Album: Section.80
Year: 2011
Cutman: Tae Beast
Appearing on Kendrick Lamar’s debut album Section.80 “Keisha’s Song (Her Pain)” tells the cautionary tale of a 17-year-old caught up in drug abuse and prostitution.
“Keisha’s Song” opens with a slow building jazz vibe before the drums set in. Ash Riser’s crooning vocals belie the grave nature of the subject matter to the point where it nearly feels disconnected from Keisha’s harsh reality.
When Kendrick begins his opening salvo with, “And Lord knows she’s beautiful/Lord knows the usuals leaving her body sore/She takes the little change she to fix her nail cuticles” he sets the stage for the journey. Kendrick Lamar masterfully uses his voice and lyrics to make a great piece of art here.
Kendrick sets the stage by noting the protagonist loves the song “Brenda’s Got a Baby”, which is foreshadowing as well as shout out a passed legend in Tupac Shakur, whom inspired Kendrick’s career.
Keisha’s story centrally focuses on her making money for her pimp, and watching out for jons looking for a quick thrill, as well as cops who may or may not have the same idea. Danger is part of the business, but it’s par for the course as Kendrick sheds light on her priorities. “In her heart she hate it there/But in her mind she made it where/Nothing really matters so she hit the back seat/Rosa Parks never a factor when trying to make ends meet.”
Kendrick Lamar showcases one of his greatest talents— his ability to use his voice as an instrument. The story concludes with the “original sin” that sent Keisha on this path and her unfortunate demise at the hands of an unnamed customer. Keisha never knew her father, was molested by her mother’s boyfriend, grew up to calling her pimp “Daddy” and, was eventually raped and left for dead.
Kendrick players the role of film director panning the camera out to show that he has been telling the cautionary tale to his younger sister. Once again, Kendrick Lamar proves himself to be a artist in the truest sense of the term with the vivid storytelling on this deep and compelling narrative from beginning to end.