Music with Meaning: “How Much a Dollar Cost” by Kendrick Lamar
It’s only worth as much as we’re willing to give up for it.
“How much a dollar really cost?”
This question is the focal point of Kendrick Lamar’s song of the same name (give or take a word), “How Much a Dollar Cost” from his third studio album, To Pimp a Butterfly.
Many of Kendrick’s songs and projects deal with the themes of wealth and money, but for me, this song is perhaps his most impactful song on these topics. This track has a jazzy, soulful chord progression with a swinging drum pattern that places you in an atmosphere of deep reflection — which is a very important thing, because Kendrick’s words on this track really ring true when you’re focused on each one. The premise of this song is based on a true story from Kendrick’s travels to South Africa during his time working on To Pimp a Butterfly, where he interacted with a homeless man after being reluctant to. In each verse, Kendrick narrates a different part of this story, exploring the thoughts and feelings that come with the pursuit of money, as well as cost of desiring to hang on to it.
The song opens with a jazzy, smooth, yet commanding progression with piano chords, a horn section, and an upright bass. As the production settles in, Kendrick begins narrating the story in the first verse:
How much a dollar really cost?
The question is detrimental, paralyzin’ my thoughts
Parasites in my stomach keep me with a gut feeling, y’all
Gotta see how I’m chillin’ once I park this luxury car
Hopping out feeling big as Mutombo
“20 on pump 6,” dirty Marcellus called me Dumbo
Twenty years ago, can’t forget
Now I can lend him a ear or two
How to stack these residuals tenfold
The liberal concept of what men’ll do
“20 on 6,” he didn’t hear me
Indigenous African only spoke Zulu
My American tongue was leery
Walked out the gas station
A homeless man with a semi-tan complexion
Asked me for ten Rand, stressin’ about dry land
Deep water, powder blue skies that crack open
A piece of crack that he wanted, I knew he was smokin’
He begged and pleaded
Asked me to feed him twice, I didn’t believe it
Told him, “Beat it”
Contributin’ money just for his pipe — I couldn’t see it
He said, “My son, temptation is one thing that I’ve defeated
Listen to me, I want a single bill from you
Nothin’ less, nothin’ more”
I told him I ain’t have it and closed my door
Tell me, how much a dollar cost?
That first verse is loaded, but it sets up the situation that the song is about very well. Kendrick is contemplating how much it costs him to have the wealth that he does — and it seems that a peace of mind is one thing that he’s losing to maintain this wealth, especially with the lines “The question is detrimental, paralyzin’ my thoughts/Parasites in my stomach keep me with a gut feeling y’all”. There is a constant hunger for money, as well as a deep-rooted fear of losing it that he’s experiencing. Alongside this fear, there’s also a sense of pride Kendrick feels in having all this wealth — he’s feeling as “big as Mutombo”. He’s even found himself in a place of further financial success than people he grew up with. However, he’s pulled back into reality as a homeless man asks him for 10 Rand, which roughly equates to one US dollar. Kendrick assumes that this man wants to use the money for drugs or something else along those lines, and despite the man trying to convince Kendrick that this isn’t the case, he refuses. The last four lines are particularly important here — from the man’s point of view, a dollar is the smallest possible thing that Kendrick could offer that he’d be content with, but even with that, Kendrick still wasn’t willing to give it to him. Kendrick then asks, “Tell me how much a dollar cost?” When he asks the question this time around it almost seems like he’s asking us, “What is so important about just one dollar that you aren’t willing to give it up, especially to someone in need?” This question really takes on a different tone once James Fauntleroy’s atmospheric, ambient vocal comes around on the chorus for the first time:
It’s more to feed your mind
Water, sun, and love, the one you love
All you need, the air you breathe
In light of these lines, Kendrick’s earlier question suddenly changes into, “Why are you so insistent on holding onto even just one dollar when you already have these things?” There is no doubt that money is an important factor in allowing us to access certain necessities that are a part of living. However, I think these lines are also instructing us not to forget some of the most essential parts of surviving on this planet. As much as money can buy, stimulating our minds and opening ourselves to new possibilities is a vital part of surviving and thriving in this life. Enjoying nature, like running water, and even sunlight is also a part of thriving too. Most importantly though, surrounding ourselves with love, whether it’s romantic or platonic — love fills us with the strength to push forward in life. And what’s more, the chance to breathe, to be alive and write our own story in and of itself is perhaps the most valuable gift of them all. In our pursuit of material wealth, what are we giving up in exchange? Hopefully not any of these things.
