Love (Kendrick Lamar song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Love"
Single by Kendrick Lamar featuring Zacari
from the album Damn
ReleasedOctober 2, 2017
StudioJungle City Studios
Genre
Length3:33
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Kendrick Lamar singles chronology
"New Freezer"
(2017) 		"Love"
(2017) 		"All the Stars"
(2018)
Zacari singles chronology
"Love"
(2017) 		"Don't Trip"
(2019)
Music video
"Love" on YouTube

"Love" (stylized as "LOVE.") is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, from his fourth studio album Damn, released on April 14, 2017. The tenth track on the album (fifth on the Collector's Edition of Damn),[2] the song was written by Lamar, Zacari Pacaldo, Teddy Walton, Sounwave, Greg Kurstin, and Anthony Tiffith, and produced by Walton, Sounwave, Kurstin, and Tiffith. The song features soul singer Zacari, who is one of three credited musicians on Damn,[3] the others being Barbadian singer Rihanna on "Loyalty",[4] and Irish rock band U2 on "XXX."[5] The song was later sent to rhythmic radio as the album's third single October 2, 2017.[6]

Described by Zacari as "a whole new genre",[7] the song is a love song where Lamar describes his devotion to his fiancée, Whitney Alford.[8][9]

Lyrics[]

According to fan speculation, the song's lyrics describe Lamar's love and devotion to his fiancée and future baby mother, Whitney Alford.[8] Specifically, Lamar describes the intense passion he has of becoming one with someone else, not just his feelings of sexual desire and affection to her.[9] This is at least one possible interpretation, as Kendrick Lamar has not spoken on the meaning of the lyrics.[citation needed]

Composition[]

The song has a tempo of 126 BPM and is in the key of F major.[10]

Critical reception[]

Clover Hope of The Muse said the song was "one of the best songs on DAMN."[11] A positive review from Christopher Hooton of The Independent described singer Zacari's hook as very catchy and the production from Greg Kurstin (known for Sia's "Chandelier" and Adele's "Hello") as "on point", but tonally described the song as feeling at odds with the rest of the album.[12]

Commercial performance[]

Prior to its release as a single, "Love" debuted at number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 the week of the album release. After the song was released as a single, it re-entered the charts at number 41 for the week ending December 2, 2017 and moved up to 27 the next week. It has peaked at number 11.[13] "Love" spent 40 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 before dropping out on its 41st week on April 14, 2018.

Music video[]

The music video for the song was released to Lamar's Vevo channel on YouTube on December 21, 2017. It was directed by Dave Meyers and The Little Homies.[14] It features a cameo from Travis Scott, sitting on the staircase that Kendrick is rapping in front of, who previously collaborated with Lamar on 2016's "Goosebumps" from Scott's sophomore album, Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight, and in 2018's Big Shot, from Black Panther - The Album. Zacari is featured in the music video as the driver of the convertible that Kendrick is riding in the front passenger seat of, while rapping. During the shoot in a scene in the video, Kendrick hinted an easter egg for his then upcoming involvement for Black Panther: The Album through the director clip shown.

Live performances[]

Lamar performed "Love" for the first time as an encore at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 23, 2017.[15][16] Lamar has performed "Love" on the Damn tour.[17]

Covers[]

Scottish band CHVRCHES covered the song on Like A Version in July 2018.[18]

Credits and personnel[]

Credits adapted from the official Damn digital booklet.[1]

  • Kendrick Duckworth – songwriter
  • Zacari Pacaldo – songwriter
  • Teddy Walton – songwriter, producer
  • Mark Spears – songwriter, producer
  • Greg Kurstin – songwriter, producer
  • Anthony Tiffith – songwriter, producer
  • Kid Capri – additional vocals
  • Derek Ali – mixing
  • Tyler Page – mix assistant
  • Cyrus Taghipour – mix assistant, mixing
  • Zeke Mishanec – additional recording
  • Brendan Silas Perry – additional recording

Charts[]

Certifications[]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[45] Gold 45,000double-dagger
Canada (Music Canada)[46] 5× Platinum 400,000double-dagger
United Kingdom (BPI)[47] Gold 400,000double-dagger
United States (RIAA)[48] 4× Platinum 4,000,000double-dagger

double-dagger Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history[]

