and survival's guilt. Hood politics concluded with the recitation of the narrative poem, with six additional lines revealed. I remember you was conflicted, misusing your influence. Sometimes I did the same. Abusing my power full of resentment. Resentment that turned into a deep depression.

Found myself screaming in the hotel room. I didn't want to self-destruct. The evils of Lucy was all around me. So I went running for answers until I came home. But that didn't stop surviving's guilt. Going back and forth trying to convince myself the stripes I heard. Maybe how 8-1 my foundation was. But while my loved ones was fighting a continuous war back in the city,

I was entering a new one. After returning home to Compton on Mama and Hood politics, Kendrick is entering a new city, Johannesburg, South Africa. It's the setting of the album's next track, the grand turning point of Topimp a Butterfly, and the subject of today's episode,

How Much a Dollar Cost? A quick preface before we get too far in today's analysis. If you haven't listened to how much a dollar cost in full, I suggest you pause now and take a listen. The song's narrative contains a twist ending of sorts, and I'm going to talk freely about that ending throughout our examination. So consider this your spoiler alert. How Much a Dollar Cost was produced by Love Dragon, a moniker for the collaboration between Terrace Martin and Joseph Leimberg. The song is built around a series of somber, foggy piano chords introduced in the song's opening measures. While no sample or writing credit is given to contemporary jazz group the Isbjorn-Svenson trio

and their song Seven Days of Falling, the two tracks bear a striking resemblance. Let's hear the two tracks back to back. First, the introduction of how much a dollar cost. And now an excerpt of Seven Days of Falling. And it would seem that Seven Days of Falling was itself inspired by Pyramid song by Radiohead, a band the trio has stated on record as being an influence. The introductory chords of how much a dollar cost give away to a slumping drum loop that features a reverberating gunshot-like snare drum sample. Kendrick enters verse 1 introducing a narrative that will unfold over the song's three verses.

He tells an apparently true story about his encounter with a homeless man in a gas station in South Africa, a man who reveals himself as God in the final line of the song. Where was that? Johannesburg. Okay. Johannesburg. And I always flirted with the idea, just my imagination, you know, rolling past people that were, that we consider bums or homeless, and saying to myself, what was, what if that was the moment, you know, this is not a human form, but this is a mortal form of an angel testing your integrity to actually stop. Not just giving money, but talk to him.

You know what I'm saying? And this was one particular situation where I came across this evidence again being out there. I'm looking at this guy on the side. You know, we stopped. We're getting gas or whatever. And I'm just ignoring them because from where I come from, he's just panhandlers. Yeah, you don't engage. I don't engage.

I know what you're going to do with the money. You're going to smoke it off. You're going to get some crack or whatever, even if how much you tell me that you want to do this when I know what you're going to do, so I'm not going to engage in it. But the moment I actually engaged him with him, he said, God bless you. You know, this is your calling. And it blew my mind, like, really tripped me out, making me think,

these are moments in my life deeper than just handing somebody a dollar. these are actually moments of integrity being able to actually talk to somebody. Me talking to him was simply a thank you from God, you know what I'm saying? And I felt God speaking through him to get at me, you know? And it was a real trip. And I tend to always bottle these ideas in because I want to share them with the world. And that's how you get a record, like how much a dollar cost. Verse 1 begins with a brief thematic prelude and the opening of the narrative.

Kendrick $1 really costs. The question is detrimental. Paralyms in my thoughts. Parasites in my stomach. Keep me with him. Gut feeling, y'all. Gotta see how I'm chilling once I parked this luxury car. Hoping out feeling big as smooth tempo.

20-o pump six. Dumbly, Marcell has called me dumpo. 20 years ago. Now I can lend to my era too. How to stack these residuals tenfold. The liberal concept that men are do. 206, it didn't hear me. Indigenous African only spoke Zulu.

My American tongue was slurried. Walked out to gas station. Kendrick begins, quote, How much a dollar really cost? The question is detrimental, paralyzing my thoughts. Kendrick is contemplating the true value of money. Obtaining wealth comes at the cost of what? Your integrity, your heart, your soul?