After James sings the chorus, Kendrick continues the story in the second verse:
He’s starin’ at me in disbelief
My temper is buildin’, he’s starin’ at me, I grab my key
He’s starin’ at me, I started the car, then I tried to leave
And somethin’ told me to keep it in park until I could see
The reason why he was mad at a stranger
Like I was supposed to save him
Like I’m the reason he’s homeless and askin’ me for a favor
He’s starin’ at me, his eyes followed me with no laser
He’s starin’ at me, I notice that his stare is contagious
’Cause now I’m starin’ back at him, feelin’ some type of disrespect
If I could throw a bat at him, it’d be aimin’ at his neck
I never understood someone beggin’ for goods
Askin’ for handouts, takin’ it if they could
And this particular person just had it down pat
Starin’ at me for the longest until he finally asked
“Have you ever opened up Exodus 14?
A humble man is all that we ever need”
Tell me, how much a dollar cost?
As you can probably tell from all the lines mentioning staring, Kendrick is having an intense staring match with this homeless man. This isn’t just any ordinary staring contest, though — from the way Kendrick is describing it, this man is staring into his soul. Kendrick tries to leave, but for some reason he feels that he should stay. At some point, this man’s stare makes Kendrick feel disrespected and annoyed at this man’s request for money. He doesn’t understand why this man is asking for assistance like this, or why anyone would –even if it meant stealing. However, it seems that the only reason Kendrick is viewing the situation this way is that he’s in a much better position than this man — when you’ve had a taste of success, and you’re under the impression that it was all because of you, it makes sense that you’d see things the same way Kendrick is right now. He’s on a power trip, and he’s feeling immense pride at not being someone who’s begging for help.
It’s no wonder that this man then asks, “Have you ever opened up Exodus 14? A humble man is all that we ever need”. Exodus is a chapter in the Tanakh/Hebrew Bible, as well as the Christian Bible that tells the story of the Israelites mass exodus from Egypt after years of brutal slavery. The most central figure to this story is a man by the name of Moses, and even if you’re not from a religious background, you may have heard of him before. One of the most distinguishing qualities of Moses was his humility; when God asked him to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, he didn’t see himself as worthy; he focused on his stutter, and he didn’t think so highly of himself that he should appear before Pharaoh. However, he pressed on and in Chapter 14, he led the Israelites through the Red Sea. At first glance, it may seem odd that the man mentions this story, but when we think about the fact that many people who are wealthy are also leaders in some way, it makes sense. When this man asks Kendrick this question, he’s letting Kendrick know that he sees Kendrick as a leader, as someone who can set an example and help others, and that having humility is the key to being a good one. If we even consider what happens in Exodus 14, we see that Moses’ humility allows him to help lead the Israelites safely through the Red Sea, while Pharaoh’s stubbornness and pride costs him the lives of all the Egyptian soldiers he pursued the Israelites with, and even beyond that, he costs his people all the wealth that they had gained in the first place. This man is telling Kendrick to be humble and generous with what he has like Moses, because not only can he lead others to prosperity, but if he chooses to remain prideful and close-fisted, just as Pharaoh was, he also runs the risk of his own demise, as well as the demise of those around him. Growing up in a Christian home, this section also reminds me of how myself and many other people have learned that wealth is a gift from God, and that we have a responsibility to use it to help others around us, instead of looking out for our own personal gain. We must express humility in how we interact with wealth, especially when we share it.
After James Fauntleroy sings the chorus for the second and final time, Kendrick moves into the third verse, where the climax of this story lies:
Guilt trippin’ and feelin’ resentment
I never met a transient that demanded attention
They got me frustrated, indecisive and power trippin’
Sour emotions got me lookin’ at the universe different
I should distance myself, I should keep it relentless
My selfishness is what got me here, who the f*ck I’m kiddin’?
