good kid, m.A.A.d city

My first impression on hip-hop, and a very good one. Really liked the story telling and the profound meanings in some of the songs. Also liked how all the singular lyrics seem to tell whole different stories on their own. I can grab each one and fit them into my life in a way even if I wasn't from a "m.A.A.d city".

this album has one of the most amazing storytelling i've heard in a while ... seriously even if you don't like rap you should listen to this album, absolutely incredible. and the fact that kendrick dropped an album even better than this one right after is impressive

The only album I know that’s so vivid it’s like watching a movie. The greatest rap album ever made. My only nitpick: it should have ended on track 10 (keep the skits from 11 and 12, though).

Yeah forgot how many bangers are on this album. King.

🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯

How do I give something a 6 out of 5? This shit is by far the best album we’ve listened to so far, even better than I remembered it. It has everything you could ever want. Ugh. Nostalgia and genius and boom. That’s a hit.

Instant classic one of my fav albums of all time

Loved it growing up, still love it now

Perfect

Literally so good I bought the vinyl.

I always wanted to listen to this album and glad it made it on the list. Honestly, it lived up to the hype which very few albums do. There's the obvious "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" and "Swimming Pools" but the songs in between are very, very good too. 10/10.

Surprised by the divisiveness on this album on this site? Hey not to be that guy but if you listen to backseat freestyle and think thats his honest to god mentality I need you to like, read a book. if you didn't rock with this album because you just don't like rap, thats fine we all have our preferences! However, if you're dismissing it as 'disgusting' or 'braggadocios' because you take everything he says at face value rather than him trying to compose a narrative, please, think a bit harder about the art you consume, read the lyrics, ect ect. Sit with it! its a little presumptuous to assume that a rap song can't have nuance to it because it doesn't sound like the music you normally consume. Anywho.

Great album, can see why this is praised by so many.

Fantastic! One of the best rap albums of all time. Definitely one of my favorites! Have listened to before, and love it, but has been awhile. So listening to it again just made me appreciate it all over again.

At the first song it seems it has a lot of story, and the second talking more about religion with really calm vibes. This third song seems more loud, it makes a message, seems raw. Omg the fourth song seems so just deep, about peer pressure and what it makes you do, when you even arent that. Okay money trees is so catchy but the story is there, life of poverty with nothing else to go to but violence, drugs and sex. Such a deep song makes me think.

samidot is one of the best songs ever. beautiful coming of age story

GOAT

Don't need to say much. Arguably his best album and this statement has stood the test of the last decade. Even the bonus tracks are great and have killer features. Fave song is Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst. I just love the storytelling, length and changing perspectives, which I think is what the genre excels at over all others.

I can see why people love him. He's a brilliant lyrical story teller!

Accidentally listened to this one a day in advance… fantastic album with a lot of his most easily digestible work. Insanely talented guy

durch und durch es banger album scho viel gloset als yöng kiddo und ich weiss au wider warum mini gross introduction zum kendrick damals meh muesmer au gar nöd sege nume das mini insta reels hüt morge voll gsi sind vo Ken D. Rick content gg easy pentakill

87 albe isch die schöni gmeinsami albumreis scho alt... nie hetti dänkt dass mer innerhalb vo so churzer ziit scho 3 vo mine top 5 albe of all time zämme werded bespräche aber here we are friends: platz 1 <3 ------ good kid, m.A.A.d city: es album woni mindestens 1 mal im monet in ganzer längi lose. meistens bliebts aber nöd nur bim dem: wie's uf em cover scho heisst isch das album vill meh als eifach nur en tonspur. es isch es cinematischs erlebnis, wo mir glasklari, lebendigi bilder vor em geistige aug lieferet wie ich selber als stille beobachter uf de rückbank vo dem chrysler van sitz und dur d'strasse vo compton cruise. klar entstöhnd die bilder us ere üsserst privilegierte perspektive: als wiisse maa us oberrüti wird ich mich nie chönne inefühle wie's isch inere vo gwalt dominierte umgebig in compton ufzwachse. trotzdem verhilft mir die persönlichi, visuelli ebeni zunere zuesätzliche tüüfere wertschätzig. und das wie ich's bi keim andere album jemals spüre wird... ------ zur feier des tages möcht ich darum usnahmswiis mal chli meh is detail gah und gibe euch es churzes persönlichs review zu jedem track uf dem meisterwerk: «Sherane a.k.a Master Splinter's Daughter» (9.0/10.0): es lied woni bis vor paar jahr nie vill beachtig gschänkt han, grossi miskalkulation vo minere siite wie sich spöter usegstellt hed... was für en opener, en bassline zum devoschmelze und meisterlichs foreshadowing bezüglich storytelling. «Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe» (9.5/10.0) en nostalgie-explosion, das seinesgleichen suecht… han's wo's usecho isch pauselos glost, denn hed's aber leider zu ziite woni meh in gnuss vo elektronischer musig cho bin en sekundäri rolle ihgnoh... bin froh hani mini liebi für de song vor 2 jahr wieder neu gfunde und verlieb mi jedes mal uf's neue weni's lose «Backseat Freestyle» (8.5/10.0) huch, da simmer ja scho bim erste banger im wahre sinn ahcho, es schöns flashback vom storytelling zum kenny sine teenagerjahr… ah dere stell muess aber gseid werde, dass es sehr wenigi moment gid woni das lied in isolation lose… wenn denn immer nur im albumkontext. anere wiitere stell muess aber au gseid werde: «I pray my dick get big as the Eiffel Tower, so I can fuck the world for seventy-two hours.» «The Art of Peer Pressure» (10.0/10.0) bi jedem durchlauf vo g.k.m.c frög ich mich weles gnau mis lieblingslied im ganze projekt isch und 6 vo 10 mal fallt d'antwort uf the art of peer pressure. keis lied löst so lebendigi bilder ih mim chopf us wie das, selte gspüri so intensivi musigbezogeni emotione als wenn die subtili main melody hitted. en oscarwürdige short film innerhalb vomne oscarwürdige spielfilm. perfekt. wahrschinli ide top 5 songs of all time für mich «Money Trees» (10.0/10.0) ih 2 vo 10 fäll fallt d'antwort nach mim lieblingslied vo g.k.m.c allerdings uf money trees. es meistwerk wo scho lang vor minere bewunderig für de kendrick es 10 vo 10 gsi isch und ich glaub ich han no nie en mensch troffe wo gseid hed dass das lied nöd guet isch. meisterlichs sampling vom dj dahi und vo de rap performance vo allne beteiligte müemmer gar nöd erst ahfange. bestimmt ide top 10 songs of all time «Poetic Justice» (8.0/10.0) miteme füechte aug blick ich uf en welt zrug wo en kendrick und drake collab no möglich gsi isch... uf fast jedem andere album en hit, im g.k.m.c kontext für mich aber eher im untere spektrum, aber natürli trotzdem en banger. «good kid» (9.5/10.0) no immer bereui wie lang de song unter mim radar duregfloge isch und dass ich darum erst en 3 jährigi intensivi beziehig zu good kid han chönne ufbaue… aber au da wirds bi jedem mal lose stärcher und stärcher, love you baby «m.A.A.d city» (9.5/10.0) au wenn d'ziite praktisch verbi sind wo ich das lied ih minere freiziit ellei lose han ich glasklari erinnerige wie de "teeny" noah im hip hop usgang yah yah yah yah schreit und debi paar ellböge im moshpit verteilt erst ih jüngere vergangeheit hani en tüüferi appreciation für de zweiti teil nach em beat switch chönne ufbaue und ich prognostiziere au da no en endlos langi liebi defür «Swimming Pools (Drank)» (10.0/10.0) und au da schwirred klari erinnerige ih mim chopf ume wie de jungi dummi noah «swimming pool full of liquor then you dive in it» imne party kontext umebrüllt und sich de dunkle ironie keineswegs bewusst isch... wieder en fall vonere tüüfe verbindig woni zwüscheziitlich churz verlore han aber glücklicherwiis wieder neu für mich entdeckt han, danke! «Sing About Me, I'm Dying Of Thirst» (10.0/10.0) und da hettemer d'antwort uf die letzte 2 fäll vo minere stetige suechi nach mim g.k.m.c. lieblingslied: en zweiteiligi erzählig womi unironisch scho vermehrt fast zu träne grüehrt hed und glichziitig es riese lächle is gsicht zauberet hed. sprachlosigkeit herrscht. klare fall vomene wiitere top 10 song of all time «Real» (7.0/10.0) püh endli mal chli abefahre, de einzig song ih dem project wome eigentli skippe chönt, us respekt machi's aber trotzdem üsserst selte... und das hed zum glück zur folg, dass sogar de mir immer meh gfallt «Compton» (9.0/10.0) es triumphals (vermeintlichs) endi zu dere story. k.dot made it out the hood. und das als beschte rapper allerziite. für mich sogar als min lieblings musiker allerziite. ------ so mini fründe und fründinne, wörtlichi usfüehrige für d'songs uf de deluxe edition sparemer eus ah dere stell aber eifach no für's protokoll zwei honorable mentions: «The Recipe» (9.0/10.0) & «Black Boy Fly» (9.5/10.0) ------ ich bin froh, dass ich mir endlich die ziit gnoh han mini bewunderig für mis lieblingsalbum in wort probiere z'fasse. ich han zwar immerno s'gfühl es isch mer nöd vollumfänglich glunge... aber ich han ufjedefall mis beschte gäh und ich hoffe ich han eu dur das es düütlichers verständnis für mini liebi zum kendrick und spezifisch zu good kid, m.A.A.d city chönne ufzeige. danke villmal für's zuelose. ich han euch alli ganz fescht gern <3

