Jack Roberts

Genre Analysis Assignment

09/14/14

Kendrick Lamar, an extremely popular hip-hop recording artist from Compton, CA, gives
an interesting look into a genre of music people label as Rap. In his song entitled, Swimming
Pools, he describes his past struggle with alcoholism. Growing up Kendrick
lived in a house full of adults that wallowed in alcohol. So much so, that it
could fill a swimming pool. The idea that Kendrick is trying to convey is
repeated time and time again throughout the song.
He goes on to describe his grandfather and his flask, drinking and doing Backstroke
every day in Chicago which is another illusion to a swimming pool full of liquor. Kendrick then
brings up the all-important reason why alcohol is so prevalent, Some people like the way it
feels, some people want to kill their sorrows, some people want to fit in with the popular, that
was my problem. Kendrick describes how alcohol plays a role in many peoples everyday life.
Whether they drink to kill the pain of something that may have recently made them upset, just
because they like to drink, or to fit in with the crowd (which was his own personal struggle with
alcoholism). Kendrick presents a serious issue in a song that many people see as a song to play at
a party. Kendrick presents himself in a situation in which he is in a club, looking to get drunk
beyond the point of no return. The environment begins to change in front of him, the music all
starts to sound the same and the crowds mood begins to change. Just before the hook Kendrick
adds the line, Took a sip then another sip, then somebody said to me: which shows that he is
not drinking shots on shots on shots but rather taking it slow. That is when someone says to him
*****, why you baby-sitting only two or three shots. Showing the current mindset that you
must drink to get completely wasted. It is the common belief of our generation. The person
talking to Kendrick then says that he should dive into a swimming pool of liquor, (drink
excessively). Waving a few bottles, meaning he has bottle service in the club will have all of the

Jack Roberts

Genre Analysis Assignment

09/14/14

girls playing Baywatch. A popular TV show in the 80s, Baywatch often included a scenario in
an episode where a model would come running down the beach in slow motion to help someone.
Kendrick says that the girls in the club run to him like the women in Baywatch when they see
that hes received bottle service, going back to the idea that you must get completely wasted at
the club. Throughout the entire song Kendrick uses many allusions to bring the listeners to an
idea that alcoholism is an over-looked issue in todays society.
The age group at which this genre is aimed is between fifteen and twenty-five. The
people listening to this are mostly those who may be facing the same problem in their lives, or
just like the rhythm of the lyrics and beat. Conventions of the genre consist of drugs, alcohol,
women, sex, and wealth. Rappers appeal to an age group that is just discovering the power of all
these things. In rap music videos its not uncommon anymore to find half-naked women
twerking, or rappers sitting on expensive cars rapping about how much money they have.
Conventions of cockiness and nobility are common throughout all forms of this genre.

Jack Roberts

Genre Analysis Assignment

09/14/14

Constraints of rap are few, the idea of rap is to be open and creative. As long as it flows,
it goes. Only one constraint came across in my research, that being that the lyrics do not rhyme.
The point of a rap song is to convey a message through lyrics that rhyme. If it didnt rhyme, it
would most likely be considered spoken word or something similar to free verse poetry.
I often imagine how a song like Swimming Pools would sound if it were to be performed
in a play. Characters would have to portray the scenarios in the songs almost as though its a
music video. The main character would have to wear a gold chain as Kendrick does. He/she
would have to use conventions such as drama, stage directions, and characters, to act out the
situations Kendrick is facing in his lyrics. There would have to be five or six characters,
Kendrick, the adults in Kendricks childhood home, his grandfather, and the person in the club.
All parts would use similar conventions compared to the original lyrics, but would involve
choreography to act out the scenes.
As I began to analyze my selection of the genre, I learned that it like many others in its
category are deeper in meaning than we may anticipate. The genres we organize media selections
into have many levels of deeper and deeper sub-categories. I analyzed a musical genre labeled as
Rap. Kendrick uses many conventions that give his rap a unique sound and listening
experience. It connects the listener to a story or idea that Kendrick has experienced. It can often
relate to the ones listening. Understanding genre organization is the key to finding media that
suits the listener. Without genres, media would be an unorganized mess of confusion.

Jack Roberts

Genre Analysis Assignment

"Swimming Pools (Drank)"

[Hook:]
Pour up (drank), head shot (drank)
Sit down (drank), stand up (drank)
Pass out (drank), wake up (drank)
Faded (drank), faded (drank)

[Verse 1:]
Now I done grew up
Round some people living their life in bottles
Granddaddy had the golden flask
Back stroke every day in Chicago
Some people like the way it feels
Some people wanna kill their sorrows
Some people wanna fit in with the popular
That was my problem
I was in the dark room

09/14/14

Jack Roberts

Genre Analysis Assignment

Loud tunes, looking to make a vow soon

That I'm a get fucked up, fillin' up my cup
I see the crowd mood
Changing by the minute and the record on repeat
Took a sip, then another sip, then somebody said to me:

[Chorus:]
Nigga why you babysittin' only 2 or 3 shots?
I'm a show you how to turn it up a notch
First you get a swimming pool full of liquor, then you dive in it
Pool full of liquor, then you dive in it
I wave a few bottles, then I watch em all flock
All the girls wanna play Baywatch
I got a swimming pool full of liquor and they dive in it
Pool full of liquor I'm a dive in it

[Hook:]
Pour up (drank), head shot (drank)
Sit down (drank), stand up (drank)
Pass out (drank), wake up (drank)
Faded (drank), faded (drank)

[Verse 2:]

09/14/14

Jack Roberts

Genre Analysis Assignment

Okay, now open your mind up and listen to me, Kendrick

I'm in your conscience, if you do not hear me
Then you will be history, Kendrick
I know that you're nauseous right now
And I'm hopin' to lead you to victory, Kendrick
If I take another one down
I'm a drown in some poison abusin' my limit
I think that I'm feelin' the vibe
I see the love in her eyes, I see the feelin'
The freedom is granted as soon as the damage of vodka arrive
This how you capitalize
This is parental advice
Then apparently, I'm over influenced by what you are doin'
I thought I was doin' the most then someone said to me

[Chorus:]
Nigga why you babysittin' only 2 or 3 shots?
I'm a show you how to turn it up a notch
First you get a swimming pool full of liquor, then you dive in it
Pool full of liquor, then you dive in it
I wave a few bottles, then I watch em all flock
All the girls wanna play Baywatch
I got a swimming pool full of liquor and they dive in it

09/14/14

Jack Roberts

Genre Analysis Assignment

Pool full of liquor I'm a dive in it

[Hook:]
Pour up (drank), head shot (drank)
Sit down (drank), stand up (drank)
Pass out (drank), wake up (drank)
Faded (drank), faded (drank)

[Bridge:]
I ride, you ride, bang
One chopper, one hundred shots, bang
Hop out. Do you, bang
Two chopper, two hundred shots, bang
I ride, you ride, bang
One chopper, one hundred shots, bang
Hop out. Do you, bang
Two chopper, two hundred shots, bang

[Chorus:]
Nigga why you babysittin' only 2 or 3 shots?
I'm a show you how to turn it up a notch
First you get a swimming pool full of liquor, then you dive in it
Pool full of liquor, then you dive in it

09/14/14

Jack Roberts

Genre Analysis Assignment

I wave a few bottles, then I watch em all flock

All the girls wanna play Baywatch
I got a swimming pool full of liquor and they dive in it
Pool full of liquor I'm a dive in it

[Hook:]
Pour up (drank), head shot (drank)
Sit down (drank), stand up (drank)
Pass out (drank), wake up (drank)
Faded (drank), faded (drank)

09/14/14