It’s been a long time coming for this young man,Kendrick Lamar. He crept his way into the Hip Hop scene starting 3 years ago when he released the Kendrick Lamar EP, then O.verly D.edicated (earlier fans knew him for his music when he dropped mixtapes as K.Dot), and that had him gain a lot of buzz. It showed people that he was a rapper that talked about his hometown (Compton, Cali-for-nye-aye) that hadn’t been heard before – it was a positive light in a dark place. The most you’d hear out of Compton before Kendrick Lamar was The Game (I’m excluding N.W.A for generational reasons), and we pretty much all know his story. But, they say that good things come in threes (I have a shirt that says that). I guess 3 would be the number of years in this case: The Kendrick Lamar EP, O.verly D.edicated, and Section.80 were the stepping stones to this album. In each mixtape (if you look at Section.80 as a “mixtape” even though it’s an independent album), he references to a lot of themes & events that are brought up on this album. The production behind it, the lyrical content, and just how it’s well pieced together; it actually feels like a movie, which is why on the front cover it says “a short film by Kendrick Lamar.” He took the listener to the theatre, and we watched him evolve from a young teenager (K. Dot) to the man that is Kendrick Lamar. It’s “Menace II Society” & “Boyz n the Hood” in musical art form. Grab some popcorn, and enjoy the show – oh, and thereviewtoo.
1.Sherane a.k.a. Master Splinter’s Daughter
At first it sounds like the group of guys are chanting The Lord’s Prayer, but then I said to myself, “wait, this isn’t how it goes,” and it feels like the album starts off at the middle of a movie, sort of like how Quentin Tarantino likes tostartoff a movie in a deep dramatic fashion (Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill Vol.1, Pulp Fiction). Master Splinter (as TMNT fans would know) is the main innovator of the Ninja Turtles; the head honcho who trained the lost turtles in the sewer to fight. Sherane, described by Kendrick is the character that is the reason why certain things happen to dictate what happens in Kendrick’s life. There’s always an originator. We all know how easy it is to be enchanted by a woman who looks good and treats us like a king; we take that treatment and run with it. It happens to women to, because men can be conniving in ways as well, but in this case, Sherane uses Kendrick’s innocence and sets him up, which is what he’s explaining towards the end of the song.
I loved the fact that Kendrick uses his parents in the little “scenes” at the end of most of the songs on the album. I’ve seen him perform about 3 times now, and how he talks about his parents and mimics their behaviour, it was brought to life on the album. A few key things that were mentioned in the first scene: Kendrick had taken his mother’s van (front cover of the Deluxe edition), and she had mentioned that if he kept running in the streets, that he wouldn’t make it to the 11thgrade. So this tells us that he’s around 16-17 years old, and if you have ever listened to”P&P” from the Kendrick Lamar EP, he says:
“Pushin’ in my mama van, stop for gas on Rosecrans
Trust me these niggas rushed me for something my cousin probably did”
At the end of the song, he got approached by 2 guys while meeting up with Sherane. The plot thickens.
2.Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe
Keeping with the same subject as religion (one that he usually talks about a lot since he started out), he acknowledges that he’s a sinner that will sin again (nobody’s perfect, right?), but he still asks for forgiveness for the things he doesn’t understand (forgive them, Father, for which they know not what they do). While sinning, he’s living in the moment, so “Bitch, Dont Kill My Vibe” is like “dont ruin my moment,” (on Section.80, he had a song called “Blow My High”) because we all have those times when we’re in a zone, or when we’re feeling high up that that ONE person just has to try and kill your buzz. It’s annoying isn’t it? It is. Kendrick addresses the fact that he’s on a higher pedestal now that he’s hit the mainstream world, but vows to stay humble and that he’s just as hungry from before he got hot. People will look at it as him “selling out,” but he’s looking at it as another chapter being written in his life, both personally, and musically. The first two songs so far have impressed when its come to production. Smooth compositions, which would be just a taste of the variety of beats he would tell his continuing story on. We’re first introduced to his boys at the end of the song, and it’s cool that each scene at the end gives clues as to what’s coming next on the album and really it forces you to listen to every song with detailed hints.
3.Backseat Freestyle
I first heard this when Hit-Boy (famed producer of “Niggas in Paris”) tweeted a YouTube clip of Kendrick Lamar previewing this at a show in Atlanta. The beat was crazy in typical Hit-Boy fashion, and it was definitely a new spin for Kendrick that hadn’t been exposed before. I can understand why this was called “Backseat Freestyle,” because when you’re with your boys and whatnot and just riding around, you spit a few bars and go off on a tangent. There wasn’t a big concept here other than the fact that it was just a freestyle (it was written obviously), and he was just spazzing out on a Hit-Boy beat. It’s definitely one to get the adrenaline going, and I know many feared this sound because it’s what mainstream rap sounds like. I won’t lie, I dig this song, but I hoped that it wasn’t going to be the consistent sound on the album. It had been doing well thus far.
4.The Art of Peer Pressure
The first time this song leaked out, it hadn’t been completed, and Kendrick even tweeted a fan saying “wait until you hear the finished version,” so I didn’t know what to expect. The disclaimer at the beginning of the song followed by a smooth jazzy beat was REFRESHING to my ears and I thought that this was going to be the beat for the whole thing, but then the beat ended and the song that was exposed from the leaked version had started. Peer pressure is something that many people either believe or don’t believe in; having a circle of friends heavily pest you to do something that you’re not accustomed to doing on a regular basis. Many people can relate to Kendrick’s story, because we all have those friends who were telling us to: Hit the blunt (when you dont smoke), start some trouble (when you’re not a troublemaker), drink some alcohol (when you’re not a drinker), and rob a house (when you’re not a thief). Sometimes, when you’re just around your boys (or girls), you act different because you don’t want to let them down or “kill their vibe,” so you join in and live a little.”Just ridin’, bullshittin’, actin a fool, trippin'”- the basic phrases to describe hanging out with “the homies.” At the end of it all, there’s a little hint that was brought up a couple of songs from now, and this album is scripted WICKED to bring the whole story together.
5.Money Trees (featuring Jay Rock)
Following the previous successful heist with the homies, the gang is living lavish and just celebrating the fruits of their labour. Hustling is the way of the streets and it’s a means to survive, even if it means you have to rob someone or sell drugs to get by. “Money Trees” being used for shade in the heat of the streets is what Kendrick was referencing to in the chorus, because it also reflects on him now getting money, but more things have happened since then, and also referenced to the past when he said that “That Louie’s Burger never be the same, A louis belt will never ease that pain”making reference to a line also from P&P:
“Pain since my grandma’s death, uncle killed at Louie’s Burgers
Hold my tears I tried my best
Let it go trash my pullover”
Although he’s still haunted by the pain of the past, he’s going to progress by moving on forward with life. Jay-Z said it best,”cant run from the pain, go towards it,”and that’s what he’s doing. This album didn’t have a lot of features, but Jay Rock held his own, and I’m glad that he got at least one Black Hippy member on the album, because to be fair, if it hadn’t been for Jay Rock, TDE/Black Hippy probably wouldn’t exist. It’s that simple, give the man his respect, and he’s a dope rapper as well – Unappreciated. Kendrick’s parents come back in at the end and things get a little spicy towards the end of it as we proceed to give you what you need.
6.Poetic Justice (featuring Drake)
This was the song that everyone had been anticipating when the tracklist was announced and the top bloggers were raving about. History check for you younger cats – “Poetic Justice” is a movie that featured Janet Jackson (hence the sample) and Tupac Shakur (one of Kendrick’s childhood idols). The playful flirting-turned-serious relationship that Justice & Lucky (Janet & Tupac’s characters) had is one of the more memorable ones in the black culture films much like Quincy & Monica’s in”Love & Basketball”(Omar Epps & Sanaa Lathan). On one hand, you have Kendrick serenading to a young woman, and then you have Drake who comes in spitting game that’s not as poetic, but he did it his own style, and poetic isn’t exactly his style, but I digress, he held his own and it’s a good song. Not “simpy” and “whiney,” but it’s smooth and definitely one that should make it to the radio for sure. The line that stuck out to me the most was”If I told you a flower bloomed in a dark room, would you trust it?”Something beautiful can still grow in the midst of darkness. I LOVE THAT ANALOGY! It reflects on himself personally, because being from Compton, it’s pretty rare to see or hear something beautiful in a state of madness. Towards the end of it, the familiar seemingly hypnotic voice that we first heard in the beginning of the album returns and it picks up where it left off when Kendrick was approached by 2 guys as he was going to see Sherane (you have to love the scripting). He was interrogated, and finally threatened to the point when it was either he did what they told him to, or they’d take him by force. It felt real, like it was actually pulled out of a movie.