So I’ma tell you like I told the last bum
Crumbs and pennies, I need all of mines
And I recognize this type of panhandlin’ all the time
I got better judgment, I know when n*ggas hustlin’, keep in mind
When I was strugglin’, I did compromise, now I comprehend
I smell Grandpa’s old medicine, reekin’ from your skin
Moonshine and gin, n*gga you’re babblin’, your words ain’t flatterin’
I’m imaginin’ Denzel but lookin’ at O’Neal
Kazaam is sad thrills, your gimmick is mediocre
The jig is up, I seen you from a mile away losin’ focus
And I’m insensitive, and I lack empathy
He looked at me and said, “Your potential is bittersweet”
I looked at him and said, “Every nickel is mines to keep”
He looked at me and said, “Know the truth, it’ll set you free
You’re lookin’ at the Messiah, the son of Jehovah, the higher power
The choir that spoke the word, the Holy Spirit
The nerve of Nazareth, and I’ll tell you just how much a dollar cost
The price of having a spot in Heaven, embrace your loss — I am God”
This verse is loaded just like the first, but for good reason — it’s perhaps the most important one. At the start, Kendrick admits to feeling perturbed by this man’s request, as well as the way he’s challenging Kendrick’s integrity — Kendrick is on a power trip, like I mentioned earlier. For whatever reason, Kendrick decides to lean into his selfishness and close-fisted mindset; he credits it as what’s carried him as far as he’s gotten. He accuses this man of being nothing more than a panhandler looking to mooch off others. Funny enough, Kendrick also explains to the man that he’d been in the same position as this man, and at one point he would have been more inclined to share, but not anymore. Kendrick thinks that he’s seen through this man’s request for help; he sees this man as nothing more than a junkie or an alcoholic who’s pretending to be wise. Kendrick admits to his lack of empathy and his insensitivity towards this man. The homeless man then tells Kendrick, “Your potential is bittersweet.” Earlier, this man told Kendrick that he had the chance to be a leader and help those around him, but he now sees that Kendrick’s potential is bittersweet because he’s refusing to let go of his selfishness, stubbornness, and pride. Kendrick refuses to listen again, and as the instrumentation and the production swells, we reach the climax of the song, where the homeless beggar reveals his identity:
He looked at me and said, “Know the truth, it’ll set you free
You’re lookin’ at the Messiah, the son of Jehovah, the higher power
The choir that spoke the word, the Holy Spirit
The nerve of Nazareth, and I’ll tell you just how much a dollar cost
The price of having a spot in Heaven, embrace your loss — I am God”
This part of the song is personally my favorite because this is the moment where everything comes to a point, and Kendrick has an epiphany. Again, as a kid who grew up in a Christian home, I always learned that it was good to treat everyone with kindness because you’d never know if you’d just come across an angel:
“Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it!” — Hebrews 13:2
I also learned about how Jesus said that showing kindness to those in need was to do so to Him:
“‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’” — Matthew 25:40
For me, this is always a reminder that our choice to be kind and generous to others is an important demonstration of what we believe, and it’s our chance to recognize God in every person we cross paths with.
The line “The price of having a spot in Heaven, embrace your loss” is also very striking here. In that same chapter where Jesus thanks those who took care of those in need and rewards them, he turns away those who didn’t. My siblings and I always learned that our generosity and kindness towards other people would be part of how God prepared us to experience the good things He has in store for us, especially Heaven itself. As much as this line in the song has religious implications, though, I believe it has another meaning as well. When we refuse to be generous and make a positive difference in society, big or small, we miss our chance to create Heaven on earth, right here. We often lament over everything wrong with the world, but I think we often forget that we have a chance to make it look a little bit more like Heaven every single day, by choosing not to hold on too tightly to wealth, and to use it to help those around us. When I think about many of the problems we face in our world today, I see how many of them are tied to money, whether indirectly or directly. After all, you may have heard a specific verse that says, “For the love of money is the root of all evil”. Every time one of us chooses to deepen our own pockets instead of deepening the empathy and love we have for those around us, we make the world a worse place to live in, and we create all types of terrible situations. That’s why it’s important for us not to be greedy — we turn the world into a living hell when we decide to give in to greed.
The outro of the song is also an interesting part, and it’s sung by Ronald Isley of the Isley Brothers. As the instrumentation settles down into a more solemn, introspective feel, he sings from the perspective of Kendrick in this story trying to change his ways and atone:
I washed my hands, I said my grace
What more do you want from me?
