Reviews (page 7 of 14)
I hated listening to this, but I don't think it's actually bad, thus a 2
I preferred the album after this one as this one seemed to be more straightforward gangsta rap. There were some tracks that sounded good and from what I read it seems to be a satire of culture that I grew up in. Worth listening to again.
bitch dont kill my vibe
Elment, de nem hoz lázba továbbra sem Kendrick Lamar
Awful 😖 I thought I didn't like rap music, now I realise I hate it. Language dreadful (and more importantly totally unnecessary) Best track: Obviously the shortest one.
It’s kendrick.
ffs
Ok, had some good parts but not really for me. Not as good as To Pimp A Butterfly.
My personal favourite kendrick album, there are no skips and the lyrics and storytelling is unmatched.
It took until "good kid" for this album to click with me, but from there on out I have few complaints. Kendrick Lamar's vocals are laid back, almost conversational in places, like he is just telling you a story. I think it is this attribute which makes the more emotionally charged lyrics even more intense. The first part of the album didn't engage me as much, either in music or content, unfortunately.
weighted and deep lyrics, religous touch with elevated gangsta rap, very wide range, biographical elements, very long songs, voice message "Money trees"/"Poetic justice"/"Good kid"/Swimming pools (drank)
Bitch don’t kill my vibe Backseat freestyle Money trees Poetic justice Swimming pools
Bish, don't kill my vibe. Really great album, loved it!
Strong 3. Obviously iconic, landing nicely on the ears
Nope
This is one of my favorite albums. It’s one of the best hip hop albums of all time, and one of the best concept albums of all time. Kendrick Lamar is destined to go down as one of the greatest to ever do it.
Not my usual thing but enjoyed some of it. I can see why it’s on the list.
Crazy
И вот снова: буквально позавчера я был на концерте Кальмара, а вчера попался его альбом. Послушав GNX несколько раз, в том числе вживую, я проникся наверное еще большей любовью к gkmc. Драматичный и очень разный. Бэнгеры через один. Sing About Me, I'm Dying Of Thirst - это просто пиздец для мэйнстрип рэп-альбома. К О Н Ц Е П Т, эмайрайт? И это работает. Кальмар до сих пор, наверное, играет хорошего парня в кругах зажравшихся хипхоперов, и потому эта каминг-оф-ейдж история выглядит прямо началом эпика, который выльется в биф с Дрейком и всей ебнутой индустрией. Лучшая песня - Backseat Freestyle.
I appreciated the chance to fully listen to the story. I’ve always liked Kendrick Lamar but this was elevated.
Purely digital music. Reminds of Kanye West mixed with Dr. Dre. Lyrically more advanced. Really interesting concept album about gang violence, black poverty, material success fantasy - has a point of view and the lyrics and rhythms work well to advance the themes. Notables include Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe, The Art of Peer Pressure, Money Trees, good kid, m.A.A.d city, Swimming Pools (Drank), Sing About Me I’m Dying of Thirst, Compton.
AMAZING HIP HOP RECORD! I’m really shocked I like it that much.
I love this album, my first album from Kendrick and it just has a wonderful flow that hooks you. This is what an album is supposed to be, just wonderful production and always mixing it up to keep your attention. Every song on this is great and I need to listen to more of his stuff.
Class
very solid.
Some 10/10 songs, some are not too special. Kendrick’s rap is always on top, but in comparison to his later releases, this one just isn’t as strong anymore.
LITERALLY MY FAVOURITE ALBUM OF ALL TIME IT'S JUST SO PERFECT IN EVERY WAY N THE CONCEPT N EVERYTHING R JS SO WELL THOUGHT OUT
Top tier
5 Summer of my sophomore year of high school. Just got my drivers license. ‘92 ford tempo. All red interior, electric seatbelts, no airbags. This album had dropped a year prior and it was the first thing I put on when I pulled out of the driveway for the first time. From then on, I would just drive around town blaring this album. I probably listened to it regularly for 3 years straight. It will always be one of my favorites of all time and brings me back to that moment every time I hear it or think about it. It was the first rap album that enthralled me, which is strange because I can’t really relate to the content of the album on a personal level, but there is something about the rawness of the storytelling that is undeniably powerful. It will be an album that sticks with me until I die.
Classy stuff from Kendrick, but not his best album
It doesn’t get much better.
Really good as far as rap goes.