My favorite Kendrick album for sure. I know there’s lots of controversy surrounding the recent beef but regardless of the man or his disputes, you can’t deny his lyrics/production talent behind his songs. Shane, the art of peer pressure have some crazy weird beats. Poetic justice still bops even with the oddness of that drake feature. Backseat freestyle and swimming pools (ironically) are still great party jams. Money trees and good mid / maad city are great. Song about me, I’m dying of thirst is one of my favorite rap songs ever.

Really great album, sonics, word, everything is supber. Love it even though I'm not hip-hop core fan.

A master piece. The beats and story telling were incredible. It’s funny to look back on the project that elevated someone to the greatness that they’re at now.

Perfect no notes

Incredible. Amazing storytelling. Incredible lyricism. Great beats and rhythm.

one of the best musical examples of storytelling ever. goat

uma das maiores pedradas da história do hip hop pprt

Test

Tillsammans med MBDTF det enda moderna rap-album som är ett mästerverk i dramaturgi. Djävulskt genomtänkt. Jay Rock på ”Money Trees” är förra decenniets bästa vers. ”Sing about me, I’m dying of thirst” är det starkaste Kendrick gjort. SOMEBODY SAID DOMINOES?

Masterpiece!

Classic

Due to how much links I put below, I’ll have to keep this rather brief. Before Kendrick’s masterpiece, To Pimp A Butterfly, he made the masterpiece of a concept album that is *good kid, m.A.A.d city.* The production, story telling, lyricism, songwriting, and performances are all top notch here. The themes of violence, gang culture, redemption, innocence, faith, and other things are so eloquently spoken and touched on here. The music really matches the themes that this album touches on. The emotional depth of this album is outstanding and truly remarkable. The immersiveness of this album is something to behold as well. The ongoing storyline throughout and the skits to me are really thought provoking, kept me engaged, and added much more emotional depth. They really helped to keep me interested, and were really well done. With so many stand out tracks, I couldn’t possibly list them all here. *good kid, m.A.A.d city* not only serves as a masterful concept album about growing up in Compton, but it also serves as a way for Kendrick to reflect upon himself. Whether I prefer *To Pimp A Butterfly* or this one is very hard to say. *good kid, m.A.A.d city* is a cornerstone of modern Hip Hop. I highly recommend giving this a listen, especially if you’re into or looking to get into Hip Hop. It’s a stone cold modern classic.

Absolute modern hip hop classic and belongs among the greats. Probably only bested by TPAB for best rap album of the 2010s Anyone saying this is just about drugs and bitches and partying is literally not listening to the lyrics at all.

Amazing start to finish. A simple story told in a complex and compelling manner. An all time classic.

Better than the one that won the pulitzer

It's young Kenny at the peak of his powers. Enough said.

Perfect

Oof. You'll carry that weight.

Although as a middle class white person it is extremely difficult to relate to them, Kendrick Lamar's lyrics really steal the show here. He is a story-teller and an amazing one at that. His music takes you on a journey through his experience of life and each song is a different portal to a scene in his movie. The production and musicality of the beats and samples behind his lines turn this into one of the best Hip Hop albums ever released. Wonderful stuff. 9/10

I have always heard this album was hype and boy did it live up to the hype. All of the hits I've heard over the years are bangers and the rest of the album holds up great too. The first 5 star from me

This is the second best Kenny album imo. It gets a 5 though because its amazing in a way that doesn't really compete with TPAB. I like the weird gloomy aesthetic, and the dark storytelling. Kenny really does a fantastic job describing life as a poor black kid, but in a more direct way than anything in TPAB, in GKMC he is really straightforward in his message. There are a couple parts of this album I don't love quite as much as the rest, but the highlights are so damn high, you completely forget about them. Best songs: Sing about me, The art of peer pressure, and Money Trees. Less memorable songs: Real, mAAd city, and Compton. Best verse: Jay Rock on Money trees. Best beat: The art of peer pressure.

Wow, so gooooood!

One of the best concept albums i have ever listened to it’s been in my rotation since forever definitely recommend it for everyone

100/100

This is beyond a shadow of a doubt, one of the most gripping concept albums of all time. I find myself invested in the story of every single song, and I'm really rooting for Kendrick in every situation he describes. This album really puts into perspective how rough and violent life can be as a black teen in Compton, and having his whole life story presented all in one album is so impressive considering how densely packed all the lyrics and stories are. Kendrick Lamar is a better musician, rapper, lyricist, and storyteller than any of us could ever dream of being.

Perfect serenade of Kendrick Lamar revealing his life through the story of Compton California.

As big as the Eiffel Tower.

This album is an experience back-to-front. You could just lose yourself in the vibes with the "poppier" tracks (like Backseat Freestyle or Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe) or really sit there and think about life and how Kendrick grew up, and the kind of neighborhoods and systems that birth these kinds of albums. It's still my favorite Kendrick project.

Peak music

Absolute banger.

Kendrick does an amazing job of creating a coherent concept while having each song be excellent as a standalone. Amazing album.

Quintefuckinssential

4.5/5

Incredible

HITS ON HITS ON HITS… I have previously listened to this album many many times but have loved it the more I’ve listened to it. I used to hate the song Real w Anna Wise but after relistening to it I’ve realized it’s a great song and there are zero skips on this album. Might be the greatest album of all time and It’s a 1,000,000/5 on the rating scale.

One of the best rap albums of the 21st century

Peak

Great!

This album is really good with very good beats, production, and amazing storytelling and lyrics. The whole story was deep and I even got a little emotional on Real. It was very good at telling a story while also having bops. Fav song was probably money trees. Right now it’s a 9 but I can see it get better with more listens.

it's good

it’s just so so good. and even so much more foundational than I originally had in mind after hearing GNX

Love one of your bucked-headed hoes? No way. Love this album? Yes way.

goated album from goated rap man, not much more to say other than that. Top 3 Favorites: Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe, Poetic Justice, and Sing About Me, I'm Dying Of Thirst No bad songs 4.75/5

Did somebody say dominos

I think this is a perfect album and very clearly written by someone with an Eiffel Tower-sized dick.

Banger

Probably his masterpiece ngl

Such a great album

I think this album is excellent. When I first heard it I just listened to it as a straight album but on subsequent listening realized that the songs were loosely connected and my appreciation grew. Don’t know how Kendrick has the ability to write meaningful, personal songs that still sound fresh and fresh exciting. This is the album that propelled him to superstardom and for good reason.

My kids were all up in my grill about not giving five stars to To Pimp a Butterfly. But now I’m even more glad I didn’t because this album is a much better listen! All the stars!

Even if I’m not gonna listen to this a lot, it has to be a 5. The storytelling, production, artistry are all second to none.

Hypnotising

Overall, Kendrick's best album.

I mean, come on. Great storytelling of Kendrick’s life, what’s not to love here. Top 10 best rap album of all time and this isn’t even the guys best.

This is not his best but i enjoy this one the most

well yes!

This was already one of the best rap albums ever made in my book, so it was no surprise this gets the full 5* with ease. This is storytelling at it’s best with bangers and more introspective tracks fitting seamlessy together. My personal favourite Kendrick record.

A musically impressive album with fantastic storytelling that runs through the whole release.

needs no introduction

el mejor de K dot

Master fuckin piece

This is the greatest rap album of all time. At least top 3 for me. Anyone who says TPAB is better is either pretentious or lying. I'm also shocked by the amount of low 1-2 star reviews for it on this site. I know that rap isn't for everyone but a shocking amount of them showed a lot of closed-mindedness. (which if you're going to do a project like this seems insane, at least to me. The whole point of this was to broaden my musical horizons and discover music I never would have found before). I've seen a lot of people calling the lyrics weak (are you even listening) and misogynistic/ sophomoric and like... that's the point. Kendrick is able to portray a kid growing up in the rough streets of Compton, trying to do everything to do good in his life but constantly weighed down by every single person around him. All told in a way where this album is closer to cinema than it is music to me. I feel like it's rough to give something on here a perfect score because it always takes me a few listens to really, really truly get an album and this is the same case here but still, Kendrick is head and soldiers above almost everyone in his era of rap and this is still his magnum opus to me. 10/10

5+

Was listening just expecting some Backseat Freestyle, but instead got some Poetic Justice. This was Real.

