I (Kendrick Lamar song)

2014 single by Kendrick Lamar featuring Ronald Isley

"I"

Single by Kendrick Lamar featuring Ronald Isley
from the album  To Pimp a Butterfly
Released| September 23, 2014 (2014-09-23)
Recorded| Late 2013–14
Genre|

* Hip-hop
* R&B
* neo soul
* funk
* black gospel

Length|

* 3:51 (single version)
* 5:36 (album version)

Label|

* TDE
* Aftermath
* Interscope

Songwriter(s)|

* Kendrick Duckworth
* Marvin Isley
* O'Kelly Isley
* Ronald Isley
* Rudolph Isley
* Ernie Isley
* Christopher Jasper
* Columbus Smith

Producer(s)| Rahki
Kendrick Lamar singles chronology
| "It's On Again"
(2014)  | "I"
(2014)  | "Never Catch Me"
(2014)

|
|

Music video
"I" on YouTube

"I" (stylized in lowercase as "𝖎") is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar featuring Ronald Isley of The Isley Brothers. It was released on September 23, 2014 as the lead single from Lamar's third studio album To Pimp a Butterfly. The song uses music from "That Lady", written by and originally performed by R&B group The Isley Brothers, elements from which were re-recorded rather than being directly sampled from the original record. It won two awards at the 2015 Grammy Awards: Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song. It was included at the end credits of the 2025 Marvel Cinematic Universe film Captain America: Brave New World.

## Background

[edit]

"I" was produced by Los Angeles producer Rahki, who also produced the song "Institutionalized". Although the version of "I" that appears on the album is drastically different from the single release, both versions contain a sample of the song "That Lady" by The Isley Brothers. Lamar personally visited Isley Brothers' lead vocalist Ronald Isley to ask his permission to sample the song: "I actually had to go to St. Louis and get the blessings from Ronald Isley," he said. "That was a trip. We got in the studio and just vibed and talked about how things were back then and how they are now, and you can actually hear him on the record with a few ad-libs that he actually did. We got it on camera and things like that, it’s a beautiful thing." Isley also performs on the song "How Much a Dollar Cost" with singer-songwriter James Fauntleroy.[1]

The single cover for "I" features members of gangs the Bloods and the Crips forming a heart. On the subject of the cover art Lamar said in an interview with AMP Radio: "Where I'm from, there's a lot of gang culture and things like that, so instead of throwing on up gang signs, which we used to, I put a Blood and I put a Crip together and we’re throwing up hearts...sparking the idea of some type of change through music or through me because I go back to the city now and people give me the honor and respect that, you know, this kid can change a little bit something different that’s been going on in the community."[2]

The song's title has a significant connotation. In Hip Hop America, journalist Nelson George writes, "'I' is a powerful word in the vocabulary of the African American male," as it can be related to pride. While pride is one of the seven deadly sins, George's study explains how "this has been an invigorating source of self-empowerment," similar to the self-love Lamar preaches in his song.[3]

## Composition

[edit]

The version of "I" featured on To Pimp a Butterfly includes a "live-sounding mix" followed by a monologue from Lamar, departing from the "sunny soul" sound of the original single version.[4]

## Music video

[edit]

The video for the song premiered on Vevo and YouTube on November 4, 2014. It features cameos from singer Ron Isley and George Clinton. References are made to Tupac and The Joker in the video. A short instrumental was played in the intro of the clip. The video is directed by Alexandre Moors.[5]

## Critical reception and awards

[edit]

"I" received critical acclaim from music critics. The track was placed at number ten on Rolling Stone's 50 Best Songs of 2014 list.[6] Billboard listed "I" as the second best song of 2014.[7] "I" also was placed at number 14 on Spin's list of "The 101 Best Songs of 2014".[8] In January 2015, "I" was ranked at number five on The Village Voice's annual year-end Pazz & Jop critics' poll.