The question is plaguing Kendrick. As expressed in the next line, parasites in my stomach keep me with a gut feeling. As you know, Kendrick's been plagued by Uncle Sam and Lucy, both representative of wealth and temptation, and it's left him sick in the next. a stomach. These opening lines are the story's prelude and sets up the thematic punchline that will come at the conclusion of verse 3. The narrative begins as the verse continues. Kendrick says,

Gotta see how I'm chilling once I parked this luxury car, hopping out feeling as big as Mutumbo, 20 on Pump 6. Kendrick has pulled up to a gas station in a luxury car, saying he's feeling big as Mutumbo, as in DeKimbe Matumbo, the famous basketball center from Africa, Kendrick is referring to his inflated ego. The verse continues, Dirty Marcellus called me Dumbo 20 years ago, can't forget. Now I can lend them all my ear or two, how to stack these residuals tenfold.

It appears Kendrick is recalling someone from his childhood, calling him Dumbo for having large years. The memory still bothers him and triggers a look at me now type defense mechanism, leading Kendrick to showboat his wealth and state that he could teach the world how to get rich or quote, stack these residuals tenfold. Next, Kendrick says, the liberal concept of what men will do.

Kendrick is referencing classical liberal economic theory, which emphasizes the social and economic benefits that occur when individuals pursue their own self-interest. Kendrick is exemplifying himself as a product of liberal economics, as he's narrow-mindedly pursued wealth for individualistic self-centered returns. The details of the story unfold as the verse continues. Walked out the gas station, a homeless man with a 70-10 complexion. Asked me what 10 ran, stressing about dry land.

Deep water powder, powder, buscans that crack open, a piece of crack that he wanted. I knew he was smoking, he begged it, pleaded. Asked me to feed him twice. I didn't believe it. Told him beat it. Contributive money just for his pipe, I couldn't see it. Kendrick says 20 on 6, he didn't hear me. Indigenous African only spoke Zulu.

My American tongue was slurrying. Kendrick is in Africa trying to purchase gas from a native who only, speak Zulu, one of the official languages of South Africa. As Kendrick walks out the gas station, he meets a homeless man. He describes him as having semi-tan complexion and stressing about dry land, deep water, powder-blue skies that crack open. Of course, this sounds a lot like biblical syntax, and semi-tan complexion describes the olive skin color of Jesus, a Middle Eastern Hebraic Jew. The man asked Kendrick for 10 Rand. Rand is the currency in South Africa. and 10 rand is equivalent to about one US dollar.

Kendrick refuses the man's request. He assumes his rambling is drug-induced, that he's a crack addict like so many panhandlers in his hometown of Compton. Verse 1 concludes with some telling details about our homeless character. I couldn't see it. He said, my son, temptation is one thing that I've defeated. Listen to me, I want a single bill from you. Nothing less, none more.

I told him mine and have it, then close my door. Tell me how much a dime cost. Kendrick says, quote, he said, my son, temptation is one thing that I've defeated. This line is likely referencing the biblical passage Matthew 4-1 through 11, in which Jesus is led into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He takes Jesus to a very high mountain to show him the king, kingdoms of the world, and the devil tells Jesus that they can all be his, if only Jesus bows down and worships him. Jesus refuses, saying, worship the Lord your God and serve him only.

The devil leaves, and Jesus is tended to by angels. Boo-ya. The homeless man continues to talk to Kendrick, saying, listen to me, I want a single bill from you, nothing less, nothing more. Knowing the identity of the homeless man, we know his asking for the dollar is merely a test of Kendrick's generosity and spirit. Despite having pulled up in a luxury car and referencing his skill to stacking residuals, Kendrick refuses a man a dollar, saying, I told him I ain't haven't and closed my door. Tell me how much a dollar cost. The song's hook follows, a brief passage sung by James Fontelroy, a Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and producer. Fontelroy sings, it's more to free your mind. Water, sun, and love, the one you love, all you need.

the air you breathe. With its message of simplicity, love, and nourishment from the natural elements, as well as the angelic timbre with which it's sung, we can assume this passage is a voice from a higher power, a message from God. It seems to suggest that Kendrick's life is unnecessarily complicated, which causes the depression and anxiety he feels, and stresses a return to the gifts he's created for him, water, sun, air, and love. In verse 2, the homeless man's stare keeps Kendrick from driving away. As he continues to stare, it makes Kendrick feel insecure and triggers defense mechanisms that express themselves in anger and frustration. He's staring at me in disbelief. My temper is building. He staring at me. I grabbed my key.