This album has so many good songs, its hard not to give it 5 stars. Rap and Hip Hop at its finest.

Kendrick Lamar got robbed when Macklemore won a Grammy over Kendrick's own album. Even Macklemore himself said "Good Kid, M.A.A.D City" should have won the award. This album is the best 2010s rap album I've ever heard. I just love it so much that I got the hype surrounding it. Hope I get "To Pimp a Butterfly Next". 5 stars for "Good Kid, M.A.A.D City".

Das hip hop Album dass mich am meisten berührt hat. Länger nicht gehört aber wenn das keine 5 Sterne sind dann idk was.

damn near perfect album. it takes you through kendrick's struggles with peer pressure and life in compton as a young man. it has bangers, beautifully written stories, and tragedy. a must listen

One of the best of all time.

a modern classic in every sense of the word.

flawless in every way and one of my favourites of all time

The highs are high enough on this album that it makes up for some of the skits and dumb stuff on there.

This album brings back a lot of fond memories. Might be the best rap album released in the past 10yrs.. I love Kendrick. What an artistic thoughtful lyricists. You can hear his past pain and struggle in his rhythm and rhymes.

My favorite Kendrick (yes, over TPAB), boasting his finest beats and top-tier storytelling. Feels like a movie about someone's home, dirty laundry and all.

Znakomite i ponadczasowe. Dużo utworów wartych zapisania, a nawet te, których nie zapisałem są ciągle bardzo dobre. Lekki, chillowy klimat. 5/5

Okay, if the price of getting an album like this is a Kings of Leon album the day before, I guess I'll pay the toll. Should be no surprise that I love this album (TPAB is one of my favorite albums ever, ever). In my mind I'd always give it a bit less than a 10, and I think the reason is the song "Real." That song annoys the hell out of me, the hook sucks. But what I forget is that EVERY other song on the album proper is a banger, 11 for 12 if you ask me. And quite a few of the deluxe tracks are incredible too. Kendrick locked the hell in on this album, and it really is a rap classic, it's a pretty expertly-woven concept, storytelling album but with enough bounce and accessibility to be a huge pop success. This one still charts on the Billboard 200, and you can tell why. So, so many bangers. "Money Trees" is probably my favorite, but in the years I've been listening to this that has changed many times. There's no denying for me, today, that this is a five star album, even with "Real." An album can have a skip and still get a 10/10. Fight me. Favorite tracks: Like I said, everything but Real, plus The Recipe, Black Boy Fly, and Now or Never from the deluxe tracks. Wait, that's all the deluxe tracks too. Good lord. Album art: The deluxe cover is a fan parked on the street. The color contrast is great, and recently Drake crushed a replica van in a music video during their beef, that was cool. The standard cover I think is even better. Little baby Kendrick being held by some family members, eyes censored out. Really cool. 5/5

One of the hottest rappers currently in the game. Very skilled lyricist.

Very good

Easy 5

i am not a fan of rap but kendrick really does know how to do it best. lyrics tell a story, the context if his time in Compton really makes it hit hard, and i can really visualize the things he talks about

Picking a single Kendrick album for this list is missing everything he does. But that being said, it would be hard to pick an album over good kid, m.A.A.d city. Like very hard though.

Great album all round, MAAD City is a stand out

Comparatively, the Eifel Tower would be a very small penis.

8.8/10

Classic

A masterpiece, and one of the best albums of the 21st Century so far. This is a rap opera, ostensibly about Kendrick Lamar's early life in Compton. The themes of violence, redemption, community, and faith bubble and brew together to produce an album steeped in fear and hope, delivered with a lyrical ability reserved only for the greats. The album subtitle reads "A Short Film". The potency and clarity of this records imagery lend credence to this choice of words. Phenomenal. Highlights: The Art of Peer Pressure m.A.A.d city Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst

Kendrick turned the rap game on its head with this record, no exaggeration.

Erinomainen kymppiluvun räp-levy, jonka jälki näkyy vieläkin genressä. Arvoin vähän nelosen ja vitosen välillä, mut annetaan nyt femma.

The best hip-hop album of all time no questions, its perfect from start to finish

One of the greatest "modern" rap albums. It's a powerful narrative album that blends personal stories with social commentary.

10/10 Favourite: SAMIDOT I love this album, a literal short film. So glad I got this so early on just beautiful instrumentation, flow, lyricism.

Kendrick actually making an appearance on this list is simply one of the best things ever. If I were ever to be asked to prove why hip-hop is such a powerful art form, I’d direct them to any one of this man’s records. But this major label debut is not a bad choice in the slightest. Beyond how much of a masterpiece this is from a writing perspective, it also made massive waves. It’s the longest charting non-greatest hits rap album of all time. And nearly every song on here was a hit. This shit ruled the 2010s. And Dot is arguably the most acclaimed rapper of our generation. And I’m willing to argue he is probably the greatest too. Here’s the way I see it. Any artist capable of making an album as retrospective as this one, and an album as introspective as Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers is nothing short of a genius. It takes a lot of to be so honest and reflective on your own self, especially in hip-hop. Whether you like it or not, it’s an industry riddled with bigotry, racism, gang violence, an ultra focus on materialistic things, and the hyper-sexualization of women. What makes this album so compelling is that it doesn’t pretend these things aren’t problems. But it faces them head on and highlights the impact they have on the average adolescent. And more specifically the impact they had on Kendrick. The album as a whole is stylized as a short film, and the first song begins the story moving forward a bit, where he talks about his relationship with a hoodrat girl named Sherane. Gang banging runs in her family, but he chooses to ignore it. Backseat Freestyle is sung from the perspective of an adolescent kid who is stuck in the tides of a corrupt system. The Art of Peer Pressure is a perfect example of why he’s such a sublime storyteller. Kendrick and his friends plan to rob a house without getting caught, and although he knows he shouldn’t be doing it, the pressure from his friends pushes him on. I’ve never been huge on Poetic Justice, simply because I’m not a big fan of Drake. good kid shows him confronting gang violence, and how it fueled him to leave Compton behind and become something more. m.A.A.d city exemplifies the intensity and confrontation of the streets. Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst is, in my opinion, not only his best song, but the best hip-hop song ever made. And the messages left by his parents at the end of Real makes me genuinely emotional. In my mind, there is objectively nothing wrong with this album. I would say it’s the 2010’s finest rap album, but this isn’t the only time I’ll be talking about Kendrick on this list. Rating: 9/10

Goat

Very nice beats

Easily top 10 hip hop albums of all time. Kendrick tells a cohesive story that feels cinematic. Excellent beats and production, well written and intricate lyrics without sacrificing on the sound. Only criticism is the Drake feature, he is not what the culture feeling. Favorite songs were: 3. Backseat freestyle 8. m.A.A.D city 10. Sing About Me, I'm Dying Of Thirst 10/10

A powerhouse album that cemented on of the biggest stars in the game.

Wow. Not sure if this resonated even more than "Butterfly" because I was really dialing into the lyrics, but this is an amazing album. Kendrick Lamar includes so much of what you might expect from a rap album, but his material feels so personal and his stories seem real and I feel like, more than any other rapper I can think of, he's revealing himself in profound ways. And, as with any true artist, he reveals the listener at the same time. And while my reality may be pretty fucking far removed from his, I related to this in a way I didn't anticipate. I'm blown away. The music, the delivery, the way he blends the interstitials into the music and narrative. I don't think I've heard anything better in the genre.

Another triumph. He's not just a great rapper; he's an absolute master of songcraft. This one, Butterfly, and Damn are masterpieces, and they represent one of the greatest runs in musical history.

Brilliant rap album. Great story. Great beats.

🔥🔥🔥

Undeniably a 5/5 alongside TPaB

Good Kid, m.A.A.d City is a cinematic concept album that keeps you engaged with atmosphere and masterful storytelling. This album and To Pimp A Butterfly are absolute masterpieces. I remember first hearing this album when it was released and I knew right away it was destined to be an instant classic. Kendrick is one of those artists that has such a clear vision for the narrative that goes into the provocative statements made on his albums. His videos and live performances showcase this cinematic approach to music creation. Even the skits/interludes have great acting and are integral to the story being told. Now that he’s been announced as the next Super Bowl headliner I’m really looking forward to see what he does with that format, and I can only hope he announces a new album as well. I had the opportunity to meet Kendrick after Section 80 came out when he stopped by Stankonia to use the A room to listen through some beats. I can only assume that session went toward the making of Good Kid, m.A.A.d City given the timing. He was a kind, extremely focused and humble underground artist that was about to become an international star. This album is not only one of the best in hip hop but for me one of my favorites of all genres, alongside To Pimp A Butterfly of course.