7.good kid
It’s hard being the good guy in the hood, especially in an area where you get presumed to be a gang member by either other people or police officers. “Guilty by association, story of my life, nigga” is a line (“P&P”) that stood out and is very reflective of this song, because in the two verses he talks about how he was thrown down to the curb and beat up by the 2 guys that approached him, and the infamous LAPD officers that assumed that he was a gang member. When you run with the wrong crowd, it happens to hurt more than help, but that’s just common sense. Pharrell on the hook & production was surprising. It brought out that nostalgic Neptunes flare that we’d fallen in love with during the early 2000s, and this a portion of the album that is leading up to a climax. Some damage had been done, so it was time for some retaliation.
8.m.A.A.d city (featuring MC Eiht)
“If Pirus and Crips all got along
They’d probably gun me down by the end of this song
Seem like the whole city go against me
Every time I’m in the street I hear
YAWK! YAWK! YAWK! YAWK!”
If you’ve listened to Kendrick for a while, you’d know that he’s been making references to good kid, m.A.A.d city for a while. One example is from the song”Thanksgiving”from the Kendrick Lamar EP:
“Boo-yaa, boo-yaa, no one, I’ve done situated myself, I ain’t lying
Be sure to be friend cause my foes die five times
The good kid from the mad city
Holding a cereal box instead of a Glock
In a 1992 Caddilac that I got from my pops”
In a more up-tempo beat (very Hit-Boyish/Lex Luger-ish) Kendrick gets into the gritty scenery of the dangerous streets of Compton. Recalling an incident that happened when he was a kid, there was a gang shoot out and the description of the scenario involving him was pretty real. There’s a situation, it gets heated, words get exchanged, and then (to quote A$AP Mob)”BIG GUNS GO BLAAT!”The karma that Kendrick points out is that you live life backwards when you sleep with a gun next to you or under your pillow (ain’t it evil to live backwards? – Loaded Lux), basically you live by the gun, you die by it too. Just as I thought that the whole song was going to be this mock Lex Luger beat, I won’t lie, I definitely wasn’t feeling the beat, although it’s hype, it’s not something I’d expect Kendrick to rap over. When people talk about that “mainstream rap” style, THIS was it. But then you hear noise like a TV channel that had its signal cut out, and then you get this THUMP of bass and instantly you’re taken back to the Warren G/Dr. Dre & Snoop Doggy Dogg type of feel, and here comes MC Eiht with his gangster demeanour really breaking down the life on the Compton streets. Dealing & doing drugs and gang banging is very common, so it was cool that Kendrick brought along an O.G to help tell the story of the nitty gritty. It was a feature that was surprising for most when the tracklist came about, so I’m glad that it worked out very well. The message that Kendrick is doing spoken word reveals the true meaning of m.A.A.d. When he does the altered pitch to his voice, it’s as if there’s another persona speaking to the listener. He did this on “Bitch, Dont Kill My Vibe” and also “Swimming Pools (Drank).”He revealed it in an interview on L.A Leakers, but I already heard it the line in the song.”Compton, USA – made me an Angel on Angel dust.” Now, if you were paying attention towards the end of “The Art of Peer Pressure,” the scene has the homies laughing at the fact that they got Kendrick “faded” (high from smoking). He smoked the wrong blunt and it had “the Shenanigans”; Shenanigans being the Angel dust that he was referring to in this song. See how it all ties in together? There’s also another meaning he said in the L.A Leakers interview – “my Angry Adolescence divided.” Just a nugget.
9.”Swimming Pools (Drank)”
One of the singles of the album, but this is an extended version with a third verse. This comes right after the aftermath of the set-up and Kendrick’s with the homies, and they hand him a drink to kick back, so he can recuperate from his event. The primary focus of this song is about dealing with alcohol abuse and the fact that he had been surrounded by people that spent their lives alcohol binging (basically drinking the amount that you can fill a pool with to swim in; metaphorically speaking). People drink for various reason that Kendrick touched on – whether it’s to get away from their misery or to just feel good at the moment, he talks about his experience with drinking and how through peer pressure, he did it. The chorus refers to the stages of a drinker and how they go about doing it. Pour it; take a shot, sit down to chill, stand up, drink some more, pass out, and wake up hung-over. It’s just that simple. The second verse – voice pitch, which means? An alter ego, but he says that it’s his conscience speaking telling him to use his common sense so that he doesn’t go overboard with his drinking. I have to give a big shout out to Canada’s own T-Minus, who mainly produced this song, because he’s definitely come a long way since he didthat song for Ludacris a few years back. The 3rdverse is Kendrick opening up about his plateau now that he’s broken into the mainstream and that he’s able to even give a wider audience a dose of his music and the topics that he’s able to rap about. It’s something definitely able to look forward to, but just as things are going well, there’s always something. The next scene has the homies in the car contemplating retaliation to the guys that jumped Kendrick and Sherane that set him up. Just as they go and fire off shots, everything seems to be okay until one of the dude’s brother gets shot and killed. It’s definitely the defining moment of the album as the next song comes about.
10.Sing About Me / I’m Dying of Thirst
This is one of Kendrick’s best songs, and believe me he has a lot of them. Reason why I say that is because he takes on the roles of two characters who had speaking to him about his music and how they’ve impacted them in a way – one guy and one girl. The guy was a Piru gang member and as much as he loved being a gang member and he would represent it until it killed him, he still wished that he had the positive ambition that Kendrick had with his music and that he wished him well on his musical success. Towards the end of the verse, he ends up getting shot mid-sentence (I have to shout out my boyAnthonyfor pointing this out, because I didn’t know) and it was the same ending that was used in a song released 3 years ago called”Little Johnny,” so it’s evident that Kendrick brought past elements to the present for the fans that have been there that long. Before you die, you hope that people will still remember you in a positive light, or to speak about you. In this case, Kendrick is saying the same thing, but instead of talk, it’s to sing about them. The girl in the 2ndverse is the sister of Keisha from”Keisha’s Song (Her Pain)” from Section.80. Again, bringing past elements and continuing the story into a major scale. Her tone is a bit more pressed towards him because she didn’t appreciate him airing out her business like that through song, but it’s ironic because her sister is going through the exact same thing, but she knows what she’s doing and thinks that she’s not going to have the same fate as her sister. The way that the verse ends off reminded me of”Heaven & Hell”from O.verly D.edicated when he faded out of the verse halfway without coming to an end, but instead of it being a mystery, it shows that he’s walking away from her because she doesn’t want to help herself save her own life, so she eventually dies anyway. Kendrick (as her) says in the verse that she’ll never fade away, but in the end she does. The third verse goes into Kendrick rapping as himself talking or writing back to the individuals saying that he is humbled by the love and that he does it for the city to represent them on a positive scale, and also that he didn’t mean to insult or degrade Keisha in any way; just wanted to share the story of the lives that he was around in Compton. The main emphasis is that he knows where he’s at with his status and success and that he’s now more worried than ever that he’ll die young because will try to come after him, but all he wants to do is tell the stories of the ones who’s affected his life and that one day when he passes on, he’ll be remembered for telling them. I have to say rest in peace to Alori Joh, because as much as I am a Kendrick Lamar fan, I’m still not the biggest fan of rappers singing their hooks. Alori would have done it plenty of justice (shit, even Jhene Aiko), but that’s just me. I still enjoyed the song, but that R&B presence would have been great.
