Wiki
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Length
2:29
In the outro of the previous song, “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe”, one of Kendrick’s friends asks him to rap. “Backseat Freestyle” serves as a flashback. The freestyle is not something present-day Kendrick Lamar truly believes in, but reflects the attitude and beliefs of young people caught up in a corrupt society (i.e. a mad city). According to legend, K.Dot recorded the track in just two takes.
“Backseat Freestyle" is being in the mind state of being 16 years old, and not having no cares in the world. Not giving a damn about nothing, but life and money and what you see in front of you. It’s not me talking now, it’s me talking then.”
This song was produced by Hit-Boy of G.O.O.D. Music who originally created the beat for singer Ciara. She never responded to him, so he sent it to K.Dot. Kendrick mentions Ciara in the album’s opening song.
Lamar told Complex in October 2012:
"That’s really the start of ‘The Art of Peer Pressure.’ It flows into the album. It’s about me and my homeboys really getting in the backseat and starting our day. Sometimes we’ll rap, it takes away from everything else. That’s one of the feelings that the record produces."
Producer Hit-Boy added:
"I was just at the crib—I work out of my crib—and Kendrick came through. As soon as that beat came on, he was like, ‘That’s the one! This is going on my album.’ He went out on the road and ended up recording out there. Kendrick looping this one part from the beginning that wasn’t that way when I first gave him the beat. So he’s hearing what he wanted to hear. He definitely had a hand in making it how he wanted it to sound. As soon as he finished it, he hit me like, ‘Yo, we got one. This shit is crazy.’"
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