Sherane a.k.a Master Splinter's Daughter

"Sherane a.k.a Master Splinter's Daughter" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, from his major-label debut studio album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012).^[1]

Tha Bizness, who produced the song, have had a long-standing relationship with Lamar and his label, Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE).^[2] Their collaboration dates back to 2007 and includes early projects with Lamar and other members of the Black Hippy collective.^[2] This ongoing partnership allowed them to deeply understand Lamar's evolving musical style.^[2] Dow Jones reflected on their collaboration, emphasizing their mutual growth and the significance of their joint work: "It's dope for us to be the first song that people hear on a Kendrick Lamar album. It's us and him together. It's pretty big because for us, this feels like the first time that 50 Cent dropped".^[2] The track was crafted to align with Lamar's unique style and his desire for authenticity, evoking the feel of his previous work on Section.80.^[2]

The song was produced by Tha Bizness, a production duo consisting of Dow Jones and Henny (also known as J-Hen).^[2] The collaboration began when Kendrick Lamar was in Atlanta, where he first received the beat from Tha Bizness.^[2] Lamar was immediately inspired by the beat, feeling a strong connection to it that guided his writing.^[2] He sought to craft a narrative based on personal experiences, aiming to weave a story about a specific girl from his past.^[2] This storytelling approach is characteristic of Lamar's songwriting, which often draws from his real-life experiences and surroundings.^[2] According to Lamar, "These songs, they come naturally for me to write off the experiences I grew up with and the things I been around".^[2]

The production of "Sherane a.k.a Master Splinter's Daughter" involved a blend of innovative techniques and live elements. Tha Bizness utilized Native Instruments Maschine and incorporated live instruments such as bass, along with unconventional sounds, including noises made with Henny's mouth.^[2] Henny described the process of crafting the beat as an exploration of new sounds and textures.^[2] He mentioned, "When we met with him, we had done a few songs already, but he was looking for something different. We had picked up a couple tracks that we did and when we started using Native Instruments Maschine with the mic… He just fell in love with the track".^[2] The production team's ability to experiment with sounds and adapt to Lamar's vision was crucial in creating a track that resonated with his artistic style.^[2]

"Sherane a.k.a Master Splinter's Daughter" is an introduction to the storyline of Good Kid, M.A.A.D City. The song opens with a prayer for eternal salvation, recited by Kendrick Lamar's longtime friends. An eerie beat, produced by Tha Bizness, is introduced at the end of the prayer. The lyrics discuss a sexual relationship between Lamar's 17-year-old self and a young woman under the fictional name Sherane. While driving to Sherane's house for a sexual encounter, he is attacked by two gang members, saying "I pulled up, a smile on my face, and then I see / Two niggas, two black hoodies / I froze as my phone rang". The song ends with a voicemail of Lamar's mother asking him for her car back and his father asking for his Dominoes game.^[3][4][5]

The song received generally positive reviews from music critics. In a review of Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, XXL praises the song for its lyrics and usage of skits, saying, "Every record is both complexly arranged and sonically fitting, foregrounding Kendrick's vivid lyricism and amazing control of cadence. There’s not a single loophole. From the prayers on 'Sherane a.k.a. Master Splinter's Daughter' to the triumphant ending on 'Compton', each skit and track interweaves one another, solidifying a complete picture".^[6]