"Auntie Diaries" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar and the fifteenth track on his fifth studio album, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers (2022). The song was produced by Beach Noise, Bekon & The Donuts, Craig Balmoris, Bekon, Sergiu Gherman, and Tyler Mehlenbacher. The song details Lamar's relationship with his transgender uncle and has received praise and criticism from critics, the LGBT community, and listeners alike due to Lamar's repeated usage of the word faggot, as well as deadnaming and misgendering his trans relatives.[1][2] He starts the song by repeating the line, "My auntie is a man now; I think I'm old enough to understand now".

Critical reception

Unlike any other song in his discography, Lamar covers a new theme of transphobia and his personal experiences with his uncle. However, many have criticized the direct use of slurs and other transphobic verses throughout the song, praising the message but criticizing its expression.[3] James Factora, a writer for Them, an online LGBT publication, wrote "While Lamar meant to illustrate a complicated journey of growth and acceptance, many have taken issue with his delivery".[1] Raquel Willis, former editor of Out magazine, stated in an interview with NPR that she understood Lamar's intention of "reckoning with both homophobia and transphobia, particularly within the Black community," but found his execution confusing.[4] Variety magazine cites Auntie Diaries as a "powerful genre-shifting statement on transphobia", highlighting Lamar's strength as a rapper to acknowledge his biases and prejudices.[5]

Charts

References