The song fades back into a scene seemingly as if it was a freeze frame and then resumes hearing the sound of the homies trying to figure out what to do now, but the guy whose brother got shot is fed up and doesn’t want to live the life he’s living anymore. Understandable for anyone to want to just say “to hell with it all” and go out guns blazing, but then it goes right into “Dying of Thirst.” The phrase “Dying of thirst” isn’t one that I was familiar with, but of what I was taking in from the song, it was along the words of being thirsty for a break and never getting it. Continuously sinning and paying for the consequences is what’ll kill you faster, and when one really needs is forgiveness from the Lord because of the things that rule around them: money, sex & drugs. It isn’t until the end of the song when he says”youre dying of thirst, so hop in that water and pray that it works,”that you know that he’s talking about holy water. Washing away your sins, starting off clean and one step in the right path of life. The elderly woman that appears at the end of the song is also a key character and she’s the one that introduces the prayer that you hear at the beginning of the album. She defined “dying of thirst” as being thirsty for the Lord & wanting him in your life. So in order to do that, you have to be baptized. Obviously they didn’t go through an actual baptismal service, but that prayer is what helped change their mindsets from that day forth to help carry on their lives. Very deep and this whole album makes you think about your own life and the things around you. Even if you don’t exactly relate to his stories, you can’t help but get inspired by how he tells them in such detail that brings it to reality before your ears and eyes. Powerful and gripping storytelling is rare these days. J.Cole is known to be somewhat of a storyteller, but Kendrick is on another level when it comes down to the finer details. He put in significant effort in this project, and this is the defining song that proves it.
11.Real (featuring Anna Wise)
Kendrick, as part of his storytelling, often takes on the roles of different people in his songs, and sometimes it’s not even people, it’s other fictitious characters like your own conscious or the devil (Listen to “I Hate You”, an unreleased track). The point is that, keeping with the same style as “Sing About Me,” he uses the ideal of “real” to describe a girl and a guy and just what they define as real when they’re chasing after money, power, respect, fame and glamour, but that doesn’t make THEM real, because their reality is covered up. What makes a person real? Being honest with themselves, having morals and ethics that drive them on a daily basis? That all depends on the people, but the characters that Kendrick takes on aren’t ones that have any love for themselves, they have love for fabricated things like the aforementioned money, power, and respect. It’s one of those songs that forced me to stop and listen to it just to get the bigger picture, and Kendrick’s parents’ messages at the end of it sealed the deal, especially what his father said:
“Any nigga can kill a man, that don’t make you a real nigga”. “Realness is responsibility, realness is taking care of your motherfucking family, realness is god, nigga”
Vulgar? Yes, but insightful? 100% Another hint is when Kendrick’s mother told him that Top Dawg called for him and want him to go to the studio, which signifies the beginning of his rap career. One day can change a lot, and on this day, it changed him so he would be able to tell this story a few years later. Learning from your mistakes and coming back as a real man is also what his mother instilled, and he heeded those words. Here we are getting music from Kendrick Lamar – the man. The song was reminiscent of”Opposites Attract,” based on the whole structure. Well put together.
12.Compton (featuring Dr. Dre)
Ahh, our final song (Standard Version) that has a Dr. Dre feature (notice no Dr. Dre production, but he did help with the mixing). Explaining the life of Compton from two generations on one track. You can clearly tell that Kendrick wrote Dr. Dre’s verse (as well as “The Recipe”) but the comparison to what Compton was like in their respective times isn’t that much of a difference, but the raw essence that is Compton is evident between the both of them. Just Blaze did wonders on this beat, and it’s a shame that people have went on to downgrade it because it sounds like Drake’s”Lord Knows”, but that’s like saying “Niggas in Paris” sounds like “Clique” because it’s the same producer. Let’s be real here. Anyway, the main thing about this song comes at the end when you hear Kendrick say”Mama I’m taking the car. Be back in 15 minutes,”and that right there takes me back to my Quentin Tarantino reference, because if you remember in “Pulp Fiction,” for example, when Honey Bunny & Ringo rob the diner at the beginning of the movie, that same scene is what ends the movie; and that’s not the only time that a scene has come back from one particular area to tie in to the rest of the movie. It’s a cinematic album. I really thought at some point that they took clips from movies and inserted them, but they scripted it really well and it’s going to be one of those albums that will be talked about being one of the greats in a few years, if not sooner.
BONUS TRACKS
13.The Recipe (featuring Dr. Dre)
Everyone talks about California being one of the best places in the world to visit, and why? According to Kendrick, it’s the “women, weed, and weather.” This song came out earlier in the year, so it was perfect summer music because of the smooth sample, and the lyrics describing California as this paradise. “California Love” had Tupac and Dre talk about Cali in the best way. 17 years later, here we are. I’m not saying that it has the same dynamic impact that “California Love” had, but it terms of anthems, this served as one, and let’s be honest, you’d rather hear”California Girls”by Katy Perry forever? I. Dont. Think. So. It’s still an enjoyable listen even after hearing it for so long before the album came out.
14.Black Boy Fly
This is a gem that I can understand was a bonus because it’s an aftermath of his success now. From the Kendrick Lamar EP on a song called”I Do This”, he said:
“I used to to wanna by like Michael Jordan
Figured that I’d hit the NBA and make a fortune
Thank God for these rap recordings
I can ball like him on every verse and chorus”
Now, take those lyrics into consideration and in the first verse he starts off by saying that he used to be jealous of Arron Afflalo, because he went to high school with him and that dream Kendrick had of going to the NBA, Arron actually did it. Rather than skipping classes and doing dumb stuff like Kendrick did, Arron did well in school and went to go on to get a basketball scholarship at UCLA and then get drafted into the NBA. All of this from a kid from Compton. It just shows when you’re dedicated and passionate about something; you can make it out of the hood and be someone great. Demar DeRozan of my hometown Toronto Raptors is also from Compton, but since the age difference between Kendrick & Demar is a couple of years, it makes sense for Kendrick to use Arron. The second verse he talked about The Game and how his progression from just a mixtape rapper to a multi-platinum selling artist coming out of Compton, that also inspired him, but it made him jealous as well because he didn’t want to be the last black boy to fly out of Compton. Seeing the success of two guys from Compton make it out and be successful is relevant for anyone that lives in a city that has a lot of struggle and no hope of success. For example; Derrick Rose being from Chicago, being the youngest MVP and having a lot of positive impact for a city like Chicago and their issues of violence, it’s major to see someone come from your block and make it big. Kendrick didn’t think that he would be the next one, but he did and thus this song was made. It’s another inspirational song, because anyone can make it through adversity, no matter which area you live in. “Impossible is Nothing” (Thanks, Adidas).
15.Now or Never (featuring Mary J. Blige)
Why not end the album off on a high note with a soulful song with one of the R&B legends? Mary J. Blige with a great feature on this one. Celebrating the success that you have thus far with a lot of shows and more fans is something that new artists always want, so this is just major emphasis. Living out your dream is something that we all want, so go after it now or you’ll never get a chance. Simple, effective, motivational, and another good one. I see it having some radio play, but who knows?
A lot of people have been saying that this is one of the best albums to come out not only this year, but of the past few years. I agree with both of those statements because when you take the time to tell a story, carefully craft it, and finally execute to perfection, it’s hard to disagree. The content revolved around the progression of Kendrick, but taking us back to where it all started. An eventful day that changed his life and started him on the path to making music for people to hear today. Telling the stories of themselves and others is what Hip Hop was beloved for. The life that a rapper lives isn’t all that glamorous in the beginning, because everyone struggles, so when you get a break and you have the opportunity to shine on a greater platform, you take advantage of that and tell the story of your come up, but also of the area surrounding you that inspired you to get to where you are now. I have confidence that Kendrick will continue to go to great lengths to deliver great music.
“See y’all don’t understand me
My plan B is to win y’all hearts before I win a Grammy” – Kendrick Lamar “I Am (Interlude)”
This is simply my opinion, thanks for reading this lengthy review (more like an Essay), but for now “Thats My Word & It STiXX”
Perfect breakdown. Yeah I thought of Pulp Fiction when listening to this album on how it started and finished. It’s a very cinematic album. It’s highly up there for album of the year contention but also an album that will linger up there for one of the all time great albums.
Had to stop reading after you didn’t get him naming sherane master splinters daughter because of the simple fact master splinter was a rat and she set up him up making her a rat as well
Get on the bandwagon you backpacking stans and self-proclaimed Hip Hopperrrrrzzzzzzzzz… MhMMMMMMmM. Kendrick will be changing up the game. If you’re own sake.
never listened to these new cats in the game like J Cole, Kendrick, Jay Electronica, Meek Mill etc… so much hype for people that never drop a real record.
But after listening to Good Kid Maad City, I’m defenitely approuving Kendrick Lamar talent.
Very good album.
I’m approving him, Big KRIT, ASAP….. long live to hip hop music
approving ASAP but not Cole makes ur approval near worthless. Cole, like Kendrick, raps about real life problems & stories and not just about $,bitches & weed. Not to mention Cole’s worst bars will smash anything ASAP Rocky or his group members have ever done.
