Good Kid m.A.A.d city is the major debut album of Kendrick Lamar, coming from Compton, California. This masterpiece will take you into the mind of an adolescent male chasing positivity in a hostile environment. Kendrick poetically conveys perceptiveness on a wide array of topics, from gangbangers, sex, and street life to chasing dreams and happiness, as well as the everyday struggles of growing up. Raw and authentic, this narrative album tells a story that speaks out and up for a generation of people who can relate. WARNING- This IS HIP HOP at its FINEST! Honest, artistic, filled with pain, real love and understanding, this music will inspire you to overcome the adversity you face, and embrace the worth of your God given spirit.
The album begins with a group of young men praying to the Lord for deliverance. The beat creeps in like the thief from Boyz in The Hood. The west coast vibe breathes though this song, and just like Furious, Kendrick pulls out the heat and handles the beat.
The storyline begins at a house party where 17 year old Kendrick meets a flirtatious girl. He describes Sherane as having the “credentials of strippers in Atlanta”. Like any young man he is fixated the seductiveness of her body language. The summer develops a relationship between the two, which leads Kendrick on a drive (in his mother’s van) to Sheranes’s house; to get “what is on his mental.” He arrives but his plan is interrupted by two menacing characters. Simultaneously, a voicemail message from Mom and Pop provides an intriguing dialogue for the listener, which also leads into the chorus of the next song. “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe” kicks off with “I am a sinner, who’s probably gonna sin again, Lord forgive me, for things I don’t understand/Sometimes I need to be alone”. Kendrick discusses how life is changing and sometimes he wants to CHILL in the midst of all the hype. The lyrics are deep and the beat will uplift your spirit.
“Backseat Freestyle” has the perfect title. It intrigues the ear to follow a creative flow of freestyle lyrics. “All my life I want money and power/Respect my mind or die from lead shower/I pray my dick get as big as the Eiffel Tower/So I can fuck the world for 72 hours.” Imagine Kendrick and fellow Black Hippy members as teenagers, on the streets of South Los Angeles free styling; Sherane standing by Kendrick supporting his rhymes even if she can’t keep up. The Hit Boy production on this track was absolutely incredible! The narrative also gives way to the next track, as young Kendrick meets up with the homies.
“The Art of Peer Pressure” hits home. The intro is the perfect way to start a street hip hop tale. The beat is very low allowing the listener to keep up with Kendrick’s rhymes. Eloquent descriptions of the things that happen to happen when you’re “with the homies,” make this track an anthem for the mischievous adolescent. “My Mama called “Hello, What you doin?” “Kickin It” I shoulda told I’m probably about to catch my first offense, with the homies.” The theme of this track flows seamlessly into the next one.
Sometimes misguided mischief leads further into plots with desired ends. “A dollar might turn to a million, than we all rich.” Track 5 “Money Trees” has an easy flowing beat, and a beautiful hook sung by Anna Wise. The production makes this track a hit. Black Hippy member Jay Rock comes on and delivers a verse about the reality of poverty, street life, and what it sometimes takes to make a new, better life. His verse is very authentic, it is not super lyrical but it is filled with the pain and reality of things some people go through. “Money trees is the perfect place for shade and that’s just how it feels, Now.”
The second part of the album begins with a mellow beat and Janet Jackson on the background. “Poetic Justice” takes a break from the pain and chaos and warms you up the second section of the album. The song features Drake with a verse for the ladies, as he keeps his flow on point. Kendrick delivers this complex version of a love song “And I know just what you want, poetic justice, put it in a song.” The song cuts back to the two menacing characters pressing threats to Kendrick. The pressure of negativity flows into the next track. Song 7 “Good Kid” tells the story of a good kid trying to make it out of the rain. The production is psychedelic, and the beat sounds like it is raining from the sky. Kendrick focuses on his pain of being a good kid surrounded by trouble-makers. He reminds us that facing trouble is just one of the difficult steps that lead him to seeing his dreams come true.
“M.A.A.D City” sounds like three tracks in one. An inspirational production and lyrical rhymes make it flow like a movie. “If Pirus and Crips all got along they’d probably gun be down by the end of this song.” The song the takes the listener down a violent memory lane, describing the pressure of growing up in a gangland. The beat switches up on the second part of this 6 minute track, and MC Ehit comes in with a 90’s West Coast flow and gets his point across. Be sure to listen to the whole track because Kendrick comes back and kills it again at the very end. “Swimming pools” you have heard on the radio or all over the blogs. The beat and the lyrics are very dope. The skit at the end includes gunfire and one death, which leads into Track 10.
“Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst” is a beautiful track that expresses the cruel reality of life and death. Vindictive feelings of revenge “When I ride it’s a murderous rhythm, and outside became pitch black, a demon glued to my back whispering Get ‘Em.” The second half of this 12 minute song rains in like the angels from heaven. “You dying of thirst, so hop in that water, and hope that it works.” The track is a very important song on the album. It ties in the prayer for deliverance from the start of the album. “All right now remember this day, the start of a new life.” The production, lyrics, and the storytelling are what make this track stand out.
“Real” is the title of track 11. “I do what I wanna do/ I say what I wanna say, when I feel and I look in the mirror and know I’m there/with my hands in the air/ I’m proud to say it, I’m Real.” This song deals with the misconception that being “real” means you have to “don’t give a damn.” It forces the listener to realize that you can have the respect of everyone in the world, but if you don’t love yourself, you have nothing. Anna wise hypnotizes with her beautiful voice on the chorus. Another call from Mom and Dad sends a message of love and support for Kendrick’s dreams, reminding him what being real means. “Compton” is the title of track 12 and features Los Angeles Legend Dr.Dre. This is another track with a west coast feel and the production by Just Blaze makes the track on point. Dr.Dre gives his approval on the album and Kendrick in general. Kendrick must have saved this track for last because it shows victory over the past and some control over the present.
This album is a strong Hip Hop album. Like a book, it must be absorbed cover to cover; otherwise you’ll miss out on the entire story. The production, storytelling, lyrics, and pain that went into this work of art was well needed for hip hop and the music community as a whole. Good Kid m.A.A.d city is a classic. I think anyone from any path could understand Kendrick if they took the time to relate his messages to their own personal experience. I look forward to see the future of Kendrick Lamar and I look forward to hearing more stories about his youth and tales from the present. “King Kendrick and I meant it”
