Reviews (page 6 of 13)
Fantastic album. It’s part concept album and part list of mega singles. I’ve always loved this album but I never gave it enough credit for how meaningful it was. It’s so personal and raw while also applying those feelings to larger societal issues (alcoholism, police brutality, etc). fantastic production and really tasteful non musical interludes. A five for sure
Every time I listen to good kid mAAd city it brings me back to the first time I heard it. It's like nothing before it and nothing since. Someone once described this album to me as a visual movie, and that's always stuck with me. It's a concept album executed perfectly, Kendrick's memoir. Beyond that, every single song has something amazing about it, and the density of great songs is higher than any project I've heard except for TPAB. As with any album I love, every time I listen I find a new song to appreciate even more. This time it was Compton, which makes sense as I've been on a bit of a Dre kick recently. Just excellent, the easiest 5 I've given on this list. I know taste differs, but I can't imagine anyone who actually listened to the entirety of this album rating it less than 4.
One of the greatest hip hop storytelling albums of all time. Brings back major memories from early high school. Wow what a breakout album for Kendrick. Instant classic.
Couldn't really think of any good reason not to give this 5 if I'm honest. One of the best around. Listened to this twice in full since it popped up on my list - couldn't fault it either time.
Ovo mi je u top 3 najbolja albuma 2010's - a bome ima jebačkih albuma u tom desetljeću. Konceptualno i ovako, jedan od najboljih hip hop albuma ikad.
Goated
Fucking banger
10/10 one of the best
10/10. Was not expecting to like this as much as I did. It takes everything I like about gangsta rap, which are somewhat few and far between, and puts them together into a very cohesive whole.
Lost to Macklemore at the Grammys. 10/10
This is the stuff that future Pulitzer Prizes are made of. Often hilarious, bleak and just plain exhilarating, good kid, m.A.A.d city sees King Kunta approach the genesis of his ascension to the top of the rap throne with all the confidence of his then youthful ability. Hard to believe that we are nearing ten years of listening to this m.A.A.d brilliance. Was it worth it? Absolutely. Did he put enough work in? Not just yes but there will be much more to come.
With such vivid imagery, structure, and a compelling story, listening to this album is so enveloping it feels like a piece of cinema. It tells the story of life growing up in Compton but not always from the perspective of Kendrick and not always in order or at the same age. Kendrick's songs never seem to have one angle, there are always multiple ways of interpreting his lyrics. This is an album that requires several listens, it can’t be understood in one pass. Unfortunately I don’t have the time to write about every song but my favorite on this album has to be the the very dark “Swimming Pools”. It is an exploration of alcoholism and in true Kendrick style it not only explores the darker sides of the struggles against inner thoughts and the devastation caused to lives, but also depicts the feeling of escape and release that comes from sating the cravings and giving in to the drink. At the time of this album Kendrick occupied that rare space where someone was properly pushing at the boundaries of their genre and yet still managing to appeal to the masses. I don't think any other artist has existed to the same extent for a long time before and since. 10 years later you can still here the influence in hip hop today on both sides of the atlantic. 5/5
Genius stuff. Has like 3 or 4 contenders for best rap songs of all time. I love it.
Epic album, what to say more?
I want to go to this ‘Maad’ city
Absoluter Klassiker. Seit 2013 unter meinen all time favorites!
This is Kendrick at his finest. The production and features pay homage to 90s classics as well as his peers. The storytelling side of Kendrick pushes itself to the forefront track after track. While the whole album is almost perfect, the standout song is Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst. Empathetic, brutal, and honest, it might be the Compton rapper’s magnum opus; a story of heartbreak told truthfully from many perspectives, perhaps even more poignant because of its ubiquity.
fire (fire fire)
Love the Story being told Here. Evers Song ist unique and great.
Great
Banger! Banger! Banger! Introspective exploration of gangland crime in black neighbourhoods...BANGER
An absolute classic
Preeety goood.
One of my all time favorite albums. The story telling and emotion on this album is some of the best I've seen. The beats go hard but don't get in the way of the lyrics at all.
One of the best rap albums ever. Kendrick’s story telling ability is unmatched which you can see throughout the narrative of this album and especially in songs like Sing about me. I feel that there are some similarities to illmatic but this represents the west coast perspective and the rapping is more evolved and technical. This album has some of his best hits like Backseat Freestyle, mad city, and money trees. The guest verses are all fantastic particularly Drake on Poetic Justice and Jay Rock on money trees with one of the best features of all time. And Jay Z on the bitch don’t kill my vibe remix with one of the best flexes ever “sitting next to Hillary smelling like dank”
An easy 5 stars. This album is simply stunning. Here Kendrick takes the seeds planted by Nas on Illmatic and grows them into an epic story of a night out with friends gone very wrong. From the moment we hear the beat drop on "Bitch Don't Kill my Vibe" we know we are in for something special, and the rest of the album does not disappoint. The lyricism is excellent, the beats underneath are dynamic, and the features are top tier (Jay rock's verse on "Money Trees" sums up the themes of most hip hop songs in 1 minute and is prefect). Additionally, these songs work well on their own, but combine into an epic rap opera with a rich narrative and well written characters (Kendrick rapping fro mthe perspective of3 different characters in "Sing about me" is always impressive. This is one of the best albums of all time.
Absolute banger. Fucking K. Dot making his mark after signing with Aftermath and Interscope. Stand out tracks: Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe, Backseat Freestyle, and Compton (with Dr. Dre).
Masterpiece of an album, amazing storytelling. Would be the best rap album of the 2010s if Kendrick didn't have himself to compete with
This is a high concept album that delivers on all fronts. Kendrick's bars embody the best of west coast hip hop and pays homage to the gangsta rappers who came before while embracing an introspectiveness that adds a certain degree of gravity to everything he says. The album is a series of stories from Kendrick's like that document his struggle to stay 'good' in the midst of a violent life stuck in survival mode. The album ends by circling back to the initial phone call which starts the album off, a statement of the cyclical nature of these stories. The music itself is phenomenal. That west coast synth sound, orchestrated strings, and trap hi-hats are all present here and are used perfectly. Kendrick is a student of hip hop, and the fact that he got to work with some of the greatest for this album shows that he is already on his way to becoming one of the greats.
please don’t kill my wife
Still just as good a listen as it was 10 years ago. Easily Kendrick’s strongest, most cogent album, from features, production and lyricism. Outside of a few exceptions, skits on hip hop albums are immediate skip material. But these are so integral to the story, Kendrick’s parents bickering on a voicemail, his friends rapping young jeezy lyrics, recreating a hit. The production is so varied and interesting. Highlights: Money Trees, Back seat freestyle, sing about me I’m dying for thirst
great story, lyrics, music.
Yuuuuuurrrrrrrpppppppp
love you Nathan I'm sorry you couldn't hear the new album i think you would have loved it I will never listen to kdot and not think of you thank you for the short time I got with you IVE GOT A BONE TO PICK!
Two A’s in a row? More likely than you’d think. As white as I may sound, Kendrick is the best rapper alive, and while his next album is more vital, this is a brilliant introduction to his craft if Butterfly is too dense for you. Incredible music all around. A
I read this album is no longer in the latest version of the book, this is an absolute travesty… one of the all time great rap albums the story telling through the album along with some huge bangers makes this a 5 star masterpiece.