Nigger this, nigger that, fuck this audio waterboarding.
About as good as a pure rap album gets
I can’t pinpoint why I can’t get into Lamar, maybe it’s his flow. I respect it, it’s just not for me.
Still awesome 13 years later, amazing.
Though it had rhythm and rhyme, it was still boring.
He has good flow. The songs all have different vibes, but they do sound like a cohesive album. Favorite song: the art of peer pressure
Give me all of that you got. Also the way I rushed to the reviews... Loved all the boomer refusals to even try and listen. "ITs jUsT tHAt RaP CraP AbOUt ShOoTinG GuNs aNd dIsReSpECtiNg WomEn" This whole list is just a self congratulatory jerk off by boomers to pretend their music was the best thing that ever happened. And so much of it is pure ass. There is absolutely no reason for Neil Young to be on this list 9 times.
Firstly, this album is no longer in the 1001 list, having only had a short lived entry, so I didn’t need to listen to it before I die. Secondly, I did give it several plays as I know there should be something in this that I should like. However, no joy at all. Public Enemy, NWA, Wu-Tang Clan, five stars from me. Not even Dr. Dre’s involvement in closer Compton provides any real lift here.
My only exposure to this album (and pretty much Kendrick Lamar's music) until now were Vines in 2013 that took the most memetic 7 seconds of songs like Swimming Pools (Drank) and spun them into some eye catching joke. Very sad considering the fact that pretty much none of it is jokey... I love albums that depict very real pains and imperfections that are inescapable by many.
Awesome album. Loved the beats and even though I didn’t understand the lyrics a lot of times, his flow was great as well. The skits are a bit long and much at times tho.
It's OK, not as good as I expected.
goated
4.5 but rounding down
The overall theme tied up on a cohesive album was great. You can tell Kendrick is really passionate describing growing up in Compton and his experiences. The production value was good. I can see how this is a classic.
I liked it a lot
70/1001. Another Lamar for me, tpab was first, so this is sort of in the wrong order. This definitely is an album that would need more listens. But the problem is that I don't really listen to this kind of music. Nor that I wouldn't want to, but there is just too much beyatch to get over.
Unbelievable lyricism and storytelling but it just wasn't scratching an itch for me, definitely just new territory for me and I know I would enjoy it much more after a few listens.
All time rap album
My favorite rap album of all time, and a top ten album overall for me. Combination of great production and storytelling and a good overall message. It’s also cool the way each track stands on its own, but the sequencing shows the album musically heats up over the course of the tracks. I also find I’m able to justify the more “gangsta” songs, like Backseat Freestyle, because of the way they fit into the overall album. As someone who’s not usually a big rap fan, I’m glad I’ve been able to get multiple 5 star albums out of the genre through this challenge. It also makes me sad seeing so many reviews saying something along the lines of “why is this socially conscious of when the lyrics are so offensive?”. It’s fine if you aren’t interested in literary analysis, but you can’t refuse to look deeper then the surface and then act like there isn’t anything deep at all. Favorite Track: Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst
I like the variety of the beats.
2010s gen z childhood music
the beat is the exact same throughout the album and the phone skits were jarring and placed oddly
Don’t think I’m the target audience for this
quite the rap, see why the kids enjoy
Not quite the star quality as his more recent music.
No skip album
Really liked it! Not the biggest fan of the newer Kendrick Lamar stuff but this one I enjoyed a lot. Wondered why most of the language was edited out…
No es mi estilo
4.5 awesome classic hip hop album I love it
Modern classic
Not my style. Very long and struggled to make it through.
Alt utenom de to låtene mellom Swimming Pools og Compton er sylskarpt og noe av det beste jeg har vært borti. Mister litt fokus mot slutten, med langdryge og kjedelige låter, som gjerne bare skulle vært kutta, eller forkorta kraftig. Beste låt: The Art of Peer Pressure
Bunnsolid album, rett og slett en hit-parade. Favoritt låt: Swimming Pools & Bitch Don't Kill my Vibe
Kult nok. Et par gromlåter.
I think I'll check out more - not Deb's thing at all though!
good, not kendricks best but I really liked the narrative stringing shit together. Most songs very enjoyable, some songs are a bit excessively long but otherwise strong.
Not my usual thing but in the right mood I would enjoy this. Not sure.