"I" was nominated for Outstanding Music Video and Outstanding Song at the 46th NAACP Image Award.[9] The song received two nominations at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards and won both Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song.[10]

## Chart performance

[edit]

The song debuted and peaked at number 39 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it his fourth top 40 hit in the US. It was his highest-charting song to-date in the UK, Canada, and Australia, and was his first song to chart in New Zealand.

## Usage in popular culture

[edit]

The song has been used in film trailers for Top Five,[11] Dope, How to Be Single, The Intern, and Roman J. Israel, Esq. In 2014, it was the official song for the NBA. It is featured in soundtrack for the 2018 video game Forza Horizon 4 and is featured as a playable track in Fortnite Festival. In 2025, the song was featured in the end-credits of Captain America: Brave New World.

## Track listing

[edit]

* Digital download[12]

1. "I" – 3:51

## Charts

[edit]

### Weekly charts

[edit]

| Chart (2014)  | Peak
position

|

Australia (ARIA)[13] | 48
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[14] | 22
Belgium Urban (Ultratop Flanders)[15] | 24
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[16] | 61
Denmark (Tracklisten)[17] | 36
France (SNEP)[18] | 68
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[19] | 82
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[20] | 31
Scotland (OCC)[21] | 20
UK Singles (OCC)[22] | 20
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[23] | 3
US Billboard Hot 100[24] | 39
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[25] | 11
US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[26] | 31
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[27] | 4

### Year-end charts

[edit]

| Chart (2014)  | Position

|

Australia Urban (ARIA)[28] | 42
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[29] | 65

## Certifications

[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

Australia (ARIA)[30] | 2× Platinum  | 140,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[31] | Platinum  | 80,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[32] | Gold  | 45,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[33] | Gold  | 400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[34] | Platinum  | 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ NME News Desk (September 24, 2014). "NME News Kendrick Lamar says he visited Ronald Isley to ask to use 'That Lady' on new track 'I' | NME.COM". NME.
2. ^ HipHopDX (September 24, 2014). "Kendrick Lamar Discusses Blood, Crip Presence On "i" Cover Art". HipHopDX.
3. ^ George, Nelson (April 26, 2005). Hip Hop America. Penguin. ISBN 9781101007303.
4. ^ Jenkins, Craig (March 19, 2015). "Kendrick Lamar: To Pimp a Butterfly". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
5. ^ "Kendrick Lamar Dances Through the Streets in 'i' Video". Rolling Stone. November 4, 2014. Archived from the original on February 2, 2016. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
6. ^ "50 Best Songs of 2014". Rolling Stone. December 3, 2014. Archived from the original on March 23, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
7. ^ "The 10 Best Songs of 2014". Billboard. December 11, 2014. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
8. ^ "The 101 Best Songs of 2014". December 8, 2014.
9. ^ "NAACP Image Awards: The Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. February 6, 2015. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
10. ^ "57th Annual GRAMMY Awards Nominees". Grammy Awards.
11. ^ "Kendrick Lamar - "i" Featured In "Top Five" Movie Trailer". HipHopDX. October 17, 2014.
12. ^ "i – Single by Kendrick Lamar". iTunes Store. United States: Apple. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
13. ^ "Kendrick Lamar – i". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
14. ^ "Kendrick Lamar – i" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
15. ^ "Kendrick Lamar – i" (in Dutch). Ultratop Urban. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
16. ^ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
17. ^ "Kendrick Lamar – i". Tracklisten. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
18. ^ "Kendrick Lamar – i" (in French). Le classement de singles. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
19. ^ "Kendrick Lamar – i" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
20. ^ "Kendrick Lamar – i". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
21. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
22. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
23. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
24. ^ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
25. ^ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
26. ^ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
27. ^ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved October 15, 2014.
28. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Urban Singles Chart". ARIA Charts. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
29. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
30. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved December 24, 2024.
31. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Kendrick Lamar – I". Music Canada. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
32. ^ "Danish single certifications – Kendrick Lamar – I". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
33. ^ "British single certifications – Kendrick Lamar – I". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
34. ^ "American single certifications – Kendrick Lamar – I". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 13, 2018.