Jay Electronica is not new, he has been around for quite some time. Just, he never drops anything, he is the mastermind behind most of your “favorite” rappers.
Damn, with the remixes, like 6 bonus tracks, Cartoons & Cereal and Westside, Right on Time which is all the songs I put on there, it’s a 22 track project. Oh, I bought the regular version by the way, I supported this 5/5 album.
Please spell correctly and articulate your thoughts in a coherent fashion. It makes me laugh when people come on websites and talk massive shit but not a single word is spelled correctly and the sentences make no real sense. This is to bash anyone but it is meant to make some of these “scholars” think before they type. On the other hand its all anonymous post and people trying to get a reactions so…fuck it.
No offense, but you fucked up quite a bit in this post. Quit trying to act like you’re a scientist or something. You’re an idiot just like the rest of us. Nutsucker. Good Kid mAAd City is the best album since 2Pac!!!!!!!!
Your talking like a real educator buddy. “The sentences make no real sense”. Let’s rephrase that “The sentences don’t make any sense at all”. Correct me if I am wrong. “This is to bash anyone”. You just sound like an asshole. Oh, and for you to reference when you use a period like such (.), you are supposed to hit space twice before capitalizing the first word in your sentence. You want to educate people and you dont even know what they hell you are talking about.
ur totally missing the concept because of ur ignorance.the voice hes doin is all part of the emotion&subject matter.listen to what the fuck hes saying!!!dumb muhfuckers are only worried about just “going hard” or “who killed it”…not everything is a lyrical warfare children!this song has a point.
I would really like to know what Dre saw/heard in KL. He sounds like a 14 year old. While there are 14 year olds that can hold a mic next to any 20,30 something (that Wu affiliated kid from back in the day, was it Shyheim? and who was that kid that from Snoop’s ‘Pump Pump” – he was just a beast on that song), KL sounds like he is not ready.
For those that have heard the whole album, are there any songs that can rock the block? You know you have a party, you throw it in. These Sunday easy listening or even depressing mood type songs are not doing it for me.
This is why you should be considered a complete moron. Let’s have a party and listen to some kendrick? YOU ARE JUST A DOUSCHE. If you want to bump at a party and listen to a block jumper take your wimpy ass and listen to some of your favorite rapper (waka). Real people from the REAL block can sit back and listen to this and say dat nigga is to raw for the real world. Keep listening to flo ride you wiener.
gangsta rap is westcoast. most say that him and TDE are the new age gangsta rappers. I agree. Even though they all switch it up, it’s still all street/hood influenced.
He tried to do something different on this album, not sure if it worked. Should’ve put out a solid debut album of what people want to hear more of before changing up his sound and experimenting.
I cant believe people are actually complaining because dude delivered a powerful concept album. Is it classic, way to early to tell, but the album is dope. People saying they want hiipower, i perfer to see an artist evolve and he did just that. This is coming from a cat that was took nearly two years to really get into his music. Can’t hate on talent.
its called emotion ya jackass.do u not understand the concept??muhfuckers need to learn that u cant diss things u dont understand.if u understand the concept of this.u wouldnt b bitchin about a voice change
So this is what u dickridin been hypin up huh? This is gay as fuck, real talk, no hating. Kendrick is mad overhyped. I didnt know you could have wack beats, wack hooks, wack subject matter, and as long as you are versatile lyrically than that makes you a GREAT over-all artist? Garbage everything except for being versatile, and all of sudden he is the king of rap? Even as far as being “lyrical” goes there is huge list of dudes that can out rhyme this dude. He sounds like he is in pain, and he has no emotion in his songs, sounds very monotone. SMH.
listen to one song and then box him in based off of it. gtfo, and sorry you consider experimental music “gay.” go bump some waka flacka then and take your homophobic ass out of here. b.t.w the heart pt.2- EMOTIONS
The Recipe and Swimming Pools- HOOKS
Look Out for Detox-Lyrics
I don’t even need to defend subject matter, if you really listened to him you’d realize your ignorant for saying that.
hahahahaha, you really sound like you got a personal issue with Yourself because of kendrick, you Mad AF for no reason, You better Vibe the fuck out and re-listen.
yo,for the people hating this song i really recommend you go on rap genius and see what its about,if you have are as ‘real’ as you all make out to be,you’ll give kendrick props #GKMC
First words from the track sum up the people on here. Look at all the bullshit! Why do you think that your opinion matters? Speaking it like the gospel, no-one cares about your little bitch talk. Quality album to follow up from section. 80.
that bit is in the view point of the the mother of the guy this song is wrote about, Dante. His mother is saying she will let help him out of jail if he confesses for his sins. She can’t take anymore of Dante’s bullshit.
I love the track, I just can’t get past the texture and tone of the lead vocals. I can hear the room that he recorded in, kinda odd…sounds like a basement recording with a dope azz beat. Still get a 4 for the diversity and they track alone.
Nah he’s just not your traditional MC. He’s not a top 10 most technical MC but he’s very impressive. And don’t overlook his storytelling ability and his ability to put together great concept albums.
“HipHop-N-More gives us the iTunes bonus cut off the first album in our “30 In 30” review series, Kendrick Lamar’s “good kid, m.A.A.d. city.””
wtf does this mean? lol. user “Brad” couple comments away from me is a stupid ass motherfucker. Where’d this track come from?
FIRE!!!!!
COMPTON IN THE BUILDING!!!
Well done my brother on the album! we niggas gone make october our month! PMF’s
Album is a straight classic
Just when you think he’s finished, he turns it up
It’s been a long time coming for this young man,Kendrick Lamar. He crept his way into the Hip Hop scene starting 3 years ago when he released the Kendrick Lamar EP, then O.verly D.edicated (earlier fans knew him for his music when he dropped mixtapes as K.Dot), and that had him gain a lot of buzz. It showed people that he was a rapper that talked about his hometown (Compton, Cali-for-nye-aye) that hadn’t been heard before – it was a positive light in a dark place. The most you’d hear out of Compton before Kendrick Lamar was The Game (I’m excluding N.W.A for generational reasons), and we pretty much all know his story. But, they say that good things come in threes (I have a shirt that says that). I guess 3 would be the number of years in this case: The Kendrick Lamar EP, O.verly D.edicated, and Section.80 were the stepping stones to this album. In each mixtape (if you look at Section.80 as a “mixtape” even though it’s an independent album), he references to a lot of themes & events that are brought up on this album. The production behind it, the lyrical content, and just how it’s well pieced together; it actually feels like a movie, which is why on the front cover it says “a short film by Kendrick Lamar.” He took the listener to the theatre, and we watched him evolve from a young teenager (K. Dot) to the man that is Kendrick Lamar. It’s “Menace II Society” & “Boyz n the Hood” in musical art form. Grab some popcorn, and enjoy the show – oh, and thereviewtoo.
1.Sherane a.k.a. Master Splinter’s Daughter
At first it sounds like the group of guys are chanting The Lord’s Prayer, but then I said to myself, “wait, this isn’t how it goes,” and it feels like the album starts off at the middle of a movie, sort of like how Quentin Tarantino likes tostartoff a movie in a deep dramatic fashion (Reservoir Dogs, Kill Bill Vol.1, Pulp Fiction). Master Splinter (as TMNT fans would know) is the main innovator of the Ninja Turtles; the head honcho who trained the lost turtles in the sewer to fight. Sherane, described by Kendrick is the character that is the reason why certain things happen to dictate what happens in Kendrick’s life. There’s always an originator. We all know how easy it is to be enchanted by a woman who looks good and treats us like a king; we take that treatment and run with it. It happens to women to, because men can be conniving in ways as well, but in this case, Sherane uses Kendrick’s innocence and sets him up, which is what he’s explaining towards the end of the song.
I loved the fact that Kendrick uses his parents in the little “scenes” at the end of most of the songs on the album. I’ve seen him perform about 3 times now, and how he talks about his parents and mimics their behaviour, it was brought to life on the album. A few key things that were mentioned in the first scene: Kendrick had taken his mother’s van (front cover of the Deluxe edition), and she had mentioned that if he kept running in the streets, that he wouldn’t make it to the 11thgrade. So this tells us that he’s around 16-17 years old, and if you have ever listened to”P&P” from the Kendrick Lamar EP, he says:
“Pushin’ in my mama van, stop for gas on Rosecrans
Trust me these niggas rushed me for something my cousin probably did”
At the end of the song, he got approached by 2 guys while meeting up with Sherane. The plot thickens.
