Rose Batungwanayo

Ms. Simpson

AP Lang and Comp

28 March 2021

How Much A Dollar Cost Rhetorical Analysis

It is no secret that Kendrick Lamar is one of the best artists of our generation. In 2016, he

won a Grammy for best rap album from his album “To Pimp A Butterfly” which was well

deserved. From his subtle verses, to his lethal lyrics, he can do it all. Lamars album “To Pimp A

Butterfly” truly exhibits his versatility. One specific song called “U” exudes great understanding

of the importance of mental health, especially if you are in the music industry and everything

that comes with fame. “u” uses many rhetorical strategies but some significant one includes

symbolism, imagery and pathos.

As we dig deeper into Lamars “U”, we realize Lamar is battling depression. Lamar uses

alcohol to cope with his depression, which is an unhealthy coping mechanism. Lamar tells us he

is trying to silence his pain with alcohol by drinking his pain away with beer. “And if this bottle

could talk *gulping* I cry myself to sleep.” When he gulps, its almost as if you were in the room

with him, or on the phone listening to him rant. Lamar's beer bottle symbolizes an escape from

reality. Lamar really talks himself down which is why his use of imagery is so powerful.

Lamars use of imagery makes it feel as if you were living in the moment with him. “I

fuckin' tell you f*ckin' failure—you ain't no leader! I never liked you, forever despise you—I

don't need ya! The world don't need ya, don't let them deceive ya” This is a strong lyric because
we can infer he is suicidal. This highlights the importance of mental health and if we don’t truly

start listening to our favorite musicians' lyrics and their struggles, they will be gone before we

even get the chance to say goodbye. For example, Juice Wrld constantly spoke about his

addiction to drugs and drugs is exactly how he died. Everyone just thought of his music as great

but didn’t really take account into thinking what may really be going on behind the scenes. Also,

Kurt Cobain. He died by suicide with heroin in his system. Mental health needs to be taken

seriously and just because they are celebrities, that does not mean they do not struggle with

anything just as much as we do. “Numbers lie too, fuck your pride too, that's for dedication.”

“And if I told your secrets the world'll know money can't stop a suicidal weakness.” These lyrics

proves exactly just how little fame and money helps with anything. Just because you have

money, that does not mean you’re always happy, in some cases you’re even sadder than before.

Sometimes connecting what you're feeling to what someone has felt in the past can help diminish

the pain, even if it's just for a little bit.

Throughout “U”, Lamar uses a a great deal of pathos. This strategy helps the reader

understand how bad his mental health is getting and how much he blames himself for everything.

“What can I blame you for? I can name several. Situations, I'll start with your little sister bakin'

A baby inside, just a teenager” Lamar thinks he is to blame for his sisters pregnancy but no one

is to blame but her. When we think everything is suppose to fall into ouur hands, we often do not

know how to handle the emotion that comes with it. When pathos is used throughout the song, it

makes you feel for the writer, makes you want to give them a hug. “You ain’t no brother, you

ain’t no disciple, you ain’t no friend.” “You promised you’d watch him before they shot him.”

Someone got shot while they were in the care of Lamar and that really messes with your head

because you be mad that they got shot, but you didn’t know that it would happen so how are they
to blame. Lamar takes this personally and feels like an absolute failiure for letting his friend

down. “And if these mirrors could talk it'd say, "You gotta go” Lamars depression is getting to

the best of him and you could say he is losing the depression battle.

As we know, Kendricks way of shifting words into genius words is just an amazing

talent. He is able to create masterpieces right in front of your face and the meaning would go

right over your heads. He uses many rhetorical strategies to strengthen his music in his song “U”

while talking about mental health and just a couple to name would be symbolism, imagery and

pathos.