i (Kendrick Lamar song)

{{Infobox song

| name = I

| cover = I-by-Kendrick-Lamar.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Kendrick Lamar featuring Ronald Isley

| album = To Pimp a Butterfly

| released = {{Start date|2014|9|23}}

| recorded = Late 2013–14

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = {{hlist|Hip-hop|R&B|neo soul|funk|black gospel}}

| length = * 3:51 {{small|(single version)}}

5:36 {{small|(album version)}}

| label = * TDE

| writer = * Kendrick Duckworth

| producer = Rahki

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title =

| next_year =

| misc = {{Extra chronology

| artist = Kendrick Lamar

| type = singles

| prev_title = It's On Again

| prev_year = 2014

| title = I

| year = 2014

| next_title = Never Catch Me

| next_year = 2014

}}

{{External music video|{{YouTube|8aShfolR6w8|"I"}}}}

}}

"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

"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.NME News Desk (September 24, 2014). [http://www.nme.com/news/kendrick-lamar/79966 "NME News Kendrick Lamar says he visited Ronald Isley to ask to use 'That Lady' on new track 'I' | NME.COM"]. NME.

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."HipHopDX (September 24, 2014). [http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.30789/title.kendrick-lamar-discusses-blood-crip-presence-on-i-cover-art "Kendrick Lamar Discusses Blood, Crip Presence On "i" Cover Art"]. HipHopDX.

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.{{Cite book|url=https://play.google.com/books/reader?printsec=frontcover&output=reader&id=7TRApef2zW4C&pg=GBS.PT56|title=Hip Hop America|last=George|first=Nelson|date=2005-04-26|publisher=Penguin|isbn=9781101007303|language=en}}

Composition

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.{{Cite web |last=Jenkins |first=Craig |date=2015-03-19 |title=Kendrick Lamar: To Pimp a Butterfly |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/20390-to-pimp-a-butterfly/ |access-date=2024-04-08 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}

Music video

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.{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/kendrick-lamar-dances-through-streets-i-clip-20141104 | title=Kendrick Lamar Dances Through the Streets in 'i' Video | magazine=Rolling Stone | date=November 4, 2014 | access-date=January 20, 2016 | archive-date=February 2, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160202085802/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/videos/kendrick-lamar-dances-through-streets-i-clip-20141104 | url-status=dead }}

Critical reception and awards

"I" received critical acclaim from music critics. The track was placed at number ten on Rolling Stone{{'}}s 50 Best Songs of 2014 list.{{cite magazine|title=50 Best Songs of 2014|magazine=Rolling Stone|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/50-best-songs-of-2014-20141203/sam-smith-stay-with-me-20141202|date=December 3, 2014|access-date=December 5, 2014|archive-date=March 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323161256/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/50-best-songs-of-2014-20141203/sam-smith-stay-with-me-20141202|url-status=dead}} Billboard listed "I" as the second best song of 2014.{{cite magazine|title=The 10 Best Songs of 2014|magazine=Billboard |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/events/year-in-music-2014/6405564/10-best-songs-of-2014?facebook_20141211|date=11 December 2014|access-date=11 December 2014}} "I" also was placed at number 14 on Spin's list of "The 101 Best Songs of 2014".{{cite web|title=The 101 Best Songs of 2014| date=December 8, 2014 |url=https://www.spin.com/2014/12/101-best-songs-2014/?page=9}} 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.{{cite web | url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/naacp-image-awards-2015-winners-771018 | title=NAACP Image Awards: The Winners | work=The Hollywood Reporter | date=February 6, 2015 | access-date=April 26, 2016}} The song received two nominations at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards and won both Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song.{{cite web|work=Grammy Awards|title=57th Annual GRAMMY Awards Nominees|url=http://www.grammy.com/nominees?genre=28}}

Chart performance

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

The song has been used in film trailers for Top Five,{{cite web|work=HipHopDX|title=Kendrick Lamar - "i" Featured In "Top Five" Movie Trailer|date=October 17, 2014 |url=http://hiphopdx.com/videos/id.17910/title.kendrick-lamar-i-featured-in-top-five-movie-trailer}} 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