Kendrick is the best. J'adore un 5 meme si c'est un de mes moins preferees
el mejor album de rap de la historia, album de historia que marca al rap y demostrando de lo que esta hecho kendrck,muchas emociones y album que marca en la vida
You already know I love this album. I remember listening to it in college. Bitch don't kill my vibe, backseat freestyle, swimming pools, poetic justice. Kendrick is a legend
Mind-blowing, while being, at best, his second best album (I need more time with the new one before making a final decision, but it's level with Damn in being second at the moment). Hard to pick a best track, Backseat Freestyle maybe. And the fact he goes full g-funk at one point is like he is literally taking Compton's crown from Dre.
Rating: 10/10
Awesome hip-hop album! Kendrick is a lyrical madman. Great beats, amazing flow, funny commentary/narrative throughout. Certainly worth a listen.
artist and storyteller.
Easy five starts. The storytelling is amazing. Lost of bangers came from this album.
Already listened
very good
what a fantastic album- one of my all time favorites. It has a compelling concept with great voice acting and songs that match the way the story goes. The lyrics, productions, and Kendrick's vocals are amazing. The features are just incredible with amazing performances from Dr. Dre, Jay Rock, and IMO one of the best verse of Drake's career on Poetic Justice. SAMIDOT is a top ten song of all time for me, B Don't Kill My Vibe is a fantastic song to chill out to, and m.A.A.d. city is such an exciting song. Amazing album 10/10 and the first album where Kendrick puts his name into GOAT conversation. P.S. he better drop some new music soon its been so long
Few people can rap so grippingly, driving you deep into a narrative like K dot can. He is one of the GOATs for sure.
Kicks balls and slaps titties. Hits for days, and its one of the rare albums where skit/field recordings add to the narrative.
An easy 5, the story told in this album has really stuck with me
One of the best debuts ever
NO SKIPS
Iconic album. Creative beats, lyrics, mood. Poet at heart.
Its hard choise just a favorite song
Kendrick’s storytelling is amazing and so incredibly immersive. The production is fantastic and so is the lyricism.
Amazing album from almost start to finish. Miss: Real Favorite:Sing About Me, I’m Dying Of Thirst
Beyond it's obvious objective greatness, this is also a personally important album to me. When I first became a music nerd, this was the first contemporary album I listened to around the time it dropped, or at least it was the first major one. What a way to start! Hip hop perfection, through and through.
I love Kendrick! Not my favourite album of his.
love this one but not my fav kendrick record
Kevin: Love it but can't help but feel it was buoyed by the cultural atmosphere of the early 2010s, not sure if this would make the same splash today Jamie: Loves "Money Trees", overall not her favorite Kendrick
25. avgust 2026. 15.27h -||- za moje rep misljenje ali ovo je bio p good album! best: sherane, the art of peer pressure, money trees, real
Stark 4:a, inte lika stark som DAMN som är ett av mina favoritalbum. Har aldrig lyssnat på denna från början till slut men otrolig skiva. Kendrick är verkligen ett geni, sättet han lyckas dra en röd tråd och så otroliga samplingar med lite humor. Hans musik får mig alltid att önska att jag kunde förstå varenda line, varenda referens. Är alltid lite avis på Eira och min lillebror som lär sig hela låtar och verkar förstå mycket mer än vad jag någonsin kommer göra! Med det sagt, mycket känslomässiga band till detta album men jag personligen älskar DAMN mest.
Aldrig varit så nervös att skriva något om ett album när jag vet att Simon, Hugo o Emil läser detta, (jag förutspår 3 st 5/5). Men detta är ett bra album, lyssnat mycket på det under gymnasiet. Det är fredag morgon o jag orkar inte skriva långt. Jag kan bara tillägga att jag älskar ”Bitch don’t kill my vibe” (obs den med Jay-z). Möjligen att jag tycker albumet är lite lite långt. Nu ska jag upp från sängen
First time listening to Kendrick Lamar and I enjoyed it much more than what I was expecting. I tend to dislike any/all of the new rappers, but this was really, really good!
i liked it was the type of rap i like but i wouldnt listen to it normally decent experience
Classic
It’s no Untitled Unmastered (“Kunte Kinte”). But the increasing realism and melancholy of the album is a thing (plus a final shout out from Dr. Dre!)
RATING: 9/10 HIGHLIGHT: Sing About Me I’m Dying of Thirst LOWLIGHT: The Art of Peer Pressure
It’s a good Kendrick slbum
Cheers to one year of album reviews! (even though I'm a few albums behind). I was surprised but also not surprised by how many of these songs were already familiar to me. This might be my first time listening to a full Kendrick album, although it's possible I've listened through Damn at some point. Either way, this was a cool album. Not fully my cup of tea, but I can tell he's talented and creative.
Thought it'd be a slog due to the length but it was definitely worth the hype people give it.
Great rap record
I get why people hold it so highly but it's always been "just" very very good to me. Crazy high highs
Very good production, nice lyrics and cool concept
This was enjoyable. Knew a good number of songs.
I once saw K-Dot perform live in person, so I was always going to be in the bag for him. I’m a huge fan, and this was my introduction. Plenty of top tier singles keep me coming back, and the latter discography aint bad either.
7.8/10 fav tracks: now or never sherane a.k.a master splinter’s daughter money trees bitch don't kill my vibe
This was peak
firee i already had most songs from a long time ago
Hood rap opera. Kendrick just seems to be able to articulate the problems of the hood in a very straight foward way. I appreciate it on To Pimp A Butterfly & here. I don't think I like it near as much as Butterfly but its close. 4.5
I find hip-hop really interesting (as a genre) even though there isn't a lot of it that I really enjoy, musically. This album is a good one. It is a true album (with a theme) and I've done some background reading - it's authentic and I relate it to "Straight outta Compton" by NWA which I rate highly. The lyrics are good except I'm so boooored of hearing all that bitch and pussy talk. Not just because it is offensive, but even more so because it's just lazy and been done a million times before. In the 80's OK, but 30 years later? Can we move on please? Otherwise, a really interesting album - I will revisit, and I do understand why Kendrick Lamar one of the best hip-hoppers. But sometimes I feel the bar is pretty low in the genre and on many albums (not this one) the best bits are the samples.
Ahora entiendo el hype por Kendrick. Gran storytelling, buenos beats. Se me hizo un poco largo.
Well, I like sound bites on albums. Is that how you say it? Is that what they are? Like a skit instead of a song? Better? Even if I’m not a huge fan of this album, Kendrick is so much more talented than Drake. Yes the same bad hairline, goofy ass looking, wheelchair fake riding poor actor Drake. So, it’s rare that a single song can make an album good. I found one. Maad City is the sound I like, I dig, I listen for, I need That’s all I need to say about that Jenny Choice cut: Maad City
8.5/10
I rate this as awesome man
cool classic rap album
Mycket bra! Gillar Kendricks texter och hans rap som funkar så bra och har sådant flow. Älskar Bitch, don't kill my vibe, Backseat freestyle, Money Trees, m.A.A.d city och Swimming pools (drank). Jag hst egentligen inget annat att säga än att det är bra och svänger. Albumet är bra och jag kommer förstås lyssna fler gånger.
Really really great, catchy, amazing flow by kendrick, great features, love the mix of mellow atmospheres and powerful drums. Becomes boring only seldom times.
quite enjoyed that, even without too much lyrical deepness, has a nice rhythm to it
Swimming Pools is a highlight for sure. Its definitely one that you need to study the lyrics.
