How Much A Dollar Cost

Album: To Pimp A Butterfly (2015)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Kendrick Lamar details here an unexpected encounter with The Almighty. After refusing to give a dollar to a homeless man (believing he will spend it on crack), the man reveals Himself to K-Dot to be God.

    Lamar told MTV News this was a true story. "These are moments in my life deeper than just handing somebody a dollar," he said. "These are actually moments of integrity, actually being able to talk to somebody. Me talking to him was simply a thank you from God. And I felt God speaking through him to get at me."
  • James Fauntleroy croons the hook. Faunteloy is best known for his work as a songwriter, having co-written hit singles for Jordin Sparks "No Air" and Ciara ("Love Sex Magic") as well as much of Justin Timberlake's The 20/20 Experience.
  • Ronald Isley of the Isley Brothers croons the reflective outro. To Pimp a Butterfly's lead single "I" also involved the Isley Brothers, incorporating a sample from their 1973 hit "That Lady."
  • According to a list of the first family's best pop culture picks in 2015, this was Barack Obama's favorite song of the year. Michelle Obama chose Bruno Mars and Mark Ronson's "Uptown Funk."
  • Asked by a reporter what the song's deeper meaning is, Lamar replied: "Help as many people as you can, man, if you want to live forever."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Prince

PrinceFact or Fiction

Prince is shrouded in mystery, making him an excellent candidate for Fact or Fiction. Is he really a Scientologist? Does he own an exotic animal?

Alan Merrill of The Arrows

Alan Merrill of The ArrowsSongwriter Interviews

In her days with The Runaways, Joan Jett saw The Arrows perform "I Love Rock And Roll," which Alan Merrill co-wrote - that story and much more from this glam rock pioneer.

Van Dyke Parks

Van Dyke ParksSongwriter Interviews

U2, Carly Simon, Joanna Newsom, Brian Wilson and Fiona Apple have all gone to Van Dyke Parks to make their songs exceptional.

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside Story

Jesus Christ Superstar: Ted Neeley Tells the Inside StorySong Writing

The in-depth discussion about the making of Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neeley, who played Jesus in the 1973 film.

Amy Grant

Amy GrantSongwriter Interviews

The top Contemporary Christian artist of all time on song inspirations and what she learned from Johnny Carson.

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New York

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New YorkSong Writing

Can you be married in one country but not another? Only if you're part of a gay couple. One of the first famous singers to come out as a lesbian, Janis wrote a song about it.