2.Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe
Keeping with the same subject as religion (one that he usually talks about a lot since he started out), he acknowledges that he’s a sinner that will sin again (nobody’s perfect, right?), but he still asks for forgiveness for the things he doesn’t understand (forgive them, Father, for which they know not what they do). While sinning, he’s living in the moment, so “Bitch, Dont Kill My Vibe” is like “dont ruin my moment,” (on Section.80, he had a song called “Blow My High”) because we all have those times when we’re in a zone, or when we’re feeling high up that that ONE person just has to try and kill your buzz. It’s annoying isn’t it? It is. Kendrick addresses the fact that he’s on a higher pedestal now that he’s hit the mainstream world, but vows to stay humble and that he’s just as hungry from before he got hot. People will look at it as him “selling out,” but he’s looking at it as another chapter being written in his life, both personally, and musically. The first two songs so far have impressed when its come to production. Smooth compositions, which would be just a taste of the variety of beats he would tell his continuing story on. We’re first introduced to his boys at the end of the song, and it’s cool that each scene at the end gives clues as to what’s coming next on the album and really it forces you to listen to every song with detailed hints.
3.Backseat Freestyle
I first heard this when Hit-Boy (famed producer of “Niggas in Paris”) tweeted a YouTube clip of Kendrick Lamar previewing this at a show in Atlanta. The beat was crazy in typical Hit-Boy fashion, and it was definitely a new spin for Kendrick that hadn’t been exposed before. I can understand why this was called “Backseat Freestyle,” because when you’re with your boys and whatnot and just riding around, you spit a few bars and go off on a tangent. There wasn’t a big concept here other than the fact that it was just a freestyle (it was written obviously), and he was just spazzing out on a Hit-Boy beat. It’s definitely one to get the adrenaline going, and I know many feared this sound because it’s what mainstream rap sounds like. I won’t lie, I dig this song, but I hoped that it wasn’t going to be the consistent sound on the album. It had been doing well thus far.
4.The Art of Peer Pressure
The first time this song leaked out, it hadn’t been completed, and Kendrick even tweeted a fan saying “wait until you hear the finished version,” so I didn’t know what to expect. The disclaimer at the beginning of the song followed by a smooth jazzy beat was REFRESHING to my ears and I thought that this was going to be the beat for the whole thing, but then the beat ended and the song that was exposed from the leaked version had started. Peer pressure is something that many people either believe or don’t believe in; having a circle of friends heavily pest you to do something that you’re not accustomed to doing on a regular basis. Many people can relate to Kendrick’s story, because we all have those friends who were telling us to: Hit the blunt (when you dont smoke), start some trouble (when you’re not a troublemaker), drink some alcohol (when you’re not a drinker), and rob a house (when you’re not a thief). Sometimes, when you’re just around your boys (or girls), you act different because you don’t want to let them down or “kill their vibe,” so you join in and live a little.”Just ridin’, bullshittin’, actin a fool, trippin'”- the basic phrases to describe hanging out with “the homies.” At the end of it all, there’s a little hint that was brought up a couple of songs from now, and this album is scripted WICKED to bring the whole story together.
5.Money Trees (featuring Jay Rock)
Following the previous successful heist with the homies, the gang is living lavish and just celebrating the fruits of their labour. Hustling is the way of the streets and it’s a means to survive, even if it means you have to rob someone or sell drugs to get by. “Money Trees” being used for shade in the heat of the streets is what Kendrick was referencing to in the chorus, because it also reflects on him now getting money, but more things have happened since then, and also referenced to the past when he said that “That Louie’s Burger never be the same, A louis belt will never ease that pain”making reference to a line also from P&P:
“Pain since my grandma’s death, uncle killed at Louie’s Burgers
Hold my tears I tried my best
Let it go trash my pullover”
Although he’s still haunted by the pain of the past, he’s going to progress by moving on forward with life. Jay-Z said it best,”cant run from the pain, go towards it,”and that’s what he’s doing. This album didn’t have a lot of features, but Jay Rock held his own, and I’m glad that he got at least one Black Hippy member on the album, because to be fair, if it hadn’t been for Jay Rock, TDE/Black Hippy probably wouldn’t exist. It’s that simple, give the man his respect, and he’s a dope rapper as well – Unappreciated. Kendrick’s parents come back in at the end and things get a little spicy towards the end of it as we proceed to give you what you need.
6.Poetic Justice (featuring Drake)
This was the song that everyone had been anticipating when the tracklist was announced and the top bloggers were raving about. History check for you younger cats – “Poetic Justice” is a movie that featured Janet Jackson (hence the sample) and Tupac Shakur (one of Kendrick’s childhood idols). The playful flirting-turned-serious relationship that Justice & Lucky (Janet & Tupac’s characters) had is one of the more memorable ones in the black culture films much like Quincy & Monica’s in”Love & Basketball”(Omar Epps & Sanaa Lathan). On one hand, you have Kendrick serenading to a young woman, and then you have Drake who comes in spitting game that’s not as poetic, but he did it his own style, and poetic isn’t exactly his style, but I digress, he held his own and it’s a good song. Not “simpy” and “whiney,” but it’s smooth and definitely one that should make it to the radio for sure. The line that stuck out to me the most was”If I told you a flower bloomed in a dark room, would you trust it?”Something beautiful can still grow in the midst of darkness. I LOVE THAT ANALOGY! It reflects on himself personally, because being from Compton, it’s pretty rare to see or hear something beautiful in a state of madness. Towards the end of it, the familiar seemingly hypnotic voice that we first heard in the beginning of the album returns and it picks up where it left off when Kendrick was approached by 2 guys as he was going to see Sherane (you have to love the scripting). He was interrogated, and finally threatened to the point when it was either he did what they told him to, or they’d take him by force. It felt real, like it was actually pulled out of a movie.
7.good kid
It’s hard being the good guy in the hood, especially in an area where you get presumed to be a gang member by either other people or police officers. “Guilty by association, story of my life, nigga” is a line (“P&P”) that stood out and is very reflective of this song, because in the two verses he talks about how he was thrown down to the curb and beat up by the 2 guys that approached him, and the infamous LAPD officers that assumed that he was a gang member. When you run with the wrong crowd, it happens to hurt more than help, but that’s just common sense. Pharrell on the hook & production was surprising. It brought out that nostalgic Neptunes flare that we’d fallen in love with during the early 2000s, and this a portion of the album that is leading up to a climax. Some damage had been done, so it was time for some retaliation.
8.m.A.A.d city (featuring MC Eiht)
“If Pirus and Crips all got along
They’d probably gun me down by the end of this song
Seem like the whole city go against me
Every time I’m in the street I hear
YAWK! YAWK! YAWK! YAWK!”
If you’ve listened to Kendrick for a while, you’d know that he’s been making references to good kid, m.A.A.d city for a while. One example is from the song”Thanksgiving”from the Kendrick Lamar EP:
“Boo-yaa, boo-yaa, no one, I’ve done situated myself, I ain’t lying
Be sure to be friend cause my foes die five times
The good kid from the mad city
Holding a cereal box instead of a Glock
In a 1992 Caddilac that I got from my pops”
In a more up-tempo beat (very Hit-Boyish/Lex Luger-ish) Kendrick gets into the gritty scenery of the dangerous streets of Compton. Recalling an incident that happened when he was a kid, there was a gang shoot out and the description of the scenario involving him was pretty real. There’s a situation, it gets heated, words get exchanged, and then (to quote A$AP Mob)”BIG GUNS GO BLAAT!”The karma that Kendrick points out is that you live life backwards when you sleep with a gun next to you or under your pillow (ain’t it evil to live backwards? – Loaded Lux), basically you live by the gun, you die by it too. Just as I thought that the whole song was going to be this mock Lex Luger beat, I won’t lie, I definitely wasn’t feeling the beat, although it’s hype, it’s not something I’d expect Kendrick to rap over. When people talk about that “mainstream rap” style, THIS was it. But then you hear noise like a TV channel that had its signal cut out, and then you get this THUMP of bass and instantly you’re taken back to the Warren G/Dr. Dre & Snoop Doggy Dogg type of feel, and here comes MC Eiht with his gangster demeanour really breaking down the life on the Compton streets. Dealing & doing drugs and gang banging is very common, so it was cool that Kendrick brought along an O.G to help tell the story of the nitty gritty. It was a feature that was surprising for most when the tracklist came about, so I’m glad that it worked out very well. The message that Kendrick is doing spoken word reveals the true meaning of m.A.A.d. When he does the altered pitch to his voice, it’s as if there’s another persona speaking to the listener. He did this on “Bitch, Dont Kill My Vibe” and also “Swimming Pools (Drank).”He revealed it in an interview on L.A Leakers, but I already heard it the line in the song.”Compton, USA – made me an Angel on Angel dust.” Now, if you were paying attention towards the end of “The Art of Peer Pressure,” the scene has the homies laughing at the fact that they got Kendrick “faded” (high from smoking). He smoked the wrong blunt and it had “the Shenanigans”; Shenanigans being the Angel dust that he was referring to in this song. See how it all ties in together? There’s also another meaning he said in the L.A Leakers interview – “my Angry Adolescence divided.” Just a nugget.
