Kendrick states in his poem that he dealt with survivor’s guilt by reiterating to himself that he earned his success and stayed true to his A-1 foundation.

“Hood Politics” is just this – Kendrick giving us the outlook, again, of when he was a child/adolescent and didn’t have the knowledge he has now. This is a progression and also a contrast from the last song, “Momma.” The last song was about how he forgot how it was to be in the hood. This is him transporting himself to a time when the hood was all he knew.

Kendrick’s delivery on this track is at a higher pitch than normal to signify his younger self, his past, and his roots. On the record, he discusses issues such as American politics in the second verse and the rap industry in the third verse, with the latter being based on his observations of the stir caused in response to his “Control” verse.

Kendrick previewed the first two verses of this song on a freestyle with Big Boy on 92.3 FM. This song samples Sufjan Stevens' “All For Myself.” Legendary Funk bassist George Clinton, who was featured in “Wesley’s Theory,” remarked that this song was his favorite on the album.