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Kendrick Lamar's song "i" is a powerful anthem of self-love, empowerment, and resilience in the face of personal struggles and societal oppression. The core message revolves around the repeated affirmation, "I love myself," which serves as a defiant act of self-preservation in a world filled with negativity. The song directly confronts issues such as depression, self-doubt, and suicidal thoughts, which Lamar has openly discussed in relation to the pressures of fame and the violence he witnessed growing up in Compton. By juxtaposing the chaos of the world—'a ghetto with big guns and picket signs'—with a message of self-affirmation, Lamar emphasizes the importance of finding strength from within. The song also carries a strong message of social commentary, addressing police brutality, racial discrimination, and the need for unity within the Black community. A pivotal moment in the album version of the song involves Lamar stopping a fight in the crowd and deconstructing the N-word, redefining it as "negus," an Ethiopian word for royalty, to instill a sense of pride and historical awareness. Ultimately, "i" serves as a beacon of hope, encouraging listeners to embrace their identity, overcome adversity, and recognize their own worth.

The song begins by questioning how many times the narrator's potential went unrecognized. It's a reflection on a past where he was unknown before his rise to fame. He acknowledges going through significant trials and tribulations, but his faith in God remains strong. He speaks of Satan's attempts to corrupt him, praying that his spiritual protection, symbolized by holy water, doesn't diminish. Looking around, he sees many people trying to offer unsolicited advice or bring him down, but he remains resilient, refusing to let them 'drown' him. He confronts his own self-perception, seeing a flawed reflection in a 'dirty double mirror,' yet in that moment of honesty, he declares his self-love. The world is depicted as a 'ghetto' full of negativity, with 'big guns and picket signs,' but he asserts that he doesn't mind what the world does because he loves himself. He emphasizes that life is more than succumbing to suicidal thoughts and that with time, things will get better. When faced with people looking at him strangely, his response is to hold his head high and keep moving forward, not allowing paranoia to consume him. He wears his heart on his sleeve, unafraid of judgment. He acknowledges the universal lack of confidence and questions how often his potential was overlooked and how many false promises his city made. In response to this, he makes a firm promise to himself: to love himself. He describes a world rife with conflict and danger: 'a war outside and a bomb in the street, and a gun in the hood and a mob of police.' He also points to the presence of drugs and deceit. Amidst this frustrating and cyclical negativity, he chooses to rise above it. He finds peace in his dreams of a better reality and confronts the 'beast' of adversity head-on. Even if the sky were to fall and the wind were to cry, the strength within him would allow him to still smile. He then delves into a personal battle with his inner demons, describing a 'war last night' with an 'automatic weapon.' This is a metaphor for his struggle with depression, which he has been dealing with since adolescence. He admits to 'duckin' every other blessin'' and being unable to see the positive messages in his life. He felt he could never take the lead or protect himself from the negativity that threatened to annihilate him. This internal conflict is a fight for self-improvement, a battle he is determined to win. He expresses a deep love for his community, which is a core theme of his work. He calls for an end to violence within his community, stopping the music to emphasize that his platform is for the kids and that street conflicts should be left in the streets. He has gained wisdom and refuses to let negativity disrupt his mission of upliftment. A significant part of the song's message is the recontextualization of a racial slur into 'negus,' an Ethiopian term for royalty. This act of reclaiming a word of hate and turning it into something positive is a powerful statement of black empowerment and self-worth. He encourages his listeners to recognize their own royal heritage. The song concludes with a reaffirmation of self-love as a continuous, day-by-day practice, with the hope that 'the sun gon' shine.' It's a powerful message of hope, resilience, and the importance of loving oneself despite the external and internal battles one may face.

"i" was released on September 23, 2014, as the lead single from Kendrick Lamar's critically acclaimed third studio album, To Pimp a Butterfly. The song was produced by the Los Angeles-based producer Rahki, who had previously worked with Lamar on the track "Black Boy Fly." The funk-infused beat prominently features a re-recorded sample of The Isley Brothers' 1973 hit "That Lady." Lamar made a personal trip to St. Louis to get Ronald Isley's blessing to use the sample, and Isley even contributed ad-libs to the track. The song was born out of a period of depression and insecurity for Lamar, who used the track's uplifting message as a form of self-therapy. He explained that the repetitive chorus of "I love myself" was a psychological trick to help him navigate his own struggles, as he would have to perform the song repeatedly while on tour. The album version of "i" differs from the single version, featuring a live-sounding mix and an extended spoken-word outro where Lamar addresses conflict within the Black community. The single's cover art, which depicts a Crip and a Blood forming heart signs with their hands, further underscores the song's message of unity and love.