Tears of a clown, guess I’m not all what it’s meant to be
Shades of grey will never change if I condone
Turn this page, help me change to right my wrongs
After failing to show compassion and empathy when he was put to the test, Kendrick is trying his hardest to turn a new leaf. He’s tried everything he can to make up for his failure, but it’s his heart that needs work too. “Tears of a clown, guess I’m not all what it’s meant to be” is Kendrick coming to terms with the fact that this façade he’s put up, this front that he’s been putting out there as a wealthy person, isn’t fulfilling at all — he’s acting like he’s larger than life, but he’s just as scared as all of us are. What’s more, as much convenience as being wealthy has afforded Kendrick, it’s still not all that it’s cracked up to be…he’s full of resentment and frustration. These last two lines are also very important too; When Ronald Isley sings “Shades of grey will never change if I condone”, this is Kendrick recognizing that it’s not just about doing the right things…it’s about refusing to tolerate selfishness and greed wherever you see it — it’s about refusing to be a part of systems or habits that put people in the position of that homeless man to begin with. “Turn this page, help me change to right my wrongs” is Kendrick asking for strength from God to change his ways and to be a more generous, kind person — to be the kind of person that has the courage and kindness to give, and to treat others with humanity and respect; Kendrick wants to be that humble man who leads the way and helps make things better for everyone.
I really love this song because it’s a huge reminder that as important as money is to our ability to live safe and comfortable lives, it isn’t everything, and the moment that we prioritize making another buck over the impact we can have by showing generosity, we’re contributing to the hurt we see in society. Of course, we shouldn’t hail ourselves as heroes when we give to those less fortunate than us or glorify our efforts to be generous, but we should remember that we always have a chance to make things better, even if it’s just giving someone a dollar, or simply talking to them and affirming their humanity.
Kendrick himself explained it all to Rob Markman, in an interview for MTV:
“Yeah, yeah, true story. Yeah, I’m in…where I was at…Johannesburg. Johannesburg…and um, I always flirted with the idea, just my imagination, you know, rollin’ past people that were — that were…uh, that we consider, uh, bums or homeless, and saying to myself, ‘what was… what if that was the moment, you know, this is — this is not a human form, but this is a mortal form of an angel testing your integrity to actually stop; not just give them money, but talk to em?’ You get what I’m saying? And this was one particular situation where I came across this…as evidence again, being out there. I’m looking at this guy on the side, you know…we stop, we getting gas or whatever, and I’m just ignoring him, because from where I come from, these just panhandlers, you know? I don’t engage — I know what you gone do with the money, you gone smoke it off, you gone get some crack or whatever, even if…how much you tell me that you wanna do this when I know what you’re gonna do, so I’m not gonna engage in it. But the moment I actually engaged with him… he said, ‘God bless you’, you know? ‘This is your calling.’ And it blew my mind…like, really tripped me out…making me think. These are moments in my life deeper than just handing somebody a dollar; these are actually moments of integrity, being able to actually talk to somebody — me talking to him was simply, a thank you…from God, you get what I’m saying? And I felt God speaking through him to get at me — you know? And it was really a real trip, and I tend to always bottle these ideas in because I want to share ’em with the world, and that’s how you get a record like ‘How Much a Dollar Cost’.”
The truth is, a dollar only costs as much as you’re willing to give up getting it, or to hold onto it. Don’t let greed, materialism, or avarice cause you to miss out on your chance to create a better world for yourself and those around you.
After all, the most important things are “water, sun, and love, the one you love; all you need, the air you breathe.”
—
I’m so sorry that this piece was so late — this one took me a really long time to write, and quite frankly these last few weeks have been kinda weird. In all honesty, I’m bummed that this is the only piece I could get out this month — let alone on the last day. Even so, this is a song that means a lot to me — it’s a reminder that money, wealth, fame, or power of any kind is a tragic waste if it’s not being used to help others and create a better world for us all. Especially with all that we see happening right now, I hope that this serves as a reminder to us all that choosing love and generosity over greed is what will help us create the world we want to live in.
Thank you all again for reading.
Peace and love,
Manny ✌🏿💙
P.S. You can watch Rob Markman’s interview with Kendrick about this song and others off of “To Pimp A Butterfly” below, as well as listen to the track.
