When Kendrick Lamar dropped i back in September 2014, the internet basically had a collective meltdown. Not the good kind. People were genuinely confused. After the cinematic, gritty, "streets-is-watching" vibe of good kid, m.A.A.d city, fans expected more of that dark Compton noir. Instead, they got a high-energy, funky, almost "happy" song built on a massive Isley Brothers sample.
Critics called it "saccharine." Hardcore fans whispered about him "going pop."
Fast forward to today, and i is recognized as one of the most conceptually daring moves in modern music history. It wasn't a radio grab; it was a Trojan horse. Kendrick, the definitive recording artist of our generation, used a polished single to prepare the world for the chaotic, jazz-fused masterpiece that would become To Pimp a Butterfly.
The Sample That Almost Didn't Happen
You can't talk about this track without talking about The Isley Brothers. The song is powered by a re-recorded version of the 1973 classic "That Lady." It’s that fuzzy, iconic guitar riff that hits you right in the chest.
But Kendrick didn't just clear the sample through a bunch of lawyers and call it a day. He actually traveled to St. Louis to meet Ronald Isley in person. He wanted to explain the vision. He wanted the legend to know that he wasn't just stealing a hook for a hit—he was trying to use that soulful lineage to deliver a message about self-worth to a generation dealing with unprecedented levels of depression.
Ronald Isley didn't just say yes; he actually appears on the track and in the music video. That’s the kind of respect Kendrick commands. It’s not just "sampling"; it’s a hand-off from one era of Black excellence to the next.
Single Version vs. Album Version: A Total Mind Trip
If you only listen to the radio edit of i, you're only getting half the story. Honestly, the difference between the two is staggering.
- The Single Version: It’s clean. It’s studio-perfect. It has a bridge that sounds like a polished 70s soul record. It’s what won the Grammys for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song in 2015.
- The Album Version: This is where things get weird. On To Pimp a Butterfly, the track is presented as a "live" performance at a park. The audio is rawer. Kendrick’s voice is raspier, more desperate.
And then, the music stops.
✨ Don't miss: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Animated Film: Why This 1979 Classic Still Hits Different
In the middle of the "live" version, a fight breaks out in the crowd. Kendrick stops the band. He starts an a cappella monologue, lecturing the audience about the word "Negus." He breaks down the etymology, tracing it back to Ethiopian royalty. It’s a jarring, uncomfortable, and brilliant moment that transforms a "feel-good" song into a heavy lesson on history and internalised racism.
The "I Love Myself" Misconception
The hook is simple: "I love myself." In 2014, some people thought it was cheesy. They compared it to Pharrell’s "Happy." But if you look at the verses, the song is actually incredibly dark. Kendrick is rapping about being on the verge of suicide, about the "sky falling," and about "the devil" (or "Satan" in the single version) trying to take his soul.
The mantra "I love myself" isn't an expression of ego. It’s a survival tactic. It’s a prayer.
As a recording artist, Kendrick has always been obsessed with the duality of the human experience. i is the literal mirror to the song u, which appears earlier on the album. While u is a harrowing look at self-hatred and drunken depression in a hotel room, i is the hard-won climb out of that hole. You can’t fully appreciate the joy of the latter without the absolute agony of the former.
Why the Cover Art Mattered
The single’s artwork featured two men—one in blue and one in red—forming a heart with their hands. In the context of Los Angeles, that’s a Blood and a Crip.
Kendrick explained that he wanted to spark a conversation about peace that went beyond just words. He grew up in the middle of that culture. He knew that for someone in Compton to say "I love myself" is a radical act of rebellion against a system that expects them to be dead or in jail by twenty-five.
Awards and the "Grammy Curse"
Despite the initial "is this too pop?" backlash, the industry eventually caught up. At the 57th Annual Grammy Awards, i took home two trophies. It was a massive win for Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) and solidified Kendrick as a powerhouse who could win while being experimental.
Interestingly, some fans still prefer the single version because it’s easier to listen to on a loop. The album version, with its five-minute-plus runtime and the spoken word outro, is an "experience," but it’s not exactly something you throw on at a party. And that’s exactly how Kendrick wanted it. He’s never been an artist who prioritizes your comfort over his message.
What You Should Do Next
If you haven't done it in a while, go back and listen to u and i back-to-back. Don't shuffle them. Listen to the studio version of the single first, then dive into the To Pimp a Butterfly version to see how the context changes the entire meaning of the lyrics. It’s the best way to understand the sheer complexity of what Kendrick was trying to pull off during that era of his career.