Music journalist Rob Markman knew Kendrick Lamar's "Alright" would be special from the beginning.

"That four-bar count, that signature Pharrell, he just gives you, like, four-bar staffs at the beginning of almost all of his songs, so you're like 'Okay, this is gonna be special.'"

Watch Rob Markman on the Power of "Alright"

With a long career in hip hop as a journalist for Complex, The Course, VIBE and more, plus as a full-time editor for MTV News, Genius and more, Markman recognizes the gold-standard when he hears it.

"You know, you just hear that Alice Walker reference, right? That Color Purple reference. 'All my life, I had to fight.' ... You know you're about to be in for some sh-t when the record starts."

Click here for Markman's perspective on the power of Kendrick Lamar's "Alright."

Check out the Hip Hop: The Songs That Shook America YouTube channel for more exclusive interviews that you won't see on the air.

Stream the latest full episode now on amc.com or the AMC apps.

Hip Hop: The Songs That Shook America airs Sundays Late Night. The Full Season 1 is available to binge now for AMC Premiere subscribers.

For exclusive content, bonus interviews and more, sign up for the Hip Hop: The Songs That Shook America Insiders Club.