Kendrick Lamar: good kid, m.A.A.d city Album Review

Ever since he made waves with his last album Section .80; Kendrick Lamar has been quickly climbing my list of rappers who have the potential to be true legends. And with his latest release "good kid, m.A.A.d city", he  earned his spot.

Now it's pretty easy to look at Kendrick on the surface and make some pretty misguided assumptions. First, he's young ( 25 if I'm not mistaken.) Second; he's from Compton, a city who's rappers are notorious for rapping about nothing but weed, violence, and making money, in the most braggadocios way possible. 

But if you let his age and where he's from keep you from listening, you'll miss one of the most potent and cinematic hip-hop albums of the last few years.

The album starts of slow and moody with the tracks "Sherane" and "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe."

But then comes a track that to me, is pure genius; the track "Backseat Freestyle." A track that, again, on the surface, seems like your typical rap track where the mc brags about having money and a big... yeah. But with the help of the skit at the end of "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe", you see the story Kendrick is trying to tell, one about his childhood, and the life's of others, growing up in the hood.

And that sentiment is only furthered on the next track "The Art of Peer Pressure." It shows us that the Kendrick we heard on "Backseat Freestyle" was just trying to fit in with people he considered friends. Until he finds himself in a dire situation later in the track.

The tracks "Money Trees" and "Poetic Justice" are more upbeat, and the beat on "Money Trees" actually samples Beach House of all things. And to my surprise, Drake actually fits in well on the track "Poetic 

Justice."

Then comes the two title tracks "good kid" and "m.A.A.d city." While the former is a great track; it's the latter that really comes hard, with Kendrick rapping in a way that makes him sound like the 16 year old boy he used to be. And the song has a killer beat to boot, with the first half reminding me slightly of "Mercy" of all things.

"Sing about me, I'm dying of thirst" is a twelve minute journey, where Kendrick raps about how his music effects not only the life's of the listener, but of the people he raps about. And while I wasn't too big on the track "Real", I do appreciate it's message and overall place on the album. And finally, "Compton", a perfect closer to the album. Considering how cinematic the entire album has been up until this point; it's only fitting that the last track plays like the song you would hear behind the credits of a movie.

I thought this was an incredible album, through and through. If Kendrick can keep his knack for concept albums and keep his lyrics and flow even close to how it is on this album; I have no doubt that he'll go down as one of the greats.

9.8/10