## External links

[edit]

* "I" Music video on YouTube

* v
* t
* e

Kendrick Lamar songs

* Singles discography
* Songs

Section.80|

* "A.D.H.D."
* "HiiiPoWeR"

Good Kid, M.A.A.D City|

* "Sherane a.k.a Master Splinter's Daughter"
* "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe"
* "Backseat Freestyle"
* "Money Trees"
* "Poetic Justice"
* "Good Kid"
* "M.A.A.D City"
* "Swimming Pools (Drank)"
* "Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst"
* " Compton"

| Deluxe|

* "The Recipe"

|

To Pimp a Butterfly|

* "For Free? (Interlude)"
* "King Kunta"
* "These Walls"
* "Alright"
* "How Much a Dollar Cost"
* "The Blacker the Berry"
* "I"
* "Mortal Man"

Untitled Unmastered|

* "Untitled 02 | 06.23.2014."
* "Untitled 03 | 05.28.2013."
* "Untitled 07 | Levitate"
* "Untitled 08 | 09.06.2014."

Damn|

* "Blood"
* "DNA"
* "Yah"
* "Element"
* "Feel"
* "Loyalty"
* "Pride"
* "Humble"
* "Lust"
* "Love"
* "XXX"
* "Fear"
* "God"
* "Duckworth"

Black Panther|

* "All the Stars"
* "King's Dead"
* "Pray for Me"

Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers|

* "N95"
* "Die Hard"
* "We Cry Together"
* "Count Me Out"
* "Silent Hill"
* "Auntie Diaries"
* "The Heart Part 5"

Drake–Kendrick Lamar feud|

* "Like That"
* "Euphoria"
* "6:16 in LA"
* "Meet the Grahams"
* "Not Like Us"

GNX|

* "Wacced Out Murals"
* "Squabble Up"
* "Luther"
* "Man at the Garden"
* "Hey Now"
* "Reincarnated"
* "TV Off"
* "Dodger Blue"
* "Peekaboo"
* "Heart Pt. 6"
* "GNX"
* "Gloria"

Collaborations with Baby Keem|

* "Family Ties"
* "Range Brothers"
* "The Hillbillies"

Featured songs|

* "Hood Gone Love It"
* "I'm On 2.0"
* "Fuckin' Problems"
* "Let Us Move On"
* "YOLO"
* "How Many Drinks?"
* "We Up"
* "Memories Back Then"
* "Collard Greens"
* "Fragile"
* "Forbidden Fruit"
* "Give It 2 U"
* "Radioactive (Remix)"
* "Nosetalgia"
* "It's On Again"
* "Control"
* "1 Train"
* "Autumn Leaves"
* "Never Catch Me"
* "Bad Blood (Remix)"
* "Classic Man (Remix)"
* "Easy Bake"
* "Holy Key"
* "No More Parties in LA"
* "The Greatest"
* "Freedom"
* "Really Doe"
* "Don't Wanna Know"
* "Sidewalks"
* "Goosebumps"
* "Doves in the Wind"
* "New Freezer"
* "Dedication"
* "Mona Lisa"
* "Tints"
* "America Has a Problem"

Other songs|

* "Cartoon and Cereal"
* "The Heart Part 4"
* "Under the Sun"
* "Watch the Party Die"
* "Money Without Me"
* "30 for 30"
* "Mojo Jojo"
* "Backd00r"
* "Good Credit"
* "Chains & Whips"

Additional songwriting credits|

* "All Day"
* "Win"
* "Greatest"
* "Numb Numb Juice"
* "Chopstix"
* "Floating"

Awards for "I"

* v
* t
* e

Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance

1980s–1990s|

* "Parents Just Don't Understand" – DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince (1989)
* "Bust a Move" – Young MC (1990)

