Kendrick Lamar

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

In "Mona Lisa," Kendrick Lamar takes the first vocal position, appearing in the song's intro to signal that a narrative is about to unfold. While Lil Wayne follows with a verse depicting himself as a tough gangster lured by the captivating seductress Liz, Kendrick returns later in Verse 3 to shift the perspective entirely. He adopts the viewpoint of Liz's boyfriend, responding directly to Wayne's account. Through his verses, Kendrick enumerates specific actions that demonstrate his love and care for her, offering a counter-narrative to the tale of passion and exploitation told by Wayne. This structural choice transforms the song into a dialogue where two distinct viewpoints on the same relationship collide.

In Their Own Story

The narrative arc of "Mona Lisa" begins with Kendrick Lamar setting the stage in the intro, alerting listeners that a story is imminent. As the track progresses to 4:28, a sample from Lil Wayne's 2008 hit "Lollipop" interrupts the flow, marking a sonic turning point within the five-minute-and-twenty-four-second runtime. While Wayne describes being allured by Liz and details the dangers of such an encounter, Kendrick steps in during the third verse to challenge that perspective. He speaks as the protective boyfriend, listing his devotion to Liz against the backdrop of Wayne's confession. This dynamic creates a complex story of deceit and lust, earning praise from critics like Israel Daramola of Spin who called it a "fascinating story," and Kevin Goddard of HotNewHipHop who noted the "lyrical onslaught" between the two rappers.

Reader's Guide

Kendrick Lamar's contribution to "Mona Lisa" is defined by his role as the first voice heard in the intro and his pivotal shift in perspective during Verse 3. The song, which debuted at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 on October 13, 2018, behind Maroon 5 and Cardi B's "Girls Like You," utilizes a unique structure where Kendrick frames Wayne's verse about a seductress with his own account of being her boyfriend. The track was officially released on September 28, 2018, as part of Tha Carter V, though production began in 2014 by Infamous. Listeners can hear the "Lollipop" sample at exactly 4:28 into the song. The collaboration highlights Kendrick's ability to weave a specific character perspective—here, the concerned boyfriend—into a broader narrative, complementing Wayne's storytelling of exploitation and danger.

Did You Know?

• Kendrick Lamar appears first in the song's intro to let listeners know a story is about to be told.
• The track does not feature a sample of Wayne's 2008 hit "Lollipop" at any point in the song.
• Producer Infamous began working on the beat in 2014 but waited until Tha Carter V was being released to finalize it.
• Martin Shkreli shared part of the song on Periscope in 2017, years before its official release.
• Kendrick's verse (Verse 3) responds to Wayne by taking the perspective of Liz's boyfriend.