9.”Swimming Pools (Drank)”
One of the singles of the album, but this is an extended version with a third verse. This comes right after the aftermath of the set-up and Kendrick’s with the homies, and they hand him a drink to kick back, so he can recuperate from his event. The primary focus of this song is about dealing with alcohol abuse and the fact that he had been surrounded by people that spent their lives alcohol binging (basically drinking the amount that you can fill a pool with to swim in; metaphorically speaking). People drink for various reason that Kendrick touched on – whether it’s to get away from their misery or to just feel good at the moment, he talks about his experience with drinking and how through peer pressure, he did it. The chorus refers to the stages of a drinker and how they go about doing it. Pour it; take a shot, sit down to chill, stand up, drink some more, pass out, and wake up hung-over. It’s just that simple. The second verse – voice pitch, which means? An alter ego, but he says that it’s his conscience speaking telling him to use his common sense so that he doesn’t go overboard with his drinking. I have to give a big shout out to Canada’s own T-Minus, who mainly produced this song, because he’s definitely come a long way since he didthat song for Ludacris a few years back. The 3rdverse is Kendrick opening up about his plateau now that he’s broken into the mainstream and that he’s able to even give a wider audience a dose of his music and the topics that he’s able to rap about. It’s something definitely able to look forward to, but just as things are going well, there’s always something. The next scene has the homies in the car contemplating retaliation to the guys that jumped Kendrick and Sherane that set him up. Just as they go and fire off shots, everything seems to be okay until one of the dude’s brother gets shot and killed. It’s definitely the defining moment of the album as the next song comes about.
10.Sing About Me / I’m Dying of Thirst
This is one of Kendrick’s best songs, and believe me he has a lot of them. Reason why I say that is because he takes on the roles of two characters who had speaking to him about his music and how they’ve impacted them in a way – one guy and one girl. The guy was a Piru gang member and as much as he loved being a gang member and he would represent it until it killed him, he still wished that he had the positive ambition that Kendrick had with his music and that he wished him well on his musical success. Towards the end of the verse, he ends up getting shot mid-sentence (I have to shout out my boyAnthonyfor pointing this out, because I didn’t know) and it was the same ending that was used in a song released 3 years ago called”Little Johnny,” so it’s evident that Kendrick brought past elements to the present for the fans that have been there that long. Before you die, you hope that people will still remember you in a positive light, or to speak about you. In this case, Kendrick is saying the same thing, but instead of talk, it’s to sing about them. The girl in the 2ndverse is the sister of Keisha from”Keisha’s Song (Her Pain)” from Section.80. Again, bringing past elements and continuing the story into a major scale. Her tone is a bit more pressed towards him because she didn’t appreciate him airing out her business like that through song, but it’s ironic because her sister is going through the exact same thing, but she knows what she’s doing and thinks that she’s not going to have the same fate as her sister. The way that the verse ends off reminded me of”Heaven & Hell”from O.verly D.edicated when he faded out of the verse halfway without coming to an end, but instead of it being a mystery, it shows that he’s walking away from her because she doesn’t want to help herself save her own life, so she eventually dies anyway. Kendrick (as her) says in the verse that she’ll never fade away, but in the end she does. The third verse goes into Kendrick rapping as himself talking or writing back to the individuals saying that he is humbled by the love and that he does it for the city to represent them on a positive scale, and also that he didn’t mean to insult or degrade Keisha in any way; just wanted to share the story of the lives that he was around in Compton. The main emphasis is that he knows where he’s at with his status and success and that he’s now more worried than ever that he’ll die young because will try to come after him, but all he wants to do is tell the stories of the ones who’s affected his life and that one day when he passes on, he’ll be remembered for telling them. I have to say rest in peace to Alori Joh, because as much as I am a Kendrick Lamar fan, I’m still not the biggest fan of rappers singing their hooks. Alori would have done it plenty of justice (shit, even Jhene Aiko), but that’s just me. I still enjoyed the song, but that R&B presence would have been great.
The song fades back into a scene seemingly as if it was a freeze frame and then resumes hearing the sound of the homies trying to figure out what to do now, but the guy whose brother got shot is fed up and doesn’t want to live the life he’s living anymore. Understandable for anyone to want to just say “to hell with it all” and go out guns blazing, but then it goes right into “Dying of Thirst.” The phrase “Dying of thirst” isn’t one that I was familiar with, but of what I was taking in from the song, it was along the words of being thirsty for a break and never getting it. Continuously sinning and paying for the consequences is what’ll kill you faster, and when one really needs is forgiveness from the Lord because of the things that rule around them: money, sex & drugs. It isn’t until the end of the song when he says”youre dying of thirst, so hop in that water and pray that it works,”that you know that he’s talking about holy water. Washing away your sins, starting off clean and one step in the right path of life. The elderly woman that appears at the end of the song is also a key character and she’s the one that introduces the prayer that you hear at the beginning of the album. She defined “dying of thirst” as being thirsty for the Lord & wanting him in your life. So in order to do that, you have to be baptized. Obviously they didn’t go through an actual baptismal service, but that prayer is what helped change their mindsets from that day forth to help carry on their lives. Very deep and this whole album makes you think about your own life and the things around you. Even if you don’t exactly relate to his stories, you can’t help but get inspired by how he tells them in such detail that brings it to reality before your ears and eyes. Powerful and gripping storytelling is rare these days. J.Cole is known to be somewhat of a storyteller, but Kendrick is on another level when it comes down to the finer details. He put in significant effort in this project, and this is the defining song that proves it.
11.Real (featuring Anna Wise)
Kendrick, as part of his storytelling, often takes on the roles of different people in his songs, and sometimes it’s not even people, it’s other fictitious characters like your own conscious or the devil (Listen to “I Hate You”, an unreleased track). The point is that, keeping with the same style as “Sing About Me,” he uses the ideal of “real” to describe a girl and a guy and just what they define as real when they’re chasing after money, power, respect, fame and glamour, but that doesn’t make THEM real, because their reality is covered up. What makes a person real? Being honest with themselves, having morals and ethics that drive them on a daily basis? That all depends on the people, but the characters that Kendrick takes on aren’t ones that have any love for themselves, they have love for fabricated things like the aforementioned money, power, and respect. It’s one of those songs that forced me to stop and listen to it just to get the bigger picture, and Kendrick’s parents’ messages at the end of it sealed the deal, especially what his father said:
“Any nigga can kill a man, that don’t make you a real nigga”. “Realness is responsibility, realness is taking care of your motherfucking family, realness is god, nigga”
Vulgar? Yes, but insightful? 100% Another hint is when Kendrick’s mother told him that Top Dawg called for him and want him to go to the studio, which signifies the beginning of his rap career. One day can change a lot, and on this day, it changed him so he would be able to tell this story a few years later. Learning from your mistakes and coming back as a real man is also what his mother instilled, and he heeded those words. Here we are getting music from Kendrick Lamar – the man. The song was reminiscent of”Opposites Attract,” based on the whole structure. Well put together.