Haven't really listened to any Kendrick Lamar for some reason, don't know why. Quite enjoyed this, I think I would need to listen a few times and dig into the lyrics deeper to get the most out of it though I didn't expect to see "why can black people say the n word but I'm racist if I do" on here, the generator brings new surprises everyday Highlights: The Art of Peer Pressure, Real
I liked this but apparently not as much as I was supposed to. So many people regard it as an all time great. Maybe it will grow on me.
Not my genre but it’s a good listen. I can’t process much of the lyrics though. Maybe I would have like it less if I had.
I’m not a rap fan (not for racist Ben Shapiro reasons I’m just not cool), but the lyrics were good and the sound was cool.
No denying this is an amazing record—Vine and Freestyle are stone cold classics and the scope/storytelling are impressive and compelling. But every time I hear this album, I think it’s way too long. Every song eventually brings me back, but I zone out frequently during the second half. 4.5
Feels great to finally have the time to dig into an album by Kendrick Lamar. I've listened to "To Pimp a Butterfly" and "GNX" before but I've never given them a proper active listen. I even went to see him live! But if there is something that feels greater than having the opportunity, is listening to this album. I absolutely love its superb-quality production. The vast majority of the beats sound really subtle, nice to the ears and even immersive, thanks to their atmospheric aspect. There are also some examples of more hard hitting and even aggressive beats, such as the ones in "Backseat Freestyle", "m.A.A.d city" and "Compton", yet these ones also have a smooth edge, making the album very cohesive in terms of sound. On top of the great beats, the rappers flow is also absolutely magnificent, skillful and showing a lot of emotion, from very angry (like in "Backseat Freestyle") to sentimental (like in "Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst"). The only thing that I don't really like are the occasional nasally voices he does, most notable in the beginning of "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" and choruses in "Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst". I find them to be a bit grating, but not enough to actually ruin the songs. When it comes to the lyrics, the record is very strong as well. It is considered to be a conceptual album about his live in Compton through some interesting chronicles. In my first deep listen, I didn't really get it, but after reading in WIkipedia that is actually a non-linear narrative, the stories actually made more sense to me. There are probably way more fascinating things to talk about from the album that I'm missing, but what truly appeals me is the absolutely astonishing quality.
Maybe a bit too long and had too many skits but every time I really focused on the lyrics I really enjoyed it. No doubt Kendrick Lamar is one of the great lyricists in hip hop.
No longer in the most recent edition of the book, but worth revisiting anyways. Lamar is an artist that I've wanted to explore for years but never got around to it. Reminds me of a lot of the more downbeat, atmospheric, dark indie hip-hop I was discovering back in 2012-2014 but stopped for some reason. Shabazz Palaces, No Bird Sing, dälek, Cannibal Ox, etc. Like other contemporary Frank Ocean, Lamar has a thing that made him destined for greatness. This was only his second album? Only 25 at the time? What's so crazy about the mix is how fresh it is, yet how grounded in the roots that made hip-hop timeless. Very back-to-basics with the sound but the songs are experimental and fascinating. I enjoy his delivery and very observational lyrics about growing up in Compton and as a black man in American society. He also portrays many different characters, using many different vocal deliveries that make this as compelling as Wu-Tang Clan's first album. I made the first mistake to listen to this on my stereo, but with headphones it's a marvel. There's so many little details here that merit revisiting. Like Prince or D'Angelo or even Madlib, this is worth the effort to relisten to. Beats me why it was removed from the book. Plenty of Bowie albums to cut out instead!
2010s hip hop. About his teenage years.
Are all Kendrick Lamar albums as good as good kid, m.A.A.d city and To Pimp A Butterfly (which I liked even more)? I'm not even a big Hip Hop fan, but these albums were amazing.
Immersive af. Kendrick is a master lyricist and flavour seller. Starts weak to me and ends well. Just like my trips It gets repetitive and there's about 3 themes and one of them hates women - a mirror to the repetitive and misogynistic violence that permeates unsupported and marginalised America It is mad how many rappers have SA's tho whats that about
Not quite HUMBLE but cool to hear some earlier Kendrick l. Surprisingly good music for working. 4/5
“To Pimp A Butterfly", is an instant classic so the previous album "good kid, m.A.A.d city" has a lot to live up to warrant being on this list . “Good kid” is a tighter, leaner piece that is looking inward focused and social commentary. While not as musically deep as the sequel this still needs to be on this list
Sounds so good. Lyrics rarely stick out to me but this one’s full of great lines. Really like this one. Missing that last star bc of Backseat Freestlye, otherwise it’s perfect.
Kendrick spitting rhymes so good, they could make a mama's boy like me consider a life of crime. But lord almighty, some of these beats are about as exciting as watching paint dry on a rainy day. Still, you gotta give him props for weaving a tale that keeps ya listening. Spins: 2 Playlist Additions - Money Trees - Poetic Justice - M.A.A.D City - Swimming Pools (Drank)
- Um well it’s gkmc what can I say
I preferred this to To Pimp A Butterfly in terms of lyrics and storytelling, and being a leaner album overall. There are some long tracks but they earn their length and kept me engaged. The sequence of Good Kid to Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst is particularly good.
This is a great album and I know it's a bit sacrilegious but I would rank this as one of my lesser favs from Kendrick. For context, I was absolutely PUMPED when this album came out and bought it on CD at Amoeba Records the day it dropped. I liked it, but for whatever reason I continued listening to Section.80. I probably had a hard time adjusting to the big changes in the production style -- the two big singles are probably my least favorite tracks on the album. But overall there's so much heat on this album you gotta respect it.
Way better than To Pimp a Butterfly. This actually sounds like a true hip hop album. Too many “skits” for me tho
I liked this quite a bit. I’m impressed Robert actually can recognize a good rap album.
Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe Backseat Freestyle Money Trees m.A.A.d City Swimming Pools (Drank) Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst
i had a very long review typed out and it all got deleted. what i really like about this album is the way that the themes of this album; race, poverty, gang violence, etc, are all presented in such a raw and real way that you have to face it head on. i think maybe this is what makes a lot of the reviewers here dislike it - these themes are very tied to a black perspective and it's easier to say that this "isn't music" rather than deal with the subjects at hand. all of this aside this album is brilliant and i definitely appreciate it a lot more now than i do when i last listened to it at 13 or so.
Good to hear what all the hype is about
Es bastante impresionante el talento de kendrick para contar historias, lo incómodo y pegajoso que es, me costó bastante darle el mérito que merece
banger
ooof The Art of Peer Pressure what a BANGER
Grotendeels goed
I have never truly listened to Kendrick before and I enjoyed it a lot! Favs included: Backseat Freestyle, Money Trees, m.A.A.d city. I def just like more melodic stuff. Not sure if I'm saving my 5/5 for **the** perfect album or if I'm just too nit picky with my reviews but I think the genre, some songs, etc. made it not the perfect album so 4/5.
Love the intracate tunes.
Pretty crass but really funny. Lots of clever lyrics. Feels very "in the life of a horny teenager in a rough neighbourhood", which is captured well throughout all the songs. This music isn't my normal cup of tea but overall I enjoyed it and I see why it had the cultural impact it did. It's like watching a really good movie in a genre that you don't like; you probably won't watch it again but you recognize the work put into it and the quality of it.
top songs: Don't kill my vibe, Good kid, m.A.A.d city, Real
The more I listened the more I liked. All the talking or whatever in-between a lot of the tracks is just annoying AF though.
I think Kendrick is the best rapper out there right now. This is early stuff and great, but he got even better.
Way better than I remember now that I'm not listening to it straight off the back of To Pink A Butterfly
Kingfu keny
Great
good album but i don't need this relgious stuff on the album
I too would like to fuck the whole world for 72 hours.
