November 15, 2014. Woody Harrelson is hosting. Kendrick Lamar walks out for his first set. Most people expected a clean, radio-friendly version of his hit "i." What they got instead was a frantic, mesmerizing, and slightly terrifying piece of performance art.
Honestly, it changed how we look at Kendrick. He didn’t just rap; he possessed the stage. His hair was half-braided, half-loose—a mess of flyaways that looked intentionally unkept. But it was the eyes that got everyone.
Those Pitch-Black Eyes
Kendrick wore solid black contact lenses that erased his pupils and irises. He looked like a void. It wasn't just a fashion choice; it was a heavy nod to Method Man’s Tical era and Ol' Dirty Bastard.
He stood there, leaning into the mic with a manic energy. His body moved in these jerky, robotic stabs. He wasn't just performing a song about self-love; he was fighting for it in real-time.
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The Kendrick Lamar i Lyrics SNL Remix
The most jarring part for fans was how he messed with the words. If you listen to the radio version, the hook is uplifting. It’s sunny.
On the SNL stage? Kendrick threw a curveball. He altered the central mantra of the song to address the tension between the black community and law enforcement, which was reaching a boiling point in late 2014.
"And I love myself, when you lookin' at me. And tell me what do you see? I put a bullet in the back of the back of the head of the police."
It was a sharp, violent pivot from "the sun gon' shine." He wasn't advocating for random violence, though. Context matters here. Kendrick was illustrating the rage and the "eye for an eye" mentality that systemic pressure creates. He followed it with, "Illuminated by the hand of God, boy ain't that high."
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He was contrasting the internal struggle for self-worth against a world that seemed to want him dead or in a cage. It was raw. It was uncomfortable. It was perfect.
Performance vs. Studio Version
The studio single "i" features a bright sample of The Isley Brothers' "That Lady." It feels like a summer cookout. But the SNL rendition felt more like the version that eventually landed on To Pimp a Butterfly.
On the album, "i" is a "live" recording where a fight breaks out in the crowd and Kendrick has to stop the music to deliver a speech. The SNL performance captured that same "impending chaos" vibe. He swapped the polished vocals for a raspy, desperate delivery.
- The Tempo: It felt faster, driven by a live band that was absolutely locked in.
- The Ad-libs: He added soulful growls and "I love myself!" screams that felt less like a boast and more like a prayer.
- The Movement: The "square-shouldered shuffle" he did during the bridge became an instant iconic meme-worthy moment, but it felt deeply spiritual in the moment.
Why it Still Matters
Most musical guests on SNL show up, play the hits, and leave. Kendrick used his five minutes to create a historical marker.
He knew people were calling the single "too poppy" or "too happy" for the guy who made good kid, m.A.A.d city. So he showed up looking like a demon to tell you he loves himself. That irony is peak Kendrick. He was proving that self-love isn't a soft, easy emotion. It’s a war.
The kendrick lamar i lyrics snl moment remains one of the highest-rated musical performances in the show's history. Rolling Stone actually ranked it as one of the best of all time.
A Prelude to a Masterpiece
Looking back, this was the first real glimpse of the To Pimp a Butterfly aesthetic. The jazz-fusion influence, the screaming, the intense social commentary—it was all there.
If you go back and watch the clip today, pay attention to his face during the final verse. He isn't looking at the camera. He isn't looking at the audience. He’s looking through everything.
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What you should do next:
Go watch the original SNL clip side-by-side with the official music video. Notice the difference in the "I love myself" delivery. One is an invitation; the other is a confrontation. Then, listen to the album version of the track. You'll realize the SNL performance wasn't a "remix" at all—it was the bridge between Kendrick the Star and Kendrick the Prophet.