I like Section.80 better, although the production is superior on this one. I'm always down to listen to Kendrick. He really is set apart from other artists in hip hop. He has a crazy control over his vocals, making it sound out of control at times. It's strange and unique. The music on this album is solid, really on all his albums. To be expected from a Compton artist. I love his storytelling, too. He's one of the best at it. I fell like Kendrick took the baton from the hip hop artists I grew up listening to, and he is carrying it for a new generation. I'll give this album a 5.

The greatest hip-hop album of all time. Come along for the ride on a deeply personal exploration of Kendrick's upbringing in Compton. Navigating the pressures of gang culture, peer influence, and personal redemption. The album's cohesiveness, lyrical depth, and innovative sound have cemented this record as a benchmark in hip-hop and Lamar as a musical genius. Rap doesn't get any better than this.

Fucking epic.

Fantastic album. I used to listen to this a lot a decade ago.

For me, this is one of the best albums of all time. From 2011-2012 I was in a white suburban high schooler transitional period from an "I like everything but country and hip hop" guy, to a "Tribe Called Quest are so underrated" guy. Neither of these are great guys to be, but it's where I was at the time. This album and Channel Orange both hit me in the same months and absolutely blew my mind. They were so good that for the next four years I basically listened to nothing but hip hop and R&B. Decades of undiscovered music was suddenly available to me, and hip-hop was in a really amazing place in the early 2010s. Every single song is at least great, and most are incredible. My personal favorite song is "m.A.A.d city". The beats are amazing, the features are perfect, the scene setting skits pull you into the story. I don't have a single complaint about this album. I think it changed hip hop forever. I'm writing this review in the months after the "Not Like Us" mania. I don't think you'd find many hiphopheads who'd dispute that Kendrick is one of the GOATs. 10/10

ya un clásico, provocativo, muy buena producción, buen story telling, muchos bangers

whoever gave this a 1 because they dont like the language should jerk off to some more neil young or something

If it weren't for TPAB, this would've been his best work. Favourite Songs: The Art of Peer Pressure, Money Trees, m.A.A.d city, Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst, Compton. Least Favourite Songs: Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe.

Amazing album, listened to it a lot before this and it still holds up 12 years later. Real is still the weakest track but it's still good, every other song is great and adds to the story of the album. Incredible stuff

When I started this project, I was very nervous that artists like Kendrick Lamar were going to be overlooked because they were too contemporary. And it may be that his best work is still left off of this list, but this choice affirms this project for me, regardless of how many times bands like Yes or Genesis have shown up. A truly superb debut album for an unignorable talent. Loved it.

Великолепный альбом, много любимых треков

8/23/24. Outstanding hip hop album, you kinda knew right away that Kendrick would be one of the greats after this one dropped. Great flow and samples, memorable songs.

Did someone say ‘Dominos’?

This is a pretty easy one to review, since I could play it from my personal collection. This album begins a run of rap albums that may be the greatest of all time. While I'd call this album the least of that run, it's an absolute masterpiece that really shows off what Kendrick can do. His ability to be so technically proficient at rapping, assemble great producers for the music, and then weave a series of stories into a coherent narrative is unparalled 5/5

One of the best concept albums of all time. This album is what really got me into music, so I might be a little biased. Kendrick is such a talented storyteller. 10/10 Would I listen again? Absolutely

Incredibly effective storytelling

Unparalleled

Fuldstændig gentænkning af, hvordan et gangstarap album skal lyde, ekstra imponerende fordi genren havde været død i lang tid da den kom ud. Nemt at glemme hvor unikt det her lød i 2012. Front to back bangers. Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe er måske årtusindets bedste rapnummer, Jay Rocks vers på Money Trees er måske det bedste vers. Og så er det ikke engang Kendricks bedste album

daaaaamn kendrick 92/100

MAN DOWN. WHERE YOU FROM??? 10/10

10/10 instant classic

I mean come on

Classic album that I’ve never listened to through all the way and now I see why it’s been so highly touted for so long. Just flawless honesty, top tier bars, smooth production and he just paints a picture for you. I’ve been Dot’s biggest hater so this is tough to admit lol

Favourite Song: good kid

Really enjoyed this album. Money Trees, Poetic Justice, and B****, Don't kill my vibes brings me back to middle school!!

A lot of his best all on one album. Discovered some new ones I enjoyed too.

It's always nice to be reminded of the power of the album format, meaning a fully-realized unit of work in which the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. But in this case, is it still technically accurate to describe 'good kid, m.A.A.d city' by Pulitzer Prize winner (remember that?) Kendrick Lamar as just an album? The work is subtitled as a short film. I can definitely see listeners bristling at that seemingly-pretentious description, but I don't know, I've always appreciated it. More than ever now, we are using cinematic (or literary) terms to describe our irl surroundings (ie. "main character syndrome," "lose the plot," "advance the plot," "soundtrack of our lives," etc.) Why not produce art about the idea that your life feels like a movie? Why not be aware of this? And more than just aware, why not draw attention to this level of creative agency? I mean, of course it's still an ALBUM, but it's a short film in that Kendrick creates powerful images that have been so burned into our brains that he's now recognized as one of rap's great Auteurs (but still not on the level as Kanye). Vistas of a young man's head out sticking out of a car window waving gang signs, a POV shot of Compton from the driver's seat in a mom-minivan, two people in black hoodies next to a teenage girl, and a swarm of men that convene and disperse at the sound of gunshots. I know the focus is Kendrick's visual storytelling, but beats from eleven producers (all supposedly working under the direction of Dr. Dre) dialogue nicely with the lyrical direction and flow. Take the airiness of "Money Trees" that renders a daydream quality to the track or the murky tension of "The Art of Peer Pressure," which in the hands of a weaker producer, could have sounded like 'news-at-night' background music for a 30 second promo on basic cable. The repetitive echoing percussion on "Backseat Freestyle," produced by Hit-Boy, feels like keys in the ignition hitting into one another, swinging like a chandelier, helping lift off the idea of how most rhymes would have been written while driving around with the boys. I read one criticism of the album that singled out this track as standing out from the rest of the introspection found throughout, but that's missing the point completely. To me, this record is about Kendrick Lamar grappling with his multiple selves: son, friend, wannabe MC, current MC, criminal, alcoholic. A song in which you pray your dick was as big as the Eiffel Tower would understandably come right before a song exploring the psyche of a young man desperately seeking approval from his peers. Tying these pieces together - all of Kendrick's different selves - would be the voicemails from Kendrick's parents. Voicemail skits on rap album are not new, but their inclusion on this album is probably my favourite use of the trope, mostly because it does capture an essential part of being a teenager or young person, which is that your parents are calling you all the damn time. The album could have ended there, frankly. Not sure what was the point of including "Compton." It's not bad per se, it just feels a little tacked on to remind you of mastermind Executive Producer (he of the Grammy Awards Global Impact Award(TM)) Dr. Dre is here. Wonderful album art. A+

Kendrick Lamar is one of the few artists I can listen to all day and still be impressed by what he pulls of. 5/5 without a doubt, anyone who doesn’t agree genuinely hates rap music.

I was there for this one in 2012 and it is always a trip to go back to it and try to forget everything that came next. It’s such a perfect statement on its own, a self-portrait as well as a landscape of the streets which molded the subject. K-Dot leveled up so much after this; for some artists an album like this would be the result of the transformation, but he’s just in the chrysalis here. Still wanna know about them motherfuckin dominoes

"Real Gangster shit y'all wouldn't know nuthin' 'bout." I think to myself as I listen to this while making the most gangster Excel spreadsheet of all time. Fixin' ta blast this pivot table straight to the dome, bitch.

Ah yes I’ve been meaning to listen to this one. I predict a 5 star rating. Update: It’s a 5 star album.

It's a classic. By far his best work. Great concept album that also has singles. This was huge when it came out and still holds up.

Wow, new to me and opened up a whole new genre

Already listened to this album. But it's the first full album I listened to from Kendrick and I love it. I really like TPAB but this one to me has a lot more relisten value. It also has some sentimental value to me. My favorite is debatably good kid or sing about me. Great album and one of my favorites.

modern hip-hop is not my jam. i can't pretend to relate to the lyrical content here, but then i tend not to actually pay attention to lyrics in any genre, listening to vocals mostly as just another instrument with melody and rhythm. the vocal rhythms are amazing on this album. the vocal timbres are flexible, giving the impression of different "voices" telling their part of the story, while not being so extreme as to be almost-comical like Nicki Minaj's alter-ego voice she busts out. the beats and samples and other instruments in the rhythm section are cool as hell. the counterpoint between the vocal rhythms and the underlying beats elevates the whole. arrangements are strong throughout. not an album i'll likely come back to often, but there's no denying this is a 5-star

Money Trees is a perfect groove. Catchy lyrics with a combination of voices that all blend and enhance the beat. The references to suppression and violence prevail and sadly haven't changed in the decade+ since this was released. Lamar is a realistic storyteller and talented representative of culture for all times.