Digital download{{cite web |url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/i-single/id921042833 |title=i – Single by Kendrick Lamar |work=iTunes Store |location=United States |publisher=Apple |access-date=October 12, 2014}}

"I" – 3:51

Charts

=Weekly charts=

Chart (2014) ! Peak position
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
{{single chart\|Australia\|48\|artist=Kendrick Lamar\|song=i\|rowheader=true\|access-date=October 12, 2014}}
{{single chart\|Flanders Tip\|22\|artist=Kendrick Lamar\|song=i\|rowheader=true\|access-date=October 12, 2014}}
{{single chart\|Flanders Urban\|24\|artist=Kendrick Lamar\|song=i\|rowheader=true\|access-date=October 12, 2014}}
{{single chart\|Billboardcanadianhot100\|61\|artist=Kendrick Lamar\|rowheader=true\|access-date=October 12, 2014}}
{{single chart\|Denmark\|36\|artist=Kendrick Lamar\|song=i\|rowheader=true\|access-date=October 12, 2014}}
{{single chart\|France\|68\|artist=Kendrick Lamar\|song=i\|rowheader=true\|access-date=October 12, 2014}}
{{single chart\|Dutch100\|82\|artist=Kendrick Lamar\|song=i\|rowheader=true\|access-date=May 3, 2015}}
{{single chart\|New Zealand\|31\|artist=Kendrick Lamar\|song=i\|rowheader=true\|access-date=October 12, 2014}}
{{single chart\|Scotland\|20\|date=2014-11-22\|rowheader=true\|access-date=May 3, 2015}}
{{single chart\|UK\|20\|date=2014-11-22\|rowheader=true\|access-date=May 3, 2015}}
{{single chart\|UKrandb\|3\|date=2014-11-22\|rowheader=true\|access-date=May 3, 2015}}
{{single chart\|Billboardhot100\|39\|artist=Kendrick Lamar\|rowheader=true\|access-date=October 12, 2014}}
{{single chart\|Billboardrandbhiphop\|11\|artist=Kendrick Lamar\|rowheader=true\|access-date=October 12, 2014}}
{{single chart\|Billboardpopsongs\|31\|artist=Kendrick Lamar\|rowheader=true\|access-date=October 13, 2014}}
{{single chart\|Billboardrhythmic\|4\|artist=Kendrick Lamar\|rowheader=true\|access-date=October 15, 2014}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
Chart (2014) ! Position
scope="row"\|Australia Urban (ARIA)[http://cdn.aria.com.au/pdfs/FFC0D91B1F04B08BA023C046AE3930EAEF971B69D8AC5C2436EDD7707F0350A4/ARIA%20Top%2050%20Urban%20Singles%20Chart%20-%202014.pdf?seq=13 "ARIA Top 50 Urban Singles Chart"]. ARIA Charts. Retrieved August 17, 2018. \|align=center\|42
scope="row"\|US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2014/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs\|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2014\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=December 27, 2019}} \|align=center\|65

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

Chart (2014)

! Position

scope="row"|Australia Urban (ARIA)[http://cdn.aria.com.au/pdfs/FFC0D91B1F04B08BA023C046AE3930EAEF971B69D8AC5C2436EDD7707F0350A4/ARIA%20Top%2050%20Urban%20Singles%20Chart%20-%202014.pdf?seq=13 "ARIA Top 50 Urban Singles Chart"]. ARIA Charts. Retrieved August 17, 2018.

|align=center|42

scope="row"|US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2014/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2014|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 27, 2019}}

|align=center|65

Certifications

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2014|certyear=2024|access-date=December 24, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Kendrick Lamar|title=I|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2014|certyear=2021|access-date=April 13, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|artist=Kendrick Lamar|title=I|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2014|certyear=2023|id=13080|access-date=October 25, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Kendrick Lamar|title=I|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2014|certyear=2024|access-date=September 27, 2024|id=14876-3292-1}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Kendrick Lamar|title=I|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2014|certyear=2018|access-date=June 13, 2018}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|noshipments=true|nosales=true}}