Man at the Garden


"Man at the Garden" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar from his sixth studio album GNX. It was produced by Sounwave, Jack Antonoff, Craig Balmoris and Tyler Reese Mehlenbacher, with additional production from Matthew "M-Tech" Bernard. The song contains an interpolation of "One Mic" by Nas.

Composition and lyrics

The instrumental is composed of a "lush, moody synthscape". Lyrically, the song revolves around Kendrick Lamar's conviction that he deserves all of his accolades and material rewards, as he details the accomplishments, hard work, sacrifices, trials and tribulations of his life and career, repeatedly declaring the phrase "I deserve it all". He additionally expresses anger and resentment at his enemies: "I did it with integrity and niggas still try to hate on me / Just wait and see, more blood will be spillin', it's just paint to me". Lamar ends the song with the rhetorical question, "Tell me why you think you deserve the greatest of all time, motherfucker?"

Critical reception

Michael Saponara of Billboard ranked it as the seventh best song from GNX.

Personnel