He staring at me. I started the car then I tried to leave. The something told me to keep it in park until I can see. The reason why he was mad at a stranger like I was supposed to save him. Like I'm the reason the homeless and acts of me for a favor. He's staring at me. His size. me with no laser. He's staring at me. I noticed that his stare is contagious, because now I'm staring back at him feeling some type of disrespect. If I could throw a bad at him here to be aiming at his neck. I never understood someone begging for goods. Asked for handouts taking it if they could. And this particular person just had a down back staring at me for the longest until he finally asked. Have you ever opened up Exodus 14? A humble man is all that we ever need. Tell me how much

a dollar cost. After the two stared at each other for some time, the homeless, The homeless man says to Kendrick, have you ever opened up Exodus 14? A humble man is all that we ever need. Tell me how much a dollar cost. Exodus 14 tells a famous biblical story of Moses. Chosen and guided by God, Moses parted the Red Sea to lead the Israelites to safety from their oppressive king that used them like slaves. Here we can circle back to the beginning of verse 1, in which Kendrick stated the homeless man was stressing about dry land, deep water, and powder blue skies that crack open. It's clear now these descriptions were foreshadowing the story of Exodus 14, and perhaps a direct

reference to Exodus 1429, but the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea, and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand and on the left. The homeless man also says, a humble man is all that we ever need. This is again a reference to Moses, an old modest man who seemed an odd choice to save the Israelites. In Numbers 12.3, it states, quote, Now the man Moses was very humble, more than any man that was on the face of the earth. But despite his humility, or perhaps because of it, Moses was chosen and trusted by God to save a great number of oppressed people.

It would seem the homeless man is trying to draw a parallel between Moses and the potential of Kendrick's situation. Having made it out the streets, Kendrick is viewed as a leader of his Compton community, many of whom are imprisoned by their environment. The homeless man implies that humility is needed in order for Kendrick to reach his full potential and save his community. After a repetition of the song's hook, verse 3 begins with Kendrick continuing to feel flustered by the man's presence. Get tripping and feeling resentment. I never met a transient that demanded attention. They got me frustrated, indecisive, and power tripping. Sower emotions got me looking at the universe different. I should distance myself. I should keep a relentless.

My selfishness is what got me here. Who the fuck I'm kidding? The first bum, crumbs and pennies, I need all of mines, and I recognize this type of band handling all the time. I got better judgment. I know that niggas hustling. Keep in mind when I was struggling. I did compromise. Now I comprehend.

I smell grandpa's soul medicine, reeking from your skin, moonshine and chin. Nick of your babbling, your words ain't flattering. I'm an mansion and Denzel, but looking at old nil. Cause I'm in sad thrills. Your gimmick is up. I sing you from a mile away losing focus. The verse begins with Kendrick questioning why he's, so affected by this homeless man. But rather than address it, he doubles down on his angst-ridden

defenses and continues to justify his selfishness. He says, I should keep it relentless. My selfishness is what got me here, who the fuck I'm kidding? So I'm going to tell you like I told the last bum, crumbs and pennies I need all of mines. Kendrick then paints the homeless man as a typical panhandler, a drunk or drug addict that's looking for their next fix. Kendrick claims to see write through the man's scheme, comparing his bad acting skills to Shaquille O'Neal's with the lines I'm imagining Denzel but looking at O'Neal. Gazam is a sad thrill. Your gimmick is mediocre.

The jig is up. The verse concludes with the song's grand reveal, as a homeless man explains to Kendrick's true identity and the true value of the dollar he was seeking. To increase the tension and add to the climactic resolution, strings enter near the end of the verse and hold a single note until dissolving upon the grand reveal. him God. Kendrick says, and I'm insensitive, and I lack empathy. He looked at me and said, your potential is bittersweet.

I looked at him and said, every nickel his minds to keep. Frustrated, Kendrick is unwilling to concede his selfishness, which you know is a defense mechanism for his insecurities. The homeless man calls Kendrick's potential bittersweet because of his lyrical gifts and platform are negated by his greed and lack of empathy. Kendra continues with the line, He looked at me and said, Know the truth, it'll set you free.

This is a direct quote from John 832, in which Jesus spoke to the Jews of Pharisees and a temple on the Mount of Olives. He revealed to them his true identity, the son of God. He proclaims himself the light of the world, and those that follow him will no longer walk in darkness and be granted eternal life.

And those that do not believe you as God will die on their sins. Of course, Kendrick uses this biblical quote strategically, as it's followed by the lines, you're looking at the Messiah, the son of Jehovah, the higher power, the choir that spoke the word, the Holy Spirit, the nerve of Nazareth. These are all aliases of God. Kendrick listing them adds to the dramatic impact of the verse's conclusion. Kendrick reveals both the identity of the homeless man, as well as the value of the dollar.