Listened before this
The most carefully constructed hip-hop record encountered in this project, and the one that addresses the recurring friction points most directly. The voicemails, skits, and interludes that derailed OutKast and others earn their place here — they’re serving a narrative rather than interrupting one. good kid, m.A.A.d city is a coming-of-age story set in Compton, told with cinematic precision and emotional honesty that gives the album a coherence most rap records never attempt. Kendrick’s delivery is the other distinction. Where Common’s flow faded into the background and became texture rather than presence, Kendrick commands attention throughout — varied, emotionally present, and shifting registers in ways that match the story’s emotional arc. “Money Trees” in particular shows a storytelling gift that operates at a different level from almost anything else in the genre, and “Swimming Pools (Drank)” demonstrates how to make something genuinely complex work as pure pop simultaneously. The Compton geography connects this directly to NWA — same streets, completely different artistic approach. Where Straight Outta Compton documented with rage, this excavates with empathy, which is the harder and ultimately more lasting achievement. A five for a lot of people, and the craft absolutely justifies that reaction. For this particular listener, very good stops just short of irreplaceable — which is an honest four rather than a manufactured five.
Mad at myself for sleeping on this!
Notables: - Backseat Freestyle - m.A.A.d city - Swimming Pools
It's really good actually. Stand-outs - Sherane a.k.a Master Splinter's Daughter - The Art of Peer Pressure - Money Trees
I definitely don't think this is Kendrick's best, but it's still pretty good Favorite Song: Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe
este álbum tiene puro banger, 4.5
Album #171 Kendrick Lamar: good kid, m.A.A.d city How many different ways can Kendrick say bitch: The Album. I’m far from the first person to feel out of place amongst their generation, and to some extent, I’m sure that we all feel like an outsider to some degree. It is a peculiar feeling, however, when the group of people who grew up at the same time as you, experienced the same things at the same age, and presumably matured alongside you, think nothing like you. Obviously, that is inevitable since we are all individuals; however, sometimes there are phenomena which are so universally beloved amongst your generation, that there really must be something wrong with you for being the exception. When it comes to music, it seems as though my generation has awarded Kendrick Lamar with the title of king. On one hand, growing up, rap was the prevailing genre of music in school, and therefore most people’s listening habits centred around it, including Kendrick since he was one of the biggest artists at the time. But then again, Drake and Lil Pump were also just as popular, yet they don’t share the same critical evaluation that Kendrick received. So not only was everyone around me listening to Kendrick, but he was also receiving the plaudits from music nerds to support his quality. There was even a period where I succumbed to the pressure and participated in the celebration of his music. I was around 8 years old when this album came out, and once the song Swimming Pools was included in GTA V and my friend Seth showed it to me, I decreed it my favourite song and Kendrick my favourite rapper (surpassing the only other one I knew, Eminem). However, that appreciation was built upon sticks, and existed entirely within Seth’s bedroom; once returning home, I can’t say I ever listened to a single Kendrick song, or really any song for that matter. Eventually I came of age and started listening to music, and it wasn’t long after I decided rap, or really anything after the 80s, wasn’t for me. So I suppose, to some extent, I’ve just been existing in a state of feeling like I don’t get the Kendrick love, without actually listening to Kendrick since I don’t like rap. I guess it’s like me saying that hot dogs are overrated, despite never trying one because I don’t like sandwiches. Well, it was about time that I finally sat down and listened to the supposed GOAT of our generation. At this point, I have become more exposed to hip-hop thanks to this list and my friends showing me some albums, and I have even found some albums which I genuinely enjoyed; so I think I can actually assess this one fairly. And to my legitimate surprise, this is actually really good. Like I wouldn’t have been that surprised if I didn’t hate it, or liked it, but I actually thoroughly enjoyed almost every song here. I feel like sometimes I think I’m enjoying an album, then I hear another better album and realize what true enjoyment feels like; I have ‘enjoyed’ some rap albums previously, but I can’t say that I’ve ever actually thought one was as good as this. Maybe it’s because I’ve been listening to a lot of indie music from the 80s, and not mainstream, highly produced indie music like The Smiths, but genuinely terrible production from small bands (which I’ve grown to love); but the production of this album blew me away. It sounds like the embodiment of luxury. I think this is a theme I’ve realized about myself: that I consistently am surprised by the production of newer albums, since I’m so used to listening to old music; something that may seem normal for many, sounds incredibly novel and impressive for me, so I could be overrating the production here. Lyricism is something which normally holds me back for rap albums, since they are often focused on hyper-specific storytelling about themselves, which I often find unrelatable, and usually cringe. However, I think this album being a loose concept helps me follow along with the storytelling and appreciate it more. Though there are certain word choices that I find come off tacky, and Kendrick often blurs the line between introspective and corny, I think that overall he balances it well. Honestly, even his goofy high-pitched voice at times didn’t really bother me by the end. I did find it funny, however, looking back that Drake was on a Kendrick song rapping about loving black women; I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to take that song seriously. The only other songs that I can really see being more of a negative than a positive are the last two, if not simply for the fact that ending the album at Sing About Me, I’m Dying Of Thirst would have been perfect, and probably resulted in the album getting a 10. GKMC is probably the best rap album that I’ve ever heard, and it manages to combine a mainstream sound with some actual worthwhile themes and ideas. After listening to the album, I come away with two conclusions: one that I’m really not as unique as I thought I was, and I yearn for Kendrick just as much as everyone else, and two, I probably shouldn’t have gone around calling Kendrick the most overrated artist of all time. Best Songs: Swimming Pools, m.A.A.d city, Sing About Me, I’m Dying Of Thirst Worst Song: Compton Score out of 10: 9.5
amazing rap album
Buen hiphop
Ироничное пасмурное лето. Кабриолет , пальмы, томный долгий взгляд на сдержанный шторм океана. Солнце пробирается сквозь пышные тучи, видно пучки лучей обнимающие деликатные волны. Данный альбом - пластилин настроения. Хочешь вспомнить каждый больной шаг или попредвкушать свои будущие победы, забыться в обволакивающей грусти или насладится распирающей радостью - получится все. Речитатив настолько яркий и живой, что кажется до него можно дотронуться. Бэк-вокал естественен и лаконичен, если быть в движении при прослушиванию невозможно не осмотреться - где они все, они явно прямо тут! После композиции good kid. Шторм становится штормом. Непонимание, нарастание чуждой для этого альбома агрессии, нас за шиворот уводят с прекрасного заката в лучший провинциальный клуб этого вымышленного города. Swiming pool - ты в клубе на побережье, зачем тебе там быть если ночью ничего не видно и луна не вышла ? Этот праздник отчуждения нужен тебе и твоим друзьям. Стоп а они друзья ? А эти прекрасные дамы с которыми я был близок секунду назад разве не дороги мне ? Это странная чувство внушает именно swimming pool. Пошлая и прямолинейная композиция. На протяжении всего прослушивания она нас готовит к чему-то но пока ты не понимаешь к чему. Тут полный провал памяти ты находишься в трансе до самого конца пока тебе в душу не передают определенность и знания вместе с тягучим и приятным голосом женщины в конце песни ты молишься вместе с теми отщепенцами. (Только сейчас осознал, что альбом начинается в точности с этой самобытной молитвы, а может этот альбом - прекрасный обыгрыш мысли о цикличности жизни?) Ты - бог, бог это ты. Ты здесь и это твоя жизнь. Песня real - наконец-то ты можешь ощутить тепло от солнце, ветер принес к тебе капельки воды и ты не просто это ощущаешь ты есть это тепло, ветер и вода. Припевные повторения утверждают это все твёрже и твёрже показывают. Долгожданное осознание себя, может не навсегда но точно сейчас. Естественно испытав это чувство хочется просто расплыться в наслаждении, и Кендрик даёт это нам и по факту завершает свой альбом. Сложно оценивать что-либо в системе оценок например 10/10. С точки зрения истории которую я описал и в которой находился и ощущал этот альбом то естественно не возможно поставить что-то кроме 10. Если оторваться от цельного альбома, то каждая отдельная песня, в моем случае кроме money tree - обычная отлично технически реализованная композиция, которую скорее всего сложно пропустить в плейлисте. Что касается лично моего вкуса то оценю этот альбом на 3,75/5 не умоляя того удовольствия с каким он был прослушан! Добавлю, что моим антифаворитом стал backseat freestyle
Was ready to give this a 1 after the first three songs. Thankfully from peer pressure onwards this was a solid 4.
