King Kunta
Kendrick Lamar
2015
Annual listening-list association, not an original-release-date field. Original release year reconciled with reviewed recording-specific Artist Essentials evidence in v3.6.
Release: 2015
Release: 2015Source checked
V3.6 reconciles the original release year with the reviewed Artist Essentials entry for this exact retained recording ID. Year precision is used; an album-first release is not silently replaced by a later single, reissue or annual-list year. The original album recording was released in 2015. The selected track is the studio release rather than a subsequent live performance.
The large badge identifies this listening list, not a newly issued recording. Later reissues and renewed chart popularity do not replace an original release date. How years are assigned.
Owner-supplied release annotations
Reported dates in 2015.html. Not independently established; neighboring dates can reflect album/single or regional differences.
Apple Music: King Kunta
The original To Pimp a Butterfly recording carries a March 2015 release date.
Inspiration and background
Supplied note - not independently verified
This note came with the supplied collection and has not been independently verified.
The song was inspired by the character Kunta Kinte from the novel "Roots" and explores themes of power and oppression.
Evidence scope: Attributed owner-supplied note; NOT independently verified songwriter testimony
Sources for this information
Owner-supplied 2015.html, position 144
Original annotation, retained with an explicit unverified label
Other appearances and versions
catalog version unspecified
Textual recording candidate, not an audio fingerprint or pressing-level verification.
An annual chart year and an original release date are different. Similar titles may be covers or different masters; no audio fingerprint has been performed.
Sources and scope
Supplied annual selection; independent annual corroboration remains open
Editorial artist-repertoire classification
Owner-supplied 2015.html
Supplied annual selection, not independently corroborated.
Browse by year
1960-2025. Each year contains 150 selections.