The question Kendrick asked multiple times throughout the song. He says, and I'll tell you just how much a dollar cost, the price of having a spot in heaven, embrace your loss, I am God. To Kendrick and his wealth, the value of a dollar is very little, yet to a homeless man is much more. Kendrick's lack of generosity cost him his spot in heaven, as it exemplifies his selfishness and unwillingness to help his neighbor, his fellow man. God has granted Kendrick with a rare gift of musicianship and lyricism, with which he's found great success, yet he's reluctant to reciprocate those gifts to others for the betterment of mankind.

We can then view Kendrick's story on how much a dollar cost as a parable, one that mirrors yet again another biblical story. Matthew 25 contains a parable commonly referred to as the sheep and the goats. Upon God's return to set up his kingdom, all those on earth will be brought forth to him, and separated, quote, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. The sheep on the right will be blessed and given eternal life in heaven. The goats on the right will be cursed to internal hellfire. Those on the right are cast there because of their selfishness.

Scripture says, quote, I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. They will answer, Lord, when do we see you hungry? And did not help you. He will reply, truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.

Then there will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life. Of course, this all sounds very familiar to the story told on how much a dollar cost. Kendrick Spot in Heaven has been taken away due to his selfishness and unwillingness to share the gifts God is given to him. The grand reveal of verse 3

is followed by a very important concluding passage. It's sung by Ronald Isley of the Isley Brothers fame, the importance of which we'll discuss on our examination of the song, I am God I wash my hands I said my grace What more do you want for me?

Tears of a cloud Yes I'm not all what is meant to be Chase of gray Will never change if I can do Turn this page Help me change To write my wall In this passage

Kendrick is speaking directly to God He says I wash my hands I said my grace What more do you want for me? me. I believe this expresses a sentiment of half-hearted religiousness, a kind of bare minimum Christianity, going to church on holidays, saying grace at a big meal, and praying to God when they need something. But when confronted by someone in need directly in their daily life, as Kendrick was at the gas station, they perhaps don't always act Christ-like. Kendrick repents his flaws with the

next line, Tears of a clown, I guess I'm not all what is meant to be. Tears of a clown is an expression used when describing someone who hides their sadness behind a smile. As we've seen, Kendrick the entertainer is plagued by depression and remorse, though many would never know due to his success and on-stage persona. By saying, I'm not all what is meant to be, he admits to skirting his destiny and not living up to his full potential as a human being. The passage concludes with the lines that will act as the album's main axis point, the shift that will set Kendrick on the right path.

He states, shades of gray will never change if I condone. turn this page help me change to write my wrongs. Kendrick's been humbled and sincerely asked for God's help in atonement. This passage acts as a turning page in Kendrick's life. Guided by God, Kendrick will now continue the album with a much different, more humbled and generous perspective. Conclusions The importance of how much a dollar cost to the album's narrative cannot be overstated.

In fact, before it was to pip a butterfly, how much a dollar cost was the original working title of the album. Let's briefly recap to Pimp a Butterfly's narrative arc thus far. In Act 1, which we've titled Pimp by Consumption and comprised of Wesley's theory for free and King Kuntah, a young self-centered Kendrick lusted after and obtained wealth, fame, and influence, the American Dream. In Act 2, titled Cacooned, and comprised of institutionalized these walls and you, Kendrick displayed all the ways in which he was mental,

and emotionally confined by systematic racism, survival's guilt, depression, and his own selfishness. In Act 3, titled Emerging Wings, and comprised of All Right, For Sale, Mama, Hood Politics, and now how much a dollar cost, Kendrick attempts to find resolution to the turmoil laid out on Act 2. We witnessed Kendrick at a crossroads, left with a metaphoric choice between good versus evil, God versus Lucy, Selflessness versus Selfishness. How much a dollar cost represents Kendrick's decision? He chooses God, a choice that will set him on a new path and solidify his purpose, to advocate for the comptins of the world,

to leverage his success and experiences for the betterment of his people, a spokesman and leader for the disenfranchised. In other words, the caterpillar has emerged from his cocoon. No longer pimped by Uncle Sam, no longer tempted by Lucy, Kendrick will take hold of his destiny, embrace his leadership role and become the butterfly that his community looks to for guidance and light. This resolution is strikingly similar to the resolution on Kendrick's previous album