Oh boy, here comes a review of Kendrick Lamar from a non-rap listener. Guess it took this long for me to listen to him, because I gusss the Drake beef and the Super Bowl weren’t enough. I heard plenty of good things about Kendrick, but let’s just say that I didn’t reach an epiphany from this. Some of the problems I have with rap albums are present here, such as the long length (why are most rap albums fucking an hour long) and the questionable lyrical material. I don’t mean “questionable” like offensive, but more in the sense of juvenile. I’m starting to come to terms that shit like this is what to expect in rap/hip-hop albums and Kendrick couldn’t convince me otherwise. He has, however, provided some refreshing changes. For one, there aren’t any skits in the sense that they are…voicemails? Is that what you would call them? Whatever they are, they add more value to the album than any stupid skit would have. I also noticed that I liked the latter half of the album more than the former, probably because it shows Kendrick maturing as the album goes on. It’s a nice little touch that gives this album a slight edge over some of the other hip-hop I heard. Overall, I’m not completely sold on Kendrick Lamar. I can see why many would love this album, but it’s really not for me personally. Maybe his later efforts can help convince me. I’m sure that there are down the pipeline on this site. Favorite track: Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thrist Other hits: Swimming Pools (Drank), Real, Compton, Money Trees, Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe
I was not really enjoying this until it got to good kid, but even after that it was just alright
Fantastic storytelling album.
This album was initially very hard to review. One reason was cause it contains really polarizing songs. For example, “backseat freestyle” is easily one of my favorite Kendrick songs EVER. But the contrast is that I hate “poetic justice”. Which I don’t say lightly. The only other main criticism is for me personally, I don’t really care for introduction into the album and I think the last four tracks are also super forgettable. But the heart of this album, the real meat, are tracks 3-5, and 7-9. Those songs are truly great and amazing, and they so full of life and energy. They really feel like fun songs that, while being taken very seriously, are refreshing and exciting. Honestly if you took the tracks I liked off this album it would probably get a perfect score, but I appreciate the imperfections and I think it’s nearly a perfect album which is more than you can really ask for.
Such a great listen with so many good songs.
5.0/some full blown racists in these reviews, wow! kendrick is truly generational. the run he has been on for over a DECADE is incredible. this album is a masterpiece. energetic, thoughtful, story driven, empathic, real, it's got it all. if you can't see the glory of this album i'm just sorry. vinyl in collection.
This album was better than I expected. I appreciated that it did not have overkill of cussing and womanizing. I appreciated that he talked about faith and getting out of the bad situations in Compton without being a drug lord.
Great album to kick off his career
I can appreciate the lyrical skills Kendrick has and the stories he tells. He’s a great storyteller and his songs are super complex, which is more than can be said for most of the “classic” rap albums that are on this list we’ve had so far. I do think this is much, much better than a lot of the rap albums we’ve had and it’s light years beyond gangsta rap in terms of lyrical content and storytelling. However, it does suffer from the same drawback that almost every other rap album suffers from of just being too long. It doesn’t need to be over an hour. That’s just not necessary.
meh. hip hop is not my thing. can appreciate the sounds & different samples but don't find him the gifted lyricist that many do.
Songs were kinda hit or miss for me. Best song: Backseat Freestyle Notable(s): Bitch, Dont Kill My Vibe, Swimming Pools (Drank)
3/10 Jeez, what a slog. There is nothing here for me. No tunes, no bass lines of bot. Rythms are about as tedious as they can get. Stupid answer phone messages. And lyrics? That's all it's got and I don't care for them. At all It did lift me at the end cos I thought it was 1hr18, but the last two tracks were bonus repeats, so I didn't need to listen to those. The nobber out a 12mins track in near the end, but that couldn't deter my glee at knowing I was going to make it to the end! Never will I need to listen to this album again. Hoorah!
