Poetic Justice (feat. Drake)

Kendrick Lamar's 'Poetic Justice,' featuring Drake, is a song that delves into the complexities of love, desire, and communication within relationships. The title itself is a reference to the 1993 film 'Poetic Justice,' starring Janet Jackson and Tupac Shakur, which is about a poet who finds love and healing after a personal tragedy. Lamar uses the concept of 'poetic justice' to explore the idea of finding balance and righteousness in love, much like the balance found in poetry.

The lyrics of the song are rich with metaphor and imagery. Kendrick Lamar opens with a recognition of a woman's allure and acknowledges her high standards, suggesting that she stands out from the rest. He uses the metaphor of a flower blooming in a dark room to question whether something beautiful and pure can emerge from a bleak situation. This could be interpreted as a commentary on finding love in unexpected or challenging circumstances. The repeated phrase 'poetic justice, put it in a song' suggests that Lamar is using his music as a means to express and understand his feelings, as well as to communicate with the woman he desires.

Drake's verse adds another layer to the song, as he expresses frustration with a woman's inattention due to her preoccupation with another man. He offers a vision of a different life, one connected to heritage and home, and reflects on the importance of communication in relationships. The song closes with a tense skit that seems unrelated to the love story but is a signature of Kendrick Lamar's storytelling style, often including narrative elements that ground his songs in a specific time and place, adding depth to the overall message of the track.