"i" features a complex and dynamic interplay between rhyme and rhythm that mirrors the song's energetic and defiant tone. Kendrick Lamar is known for his intricate rhyme schemes, and in "i," he utilizes a mix of internal rhymes, multisyllabic rhymes, and end rhymes to create a fluid and engaging lyrical flow. His rhyme schemes are often irregular, which allows him to prioritize his message while still maintaining a strong sense of rhythm. Lamar's delivery is rhythmically complex; he often raps slightly ahead of or behind the beat, creating a sense of tension and release that adds to the song's dynamic feel. The song's upbeat, funk-inspired instrumental, driven by a sample of The Isley Brothers' "That Lady," provides a strong rhythmic foundation. The tempo is fast and danceable, which contrasts with the serious themes addressed in the lyrics, creating a powerful sense of joyful defiance. The interplay between Lamar's vocal rhythm and the song's musical rhythm is a key element of the track's effectiveness, creating a sound that is both musically infectious and lyrically profound.

"i" showcases Kendrick Lamar's versatile stylistic approach, blending musical and literary techniques to create a powerful and uplifting anthem. Musically, the song is a departure from the darker, more introspective sound of his previous work, embracing an upbeat, funk- and soul-infused aesthetic. The production, handled by Rahki, is built around a lively, re-recorded sample of The Isley Brothers' "That Lady," giving the track a celebratory and nostalgic feel. Lamar's vocal delivery is energetic and dynamic, shifting from smooth, melodic rapping to a more aggressive and impassioned tone. Lyrically, Lamar employs a range of literary devices. He uses vivid imagery to paint a picture of the societal ills he's confronting, such as "a war outside and a bomb in the street." The song is also filled with metaphors, like the internal "war" against depression, and symbolism, such as the "dirty double mirror" representing a flawed self-image. The album version of the track incorporates a spoken-word outro, a technique Lamar uses to directly address his audience and convey a powerful message of unity. This combination of a joyful, funk-driven sound with deeply personal and socially conscious lyrics is a hallmark of Lamar's innovative style.

"i" had a significant cultural impact upon its release, both as a standalone single and as a key track on the critically acclaimed album To Pimp a Butterfly. The song won two Grammy Awards in 2015 for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song, solidifying Lamar's status as a major force in the music industry. The song's uplifting message of self-love and empowerment resonated with a wide audience and became an anthem of resilience and black pride. Its use of a classic funk sample from The Isley Brothers also helped to bridge generational gaps in hip-hop. The song's themes of social justice and its critique of police brutality were particularly timely and contributed to ongoing conversations about race and inequality in America. The album version of the song, with its powerful spoken-word outro addressing violence within the Black community, was especially impactful. "i" has been used in various forms of media and has been covered by other artists, further extending its cultural reach. Within Kendrick Lamar's discography, "i" stands out as a moment of light and hope in the often dark and complex narrative of To Pimp a Butterfly, showcasing his artistic versatility and his commitment to using his platform for positive social change.

Kendrick Lamar's "i" is rich with symbolism and metaphors that deepen its message of self-love and resilience. The central metaphor is the act of saying "I love myself" as a form of warfare against both internal and external forces. The line, "I went to war last night with an automatic weapon," is not about physical violence but symbolizes an intense internal battle with depression and self-doubt. The "dirty double mirror" is a powerful image representing a distorted self-perception and the feeling of being judged by others. Lamar's use of religious imagery, such as praying that the "holy water don't go dry," symbolizes his desire to maintain his spiritual purity and protection against the temptations and negativity of the world. The song's title, "i," is in itself symbolic, representing the individual's importance and the power of self-affirmation. The single's cover art, showing rival gang members making heart gestures, is a direct symbol of peace and unity, challenging the cycle of violence in his community. The redefinition of the n-word to "negus," meaning royalty, is a potent act of symbolic reclamation, transforming a word of hate into a source of empowerment and pride.

The most prominent and significant recurring phrase in Kendrick Lamar's "i" is the simple yet powerful mantra, "I love myself." This phrase is repeated throughout the song's chorus, acting as a central theme and a defiant affirmation in the face of adversity. Its repetition serves to drill the message of self-love into the listener's mind, transforming the song into a personal anthem of empowerment. Another recurring motif is the imagery of war and conflict, both internal and external. Lamar speaks of a "war outside and a bomb in the street," as well as a personal "war last night" with himself, highlighting the constant battles he and his community face. The phrase "one day at a time, sun gon' shine" is also repeated, offering a message of hope and perseverance amidst these struggles. In the album version of the song, the spoken-word segment where Lamar reclaims the N-word and defines it as "negus" becomes a powerful recurring motif in the broader context of the album "To Pimp a Butterfly." These recurring phrases and motifs work together to create a cohesive and impactful message of self-love, resilience, and hope.