I always think I'm not a rap fan and then I listen to Kendrick and realize that I actually do like it. This album was a lovely listen and it's funny to see that he had a song with Drake back in 2012 and then everything in 2024 went down. Although "Sing About Me I'm Dying of Thirst" went on way too long, I still really liked this one. I liked To Pimp a Butterfly more, but I still enjoyed this one
Removed Album #14 (List: https://pastebin.com/cSThNiK9) Yes, seriously. For whatever reason, Good Kid, m.A.A.d City has been scrubbed from future editions of the book. I dislike the music of Kendrick Lamar and consider TPAB to be the worst album I’ve ever heard. But, even so, it’s shocking to me that this album was decommissioned. Kendrick Lamar’s second and third albums are the biggest things to have come from the music industry in a long, long time. I’d argue that nothing from the 2000s through to current year has measured up to the indelible mark that this album and its successor have had on popular music. Good Kid, m.A.A.d City is an album I’ve heard before, so I don’t have to give this one the two-listen treatment. While I have nothing but scathing criticisms for TPAB, I recall having a much kinder opinion of m.A.A.d City. I came away with the impression that I could one day like this album if I ever came to appreciate hip-hop. That day still hasn’t come, though nevertheless I’m still curious about giving this album another go. I don’t remember my exact opinion on the songs of m.A.A.d City, though I imagine I’m a little more favourable to this than I was previously. While I will always have my reservations about Kendrick’s vocal talent, the lyrics on m.A.A.d City are much better than I remember them being. It’s been a good while since I last sat down and read along to the lyrics of an album. As a non-Ebonics-user, there was also some novelty in trying to understand all of the hood lingo. Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe is a good start. I enjoy the instrumental. The lyrics kinda taper off early without really going anywhere, though in all fairness this song is one of the less narrative-focused ones. The Art of Peer Pressure tells an effective story with some good lyrics. I enjoy the tension of the song - something that is generally very difficult to capture within music. That’s kind of where my positive comments end. The album falls into a slump somewhere down the middle and never recovers. Many of songs are extremely repetitive and are stretched out for way longer than they ever needed to be. I think this is largely owed to the lyrics. With each track having a million verses, I felt that the sheer number of words on this album sabotaged whatever emotional impact could come from being concise and to-the-point. Some of the songwriting is astoundingly shitty, especially around the choruses. Backseat Freestyle is the king of this. I get it’s meant to be a vapid song, though that doesn’t salvage the track when it’s already so aggressively unlistenable. Swimming Pools and Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst are other exemplars. I remember this album having more of a narrative arc than it wound up having. Most of the album rides on a slow downward tilt until the death of Dave, after which it suddenly bounces back without much rumination or reflection. There isn’t any real cohesion between the songs, either. Maybe I’m expecting too much from this album, but I’ve had it hammered into my skull that this is a concept album and, as such, should meaningfully explore a concept. Kind of disappointed that I didn’t have an epiphany with this album though, again, I think this is a worthwhile addition to the list. While only having a cursory knowledge of hip-hop, I can hear how Kendrick has single-handedly revolutionised political hip-hop. It’s much more emotionally resonant and personal than the acts to come before, which is perhaps what the genre really needed. Why was this album removed? Beats me, though if I’m to guess it would be due to TPAB being the bigger album and both albums scratching the same concept album itch, even if they are very thematically different from one another.
I don’t know what it is about Kendrick Lamar, but he’s the one hip hop artist where I could say with some degree of certainty that I’d love any album I hadn’t yet heard. The first I listened to was To Pimp A Butterfly and I loved it, and each subsequent album has only increased my love for him music. This album is no different. His lyrics are meaningful and draw you in, and the music itself is always interesting. Sure, there are some questionable lyrics (something about his tallywacker being as big as the Eiffel Tower), but the rest of the music is good enough for me to look past this.
Money City is, of course, the popular choice, yet there are other bangers that delve into social and political issues that feel personal.
I always consider Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst the last song on this album. Its the perfect concluding song to a perfect album.
Yooooo banger Already know almost every song already
Elite album
If this album ends with Swimming Pools it’s a stone cold 5. Even so, it’s still very close. I think his best stuff is here
Really funny listening to Poetic Justice in light of...everything. Local sports radio uses the sample on Sing About Me I'm Dying of Thirst as an intro to rant about Steve Yzerman's decision making and the hubris of Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell. Same same. Great album, Kendrick is one of the great songwriters of our generation. Feel like it drags a little bit at the end but I think this is probably my favorite project of his.
I love the phone skits. Some songs are a little long for my taste, but there are some jams in here. Probably a 3.5
Absolutely essential
Everytime im in the streets...
It's a 5, very easy, no doubt. Dre popping up awkwardly as is tradition is fine. ...except poetic justice kinda sucks, and I blame Drake for that
It’s fine
Not my style
wasn’t really my style but i guess it had some good beats
Didn't know him before, good rap album
Probably one of the better Hiphop artists, probably good lyrics. But I am not into that style really.
