DUCKWORTH.
“DUCKWORTH.” is a street tale about how Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith was planning a second robbery at a local KFC where Kendrick’s father, nicknamed “Ducky,” was working back in the ‘90s. The robbery could have resulted in Ducky’s death, but his generosity caused Top Dawg to refrain from harming him. This happened many years before Top Dawg would coincidentally sign a 15-year-old Kendrick to his label, Top Dawg Entertainment. Duckworth is Kendrick’s legal surname.
On the song “untitled 02 | 06.23.2014,” Kendrick touches on his relationship with Top and how dangerous he can be:
"Me and Top is like a Kobe and Phil / A father figure, fuck with him, you get killed / Fuck with me and he’ll kill you himself"
The producer, 9th Wonder, samples Ted Taylor’s 1978 song “Be Ever Wonderful,” Hiatus Kaiyote’s 2015 track “Atari,” 1976’s “Ostavi Trag” by September, 1975’s “Let the Drums Speak” by the Fatback Band, and 1972’s “Mole on the Dole” by Climax Blues Band.
Citation:
Kendrick Lamar-DUCKWORTH. [Track No. 14 on DAMN.]
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