Number 45: good kid, m.A.A.d city by Kendrick Lamar
Release: October 22nd, 2012
Genre: Hip-Hop
Favorite Tracks: m.A.A.d city, Backseat Freestyle, Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe
Where I heard it:
I have a confession to make: I jumped on the Kendrick Lamar train way, way too late. In fact, I didn't care for Kendrick at all when I first caught wind of him through his release of the critically acclaimed To Pimp A Butterfly in 2015. My taste in hip-hop music was only starting to discover old school classics of the 90's, and I was a bit intimidated toward the themes and motifs introduced by the evolution of what rap music had become. I held off from Kendrick until he resurfaced once again with DAMN. a couple years later, which became the subject of conversation among mutual friends. I often defended DAMN. over To Pimp A Butterfly, for which I received a lot of surprise and criticism. I eventually gave the latter a proper listen in 2019, and finally understood what all the hype from Kendrick was about. In the anticipation of his next album, Kendrick was featured on the tracks family ties and range brothers from Baby Keem's 2021 album The Melodic Blue, and I was blown away by the bars Kendrick offered. Those two songs confirmed to me whatever Kendrick had waiting in the wings was going to be monumental. While I originally had Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers slotted to review for its profound emotional reflection and mature prose, I found myself longing for something that bumped a little harder like some of the tracks that initially attracted me like HUMBLE. and DNA. Enter good kid, m.A.A.d city, an album I heard earlier this year for the first time off a recommendation from a close friend of mine. Whew...now I understand why Kendrick Lamar is regarded as a cornerstone of modern hip-hop, and possibly among the greatest rappers of all time.
It go Halle Berry or hallelujah
Pick your poison, tell me what you doing
Everybody gon' respect the shooter
But the one in front of the gun lives forever
And I been hustling all day, this-a-way, that-a-way
Through canals and alleyways
Just to say money trees is the perfect place for shade
That's just how I feel
~ Money Trees
What to expect:
From the moment you turn on good kid, m.A.A.d city, the album immerses you within the struggles and triumphs of a kid from the streets of Compton forced to do what he must to survive in the hood. The interludes included between (sometimes during) songs help foil the story of a troubled young man's surroundings through the clever use of voicemail messages, setting the stage for the following track. While recorded phone conversations in hip-hop aren't necessarily groundbreaking, it's surprising to hear them strung together as a loose narrative to make a concept album. Although it shouldn't be a surprise at all; it says right on the front cover "A Short Film by Kendrick Lamar", and good kid, m.A.A.d city archives theatrical scenes of action and drama that are reflected heavily in his lyrics. Kendrick is unfiltered in his recollection of an antithetical double life between a God-fearing kid and a cold hearted criminal, documented in songs like The Art of Peer Pressure and good kid. Even during quicker segments, Kendrick's lyrical delivery is remarkably clear, unlike the slurred speech and mellow mumbles of other modern hip-hop artists. The successful execution of good kid, m.A.A.d city's narrative hinges on the talents of the storyteller, and Kendrick weaves enthralling scenarios that pull from autobiographical experiences of gang activity and family trauma. His ability to balance impeccable flow with accurate accounts is second to none in the industry, captivating the listener's attention through articulate wordplay that tests your vocabulary. Oh, and of course we can't forget the production side of things. good kid, m.A.A.d city was Kendrick's major label debut in partnership with the famous Dr. Dre as producer, so you know the beats are going to be fire. The backing track for Backseat Freestyle and m.A.A.d city just...go so hard. Really, Dre does an excellent job matching the tone of each song with an appropriate beat that helps reinforce the technicality of Kendrick's performance on the mic. These two legends of Compton work in tandem with one another, but Dre would be the first to tell you that all praise goes to Kendrick for his incredible work on good kid, m.A.A.d city. Think I've gotta agree with the Doc on this one.
"Am I really scared of passing away?"
So loud it can water down a demon with the holy ghost
'Til it drown in the blood of Jesus
~Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst
Why it's my favorite:
I'll be honest, I much prefer to digest an artist's repertoire in retrospect rather than during periods of activity. It's a bit counterintuitive, but to me it allows history to take its course and sort out the fads from the fantastic. This practice is much easier to fulfill with defunct bands, which made up a large part of my library for a while. In other words, I hardly listen to what's popular today. It's just too much for me to keep up with. Now that I am a decade removed, I feel comfortable confirming what many were saying back then: Kendrick Lamar is a bona-fide superstar that paved the way for hip-hop in the modern era alongside artists like Kanye West and Drake. This new age of gangsta rap acknowledges the ruthless acts of violence carried out, but pulls the curtain to reveal the fractured and impoverished lifestyle that influences such behavior. Kendrick is willing to question the social constructs of this ghetto lifestyle instead of touting them as accolades or street cred. This approach helps bring a sense of legitimacy to the dying art of gangsta rap, placing the focus not on the actions themselves but the fallout of the consequences. These ideas are further explored in more abstract ways in later entries like To Pimp a Butterfly and Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers, but good kid, m.A.A.d city is the perfect blend of nefarious and nostalgic. Kendrick continues to push the boundaries and inspire conversation with his platform, and I'm excited to see how far his music will reach, from the streets of Compton to the steps of the White House.
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