Kendrick Lamar's "Poetic Justice" Gets A Gorgeous String Cover

BYAron A.Published on April 13, 20232.5K Views

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JULY 24: Rapper Kendrick Lamar performs onstage during day three of Rolling Loud Miami 2022 at Hard Rock Stadium on July 24, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Jason Koerner/Getty Images)

Strings From Paris don't miss.

Fans and critics deemed Kendrick Lamar’s debut album, good kid m.a.a.d city, a classic upon its release. Kendrick Lamar provided fans with an in-depth look into his stomping grounds of Compton, California, and the events that shaped him into who he is. “The Art Of Peer Pressure” explored the story of Kendrick’s involvement in an armed robbery. Then, “Swimming Pools” served as an infectious bop that explored the cycle of alcoholism. Through the 12-song opus, Kendrick proved that he could be a commercial success without compromising his craft.

“The kid that’s trying to escape that influence, trying his best to escape that influence, has always been pulled back in because of circumstances that be,” he said in an interview with XXL at the time of the project’s release. We just celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the project prior to the new year. The anniversary arrived a few months after Kendrick’s fourth studio album, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. His debut album maintained its position on the Billboard 200 for a decade. Afterward, he announced a 10-year anniversary copy of the record that includes an all-black reimagination of the iconic cover art.

Kendrick Lamar’s “Poetic Justice” Cover

Perhaps, the most notable song on the tracklist is “Poetic Justice” for a number of reasons. Between the sample of Janet Jackson’s “Any Time Any Place” and the fact that it’s one of the few collaborations between Kendrick Lamar and Drake, “Poetic Justice” holds a close place in the hearts of fans across the world. However, string collective Strings From Paris recently blessed fans with a re-imagination of the record. They debuted the live cover of “Poetic Justice” on their Instagram page, along with an open verse for anyone who wants to come through with a 16.

Strings From Paris have gained a significant amount of attention in recent months after delivering string covers of iconic records. The collective previously debuted a remix of "Over" by Drake. The cover earned recognition from Drake who reposted their live cover on his Instagram Story. Hopefully, we’ll hear them collaborate with some of our favorite artists in the near future.

About The Author

Aron A.

Aron A. is a features editor for HotNewHipHop. Beginning his tenure at HotNewHipHop in July 2017, he has comprehensively documented the biggest stories in the culture over the past few years. Throughout his time, Aron’s helped introduce a number of buzzing up-and-coming artists to our audience, identifying regional trends and highlighting hip-hop from across the globe. As a Canadian-based music journalist, he has also made a concerted effort to put spotlights on artists hailing from North of the border as part of Rise & Grind, the weekly interview series that he created and launched in 2021. Aron also broke a number of stories through his extensive interviews with beloved figures in the culture. These include industry vets (Quality Control co-founder Kevin "Coach K" Lee, Wayno Clark), definitive producers (DJ Paul, Hit-Boy, Zaytoven), cultural disruptors (Soulja Boy), lyrical heavyweights (Pusha T, Styles P, Danny Brown), cultural pioneers (Dapper Dan, Big Daddy Kane), and the next generation of stars (Lil Durk, Latto, Fivio Foreign, Denzel Curry). Aron also penned cover stories with the likes of Rick Ross, Central Cee, Moneybagg Yo, Vince Staples, and Bobby Shmurda.