12.Compton (featuring Dr. Dre)
Ahh, our final song (Standard Version) that has a Dr. Dre feature (notice no Dr. Dre production, but he did help with the mixing). Explaining the life of Compton from two generations on one track. You can clearly tell that Kendrick wrote Dr. Dre’s verse (as well as “The Recipe”) but the comparison to what Compton was like in their respective times isn’t that much of a difference, but the raw essence that is Compton is evident between the both of them. Just Blaze did wonders on this beat, and it’s a shame that people have went on to downgrade it because it sounds like Drake’s”Lord Knows”, but that’s like saying “Niggas in Paris” sounds like “Clique” because it’s the same producer. Let’s be real here. Anyway, the main thing about this song comes at the end when you hear Kendrick say”Mama I’m taking the car. Be back in 15 minutes,”and that right there takes me back to my Quentin Tarantino reference, because if you remember in “Pulp Fiction,” for example, when Honey Bunny & Ringo rob the diner at the beginning of the movie, that same scene is what ends the movie; and that’s not the only time that a scene has come back from one particular area to tie in to the rest of the movie. It’s a cinematic album. I really thought at some point that they took clips from movies and inserted them, but they scripted it really well and it’s going to be one of those albums that will be talked about being one of the greats in a few years, if not sooner.
BONUS TRACKS
13.The Recipe (featuring Dr. Dre)
Everyone talks about California being one of the best places in the world to visit, and why? According to Kendrick, it’s the “women, weed, and weather.” This song came out earlier in the year, so it was perfect summer music because of the smooth sample, and the lyrics describing California as this paradise. “California Love” had Tupac and Dre talk about Cali in the best way. 17 years later, here we are. I’m not saying that it has the same dynamic impact that “California Love” had, but it terms of anthems, this served as one, and let’s be honest, you’d rather hear”California Girls”by Katy Perry forever? I. Dont. Think. So. It’s still an enjoyable listen even after hearing it for so long before the album came out.
14.Black Boy Fly
This is a gem that I can understand was a bonus because it’s an aftermath of his success now. From the Kendrick Lamar EP on a song called”I Do This”, he said:
“I used to to wanna by like Michael Jordan
Figured that I’d hit the NBA and make a fortune
Thank God for these rap recordings
I can ball like him on every verse and chorus”
Now, take those lyrics into consideration and in the first verse he starts off by saying that he used to be jealous of Arron Afflalo, because he went to high school with him and that dream Kendrick had of going to the NBA, Arron actually did it. Rather than skipping classes and doing dumb stuff like Kendrick did, Arron did well in school and went to go on to get a basketball scholarship at UCLA and then get drafted into the NBA. All of this from a kid from Compton. It just shows when you’re dedicated and passionate about something; you can make it out of the hood and be someone great. Demar DeRozan of my hometown Toronto Raptors is also from Compton, but since the age difference between Kendrick & Demar is a couple of years, it makes sense for Kendrick to use Arron. The second verse he talked about The Game and how his progression from just a mixtape rapper to a multi-platinum selling artist coming out of Compton, that also inspired him, but it made him jealous as well because he didn’t want to be the last black boy to fly out of Compton. Seeing the success of two guys from Compton make it out and be successful is relevant for anyone that lives in a city that has a lot of struggle and no hope of success. For example; Derrick Rose being from Chicago, being the youngest MVP and having a lot of positive impact for a city like Chicago and their issues of violence, it’s major to see someone come from your block and make it big. Kendrick didn’t think that he would be the next one, but he did and thus this song was made. It’s another inspirational song, because anyone can make it through adversity, no matter which area you live in. “Impossible is Nothing” (Thanks, Adidas).
15.Now or Never (featuring Mary J. Blige)
Why not end the album off on a high note with a soulful song with one of the R&B legends? Mary J. Blige with a great feature on this one. Celebrating the success that you have thus far with a lot of shows and more fans is something that new artists always want, so this is just major emphasis. Living out your dream is something that we all want, so go after it now or you’ll never get a chance. Simple, effective, motivational, and another good one. I see it having some radio play, but who knows?
A lot of people have been saying that this is one of the best albums to come out not only this year, but of the past few years. I agree with both of those statements because when you take the time to tell a story, carefully craft it, and finally execute to perfection, it’s hard to disagree. The content revolved around the progression of Kendrick, but taking us back to where it all started. An eventful day that changed his life and started him on the path to making music for people to hear today. Telling the stories of themselves and others is what Hip Hop was beloved for. The life that a rapper lives isn’t all that glamorous in the beginning, because everyone struggles, so when you get a break and you have the opportunity to shine on a greater platform, you take advantage of that and tell the story of your come up, but also of the area surrounding you that inspired you to get to where you are now. I have confidence that Kendrick will continue to go to great lengths to deliver great music.
“See y’all don’t understand me
My plan B is to win y’all hearts before I win a Grammy” – Kendrick Lamar “I Am (Interlude)”
This is simply my opinion, thanks for reading this lengthy review (more like an Essay), but for now “Thats My Word & It STiXX”
5/5
Glad you’re showin’ love, but I don’t think much niggas are gonna read you’re entire comment lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udS-OcNtSWo
Aint nobody got time for that!
@Spobes
It would’ve been more effective if you just put this.
http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mc2nknSVBR1r0h677.gif
Perfect breakdown. Yeah I thought of Pulp Fiction when listening to this album on how it started and finished. It’s a very cinematic album. It’s highly up there for album of the year contention but also an album that will linger up there for one of the all time great albums.
chill, bro. lol.
Had to stop reading after you didn’t get him naming sherane master splinters daughter because of the simple fact master splinter was a rat and she set up him up making her a rat as well
5 Starz!!
the new classic
YA’LL KNOW ME, SOFTY MCSOFT HANDS BITCH. SUCKING DICK EVERYDAY.
how come nobody feature game?
Erm… What!?
CUZ GAME BODYBAGS EVERYONE ON THAIR OWN SHIT ! ! !
MAKES EM LOOK LIKE THEY WHERE FEATURE ! ! !
But wouldn’t that take Game to be a very good MC to do that and we all know his rapping skills aren’t too good…
I guess Game didn’t feature on this album because he didn’t fit into the concept.
Second anonymous? Game can’t rap? Wat the fuck have u listened to? Lol
I’m not saying he can’t rap I’m saying “his rapping skills aren’t too good”
Yeah Game is just an average rapper who got lucky. Plus which beat would he have sounded good over??
Game rips shit. First two albums are straight fire, and second two were good too.
CRAZY! Respect from Philly!
Amazing.
great track, why didnt it make the album? 5 stars
It did
Its a bonus on one of the versions. Can’t remember which
2dope
perfect, fuck.
Some day I’m going to come out with an album… and when I do I’ll call it “Malone’s Sweatshop”….
Sincerely Yours
-Malone
J. Cole Album > Kendrick Lamar Album
Meek Mill Album > Kendrick Lamar Album
Drake Album > Kendrick Lamar Album
2Chainz Album > Kendrick Lamar album
BAHAHA shut the fuck up
get off them Drugs!
Yo homie lay off the crack. U can maybe compare him and J-Coles that is about it lol.
the lyrics are tuff but dam his voice is trash it why he wont be so big :/
“2Chainz Album > Kendrick Lamar album”
HGAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHHAA
eh.
Hiphopdx not posting any ratings but 5’s? Just how much was the Interscope check for?
stfu faggot.
TDE!!
this nikka dope period! im talking givin rap a new direction
Kendrick Lamar > Meek Mill
The ONLY (yeap the ONLY) good new school rapper that can be compared to some of em’ old school ones.
J.Cole is good?
SMD IF U THINK THAT!
kendrick is fucking dope
Get on the bandwagon you backpacking stans and self-proclaimed Hip Hopperrrrrzzzzzzzzz… MhMMMMMMmM. Kendrick will be changing up the game. If you’re own sake.
are you talking about yourself? either way you’re a fucking idiot.. “if you’re own sake” ???
kendrick good but not OMG good hah hes gonna be like a kid cudi tyep of rapper watch. jay electronica will devour this kid just saying lol
You my friend, are jealous.
never listened to these new cats in the game like J Cole, Kendrick, Jay Electronica, Meek Mill etc… so much hype for people that never drop a real record.
But after listening to Good Kid Maad City, I’m defenitely approuving Kendrick Lamar talent.
Very good album.
I’m approving him, Big KRIT, ASAP….. long live to hip hop music
You approve of ASAP but not J. Cole?
Damn, your approval means so much to them.
approving ASAP but not Cole makes ur approval near worthless. Cole, like Kendrick, raps about real life problems & stories and not just about $,bitches & weed. Not to mention Cole’s worst bars will smash anything ASAP Rocky or his group members have ever done.
Jay Electronica is not new, he has been around for quite some time. Just, he never drops anything, he is the mastermind behind most of your “favorite” rappers.