Day 5 - actually really enjoyed this album. Every now and again you get a real banger. Also enjoyed the narrative around gang violence, life in Compton etc. Also a bit of filth, quite tongue in cheek, I enjoyed. 8/10 for meeeee
3.75 ⭐️
Some bars here, of course. Solid production. If you're into Kendrick, it's your bag.
One tends to roll into a record like this - insufferably vulgar, pee pee obsessed misogyny - rolling ones eyes and yearning to get pancaked by a bus. And at some point being drawn in to the decent headphone cinematic sound design, engaging human interaction interludes, and a surreal Silver Soul sample from Beach House. FFS bish, take my damn money!
Great but slightly too long
Overall: 8/10 I used to like this one a lot more, but I think it actually loses some steam by the end. Kendrick is one of the best voices in hip hop in the last 20 years and this one is really special. I love this man's brain so much. I just prefer where he went after this one. Fav Song: Backseat Freestyle
My favourite of Kendrick's and maybe my favourite rap album. The musical arrangements are quality and he uses such a range of them on this
A heavy narrative delivered with world-class lyrics
Such a good mix of vibes
I like Kendrick Lamar just fine, but the world seems to adore his work. I can't quite get there with him, and he feels like one of those artists you have to hang in there with until it clicks and you "get it". Like I said, I like him alright, but this "click" hasn't happened yet for me. This record hasn't done it for me, though I like it ok. It seems like he works on a "concept record" sort of level, which I can appreciate. I'm not quite sure what I'm missing with him. Maybe I'll get there one day, but today isn't it. So, this has aggravated me enough to look into it more...which is usually one of the first stages before I really connect with a record. So, maybe today is the day after all. Anyway, I'm kind starting to get a sense for the storyline, and I appreciate that it isn't really told in a chronological order (I read somewhere that Kendrick was influenced a bit by Tarantino's Pulp Fiction). I'm re-listening to the record, which means it's captivated me at least a little. I think what I'm figuring out is that Kendrick is more of a storyteller than he is concentrating on being a hit maker, which I actually prefer, although I do like it when those things overlap. 8/10
Really really good, 4.5 but can’t reasonably give a 5 with how I’m not a fan of all the skits/calls filling the time
It's a good record, Kendrick Lamar is a game changer, but Butterfly and/or Damn are the ones to hear, and really, just Butterfly.
This might be a bit of a hot take but DAMN. is Kendrick Lamar's best album. This one and Butterfly are both pretty great as well.
eu me sinto um real nego malandro, você me sente?
Impressionnant pour un album de 2012, il n'a pas vieilli et regorge de classiques de Kendrick Lamar. Aucun titre n'est réellement skipable et peuvent chacun marquer à leur manière !
Good very summer and the uglier part of the city type of urban very very chill and hand-me-down cars but not necessarily w friends more introspective and reflective rather than just floating in the moment we’re detached and studying it
Il y a des sons beaucoup plus vifs et vulgaires et certains autres ont des mélodies superbes avec des vibes très chill et des vraies instrumentales peu écoutés dans le monde du rap (swimming pool gros cup de cœur). Je trouve que Lamar là-dessus propose une nouvelle dynamique pour le rap US en proposant des sons plus travaillés avec des mélodies qui dénotent du rap traditionnel. L'album est un concept innovant se présentant comme un court métrage, il suit l'histoire de l'adolescence de Lamar dans les rues infestées de drogues
so i did like this actually, not just cause i already knew it pretty thoughtful and i liked the visual aid and story
Like this - definitely hear things that are gonna be great in to pimp a butterfly. I'll never look at the eiffel tower the same way again.
own
Drake is lame
If pyros and crips all got along I’d probably bust a move by the end of this song
does he do all these drugs he mentions??
Obviously Lamar is better than Drake. Not into this genre, but really enjoyed this one. Also Money Trees has 2.2 freaking billion listens on Spotify. Even at 1cent per listen that's.... a lot of money.
Pretty killer, some filler. Closer to a 3 than a 5.
Man, I apparently didn’t listen to enough Kendrick Lamar. This was very enjoyable. Loved the kick and the beats. Usually the skits annoy me but I didn’t mind these ones (where’s my dominos!). Rhymes are quite great too. Sing About Me stood out to me. 4.25
Great album! Such a good rap album! Love Kendrick Lamar!
1972. Known for its wide stylistic range and the strong influence of Delta blues, gospel music, and country rock.
It’s so good to come across a Kendrick album. This hits hard—no surprise, he always delivers.
Класика!
Banger album.
I've been meaning to listen to this again anyway. I remember hearing "Swimming Pools (Drank)" on All Songs Considered forever ago. I was in front of Delta Sonic, either biking or walking. What was I doing up there? Maybe driving and I was getting gas... A lot of this reminds me of "A Life In the Day Of Benjamin Andre" in good ways.
Kendrick Lamar é genial! Hip Hop maravilhoso. QKZxHBB.
oh yea i know this one, pretty well. mmmm the bass on sherane.. tasty. very very high highs, few shallow lows. like real doesn’t need to be nearly as long as it is. but goddamn good album. watched requiem for a dream last night. waking up with this. hit a hell of a lot harder, damn.
It's hard to rate and review an album that's so all over the place. This is obviously a quintessential 2010s album, in the sense that it features both the best and the worst of that era's hip hop. The good : An obvious talent for storytelling with grounded lyrics, and a welcome departure from the 2000s obsession with bling. A lot of stylistic experimentations and diversity – contrary to some rappers that will give you 12 similar songs in a row, Kendrick tries his hand at everything. Some amazing songs, like the quiet and sober Sherane, Good Kid with its almost Cypress Hill vibe, or mAAd city, great club music that suddenly turns into a ghetto anthem halfway through. The bad : Too much R&B influences for my taste. Too much drum machine. A very trendy, very 2010s-sounding “lazy syncopated flow” in some songs, something I can’t stand. Kendrick’s attempts at R&B / pop-rap are efficient, but really not my jam (I absolutely hated Bitch Don’t Cramp My Style). Some less inspired songs (Backseat Freestyle and Money Trees were annoying). This duality makes for an uneven album – I loved half the tracks, and was bored by the other half. Overall I understand where the hype comes from, and I won’t deny that Kendrick Lamar is talented. However, I still think he's a bit overrated - a good chunk of his fame comes from the fact that he's marketable to a wide demographic thanks to his versatile style. It's not necessarily a bad thing per se, but it can sometimes feel like pandering. Subjectively it’s a 3+ for me, since I doubt I'll listen again ; but I'll add bonus points for creativity and originality. As often with rap music on this generator, the thinly-veiled prejudices and hypocrisy of some of the reviewers also tend to make me more sympathetic towards this record. 6+1/10
This is almost 15 years old already. The guy helped put some respect back on US rap while we were busy diving into grit and flow killing autotune in France. Great flow, fun and creative lyrics deeply rooted in the hood, and a vibe that fits the whole. For me, a great album.