Country Date Format Label Ref.
United States October 2, 2017 Rhythmic contemporary radio
[6]
November 21, 2017 Contemporary hit radio [49]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Digital Booklet - DAMN. copy.pdf". DocDroid. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  2. ^ India, Lindsey (December 8, 2017). "Kendrick Lamar Surprises Fans With 'Damn.' Collector's Edition". XXL. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  3. ^ "Meet Kendrick Lamar's 'DAMN.' Secret Weapon: Zacari". Billboard. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  4. ^ Guan, Frank. "On 'Loyalty' Rihanna Plays It Casual With Kendrick Lamar". Vulture. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  5. ^ "U2 featured on new Kendrick Lamar track 'XXX'". @U2: Independent Site for U2 Fans. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b "Kendrick Lamar Love Next Single from Damn". Hip Hop n More. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  7. ^ "Kendrick Lamar's DAMN. Collaborator Zacari Talks New Song "LOVE." and More | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b Williams, Alexis Paige. "Kendrick Lamar's "Love" Is Almost Certainly About Whitney Alford, His Longtime Partner". Bustle. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b Lockett, Dee. "9 Best New Songs of the Week: Kendrick Lamar, Waxahatchee, Chris Stapleton, More". Vulture. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  10. ^ "LOVE. (Original Mix) by Kendrick Lamar, Zacari on Beatport". beatport.com. Retrieved July 18, 2017.
  11. ^ Hope, Clover. "Kendrick Lamar's Crucial Love Song". The Muse. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  12. ^ "Kendrick's album just dropped: Listen here and get our first impressions". The Independent. April 6, 2017. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  13. ^ "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. December 23, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  14. ^ Kim, Michelle (December 22, 2017). "Watch Kendrick Lamar's Cinematic New "LOVE." Video". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  15. ^ "Kendrick Lamar Setlist at Coachella Festival 2017". setlist.fm. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  16. ^ "Kendrick Lamar sends off Coachella weekend 2 on a high note". USA TODAY. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  17. ^ Masley, Ed (July 13, 2017). "Kendrick Lamar launches DAMN. Tour in Glendale with triumphant one-man show of force". AZ Central. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  18. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msgimk3mV6g&list=PLFqO_oqoHHMxXziEsHcHdvi5GztEuXDtg&index=5
  19. ^ "Australian-charts.com – Kendrick Lamar feat. Zacari – Love.". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
  20. ^ "ARIA Urban Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved April 30, 2017.
  21. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Kendrick Lamar feat. Zacari – Love." (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  22. ^ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  23. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100 and insert 201716 into search. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  24. ^ "Lescharts.com – Kendrick Lamar feat. Zacari – Love." (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  25. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Kendrick Lamar feat. Zacari – Love." (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  26. ^ "IRMA - Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  27. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Kendrick Lamar feat. Zacari – Love." (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  28. ^ "Charts.nz – Kendrick Lamar feat. Zacari – Love.". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  29. ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Kendrick Lamar feat. Zacari – Love.". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
  30. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201716 into search. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  31. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Kendrick Lamar feat. Zacari – Love.". Singles Top 100. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  32. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  33. ^ Trust, Gary (January 2, 2018). "Cardi B Joins The Beatles & Ashanti With First 3 Hot 100 Hits in Top 10 Simultaneously; Ed Sheeran & Beyonce's 'Perfect' No. 1". Billboard. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  34. ^ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  35. ^ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  36. ^ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  37. ^ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Adult R&B Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 21, 2018.
  38. ^ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  39. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: Year-End 2017". Billboard. Billboard.com. Retrieved 2017-12-11.
  40. ^ "Streaming Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  41. ^ "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  42. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  43. ^ "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
  44. ^ "Top AFP - Audiogest - Top 3000 Singles + EPs Digitais" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  45. ^ "Danish single certifications – Kendrick Lamar – LOVE". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved November 26, 2020. Scroll through the page-list below until year 2020 to obtain certification.
  46. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Kendrick Lamar – Love (Ft. Zacari)". Music Canada. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  47. ^ "British single certifications – Kendrick Lamar – Love". British Phonographic Industry.Select singles in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Love. in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  48. ^ "American single certifications – Kendrick Lamar – Love". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 7, 2018.
  49. ^ "Top 40/Mainstream". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on October 31, 2017. Retrieved October 31, 2017.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""