92.1

I had to listen to the album with the Genius page open for each track, because I knew I didn't want to lose the narrative of the album. It's an touching story, woven together through some amazing songs.

There are so many layers to this album and every time I listen to it I catch something new

Good kid, maad city, great album, bad haircut

A critically acclaimed album, and I see why was such a good listen. 9-10/10 idk if it is a 10/10 as there was little bits I didn’t like.

This would have been a 5 if it wasn’t for all the foul language!

im in my normie era still ig, cuz this is a 5/5 finally fhgjsdhgjsd god. i rly just cant stop listening to it and finding new things to admire about the theatrical imagination, and more and more reward in the emotional arc. kendrick at this point in his career rly thought he could change the world with art and its so beautiful...the fact that tpab complicates it makes this feel even more powerful. when i was spinning this a bunch in the college dishroom in 2016/17 i didnt rly get the last two tracks which was the main thing keeping it from being a mega fave, but theyre clearly some of the most vital stuff to the album's power. staying alive for as long as u can is an Act Of Resistance. whether or not u are successful matters less...its the struggle, and telling others about ur struggle, that rly makes u an angel

2013 <3

This one's an easy 5

Astonishing flow, complex storytelling, consummate beats, right out of the gate you could tell Kendrick was something special. His dedication to his craft and mastery thereof has only increased. (And in light of recent events, that “Poetic Justice” feature sure is awkward.)

Backseat freestyle and don’t kill my vibe are so peak. Money Trees need I say more?. Those were the standouts. I very much liked this album

I don’t even need to listen to this one because of how well I know it, but I will anyway. I’m very conservative with my 5 star ratings, but this one is deserving of it. This record is a glimpse into the life of a young Black man in Compton. The production is carried by beautiful sequencing, effects, and 808 drums. Kendrick paints a vivid story of his life, piecing it all together with segues of his family and interactions with friends and rivals. He speaks passionately and truthfully of his experiences. A captivating masterpiece that I believe catapulted his career until he further exploded with To Pimp A Butterfly. Plus, he and Drake were still pals on this record. How life can change, as exampled by the stories on this record. Praise King Kendrick. I pray my dick get big as the Eiffel Tower so I can fuck the world for 72 hours.

Easily one of the best recent hip hop records. I think I even like it more than TPaB.

not even remotely close to 'to pimp a butterfly' imo 5 stars

I'm still not over how Macklemore won the Grammy over Kendrick. GKMC is such a damn bop.

Fantastic rap album by Kendrick Lemar. His second and breakthrough album that made him one of hip hop greatest.

Great album

I'm probably missing out by not reading the lyrics in detail, however I've really enjoyed this and would love to revisit. 4.5

This is obviously an incredible album. Great singles, great pacing, great emotional impact. No notes.

I am not a fan of rap or hip hop. But this album makes me think I should be. Make no mistake, this is Art with a capitol A. The lyrics are of course a major part of the Art and I did not have the time or focus to absorb most of them. So how do I know its Art? Yes the musical parts are engaging and often complex and multilayered. And the lyrics are clearly telling a story. But even without knowing the story in any detail, you can feel the moods and emotions in your gut. Its is a narrative that paints a picture. Most of the best music is challenging and not so accessible upon 1st blush. But the more you listen, the more the layers are revealed and you are rewarded.

I'd never listened to this but what an amazing, rich, textured, complex journey! I need to listen to it again and again to really dive into it but I get the hype now. Brilliant.

4.5/5, great album, some classics on here

one of the best albums, great lyrics, sound, features, energy.

4.7 - Yeah this was really really good. Went into it thinking I wasn't going to like it, but it quickly changed my opinion. Feel like something clicked a lot more and felt it had so much depth instrumentally as well

I can't say enough good things. This album is a movie, its got it all. There are straight bangers (Backseat Freestyle, m.A.A.d city), chill moments (Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe), tracks that are somehow both (Money Trees, Swimming Pools), a 12 minute odyssey (Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst), and no skips. Through it all there is such a clear compelling narrative and such incredible world-building. I've listened to Sherane aka Master Splinter's Daughter so many times and the song's conclusion still gives me chills on every listen. Even the voicemail skits on GKMC add something, tying Kendrick's tales of the night together. Fave tracks: All of them, but at the moment my favourites are Sherane, The Art of Peer Pressure, Money Trees 5/5

Good art communicates an alien world of the artist to the listener and helps foster a sense of understanding and sympathy. I can’t think of a better example on this list so far than this. Kendrick takes dark and twisted storytelling wrapped up in some of the best beat production of Dres career all into a varied and concise album. I see a lot of negative reviews of this album from people who’s favorite albums are almost exclusively 60s and 70s rock and I can’t wrap my head around what they thought this list would be about. If you want to believe time isn’t moving than throw on your White Album on repeat and lock the channel on Fox News but if you’re not willing to appreciate an album that challenges your priors on music than what are you doing here?

So many iconic songs. I didn't realize they were all by Kendrick Lamar, let alone all on the same album.

Terrific album 9/10

Next level.

For this review, I am looking to the original track listing, and not factoring the "Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe" remix with Jay-Z that is included on streaming services. Alright, it's time for K-Dot and his major label debut, executively produced by Dr. Dre. Billed as a "short film," good kid is a concept album about Kendrick's upbringing in Compton, with the prevalence of drugs and street gangs. Yet, such a summary doesn't do much justice, as there's a lot of introspection done on this album, exploring the expectations and transgression faced in a cruel, uncaring world. It's revealing the kind of storyteller and MC Kendrick could be in how he can twist and warp his delivery to fit a dark, swampy West Coast vibe that's well done in the atmosphere. Kendrick gets away with the 12-minute-long track "Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst" on those principles from the perspective of different characters. Hell, this album interweaves audio recordings so well that the tracks feel incomplete without them, and every featured artist brings their best contribution including Drake which is a rarity for him. I know we still got To Pimp a Butterfly coming up next, but good kid is such a prime setup that it can't be ignored.

Seminal. Banger. Game changer. Eiffel tower of hip hop. TPAB is better tho

one of the best to ever do it

Phenomenal storytelling!

deep af rap album with unique style

good album

classic! yak yak yak yak

excellence

Come on

I think i still prefer this one to TPAB because it's easier listening without sacrificing any artistry. The beats bang, incredible storytelling, the features all kill it, 'Real' is the only weak spot on the whole thing and even that isn't too bad. Kendrick just pulls together the best of everything hip-hop on this, i'm glad it got the recognition it deserves.

Definitely somewhere in my personal top 50. An absolute classic of the genre and probably top 5 rap records of its era. Incredible storytelling arc, melodies, bars, flow, beats, characters...all of it executed masterfully.

If Kendrick can't right a wrong until he writes it down, I'm glad to be honest. Another incredible album of him exorcising a whole lot, and I think it might be even better than the last one. Once again got me glued to the lyrics, all so so interesting with twists in points of view which all point back to him in the end. I'm just in awe. I think my love for this man's music might be the best thing to come from the entire albumfest

A near perfect album from the greatest man in hip hop.

One of the best rap albums of all time. So many good songs and features on this album with fantastic production and lyricism by Kendrick. Maybe not as impactful as TPAB but definitely more enjoyable. The replay value on this album is some of the best. I’ve listened to this album dozens of times and will listen to it forever. 10/10 can’t top it rap wise.

"It's way too vulgar and he talks about sex and murder too much" - Person who watched Whiplash and thought it was about self improvement. God fucking damn, this is a masterpiece. I'm kind of split on "To Pimp a Butterfly" (too bloated, some really obnoxious parts), but this one is as good as everybody says it is. Can't really put it any better than the current top review, so I'll just say that I don't think we're getting another Kendrick/Drake collab anytime soon.

So good, could listen to it everyday, right mood for alone or downtime

One of the best ever

Major label debut album and second studio album by Compton born rapper Kendrick Lamar. A record that continues on the themes present in his debut album but in a more profound way. Though not considered his magnum opus , it's is a very capable record in it's own . Framed around the build of a short film , it employs the use of skits and very vivd storytelling to push it's story and boy dose it do this emphatically. From the stories on tracks such "Sherane " and "The art of peer pressure" , the themes on "Bitch don't kill my vibe " , "Poetic Justice" and the star of the show "Sing About me am Dying of thirst" , the album is able to keep your attention and the production is clearly a high priority . A lot can be said that can't be contained in this short of a review but it is considered on e of the best hip hop and rap albums to date and will for a long time.