heerlijk album, low-key en muzikaal, echter was ik vergeten hoe matig ik bitch don't kill my vibe en backseat freestyle vind
A few good songs in there but ultimately not my style
considere 4 estrelas e meio
Zapamiętałem ten album po jego świetnych singlach, czy pojedynczych utworach, które słyszałem, overall nie sprawił mi tyle przyjemności co słuchanie np. maad City, swimming pools czy money trees. Nie bardzo mnie obchodzą niesnaski społeczeństwa amerykańskiego, więc może to do mnie nie dociera, ale niektóre bujają i od lat mam na playliście.
daxter type beats
I prefer Butterfly and some of the lyrics here are questionable to say the least, can’t help wondering if it will age badly or will be forgiven. But regardless I do love his flow and it’s an album that’s been crafted and is unusually serious for a rap album
Terrific narrative album that proves the test of time, however its sound is also slightly dated, it is clear this is a 2012 album by production. In some ways that can be a positive, but I think TPAB proves to be a more resonant and timeless album, whose sound exists outside of the era in which it was created.
This album was a pleasant surprise. It was fresh and inspiring. I am not the biggest hip hop/rap fan but an album like this could turn me into a big fan.
y'all bitches better not kill the vibe
9/10
4/5
este me gustó más, me gusta el arte que hace kendrick
I really like this album, I’d not listened to Kendrick before, I’ve downloaded several tracks that I need to listen to again.
this album feels like a project in the best way x
3,5
Great album. I love the understated paranoid beats. Somewhat let down by guests they should give another verse to Kendrick rather than lesser rappers like Drake and Jay Z.
love the linear yet non-linear set up of the album. hard-hitting lyrics and a good beat.
great album!!! had an interesting narrative
Kendrick voice is so powerful
Mid/high 3? Wanted to like this more, I love Damn. but this one just sags in the middle for me
3,5 Highlights: Good Kid, Compton
Not normally my type of music but I had actually heard a few of the songs before. Thought it was a good listen though probably a one and done for me
Good
Have listened many years ago but hadn’t gone back to in years. Enjoying the lyrics
wasn't rly my style but i did enjoy some of the music
I'm not really a hiphop listener, but I can appreciate it. And this is just an objectively good album
Muy bien
Quintessential Kendrick here. Probably tied for my favorite Kendrick record, along side Mr. Morale. Some heavy hitters on this project, not only for Kendrick's catalogue but for the rap game as a whole. Whether you like him or not, Mr. Lamar is one of the "Mount Rushmore" artists of the Modern rap/hip hop/music day and age. Listened to this one many times over in the past, and always jammed to it. I even forgot he had a Dr. Dre feature, which is just sick. Personal Ranking: 9/10 Favorite Tracks: Money Trees, Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe, Backseat Freestyle
Wauw, det var jeg ret tosset med.
uhhhhhh its been a really long time since i last heard this but i think it was pretty good. i like the one where he says please dont kill my wife.
Aunque había escuchado algunas puesas, nunca me había dado el tiempo de escuchar el álbum completo. Me gusta cómo tiene reminiscencias de su pasado y cómo lo plantea de una forma cruda y nostálgica, haciéndonos ver cada aspecto de su vida como si nosotros lo estuviéramos viviendo
Forgot how good the song m.A.A. city is. I think this is my favorite Kendrick album. 4/5
I don't pretend to begin to understand how to appreciate Kendrick Lamar, nor is he a go-to artist for me, but a compelling listen from beginning to end and gotta support the biggest LA artist we got going these days.
++: Sherane a.k.a. Master Splinter's Daughter, Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe, Backseat Freestyle, The Art of Peer Pressure, Poetic Justice, good kid, m.a.a.d city, Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst, Real, Compton +: Money Trees, Swimming Pools (Drank) 9,6/10
Loved this album, great vibe and reminds me of my youth.
Good one
This one is a certified heater. You can taste the beginnings of the idea of TPaB here, and though it doesn't quite square up to TPaB, this album is damn good. Each track flows well into the other, and they are really damn good while talking some really tough topics like gun violence, religion, and not getting your Domino's when your boy told you he was gonna pull through. My favorite track is either Money Trees or Backseat Freestyle.
I’m on a hot streak - more 4s and 5s than 2s and 3s lately, and this one is part of that. This might be the first Kendrick I listened to. A little alarming, being the white guy that I am, but my opinion of Kendrick being a modern-day poet who speaks volumes for his people still stands.
1. "Backseat Freestyle" 2. "Swimming Pools (Drank)" 3. "Real" (featuring Anna Wise)
Since I saw the artist and today's album cover I knew what kind of music I had to listen to. Don't take it the wrong way, I've never liked this genre very much, I felt that they were meaningless lyrics and that they were at the wrong time, it just didn't sound good. But after listening and reading the lyrics carefully I understood that it was something deeper than just letters and words. I really loved this album, there were new songs and some that I had heard before that I didn't even know were from the artist and much less that they were from this album. I got out of my comfort zone and it was good because I discovered that although sometimes it sountimely, I also like this kind of music.
wildly complex lyrics clearly presented in a range of styles paired with fairly sparse arrangements result in an album that's always very technically impressive but not necessarily always enjoyable to listen to.
Interesting. I quite enjoyed it
What a good album! I've always enjoyed Kendrick's music, it was amazing to see him at Osheaga in 2023, but I've mainly listened to his hits/singles. I really enjoyed listening through this one and I didn't know how many I knew from this album! Will be diving deeper into his discography!
Creo que he escuchado unas 2-3 de este álbum.
good
Liked the music! Listened to a few songs before but never the whole album
9 / 10
The last good hip-hop album?
Not bad at all. Don’t really listen to this genre much, so this was a pretty cool experience.
Kendrick's stuff doesn't always work for me - I have to be in the right mood - but when he hits he hits
kendrick kendrick kendrick.... this is maybe your best
Zieht sich, sind aber schon auch banger dabei
Really really good some bangers on here, love the Dre features he’s so smooth
Yeah I see why people say Kendrick is that good.
Good rap álbum, not much my type of music
Some fuckin bangers. And this goes for every rap song: Wouldn't have listened to it by itself if it weren't for this project. Slay.
