"N95" is characterized by a "bleakly catchy, bass-driven instrumental" with rapid-fire delivery.
: The second verse addresses a world in "panic," referencing the chaos of the pandemic, crashing markets, and the music industry’s tendency to keep artists "in a box". Production and Composition Kendrick Lamar - N95 (Audio)
The track’s title refers to the N95 respirator masks made famous during the COVID-19 pandemic, using them as a metaphor for the metaphorical "masks" people wear to hide their true selves. "N95" is characterized by a "bleakly catchy, bass-driven
Directed by Kendrick Lamar and Dave Free, the music video was released on May 14, 2022, and is known for its striking, avant-garde imagery. Directed by Kendrick Lamar and Dave Free, the
: He argues that many people use material wealth and social status to mask an internal "ugliness" or lack of authentic identity.
: Lamar uses the repeated command "Take off" (anaphora used 27 times in the first verse) to demand that listeners—and himself—remove superficial traits like "clout chasing," expensive jewelry, and "fake woke" activism.
"N95" is the second track and lead single from Kendrick Lamar’s fifth studio album, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers , released on May 13, 2022. Produced by Boi-1da, Sounwave, Jahaan Sweet, and Baby Keem, the song serves as a high-octane cultural critique of materialism and performative identity.