Amazing concept album which really showcases the emotional ups and downs of having a life of crime whilst your intentions are good. Feels like you're watching a film when listening to it

Better than to pimp a butterfly

an undisputed classic in my eyes. brilliantly executed concept album about kendrick’s life up until that point in time, i’ll never get tired of this album.

In my top 20 albums I reckon

Good kid, m.A.A.d respect for this one

Almost as good as a grand dont come for free. Also a lot like a grand dont come for free in that you remove one track (real) and it's pretty much perfect.. 9/0 Still in the hood

ABSOULUTE CINEMA

Bruh 12/10

this is geniunely one of the best rap albums of all time, there’s no skips, the way it follows through with each song is beautiful, the storyline to it is perfect, the theme is achieved perfectly, you really can get to understand what he’s rapping about easily and he does it with ease, 10/10

why is there a mason jar full of piss on the cover 10/10

JAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA <3 <3 <3 KLAR 5/5! elsker det her album, helt oppe og (næsten) nå tpab-niveau også synes jeg. Jeg elsker virkelig det her album.

Originalmente le puse 4 estrellas, pero tras salirme posteriormente "To Pimp a Butterfly" y descubrir del todo el genio creativo y musical que es Kendrick Lamar, decidí volver a darle otra vuelta a este álbum. Efectivamente, este es uno de los mejores de la lista y lo llegaría a poner al nivel de To Pimp a Butterfly. Muchas gracias al señor de esta lista por hacerme oír hiphop, algo que la verdad que nunca había hecho antes.

Instant classic. Love so many of these.

bitch don't kill my vibe

Drake is dead

I was a sophomore in college when this came out, very active on r/hiphopheads, and, at the time, a guy. I’ve loved this album since the day it leaked. I’ve long argued this is his best album, and relistening in full for the first time in maybe 5ish years, I’m even more convinced that I’m right. Start to finish, no skips. It’s lyrical and deep, but it’s also hard and catchy. I’d argue it’s maybe even a party record, or at least, obviously, a driving record. It’s referential and reverent, but it’s also explicitly personal. You could point to a song and say “ah that’s the hit,” or “oh that’s the deep song,” but I think every track here has an element of each style to it. It’s a dense record, but it’s never so dense that it’s exhausting. Actually, it’s an incredibly easy listen for a hip-hop album this layered. Even the goddamn bonus tracks are incredible!! King Kendrick 👑

Timeless. Always an adept storyteller in the genre of hip-hop/rap, Kendrick Lamar tells a coming of age story in the streets of Compton through his eyes and carries the west coast hip-hop torch well. Like his albums before and after, "good kid, m.A.A.d city" is a concept album and thus flows along effortlessly. There isn't a wasted moment throughout, including the voicemail and dialogue snippets as both serve as transitions into the proceeding tracks. Heck, even the album itself seems to come of age with each passing track. The storytelling matures in real-time as the album transitions into a more introspective tone near the end. To top things off, the album loops pretty well for repeated listens.

That's a definite 5.

KEDRICK LAMAR 🐐🐐🐐SWIMMING POOLS

This album reminds me of when I first moved to SF and had it on repeat.

Classic breakout album. Vibe was the song of a summer.

One of the best albums of all time. The lyrics and storytelling, the concept, the beats, the delivery from Kendrick, everything is perfect.

Already a stone-cold classic. The first of two -- *damn*, no, *four*--consecutive masterpieces from Kendrick Lamar, still the best mainstream rapper in the game in 2024--as stellar on a technical standpoint as he is inspired by the muses on a lyrical and topical one. *good kid, m.A.A.d city* swarms with incredible ideas. Its overall narrative, told in a, complex, out-of-order fashion, explores the psyche of the titular "good kid" living in hellish Compton in ways that had never been touched upon before. And the album's team of producers (almost a different one for each track) provides Kendrick with the perfect musical backdrop for each of those memorable cuts. People far younger than I am still idolize this artist more than a decade after this official debut came out, and deservedly so. But Kendrick is also important for hip hop fans of my own generation. For decades, the hip hop world had indeed been divided between "conscious" rappers and gangster rappers. With this stellar debut, Kendrick splits the difference at last, proving that there were ways to explore that gang world while conveying sensibilty, lucidity and even empathy--in spite of how harsh that reality is. Or actually *because* it's a harsh world, and you've got to make sense out of this mayhem somehow. Even the way Kendrick's parents are portrayed in this yarn about how a young man had to find his own way so as to survive Compton--through a thread of skits when they repeatedly appear--is multi-layered. Just like their son, they're neither role models nor totally devoid of a moral compass. They're just *human*, making the best out of the circumstances they've been thrown in. The album tells things as they are. It's how it becomes raw *and* endearing. The autobiographical input K-Dot uses here also help him avoid two pitfalls: a "moralist" take that would fall flat on its face for his intended audience, and a dumb "celebration" of the gang world that would bring nothing relevant to the table twenty years after the gangster rap subgenre surged. That people on this app fail to see how brilliantly ambitious Kendrick Lamar's lyrics are, and how moving they can be, is evidence enough that the sort of "profiling" dealt with in some of those songs is still very much in effect. Those--let's face it, probably white--dudes "project" the gangster rap stereotype over this record all too easily. Whereas it's not your usual, run-of-the-mill gangster rap album. It's either that those folks can't help "profiling" the music and lyrics. Or that they are just illiterate. Take your pick.  This is not to say that people who don't like rap should automatically fall in love with this LP. If it's a sort of music they can't appreciate, so be it. But for people who *do* like hip hop, this record is a mandatory listen for sure. Because it's as groundbreaking as it's potent. Lamar would even take things further with *To Pimp A Butterfly*, an even more complex and sprawling affair also harboring its fair share of gems and killer cuts. But *that* is a story for another time, kiddies. Three types of songs populate *good kid, m.A.A.d city*. The first group is made out of a few shorter tracks that primarily serve to advance the album's overall "plot"--like moody and nightly opener "Sherane", acting as an ominous *in media res* overture as it frames parts of the narrative ; or "Poetic Justice", probably the weaker cut, also plagued by a Drake featuring ; or closer "Compton", actually the first track Lamar recorded with this album, and marking the day he met (and collaborated with) Dr Dré--it's a rather classical "west coast rap song" ironically symbolizing that Lamar was out of the gang world at last and entering the music business at the end of the narrative. It's not the strongest cut, but the destination is less important than the journey for this record, as we are about to see later... Then there are the instantly memorable rap hits: "Swimming Pool" and its adequate gurgling synth sounds evoking gang members' binge drinking "prowess"--once again not a "moral" take on the issue, but clearly a way to emphasize how "peer pressure" further that unhealthy habit (but more on that later). And there's also "Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe" and "Backseat Freestyle", drawing from recent trap aesthetics in ways that are both infectious and efficient. In that vein, finally, you have the insanely gorgeous "Money Trees" and its mesmerizing guitar loop and its sly sing-along (Lamar is actually a great singer too, making the best out of his croaking, high pitched timbre) The last group of songs is what makes this record the masterpiece that it is though. It's all those cuts displaying a thick and cinematic atmosphere on a musical level, and equally thick and cinematic lyricism--filled with all sorts of genius details I wouldn't be able to properly single out as a non-native English speaker. It's rare that awesome music and awesome music can go hand in hand so cohesively, and this in *any* genre. And yet those songs pull it off efortlessly. They are the hypnotic and topically heavy "The Art of Peer Pressure"--about how gang members intuitively encourage each other to take the wrong way--the titular double-feature "good kid" and "m.A.A.d city", exploring further that theme, and most of all, that other absolute, devastating, heartbreaking "double-program" that "Sing About Me, Dying Of Thirst" is (here gathered on a single track in CD and streaming versions--it's impossible to skip one of those two cuts anyway). In "Sing About Me", Kendrick takes the part of two "doomed" characters who crossed his path (one gang member and one hooker), and if that song can't move you, I don't know what to tell you. And I won't go into details about *Dying Of Thirst", a tale about finding redemption in the darkest places. You just need to listen to it. So yes, this "double-track" is one of the top five rap songs in the 21st century, period. And the album it's from is easily in the top ten rap albums list from the same century. Number of albums left to review: more than 200, approximately - I've temporarily lost count here. Number of albums I'll include in my own list: half so far, approximately. (including this one) Number of albums I *might*  include: a quarter, approximately Number of albums I'll never include: another quarter, or just a little more (many other albums are more important to me)

wow, this album is pretty heavy. a big theme of this album is reflecting on your life and leaving a legacy... there's a lot of pondering in these tracks and a big part of the lyrics i heavily relate to. i don't know what will happen. and every day i think about a lot of things about my life... i might not get the answer but at least i have music like this that expresses these feelings. i initially wasn't too interested in this album but as time went on? wow.