My first time listening to a full rap record; feels unfair to dive into such a major genre via the sophomore album by the most acclaimed rap artist in history, but the truth is that, as a fairly privileged white woman from Dublin, I will just not have a deep understanding of American hip hop – it's a complex culture that I have zero experience with and never will. All I can do is let the music speak. With that said, Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City feels canonical. As an aspiring writer, I genuinely did sympathise with young Kendrick's ambition, his introspection, and his spiritual transformation. Truly immersed me into his Compton childhood, and actually fired quite a few gut-wrenching bullets into my back, but ends on a note that has turned out to be positive, seeing Kendrick's massive success. An honorary short film. Favourite tracks: "Poetic Justice", "Sing About Me, I'm Dying Of Thirst", "Real"
Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d city is the rare “major‑label debut” that feels less like an introduction and more like a fully formed memoir set to subwoofer‑rattling beats. It’s a coming‑of‑age story disguised as a blockbuster rap album—equal parts cinematic, confessional, and casually brilliant. Kendrick threads teenage misadventures, moral dilemmas, and Compton’s gravitational pull into a narrative so tight it makes most concept albums look like loose scribbles. The production swings from woozy to thunderous, but his pen never wavers; every verse feels like it’s been pressure‑washed for clarity. It’s ambitious without being self‑serious, vulnerable without slipping into melodrama, and catchy without sacrificing depth. A rare album that rewards both deep listening and loud‑car‑speakers listening. If this is the “good kid,” you can only imagine what the grown man has in store.
Fave song good kid. 7.4
Classsic
Hey, I knew it was possible to have good hip-hop on this list.
great album
I'm so glad I asked my friend about this album, and they told me this was a concept album. the second time I listened to it, I got so much more out of it. This album was produced by Tha Bizness. They did a beautiful job. this album was fun to listen to. Kendrick had a weird almost Muppet voice, but his flow is so confident, it really works. I enjoyed this album a lot.
Highly conceptual and rooted in what seems to be authenticity, this is a great showcase of how hip hop can be a vehicle for social commentary, linguistic prowess and connection with others. While I don’t think this is quite as strong as ‘To Pimp a Butterfly’, primarily due to lessened variety in musical influences shown here, it’s still a great listen.
Listening to "good kid, m.A.A.d city" by Kendrick Lamar for the first time as a white person Sherane: Not much my taste in terms of lyrics and the topic, but I get it. The voice mail at the end had me sit back in my seat and set my drawing pen down and listen to it. I don't know why it hit me so much but it definitely made me pause until the next song started playing. Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe: "I am a sinner, whose probably gonna sin again." stuck with me despite the chorus. It sticks out since the beat and vibe give a frat-like atmosphere. And then it just mentions the "sins" of something like a frat party with how everyone commonly drink, smoke, have sex, etc. Backseat Freestyle: Well given the title it's assumed that it's supposed to imitate freestyling in the backseat of a car. Another one of those songs where the lyrics aren't really for me but again I can see where they might come from given we already learnt women and sex were the main things on Kendrick's mind when he was a teen. The Art of Peer Pressure: I like the groove at the beginning, I will admit that. The switch up definitely is a contrasting change that breaks it down. The lyrics that talk about Kendrick hitting a blunt despite him usually being drug-free, get the message of the title of the song across. It was all peer pressure, because he was with his homies. Money Trees: I'll probably have to listen this a few times, probably look up the lyrics as well. But it sounds really good and a vibe. The voice mail coming back around with Kendrick's mom sounding more impatient and just telling Kendrick to come back really paints the picture that the family only have the one car that belongs to the mom. Poetic Justice: Aight the first minute is good, I like it. It's got a certain vibe of it that feels like I would have a nice drink to. Drake in it tho :/ look I know this was in 2012, but listening to this in the big 2026. Even back then he sounds lowkey mid. Actually, the whole song is nice like that. But it really is that one Drake segment that takes a mark off. good kid: Immediately I fuck with the beat and opening. I think the lyrics are really good as well. I like the rhythm and rhyme. It's an overall vibe that I can see myself digging into. M.A.A.D. City: Okay when I heard the opening I did not realize that's where that old sound came from. Well, that's something new I learnt. But the contrast between "good kid" & "M.A.A.D. City" is really well done, especially with how they got back to back. The lyrics are another one that goes hard and fire despite how dark they are. I'm starting to see why people praise Kendrick so highly and how he kept on winning awards. The song switching half way is another thing I dig, not even mentioning the breakdown it goes into. Again, the lyrics are dark as all hell and kind of sobering. I never had to deal with gang violence because, like stated in the very beginning of this, I'm white. Not even in the US, I'm across the Atlantic Blue off in Europe. Yeah you hear quite a bit about drugs, and even on the very rare occasion gun violence. But it's definitely a lot more tamer than the US. I never once had to deal with gang or gun violence, but even my heart felt a bit heavy hearing Kendrick talk about that one part about shooting someone when he was 16. Swimming Pools: I can see how this might tie back to "The Art of Peer Pressure" with how it's the peer pressure to drink about "swimming pool full of liquor, and they dive in it". Constantly mentioning drinking, like you'd expect from a party like that. The final extended part of the song also really sobers about failure, the bottom of the bottle, and the gunshots that follow in the dialogue that someone's brother got shot and died. Sing About Me / I'm Dying of Thirst: Despite the beat and Hip Pop/ Rap, the lyrics really are sobering all over again. It's obvious it's about losing someone early. And the part about women and how they end up ruined due to the system they get put in, even if a bit crude and vulgar, it is a really ugly reality that sobers. That sometimes you gotta take off the rose tinted glasses and look yourself in the mirror. I think that's just how I would describe the entire album as: Sobering. I think the longer I sit here listening to this album, the more clearer my vision feels as I feel more sobered up despite me never even putting my mouth to the edge of an alcohol bottle in my life. And then Dying of Thirst kicks in and now it feels even more depressing and grounding almost. Makes me realize how much safer I actually am, that I never had to deal with losing someone in such a tragic way. How much I've taken a lot of things for granted. How lucky I actually am despite how unfortunate I might think of myself to be at times. Real: How do we go from sobering to god damn ecstasy. From Loss and Death, to Love and how it can hurt despite trying to be your real, true self. To open up and put your heart out there only for it just get cut and bruised. With the pace and how the lyrics go, it feels like thoughts that run through your mind in that moment of consciousness and clearness you have before it's gone just as quick and sudden as it appeared. Compton: Honestly after the entire album and the emotional ride it took me for, I was just slowly nodding and bobbing my head to the beat. And I think after going from the last few tracks, I like this ending. It's like embracing home and coming back to it, even if I've never in my life been to Compton, nor the US in general. The final lyrics of the track being: "Mom, I finna use the van real quick! Be back, 15 minutes!, looping back around to the beginning track of the album, it's a neat touch I really appreciate. Final Thought: I can see why this album is so well loved, I think I finally get why so many people adore Kendrick for his music, and it just might be a crime it took me so long to listen to this album. Or maybe it's not, maybe I just needed to wait for this album to come to me instead, to find me at the time when I might've been ready enough to listen to it, and actually understand it, even to what might've been my understanding of it (aka, something that probably wasn't quite right, but it got the spirit).
Thirty years after The Chronic, Kendrick’s chronicle of life in Compton is another solid album front to back, and one I would listen to in front of my kids without fear. Poetic Justice is a great song with a weak-ass Drake spot, but it’s nice that Kendrick got his revenge later.
J'ai pas écouté beaucoup de rap dans ma vie, but i'd wrap his music around my dick and fuck all night (ya feel me?) Nah sans joke bon album, agréablement surpris. Un peu trop de vulgarité par bouts, mais i guess que ça vient avec le genre, bitch. Il va falloir que je m'assois un bon jour et que j'écoute ses paroles avec plus d'attention, il semble avoir de bons textes. Chanson préférée : Sing About Me, I'm Dyin (lowkey des vibes jazzy de Nujabes, me likey) Mentions honorables : The Art of Peer Pressure et Money Trees (ya bich) Shoutout Drake 🗣️
Kdot es la cabra bro
Estaba good af
Pretty good
Great album. One of, if not, my favorite album from his discography. First song and last couple fall a bit flat, however, the meat of the album is so peak you overlook those pieces. Will continue to revisit this album for years I imagine.