2010s|

* "Otis" – Jay-Z & Kanye West (2012)
* "Niggas in Paris" – Jay-Z & Kanye West (2013)
* "Thrift Shop" – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis featuring Wanz (2014)
* "I" – Kendrick Lamar (2015)
* "Alright" – Kendrick Lamar (2016)
* "No Problem" – Chance the Rapper featuring Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz (2017)
* "Humble" – Kendrick Lamar (2018)
* "Bubblin" – Anderson .Paak / "King's Dead" – Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, Future & James Blake (2019)

2020s|

* "Racks in the Middle" – Nipsey Hussle featuring Roddy Ricch & Hit-Boy (2020)
* "Savage" – Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyoncé (2021)
* "Family Ties" – Baby Keem featuring Kendrick Lamar (2022)
* "The Heart Part 5" – Kendrick Lamar (2023)
* "Scientists & Engineers" – Killer Mike featuring André 3000, Future & Eryn Allen Kane (2024)
* "Not Like Us" – Kendrick Lamar (2025)

Between 1991–2011, the category was split into two categories Best Rap Solo Performance and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.

* v
* t
* e

Grammy Award for Best Rap Song

2000s|

* "Lose Yourself" – Jeff Bass, Eminem & Luis Resto (songwriters) (2004)
* "Jesus Walks" – Miri Ben-Ari, Che Smith & Kanye West (songwriters) (2005)
* "Diamonds from Sierra Leone" – Devon Harris & Kanye West (songwriters) (2006)
* "Money Maker" – Ludacris and Pharrell Williams (songwriters) (2007)
* "Good Life – Aldrin Davis, Faheem Najm & Kanye West (songwriters) (2008)
* "Lollipop" – Dwayne Carter, Stephen Garrett, Darius Harrison, Jim Jonsin & Rex Zamor (songwriters) (2009)

2010s|

* "Run This Town" – Shawn Carter, Robyn Fenty, Makeba Riddick, Kanye West & Ernest Wilson (songwriters) (2010)
* "Empire State of Mind" – Shawn Carter, Angela Hunte, Alicia Keys, Jane't "Jnay" Sewell-Ulepic & Alexander Shuckburgh (songwriters) (2011)
* "All of the Lights" – Jeff Bhasker, Stacy Ferguson, Malik Jones, Warren Trotter & Kanye West (songwriters) (2012)
* "Niggas in Paris" – Shawn Carter, Mike Dean, Chauncey Hollis & Kanye West (songwriters) (2013)
* "Thrift Shop" – Ben Haggerty & Ryan Lewis (songwriters) (2014)
* "I" – Kendrick Duckworth, Columbus Smith & Ronald Isley (songwriters) (2015)
* "Alright" – Kendrick Duckworth, Kawan Prather, Mark Spears & Pharrell Williams (songwriters) (2016)
* "Hotline Bling" – Aubrey Graham & Paul Jefferies (songwriters) (2017)
* "Humble" – Kendrick Duckworth, Asheton Hogan & Michael Williams II (songwriters) (2018)
* "God's Plan" – Aubrey Graham, Ronald LaTour, Daveon Jackson, Brock Korsan, Matthew Samuels & Noah Shebib (songwriters) (2019)

2020s|

* "A Lot" – Jermaine Cole, Dacoury Natche, 21 Savage & Anthony White (songwriters) (2020)
* "Savage" – Beyoncé, Shawn Carter, Brittany Hazzard, Derrick Milano, Terius Nash, Megan Pete, Bobby Sessions Jr., Jordan Kyle Lanier Thorpe & Anthony White (songwriters) (2021)
* "Jail" – Dwayne Abernathy, Jr., Shawn Carter, Raul Cubina, Michael Dean, Charles M. Njapa, Sean Solymar, Kanye West & Mark Williams (songwriters) (2022)
* "The Heart Part 5" – Jake Kosich, Johnny Kosich, Kendrick Duckworth & Matt Schaeffer (songwriters) (2023)
* "Scientists & Engineers" – Andre Benjamin, Paul Beauregard, James Blake, Michael Render, Tim Moore & Dion Wilson (songwriters) (2024)
* "Not Like Us" – Kendrick Duckworth (songwriter) (2025)

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