4.5

I dare you to add more stars.

The cover of this album says, "A short film by Kendrick Lamar." In a lot of cases I think it's eye rolling to talk about music as cinematic, but here it's totally justified. It's remarkable how well this album paints a picture of a world, draws you into it, and gives the people in it meaning. The use of skits to set up and flesh out narratives in the songs; the largely laid back and trap-influenced beats to evoke rough, clear-skied California neighborhoods; Kendrick's evocative lyrics and ability to convey emotion through his voice and flow. It feels like he approached this album as though he was directing (and writing and starring in) a non-linear film and pulled it off.

This is one of my favorite albums of all time. Love it

Another of the great records of this century. Fantano says it’s the normie Kendrick choice but it’s just because it’s so perfect. It has the total vibe of those end of the century west coast records but is also timeless and futuristic, has an incredible range of emotions, flows and sounds that only him and Kanye have reached during these past couple of decades. The imagery, the narrative, the story telling and the beats are just excellent. Yes Kendrick has doubled down in all of those fronts with subsequent records but this one is the one that has it all at the same time. One of the greatest debuts of all time as well. To me, this album cannot be fully understood without The Recipe, so I hope everyone doing this list goes for the extended edition. You really have to listen to this before you die.

Genius

2nd best album oat

RAHHHH

No notes

I have already listened to this masterpiece

I love this album, the beats are excellent, but Kendrick has an absolutely mastery over the word, he paints a story with his music.

defining piece of work that gets richer the more you listen to it. stand out track "swimming pools" for sure

Legendary instant classic

Exceptional story telling woven through out catchy songs

hood classic

Very very very good- not quite perfect (I’ve never really got into Real) but close enough for a big enthusiastic 5

he’s good.

hello goat

While most were extremely positive, I just wanted to provide a response of sorts against some of the more critical reviews, to put it lightly. There are some who disapprove of the sex and violence Kendrick portrays on this record, as well as his frequent usage of “bitch”. I understand why they’re offended, and as a big rap fan, even though I’ve just had to accept it to a degree, it’s still very justifiably off putting to so many. However, while I can’t say for certain, seeing as most of the reviews seem to come from after a first listen, these complaints arise from a very surface-level understanding of the album. People hear guns, dick-measuring, and drug use and jump to conclusions about this album’s message and moral character. But that could not be further from the truth. good kid, mAAd city is a complete indictment of the gang violence, hypersexuality and addiction that he was surrounded by growing up in Compton. That’s the reason why all his friends die on the track mAAd city, why he mourns on Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst, and why he turns to Jesus to cleanse his sins. Real is the realization that being gangsta isn’t what should make him a man, but rather, being there for his loved ones and giving up on the greed and hatred that his peers pressured him into. Yes, this album is violent and misanthropic in its subject matter. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. At no point on this album does Kendrick talk down on his listeners or come off as preachy. Were this album just “gangs bad” or “drugs bad” without going into detail on exactly why, it would be extremely patronizing. Kendrick Lamar is better than that. And not to mention these beats are great, and Kendrick’s flow and lyricism are exactly on point. Absolutely one of the best rappers of today, if not of all time.

It's peak.

This album is a true masterpiece. Kendricks storytelling and word play is unmatched. Just a perfect album.

Probably my favorite rap album of all time. Such an amazing track list that tells a pretty incredible story. 5/5

fantastic piece of art. Very far removed from what I listened to. not at all a Genre I enjoy but the way the album was put together, the messages in it, the story telling. he managed to draw me in an I enjoyed this so much more than I was expecting to. one of the best albums I have listened to on this journey

I've listened to this album I don't know how many times. It came out much senior year of high school and I used to party to it. Listening to it 10 years later I still love it but I understand it's not a party anthem. Absolutely beautiful album put together so damn well.

Sherane a.k.a Master Splinter's Daughter: 9/10 Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe: 10/10 Backseat Freestyle: 9/10 The Art of Peer Pressure: 10/10 Money Trees (Ft. Jay Rock): 12/10 Poetic Justice (Ft. Drake): 10/10 ​good kid: 10/10 ​m.A.A.d city (Ft. MC Eiht): 11/10 Swimming Pools (Drank): 10/10 Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst: 11/10 Real (Ft. Anna Wise): 10/10 Compton (Ft. Dr. Dre): 9/10 Top 3: Money Trees m.A.A.d city ( Ft. MC Eiht) Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst I'm not a music critic, so I'll leave it at: I really enjoy the album and how it feels different Album Score: 10/10

good kid, m.A.A.d city -Kendrick Lamar 1-Sherane a.k.a Master Splinter's Daughter✅ 2-Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe✅ 3-Backseat Freestyle✅ 4- The Art of Peer Pressure✅ 5-Money Trees ✅👑✨ 6-Poetic Justice ✅👑 7-good kid ✅ 8-m.A.A.d city ✅👑 9-Swimming Pools (Drank) ✅ 10-Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst✅ 11-Real✅ 12-Compton✅👑 My top 3 1-Money Trees 2-m.A.A.d city 3- Compton Key: ✅ liked/added to playlist ❌ did not like/enjoy ✨ already known song/ already in my playlist 👑 mayhaps in my top 3

Great album

Kendrick <3

Sehr durchdachter HipHop

Engaging narrative flow, the voicemail interstitials set up, punctuate, and contrast the songs surrounding them. Contains a variety of bangers and pensive tunes. Excellent production. Singles that I didn't really like sound better in the context of the whole piece. An excellent album listening experience.

I still remember my first summer job, installing fiberglass ceilings on a scissor lift with my dad and playing this album for him. He told me about what a concept album was. This would be a strong contender for album of the decade if Kendrick hadn’t eclipsed it himself three years later.

BOFFF

Wow

This album is a masterpiece, and I feel sorry for the people who mentioned that they gave up after 2 or 3 songs. The lyrics of Backstreet Freestyle are not meant to be taken seriously, they are there to set up the main character arc of the immature teenager who grows by the end of the album. I don't understand how some people will happily delve into complex layers of lyrics written by rock and folk musicians, but then they completely shut off that part of their brain when they hear a rap. The storytelling and flows on this album are some of the best I've heard from a hip hop artist. The run from Good Kid to Sing About Me is flawless. It improves on everything that the original gangsta rappers like NWA, Snoop, etc failed with, by offering a critique of the gangsta lifestyle, and describing the context behind it. Don't get me wrong, there are still some sexist lyrics here. But the difference is the narrative around them, IMO anyway. The only songs I ever skip are Poetic Justice and Real, apart from those I think this is close to a perfect album.

Top

My favourite hip hop album. Feels like you’re in the streets of Compton hanging out with Kendrick and his homie’s. The production is great, Kendrick’s rapping is on point and the flow of the album makes it feel like you’re listening to a movie.

Nice

Kendrick the goat

Amazing. Kendrick truly has one of the best flows. He conveys the stories with such rhythm you want to pay attention. A true artist.

This album has such incredible singles while maintaining a strong message and narrative. I do feel that TPAB is a better album, but it does that at the cost of individual hits like Swimming Pools and Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe. I think this walks the line between DAMN and TPAB in that way. Less high concept, but just as exciting to listen to. Incredible writing and delivery, with a stacked production. I still remember how shocked I was the first time I heard Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst.

Also hell yeah! Some of the songs aren’t fully my vibe, but Kendrick has a great voice and flow, and the emotional depth and variety of the album make it something pretty special.

Absolute classic. Wish I had time at home today to pull out the vinyl copy, but was just to busy. So had this as the soundtrack to my driving around instead. A lot of the 1 star reviews are showing who some people obviously are. Not surprised tho. Some people can't open their mind to other music and use the same choice tropes to crap on hip hop.

A masterpiece. An album I return to at least once a year. Always gives me something new to hear.

That’s an easy 5 stars.

One of my favorite hip hop albums of the 21st century.

I wasn't really expecting to like this album, but I enjoyed it very much! The word play and music was excellent. The interludes between the tracks isn't my thing, but it changes the pacing of the album and contributes to the listening experience.

Flawless, probably the greatest of the new generation in terms of storytelling and building a narrative over a whole album. Lyrically dense, with catchy beats and atmospheric production, and pretty much perfect. Anyone who hasn't seen it (or who has!) should definitely seek out his wonderful Glastonbury headline set!