I mean how could you not
classic
One star off because it isn’t as good as TPAB, but it’s still absolutely fantastic. Ending is especially good.
Lots of bangers and great mix overall.
Daft Punk, if it was daft.
Na primeira metade eu não tava tão na vibe do álbum, tava curtindo, mas não tanto, e quando tocou swimming pools (que eu acredito ser a música mais famosa do álbum) me pareceu q o álbum deu uma virada, talvez tenha sido só impressão mas fiquei muito imersa. Gostei muito
One of the best rap albums of the century
Some big hits and a cohesive sound. I hadn’t previously realized there was a story/concept for the album having not listened to the whole thing in one sitting. It’s a solid album but I prefer some of his others.
One of the goat rap albums
I was honestly kind of stalling when it came to listening to this. I ended up liking it a lot. The production on it is fantastic and the songs are super catchy. It's kind of funny that one of the songs has Drake on it.
Cool album
For the first couple of songs of this album, I didn't know what to make of it - Kendrick's voice seemed annoying and it didn't seem that ground-breaking - but as the album goes on, it just sucks you in to the world and the story. Some great beats, production, and lyrics.
A bit long but tells a story that enthralled me and the production is WAY better than I expected.
honestly don't think i'd ever heard the name of this album but I know like 90% of the songs...great stuff would probably give this 5 stars but i hate Backstreet Freestyle too much
That 12 minute song has good vibes
I don't think I've ever listened to much rap, maybe some Eminem, the music was pretty interesting, and honestly so were the lyrics (and special effects)
A classic—real, authentic, great story-telling that’s absolutely heartfelt.
Great musicality! Particularly in 'm.A.A.d city'.
Not fan of hip hop or rap music, but I must say this has one of the best storytellings in album I ever heard. Really impressed. Must check more of his work.
TAOPP - 3/5 BF - 1/5 BDKMV(IR/EV) - 4/5 SAMIDOT - 5/5
The first few songs had me worried. I don't love the way the songs talk about women. But the rest of the album improved from that point, so I think I'll give it a slight pass. The song where Kendrick speaks from a woman's POV was interesting. 4/5. P.S. I saw a review saying (to paraphrase) that when black hip-hop artists talk shit about women it's fine but when a white artist does it it's seen as misogynistic. Sweetie. I've heard white artists say MUCH worse things about women than Kendrick does here, especially on this list, and I see almost NO ONE else calling it out. But the second it's a black artist suddenly everyone is anti-misogyny. We as humans should be calling out ALL misogyny when we see it. But if you only pretend to care about women so that you have an "excuse" to be racist, then you can fuck right off.
Mui lindo
I'm less surprised at enjoying this one! Lyrics were... bold in places, but great music
has some great tracks def a defining album of the 2010's wasnt really feeling the energy this listen though its been long time since ive listened but still good
I'll be a pedantic dork. I like this album a lot, but one of the reasons I like it is Now or Never. I remember driving into Chicago with my sister and the chorus felt so right with the night skyline. Now or Never is on the deluxe edition, however, and we are reviewing the standard. Without Now or Never: 4.5 With: easy 5 Other favorites: Poetic Justic Swimming Pools Compton
i love an introspective album, especially when the lyricism is as good as this one. while i don't like it as much as kendrick's later work (i think i prefer every subsequent album to this one), i can appreciate the gravitas of this album and i respect both the musicality and the storytelling, even if there are some songs ("Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe", I am so so so sorry) that I don't really like. i think "The Art of Peer Pressure" is fucking poetry, and "Poetic Justice" is such an earworm for me. it's a low four, but i guess it's still a four. i'm inclined to give it a 3, but when i like about other albums i've given a 3, i don't think i like them as much as this one. whatever. numbers are beginning to feel somewhat arbitrary.
Very nice, 8/10 kendrick
This is not my genre usually, but this was good. There was certainly stuff I didn’t particularly like, but the stuff I liked impressed me so much it jumped my rating up. It was cinematic, it was introspective, it was a concept album that was easily understandable and worked. Kendrick is a great lyricist. 4/5
This is where K.Dot gets very good at painting a picture with words.
Rap isn’t really my genre but even I can recognize Kendrick is an absolute genius.
I don't love Rap. I dislike the current genre of mumble rap, trap and relevant nonsense. Kendrick is somehow different. Musically a bit more interesting in a flow sense, lyrically questionable. Enjoyed - maybe a weak 5 but a strong 4. Enjoyed BDKMV, money trees
Maad city a banger
Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe m.A.A.d city Swimming Pools
Pretty much a movie in album form. Kendrick's narration is dense and detailed, while listening to this album I feel like I live through the things he's rapping about. And the story is heavy - adolescence, drugs, peer pressure, crime, faith. Kendrick seems stuck between the idea of fitting in and escaping and he covers it in a deeply profound way. The album bounces between all these topics delivering anthemic bangers and heart wrenching introspection one after another. You get amazing hype bangers on the 2 title tracks that fit into the narrative of the album incredibly well, and they're balanced out by beautiful reflective songs like Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe. Poetic Justice has one of my fav beats here with that Janet sample and it's really fun to hear Kendrick and Drake on a song together. Money Trees is an amazing reflection on materialism, one of the biggest anthems here. The album climaxes with SAMIDOT, a gorgeous song that ties all of it together. I think the album should have ended here, but instead we get Real which is easily the weakest song of the bunch. Oh well. The album is still amazing and I'm glad it made it to the list.
M.a.a.d City great tune love the old.school beats which come in in the 2nd half of the tune. Have it in my running list. Generally there is some chilled hip hop tunes as well. Quite a bit of swearing for the younger listeners.
A modern classic of hip-hop! It’s a great concept album and showcases Kendrick vivid writing style with smooth but dense production. 4.2/5.0
High drama, chill beats, sad stories. Kendrick is so good.
Great storylines and some real bops, too. I like this iteration of Kendrick a lot.
Peak 4.5/5
Haven't heard a full Kendrick album before, songs are very good, enjoyed it a lot, and I thought the lyrics were funny in a few songs. So versatile and the album just rolls with it.
Really not bad at all
Hip hop from the LA Dr Dre school possibly the best in the field
perhaps one of the best modern hip hop albums
Not a big fan of Kendrick but this album is amazing. A few songs I dislike such as Backseat Freestyle but the rest are all good. Can’t give it a 5 as Drake is just better.
Surprisingly enjoyable given I generally don’t like hip hop
banger denne åg. Digge money trees og poetic justice og sing for me im dying of thirst. Beste sang: Money trees
I like👏👏👏
9/10
Sometimes artists can come along and burst through a genre sending it in another direction. Kendrick was a new direction for rap with this album. It’s a little bloated, but a new modern classic.
Really great listen. I’ve never heard a Kendrick album in full before, so I’m always glad to find rap albums that I really like that aren’t from the artists I usually listen to. I’ll say that I usually look out for the lyrics in rap albums, but I feel like I focused more on the backing tracks for this one, for better or worse, but they were really well done.
Qué album. Qué artista. El mejor de este siglo, por lejos, y por ahora. 8/10
Not my favorite record by him, but the last couple have raised its esteem. It is an interesting album to revisit.
The best Kendrick album, but why did he have to destroy what would've been one of the greatest hiphop songs ever by ending every sentence with an annoying "uh" at the second half of Sing About Me, Im Dying of Thirst?