And YOUR approval means what? Not a damn thing. Take a dirt nap, let hip hop have it’s space.
This gives me chills.
Damn, with the remixes, like 6 bonus tracks, Cartoons & Cereal and Westside, Right on Time which is all the songs I put on there, it’s a 22 track project. Oh, I bought the regular version by the way, I supported this 5/5 album.
If K Dot doesn’t sell Ima lose my mind
Go and buy that fuckin album instead of bitchin on hiphodx
Please spell correctly and articulate your thoughts in a coherent fashion. It makes me laugh when people come on websites and talk massive shit but not a single word is spelled correctly and the sentences make no real sense. This is to bash anyone but it is meant to make some of these “scholars” think before they type. On the other hand its all anonymous post and people trying to get a reactions so…fuck it.
No offense, but you fucked up quite a bit in this post. Quit trying to act like you’re a scientist or something. You’re an idiot just like the rest of us. Nutsucker. Good Kid mAAd City is the best album since 2Pac!!!!!!!!
Your talking like a real educator buddy. “The sentences make no real sense”. Let’s rephrase that “The sentences don’t make any sense at all”. Correct me if I am wrong. “This is to bash anyone”. You just sound like an asshole. Oh, and for you to reference when you use a period like such (.), you are supposed to hit space twice before capitalizing the first word in your sentence. You want to educate people and you dont even know what they hell you are talking about.
isn’t meant to*
annoying voice…..i want the kendrick like on the song “Hiii Power”
ur totally missing the concept because of ur ignorance.the voice hes doin is all part of the emotion&subject matter.listen to what the fuck hes saying!!!dumb muhfuckers are only worried about just “going hard” or “who killed it”…not everything is a lyrical warfare children!this song has a point.
I would really like to know what Dre saw/heard in KL. He sounds like a 14 year old. While there are 14 year olds that can hold a mic next to any 20,30 something (that Wu affiliated kid from back in the day, was it Shyheim? and who was that kid that from Snoop’s ‘Pump Pump” – he was just a beast on that song), KL sounds like he is not ready.
For those that have heard the whole album, are there any songs that can rock the block? You know you have a party, you throw it in. These Sunday easy listening or even depressing mood type songs are not doing it for me.
This is why you should be considered a complete moron. Let’s have a party and listen to some kendrick? YOU ARE JUST A DOUSCHE. If you want to bump at a party and listen to a block jumper take your wimpy ass and listen to some of your favorite rapper (waka). Real people from the REAL block can sit back and listen to this and say dat nigga is to raw for the real world. Keep listening to flo ride you wiener.
Big Dan is really Shyne lmao!!!
and hes def bc i dont know any 14 year olds that have a grown man voice
Collect Call my ass… you know these rich rappers should just make more use of themselves by giving away free food…
Sincerely Yours
-Malone
OMG .. GOT DAMN.. K.DOT .. LOS ANGELES STAND DA FUK UP! .. HIP HOP IS BAK HOME
Hip Hops home is in NY
gangsta rap is westcoast. most say that him and TDE are the new age gangsta rappers. I agree. Even though they all switch it up, it’s still all street/hood influenced.
Damn Kendrick never dissapoints.. making is way to be on of the greatest ever, lyrical genius
Not sure how I feel about this one
He tried to do something different on this album, not sure if it worked. Should’ve put out a solid debut album of what people want to hear more of before changing up his sound and experimenting.
What “people”? The vast majority of people love this album.
hmm, this is cool, I like this, sounds really unique.
I cant believe people are actually complaining because dude delivered a powerful concept album. Is it classic, way to early to tell, but the album is dope. People saying they want hiipower, i perfer to see an artist evolve and he did just that. This is coming from a cat that was took nearly two years to really get into his music. Can’t hate on talent.
cant stand that pitchy voice shit, what is that?
its called emotion ya jackass.do u not understand the concept??muhfuckers need to learn that u cant diss things u dont understand.if u understand the concept of this.u wouldnt b bitchin about a voice change
I see he’s been listening to alot of outkast and organized noize….
5
sick song
Collect calls was not on the deluxe copy of good kid maad city am i missing domething here???
It wasn’t on the leaked version but its on the official version that’s available on iTunes.
So this is what u dickridin been hypin up huh? This is gay as fuck, real talk, no hating. Kendrick is mad overhyped. I didnt know you could have wack beats, wack hooks, wack subject matter, and as long as you are versatile lyrically than that makes you a GREAT over-all artist? Garbage everything except for being versatile, and all of sudden he is the king of rap? Even as far as being “lyrical” goes there is huge list of dudes that can out rhyme this dude. He sounds like he is in pain, and he has no emotion in his songs, sounds very monotone. SMH.
listen to one song and then box him in based off of it. gtfo, and sorry you consider experimental music “gay.” go bump some waka flacka then and take your homophobic ass out of here. b.t.w the heart pt.2- EMOTIONS
The Recipe and Swimming Pools- HOOKS
Look Out for Detox-Lyrics
I don’t even need to defend subject matter, if you really listened to him you’d realize your ignorant for saying that.
Co-sign…
He sounds like hes about to cry, cry ’cause his little Butt-hurt…
gay as hell…
hahahahaha, you really sound like you got a personal issue with Yourself because of kendrick, you Mad AF for no reason, You better Vibe the fuck out and re-listen.
or just follow me On twitter @danieMilli_anne 🙂
If Bigg Homiee Locc dogg says it that shit is true. He puts the double letterr att thee endd off eachh wordd, howw dopee iss thatt?? OGG
Get outta here with that BS.. Kendrick is the truth.. I bet you the lame bumpin Waka flock or gucci talkin bout this real music..
“sounds like he is pain and he has no emotion”
wakity-wiggety-wack…
Brilliant song.
If you don’t get the story then check out RapGenius they did a number on this song.
No my favorite track, but the hate below is beyond stupid
k dot is beyond overrated, what a shitty Andre 3000 impression
ur fuckin retarded!no impression nigga.
yo,for the people hating this song i really recommend you go on rap genius and see what its about,if you have are as ‘real’ as you all make out to be,you’ll give kendrick props #GKMC
this track is amazing!!!
First words from the track sum up the people on here. Look at all the bullshit! Why do you think that your opinion matters? Speaking it like the gospel, no-one cares about your little bitch talk. Quality album to follow up from section. 80.
that bit is in the view point of the the mother of the guy this song is wrote about, Dante. His mother is saying she will let help him out of jail if he confesses for his sins. She can’t take anymore of Dante’s bullshit.
men lie woman lie
different song,, but im happy to witness the next greatest!
j cole n kendrick! you have changed my life. n i thank you for that.
Amazing! 5/5
I love the track, I just can’t get past the texture and tone of the lead vocals. I can hear the room that he recorded in, kinda odd…sounds like a basement recording with a dope azz beat. Still get a 4 for the diversity and they track alone.
kendrick lamar S.O.A.T. (shittiest of all time)
OJ the juiceman, i know its you. this comment doesnt surprise me, youre an idiot
its different
Legendary!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He’s good but don’t you think he’s being a little gassed up?
I don’t know, I guess today’s definition of incredible emcee is a lower standard
THANK YOU!
Nah he’s just not your traditional MC. He’s not a top 10 most technical MC but he’s very impressive. And don’t overlook his storytelling ability and his ability to put together great concept albums.
So so 2/5 AND I’m A REAL WAYSIDE(CDC) REP …This shit ain’t better than the shit with RasKass and Agallah
“HipHop-N-More gives us the iTunes bonus cut off the first album in our “30 In 30” review series, Kendrick Lamar’s “good kid, m.A.A.d. city.””
wtf does this mean? lol. user “Brad” couple comments away from me is a stupid ass motherfucker. Where’d this track come from?
Nobody pays attention to his lyrics…
y’all keep hatin as if y’all doing something thats worth mentioning…it’s good to have opinions but that don’t mean you gotta finger fuck your brain
Kendrick is DOPE and the fact that he manages to get your attention shows it
kedrick killin it right now
black hippy running the rap game
Kendrick is good.I should have signed you before Dre
Kendrick is good.I should have signed you before
STFU
You were used for the hype, hypes over nigga geeeeeeeeeeeet
Kendrick Lamar IS SICK OFF THAT HIP-HOP VIRUS,I’M FEELING THIS JOINT RIGHT HERE!
AMAZING!!!!!!!!!
good food for hip hop
nice