I gave a previous Kendrick Lamar album 3 stars, which is a lot for me for a rap album. It's really not my style, but this guy is good at what he does. This one also has his moments, but it also has more nonsense. I somewhat enjoyed the more straightforward tracks like both of the title tracks. But the more fluff, the less I enjoyed it. Miss me with skits, conversations, auto-tune, cartoon voices, etc. Tracks like Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe, Swimming Pools, or Real just really don't feel like they're worth finishing and I skipped forward half-way through.
Hip-hop! I like the beats but not crazy about the lyrics (except good kid, madd city and sing about me i’m dying of thirst) and felt the themes were cheapened by the usual flexing and misogyny you see in lots of music. It did feel very cohesive and I liked the sound overall but lyrically not for me and wouldn't to the whole album listen again. 7/10
One of the few “modern” rap albums I enjoy
Come on now...how are global ratings on this below a 4?!
Not into this genre but i enjoyed some
Not really my style, but I could appreciate the quality of production. I actually enjoyed reading about the story behind the album more than the album itself
Its an album of two halves and the second is definitely better.
no me ha dado tiempo a escucharlo jaja
Zuhause, Heidenheim, Deutschland. joa, overrated…
damn this is so good. backseat freestyle, money trees, swimming pools. i can just listen to this whole thing over and over
Again, I am not a big rap fan, but I did not hate this one. I read some reviews before hand so I really listened to the lyrics. The story telling stood out for me. It felt less like a collection of songs and more like a movie about his life. Overall I get why people love this album. I can appreciate the creativity.
Huge fan of this album. There are some great songs, and the storytelling in each song is amazing.
Such a great album. I think I understood the story as a kid who grew up in Compton getting sucked into all of the crime before making it out and getting his life together? That was my interpretation. Either way, this is Kendrick at his peak. So many good songs. One of the best albums of the 21st century.
Kendrick is an important artist and this is really good. It’s worth listening to if only to show the promise Kendrick was to demonstrate. He was to mature. But this is a strong debut.
I hate gangsta rap. I find the glorification of violence, misogyny and homophobia just appallingly distasteful. On a surface level, the characters and narrative incidents of 'Good Kid Ma.a.d City' are not dissimilar from many 90s East Coast gangsta albums, and yet they couldn't be more different. Kendrick embraces complexity, narrative, emotion, and (dare I say it) humanity. I didn't grow up in Compton, but this is a telling of that story and those characters that I can understand and relate to. This is art. This is that album that achieves the promise of hip hop. I have listened to it through three times today, and I am genuinely moved. I was going to rate this four stars, but the more I listen to it, the better it gets and the more I get out of it. I normally hate skits, but in terms of supporting the narrative, they are almost forgivable here. I think this really is a classic album you need to hear. Five stars.
Nup, this sucks. 1/5
3.5
Thematic and cohesive as an album
Fantastic stuff. I liked this just as much as TPAB. The man's a poet.
Not for me.
There were some OK songs.
The backing tunes aren't at all bad except some annoying bloke keeps talking over the top of them.
Some beats are good.
Very few modern hiphop albums can bridge the cinematic vibes of earlier concept albums and the focus on producing fire singles of today, this one nails it
alright, kinda cool as an art piece, maybe wouldnt listen to it all the time. once again, good for background music (maybe at a party) but no songs jumped out at me
if i could give it zero stars i would
Enjoyed it!
Nice
I'd be lying if I said I was up to speed on modern hip-hop, or if I claimed to be an expert. Kendrick Lamar seems to be a name that keeps coming up though, and all I have heard (that I am aware of) until now is They Not Like Us. So, straight off the bar, as much as I love De La Soul, I've never really quite understood the concept of the hip-hop "skit", and neither am I in any way religious - so the "praise the lord" answerphone shit going on here is off-putting from the get-go. Obviously, this is lyrically dense (even compared to other rap albums) so I am not going to have time to absorb everything on that front. That said, apart from a bit of soul-searching and self-reflection, we we seem to be in familiar gangsta territory... so my take on Good Kid M.a.a.d City kind of stands or falls on the quality of the music, and to be honest I was more than a little disappointed. It's fairly sparse and uninspiring for the most part, only a handful of tracks struck me as being built around an interesting sample or beat - musically, the bulk of it sounded more like late 90s R 'n' B than what I would call hip-hop. After a couple of listens, I'm still not really sure what all the fuss is about to be honest.