4.3 probably my 2nd or third favorite Kendrick Lamar album. No skips, great songs

Great album. Overshadowed by TPAB, but has aged very well

Starts well peaking at money trees, drops slightly but come back again. Would listen to again

Every time I listen to this album, I love it more. Fantastic storytelling and story progression throughout the album. And every song is banger after banger. And this is my second favorite Kendrick album! 5/5

lol, ich höre seit 2 Tagen durchgehend Kendrick Lamar. Ich kannte sehr lange Zeit nur seine TopTracks und habe bei denen kaum auf den Text geachtet. Das habe ich nun beim Hören von "good kid.m.A.A.d City" auch nicht in voller Gänze geschafft. Der Typ könnte ohne Beats ein Album rausbringen und alle an die Wand flowen. So ein unfassbarer Wiedererkennungswert. Liebe seine Mucke komplett, habe grundsätzlich einen Faible für guten Rap/Hip-Hop. Wenn dieses Album hier drin ist, MUSS noch mehr kommen. Aus meiner Sicht wurden seine Alben nur noch besser. "Money Trees" ist einer der geilsten Rap-Tracks ever aus meiner Sicht. "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe", "Swimming Pools" und "m.A.A.d City" finden seit 13 Jahren ihren Weg in meinen Playlists. "Poetic Justice" gibt mir (ähnlich wie das Album, welches am Wochenende kommt) ein ganz krassen Nostalgie-Kick. Mehr dazu dann am Samstag. Ich möchte mich nicht zu weit aus dem Fenster lehnen, bin aber der Meinung, dass er schon jetzt zu den größten Legenden seines Genres gehört. Für mich darf er schon heute einen Platz auf dem Mount Rushmore des Raps für sich beanspruchen. Dabei kenne ich nur einen Bruchteil seiner Mucke und habe kaum Infos zu ihm (Ich hoffe, dass es keine Skandale von ihm gibt, die jetzt auf mich zurückfallen).* Empfehlen kann ich euch das Konzert bei Amazon Prime. Zieht sich zu Beginn etwas, zeigt aber seine Kreativität und seinen Willen, mehr als Hip-Hop zu sein. Mit 5 von 5 reiht er sich bei mir bei "Nevermind" und "Rainbow" ein. Nun bleibt mir nur die Hoffnung, dass noch weitere Platten von ihm hier folgen. *Ich habe nun seinen Wikipedia-Artikel gelesen und bin begeistert, dass er nicht nur bei mir so gut ankommt!

- In meinen Augen das perfekte Hip-Hop (Konzept-)Album und eines der Besten aller Zeiten. - Dass Kendrick einer der krassesten Rapper dieses Jahrtausends ist, ist unbestritten. Mit diesem Album hat er das 2012 erstmalig unter Beweis gestellt. UND WIE!! - good kid, mAAd city ist einfach vollgestopft mit unfassbar vielen Hits: "Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe", "Money Trees", "m.A.A.d. city", "Poetic Justice", oder meinem all-time-Kendrick-Favourite "Swimming Pools". - Vor Allem aber wird EINE zusammenhängende Geschichte erzählt, die sich durch jeden Song zieht und immer wieder ein anderes Kapitel darstellt. Wie ein Spielfilm bestehend aus 12 Sequenzen. Unfassbar. - Der Film erzählt größtenteils einen Tag aus dem Leben des jungen (und "dummen") Kendrick in Compton. - Das Intro beginnt mit mehreren Typen, die ein Gebet aufsagen (foreshadowing, später mehr dazu). Anschließend wird in einer Art Rückblick das erste Treffen mit Sherane geschildert, ein Mädchen, in das er sich sofort verliebt. Danach beginnt die chronologische Erzählung des bereits angesprochenen Tages: Er und seine Homeboys haben nichts zu tun, außer in der Gegend herumzufahren, dabei am freestylen, kiffen und trinken. Die Truppe, alle aus armen Verhältnissen Comptons, beschließt einen Nachbarn auszurauben. Gruppenzwang. Und irgendwie muss das Weed ja bezahlt werden. Gerade so gelingt die dramatische Flucht. Voller Adrenalin fährt Kendrick zu seinem Girl Sherane um mal wieder flachgelegt zu werden - leider wird daraus nix: Dort warten zwei miese Typen auf ihn und richten Kendrick übel zu. Erstmal lässt sich das gedemütigte und schwer verletzte Lyrische-Ich von seinen Homies aufbauen. Doch er will sich rächen. Als seine Crew auf die beiden Typen trifft, kommt es zu einer Schießerei, bei der ein Freund stirbt. Die Gang ist auf weitere Blutrache aus. Vor einer Kirche kann eine Frau besänftigend auf die die Jungs einwirken und sie zu Gott führen. Hier sind wir jetzt bei dem Gebet der Jungs vom Intro. Kendricks Mutter spricht ihm ebenfalls Mut zu und gibt ihm den Anstoß dazu, Rapper zu werden. Tada - und plötzlich sind wir in der Jetztzeit. Auftritt Kendrick! - Wie geil ist das?! Das ist ein Drama à la "City of God" nur in den Straßen von Compton. Und tägliche Lebensrealität von vielen vielen Menschen in den sozialen Brennpunkten in den USA. Und so schön meta und konzeptig alles! - Man spürt neben dem unglaublich genialen und authentischen Storytelling durchgehend die Sonne, die schwüle Hitze, die flimmernden Betonstraßen und den Geruch von abgefahrenen Gummi und Vorgarten-BBQs in dem Vorort von L.A. - Musikalisch und technisch über jeden Zweifel erhaben. Rating: 5/5

- Ein wirklich unfassbar geiles Album. Bin bei Kendrick Lamar wirklich extrem late to the party. Hab mir dieses Album und To Pimp A Butterfly erst vor kurzem (halbes Jahr oder so) als Bildungsauftrag selbst auferlegt und war total begeistert. Wobei mir letzteres noch besser gefallen hat (Spoiler) - Dieser Flow, diese laid-back attitüde, diese beats harmonieren einfach so unglaublich gut aber das, was für mich extrem hereaussticht sind die Texte. Ich würde nach mehrfachem Durchhören des Albums jetzt sogar soweit gehen, dass Kendrick der wohl beste Hip-Hop Texter unserer Zeit ist. Alle Lines sind aus einem Guss, mit Leichtigkeit gereimt, überraschen einen regelmäßig und stecken voller inhaltlicher Tiefe. - Die Stimme ist eventuell Geschmackssache, ist für meinen Geschmack aber irgendwie etwas dünn - Tolles und kurzweiliges Album 4,5/5

Awesome as always.

I was pumped to see this up next. Not sure if you call it rap or hip hop but this album is awesome. I think I love it. It’s smarter than I thought it would be. Backseat Freestyle, m.A.A.d. city, Good Kid are favorites so far.

Instant classic. Best rapper alive. No cap. Highlights for me are Kendrick using multiple voices on the same track ala ‘Gimme The Loot.’ Overall great beats, skits that aren’t cringy, awesome hooks, and a depth that Kendrick brings together with amazing rhymes and storytelling. ‘Aw man, goddamn, all hell broke loose You killed my cousin back in '94, fuck yo' truce Now crawl your head in that noose You wind up dead on the news Ain't no peace treaty, just piecin' BGs up to pre-approve’

Surprise, hell yeah

yawk yawk yawk yawk

One of the best concept albums ever made. One of the most complex and complete narrative albums ever made. One of the best rap albums ever made. Inspiring in its ambition, breathtaking in its execution. Masterpiece.

Sick.

I'd give this ten stars if I could. Somehow, Kendrick instantly transports someone like me, who is the antithesis of a street-hardened teenage pseudo-gangster straight into his hometown. Without warning, I'm cruising the streets of Compton, having to decide between robbing a house to impress my friends or listening to the advice of my parents to rise above that lifestyle. I was going to list my favorite songs but then realized it's all of them. I do have to give a special shout out to "Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst" for the emotion it causes when I hear it. The sudden gunshots, along with the slowly fading "I'll Never Fade Away" sections really make me f e e l. Knowing he followed this up with "To Pimp a Butterfly" makes it an even better debut. Kendrick is King.

Five star album for sure. This is a storytelling masterpiece. It truly transported me to a different place and put me in someone else’s shoes.

This album highlights the power of lyrical storytelling. Lamar does a fantastic job of drawing the audience in with catchy beats and samples then proceeding to spit fire

Hard to put into words how great this album is. I remember hearing it when it first came out and instantly loving it. Front to back filled with bangers and thought provoking songs interchanging throughout.

One of the best albums and i do not care what people have to say about this. Its so sad that many people turn this off because off lyricism and stereotypes but dont do the same to their fav genre. So much perfection and construction. Makes me nostalgic and its crazy that its also over 10 years old... Still a great album with many good songs. The Pengame on Sing about me im dying of thirst still feels unmatched! for me an timeless album i mean theres money trees an generational song on it. jay rocks feature alonewashes half of the genre in 2012. somebody said dominoes???

Really started my love of newer hip hop rather than being stuck in the 90s. Incredible lyricism, storytelling, and just straight up rapping. I’ll play it once every year probably until I die

Amazing

amazing album, really enjoyed it