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Taraji P. Henson Drops Kendrick Lamar's New Song

Empire actress debuts "The Blacker the Berry."

Kendrick Lamar put out a new song today (Feb. 8) in a way that no one would probably expect.

Empire actress Taraji P. Henson debuted Lamar’s latest, “The Blacker the Berry,” tweeting that she heard the TDE rapper’s new album and got permission to release her “favorite” song.

On the track, which comes just in time for Black History Month, Lamar digs at the roots of racial oppression from the perspective of a “hypocrite.”

| CLICK HERE TO WATCH KENDRICK LAMAR CHAT ABOUT THE INFLUENCE OF GAME'S THE DOCUMENTARY |

Unless prodded, the TDE rapper has been relatively quiet during the most recent discussions about racism, white privilege and cultural appropriation, but he lets it all out here. He spits at the start, “Been feeling this way since I was 16, came to my senses/ you never liked us anyway, f**k your friendship. I meant it.” 

The commanding line kicks in the door to a five-minute historical schooling so powerful, K Dot is almost gasping for air by the end. 

“The Blacker the Berry” is produced by Boi-1da, with additional work from Terrace Martin, and comes one day after Lamar won two Grammys, which is probably not a coincidence.

Hopefully this one will make the new album. 

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(Photos from left: Brad Barket/BET/Getty Images for BET, Larry Busacca/WireImage)

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