One of the best albums ever.
You’ve heard of wall of sound. This is wall of words.
Sing about me/dying of thirst is very good and very sad as is a lot of the album
Great album. Lyrical storyteller. Solid beats. Love.
Never dove into a full Kendrick album. I knew the production would be on point and his flow is nasty. Aside from that, I liked the way the album unfolded and got a little more accessible and closer to an R and B vice later on the album. Good use of skits to help the story unfold.
It was fine. Nothing spectacular.
I'm beginnin' to feel like a Rap God, Rap God All my people from the front to the back nod, back nod Now, who thinks their arms are long enough to slap box, slap box? They said I rap like a robot, so call me Rap-bot Uh, summa-lumma, dooma-lumma, you assumin' I'm a human What I gotta do to get it through to you? I'm superhuman Innovative and I'm made of rubber so that anything you say is ricochetin' off of me and it'll glue to you and I'm devastating, more than ever demonstrating How to give a motherfuckin' audience a feeling like it's levitating Never fading, and I know the haters are forever waiting... - eminem. maada city
Would it be cool if I loved him and loved this? Most of the music is definitely cool. Minimalist, a backdrop, a soundtrack. I know he's widely revered but far too much here is predictable, especially the sexual references. I can't tell if they are supposed to be funny? Some may just be unintentionally hilarious! I expected more genuine social commentary. There is some, especially later on in the album, but even then it doesn't grab me, it's too clichéd. And turning to God, or the idea of turning to God, does nothing for me. Another issue! His spoken word vocals are cool sometimes, but so annoying when he does the high squeaky stuff! Is that even him? Near the end "Real' goes on and on about loving yourself. A tired message. 'Compton' is closer to what I expected from the whole album. Hey ho, maybe I'm just old. For rap with social commentary I prefer Public Enemy and 'The Message'. Away from rap Bob Dylan, Matt Johnson, Billy Bragg, Morrissey, even The Housemartins and more recently Bob Vylan all have more to say. Gets a third star, but only just.
“Good kid, Mad city”. The title of this album says it all, perfectly summing up the concept that holds this entire record together, making it the classic that it has already become. You can grow up a good kid, from good parents, but if you are unfortunate to lose the lottery on inherited wealth, growing up in an inner city suburb can drastically affect your life outcomes. This album tells that story from the perspective of Kendrick himself, who lived this life growing up in Compton. I think the best analogy I can use to bridge the generational gap to British Mums and Dads, is that this album is surprisingly aligned to the line from Pulp’s “Common People”: “And we’ll drink, and dance, and screw, because there’s nothing else to do.” When good people are left without options, they can make bad decisions that can drastically impact their futures. Rap is the best format for expressing the detrimental consequences this had on the lives of him and his childhood friends, as it allows some vivid and clever nuanced to be painted. “Swimming Pools (Drank)” always stands out to me in this regard. Hidden under the thin, deceptive veil of a hiphop-pop club banger about drinking a lot of alcohol (commonplace in the early 2010s), Kendrick tells a powerful story about the dangers of conformity and peer pressure. This narrative is further continued on “The Art Of Peer Pressure”, where he explains how he is normally a mild-mannered, respectful person, except when influenced by his peers. The album comes to a beautiful conclusion with “Sing About Me”, that is a truly sobering realisation of the consequences of letting a “mad city” control you. Absolute classic that will always be remembered.
An album that fully deserves its ‘classic’ status. Not sure how I haven’t listened to this before really, though most of the tracks I’ve heard individually. Kendrick is great. As always the lyrics, wordplay, and productions are on point. This album felt a bit more playful than his later stuff, kinda reminded me of Kanye in places.
5/5. I am glad we have the updated list because a list like this without Kendrick is incomplete. It's also clear from others on this website that they lack media literacy. This is a concept album, Kendrick is telling us a story about growing up in Compton and the album starts off with an exaggerated version of his younger self and he evolves throughout, recognizing who he is and the changes he goes through. How are you going to listen to Sing About Me, I'm Dying Of Thirst and tell me this is "gangsta" rap? This is one of the best albums of this century, period. I've heard this at least 50 times now and it's still fresh and great. A classic forever. Best Song: Compton, M.A.A.D. City, B**** Don't Kill My Vibe, Sing About Me I'm Dying Of Thirst
All-timer, obviously. Seems to have solidified itself above TPAB for me.
