[Intro: Kendrick Lamar]

Heh-heh, bear with me

We gon' slow it down for you

For this time around

I see ya tired, but don't forget the social training

That's if you can make a victory lap, heh-heh-heh-heh

[Pre-Chorus: Kendrick Lamar]

They say that I'm the one (that's what they say)

And you, you are the prototype

You might have the ears of somethin' (you just might)

But you already know who they like

[Chorus: Kendrick Lamar]

You niggas need hugs, for real

Somebody to hold you real tight

You niggas need hugs, for real

Somebody tell him he's the prototype

[Verse 1: Kendrick Lamar]

I am the truth, no lie about it

Bring my testimony when I walk in their booth

Walkin' a thin line between love and hate, I defend mines

Jordan when it comes to that crunch time, I never fold

I love pressure, that's why I apply so much on niggas thinkin' they better

I am a clutch shooter, I am a sharp-shooter

Aim is great enough to hit a butterfly movin'

Follow me movin' through these ghetto streets

At school I said "fuck a tardy sweep"

Walk in the school the Chief right tried to target me

In the midst of the Piru and Nutty Blocc beef

Shit, we hesitated to walk down Parmelee

That tenth grade summer, we had death in front of us

Didn't leave the house without kissin' our mommas

The new Jordans came out, but we didn't get 'em

The color on 'em drew too much attention

Damn it, I liked it thoughs

'Pac was talkin' 'bout a concrete rose

I never seen one 'til I looked in the mirror

There it go, heh-heh

“That's the flow right there, you should use it"

That's what my conscience said, then I overabused it, heh

I am the lyrics and the music, y'all rappin' over the beat

I let the instrumentals listen to me

I listen for heat, my ears can hear fire

I pierce through the flame like barbed wire breaking up concrete

And I ain't thinking 'bout no rap beef

Niggas is getting killed throughout the week, that's every day

Catchin' bullets like an umpire

We tried to stay home but still ain't safe

That's baseball tactics, retaliation back and forth like tennis rackets

We used to it, who can circle 'round the block the fastest?

If you can do it, then you know why it becomes a practice

We work it out like barely total, 'cause shit happens

[Chorus: Kendrick Lamar]

You niggas need hugs, for real

Somebody to hold you real tight

You niggas need hugs, for real

Somebody tell him he's the prototype

[Verse 2: Punch]

(Uh, right here? Chyeah, chyeah)

I ain't even gotta rap, I let them young boys get ya

Paint a perfect picture like I'm rhyming only scripture

I'm nice, ice water veins, it's pure, no filter

Who you get your style from? It seem real familiar, like I heard it before

But reincarnation is a blind man's theory

So I ain't going for it, uh-uh

I ain't havin' it, you gettin' aborted

Like a unfit mother, my child you gon' suffer

'Til you acknowledge, to whom gave you life through knowledge

It's higher learning, I'm takin' dudes through college

The prototype for the flows you like

I'm surgical on the mic, I cut you up somethin' nice

Get outta pocket, I'm sendin' them skyrockets right through your mind's optic, popping out ya eye sockets, ah

Excites a riot every time I'm rhyming

In accordance with the snare I got impeccable time, Junior

[Pre-Chorus: Kendrick Lamar]

They say that I'm the one

And you, you are the prototype

You might have the ears of somethin'

But you already know who they like

[Chorus: Kendrick Lamar]

You niggas need hugs, for real

Somebody to hold you real tight

You niggas need hugs, for real

Somebody tell him he's the prototype