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King Kunta
Kendrick Lamar
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- Album
- To Pimp A Butterfly
- Released
- 2015
- Genres
- hip hop, west coast hip hop
- Length
- 3:55
- Tempo
- 107 BPM
- Label
- Aftermath
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About this song
The song takes its name from Kunta Kinte, the main character of Alex Haley's novel Roots: The Saga of an American Family. Haley said Kinte was his own great, great, great grandfather, and the character blends fact and fiction.
What it's about
The song draws on the story of Kunta Kinte, who refused to accept the name 'Toby' that slave masters tried to impose on him. After trying to escape the plantation where he was enslaved, his right foot was cut off.
Fun facts
- Samples “Kung Fu by Curtis Mayfield” and “Get Nekkid by Mausberg (Ft. DJ Quik & El DeBarge)”.
- Sampled in 13 other songs, like “DANCE CRIP by Trueno”.
- Covered 2 times, including “King Kunta by Spectre (Rapper) (Ft. Kyah White)”.
- Written by Ahmad, DJ Quik, Kendrick Lamar, Mausberg, Michael Jackson and Redfoo.
- Produced by Sounwave, Terrace Martin and Thundercat.