Good Kid Mad City, in which Kendrick renounces sins by reciting the sinner's prayer in the parking lot of a food for less. Do you want to receive God as your personal savior? Okay, repeat after me. Lord God, I come to you a sinner. God, I come to you a sinner. And I humbly repent for my sin. And I humbly repent

for my sins. I believe that Jesus is Lord. I believe that Jesus is Lord. I believe you raised him from the dead. I believe you raised from the dead. I would ask that Jesus come into my life. I would ask that Jesus come to my life. And be my Lord

and Savior. And be my Lord and Savior. I receive Jesus to take control of my life. I received Jesus to take control of my life. And that I might live for him from this day forward. And that I may live for him in this day forward. Thank you, Lord Jesus for saving me. Good Kid was a coming of age story for a boy attempting to navigate the streets of Compton. He found resolution through God and music. After garnering success through music, Kendrick was thrust into a new world outside of Compton and his journey began anew. Blinded by faith. fame and its temptations, Kendrick was unable to see the resolution he sought was there all along.

In October of 2013, Kendrick was formerly baptized. When comparing his baptism to his encounter with the old woman and the Food for Less parking lot a decade earlier, Kendrick said he, quote, wanted to take it to the next level, being underwater. I felt like it was something I had to do. In the same interview, Kendrick notes that he's the closest thing to a preacher for a lot of kids in Compton. How much a dollar cost, in terms of the narrative function on Tipipa Butterfly, represents Kendrick's acceptance of this role and a recommitment to the teachings of Christ. And while Kendrick's spot in heaven was the answer to the question of how much a dollar cost,

we can also interpret this question in another way. It asks, how much does the pursuit of the dollar cost the individuals seeking it? In other words, what price does our spirit, our soul pay, in our pursuit of wealth and success, the American dream. Does it inherently breed selfishness, individualism, and self-loathing? Does our society truly benefit from this mentality? Or does it keep us a nation divided, all independently chasing a dollar while ignoring the needs of our neighbors? How much a dollar cost to you? The reason why every we on earth today, you, me, him, her, all these different walks of life,

It's all the tests. It's almost like an experiment, God's experiment. When are we going to understand that we are put on earth to love? That's all it's about. Everybody want to figure out how complicated life is and break it down. This is what I truly think. I really think that it's going to keep going on. War going to keep going on. Frustration will keep going on and going to keep going on

until we finally go back down to the simplest word, love. And when God sees that, then we have the answer. How much a dollar cost ends without a recitation of the narrative poem? Rather, it leads directly into the album's next track, the opening of Act 4, and the beginning of Kendrick's new enlightened path. The song is called Complexion, A Zulu Love. A track will thoroughly examine next time on Dysect. Dysect is written and produced by me. If you enjoy what you hear, consider rating Dysect on I.

iTunes. There's no team behind this podcast. It's just me, and ratings help a lot. Remember, you can submit your suggestion for the subject of Season 2 of Dysect by visiting dissectpodcast.com. Follow us at Dysect Podcast on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, and view exclusive episode notes at Cityscoutmag.com. Theme music by Birocratic. For more, visit bureaucratic.bancamp.com. If you're still listening, I'd like to quickly share with you a personal story. The morning after I completed this episode for how much a dollar cost, I left for work like I do every morning. Though the sun was out, it was cold enough to see your breath. I was walking towards my building when a middle-aged African-American woman

approached me. She wore a beanie, sweatshirt, and heavy jacket. Behind her was a man rolling up a sleeping bag near a dumpster. Clearly, they had just spent the night there. The woman was well-spoken. She told me she was in the service for 14 years, but didn't qualify for military aid. She showed me some papers. She was seeking $19.47 so the two could stay in a hostel that night and escape the cold. She asked if I could help. Having lived in how much a dollar cost the entire week, I'd be lying if I said Kendrick's message wasn't running through my head. I didn't have any money on me.

Typically, this excuse would be enough for me to decline her and not feel too bad about it. I told the woman I'd be back in ten minutes. I don't think she believed me. When I returned, I gave the woman $20. The bill was brand new, crisp, pure, no folds, no wrinkles. For whatever reason, that stuck out to me. The woman looked me in the eye. She took my hand.

It was coarse but warm. She said, thank you. God bless you. Then she gave me a hug. I'm not a person that typically hugs my family, let alone a stranger. I walked away moved, tears swelling in my eyes. I'm not entirely sure why I chose to share this, but something told me I should. Perhaps because it's a moment in my life that likely wouldn't have happened without this album,

and if nothing else, it was money well spent.