The beginning was a hard listen hearing the mindset of a teenager so crude and toxic (in their toxic world). The music was good and I like there being a journey over the album. I think I would have to listen a few times to appreciate more of the arc. I
Not my thing, I get there's talent but I think even this more nuanced or intelligent gangster rap still fundamentally is situated in a hyper masculine point of view that I'm never going to connect with. 2
Listened to this twice, the second playing clicked. Damn is still my favourite, but this is strong throughout and a real grower. Would recommend listening with the lyrics. The backing is just first class as well. 9/10 (round to 5/5)
Thought about not voting. I get it he's not a gangster, but brought up in that environment. Still not comfortable with the vibe and language.
It is most definitely conscious hip hop. The through line is in the title - he’s a good kid in a mad city. He is a world away from being a gangster, even if he’s surrounded by them. You hear him talk with relief and regret over an early (almost) run in with the law on The Art of Peer Pressure. The features on this album are quite clever, in contrast Jay Rock and MC Eiht play the role of trouble makers, rapping about guns and cocaine while Kendrick’s response is "and they wonder why I rarely smoke now.” The repeated themes of prayer and religion push this further - his mind is on other things. While other rappers are rapping about drugs and gangs, he’s rapping about how his family and faith serve as a grounding force. He is exploring his struggle to stay true to their values while being exposed to the various negative forces of his environment. Okay, he’s also rapping about drinking and his hot girlfriend, but you get my point. The album manages to be robust but light and good fun throughout. On an album full of highlights Swimming Pools (Drank) is a really nice hit of pop rap. I could imagine this getting better with each listen.
What to say? The record that got me into hip hop about 15 years ago (thanks Ben).
Love the storytelling and depth of his lyrics and the music production is fantastic as well. 10/5 ⭐️s
Kendrick is pretty good, I think this was my first time going out of my way listening to his music and it leaves a good impression.
A hip-hop masterpiece that is bold and ambitious but also a ton of fun to jam to. That's what makes Kendrick Lamar so special. When he's at his best, the artistic and commercial pursuits merge into one, and he makes an album that features hit singles in addition to a meticulous attention to detail and powerful storytelling. Take "Swimming Pools (Drank)" for example. The chorus is a singalong anthem about doing shots and diving into a swimming pool full of liquor, but the song is actually about alcoholism. On one hand, I think this is Kendrick mixing the medicine in with the sugar. You can't usually get a song about alcoholism on the radio, but you can if it has an amazing beat and an unbeatable hook. Also, a song about developing a drinking problem probably should have this tone. The song is about peer pressure, so it makes sense that the music is as seductive as the friends pressuring the main character to drink more. There's a handful of cinematic songs -- "The Art of Peer Pressure," "good kid," "m.A.A.d City" -- that I find exhilarating. The lyrics are dense, but the beats are amazing, and they have the momentum of the second act of a movie that's grabbed you and won't let go. "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" and "Backseat Freestyle" are two of my absolute favorite Kendrick Lamar songs. Those are the two that I play even when I'm not listening to the album. They're songs that I just crave and need to hear sometimes. Nitpicking a little? I think the album loses some momentum in the final stretch. The first nine tracks are unstoppable, and then the album kind of peters out with two long, slow songs back-to-back. It feels like a small gripe though when the rest of the album is so fantastic.
Kendrick is probably my favorite storyteller in rap. He also probably has the best flows and voice for my taste, so I guess he might just be my number one rapper. One of my favorite facets of his artistry are when he shares vignettes and stories in his songs of lived experiences. This album specifically brings you into his experience of growing up in Compton and all the trials and tribulations that came with it: gang violence, systemic financial issues, confusing familial roles and expectations, and more. There's a lot to like on this record, but I always come back to the lyrics, and when he says "I mean, I write poems in these songs", he's really just being blunt and I love it. When you dive further into them you really get the feeling that he is a poet and that he thinks so much about every line, pronunciation, and device. Even the naming convention in the title- "good kid, m.A.A.d city", he says that it should be spelled specifically that way, with "m.A.A.d." having two meanings- "My Angry Adolescence Divided", and also "My Angel's on Angel Dust". The guy just thinks about his craft... a lot. "Money Trees" feels like a precursor to his album "Damn", which came out 5 years after. It's got an impressively bouncy groove and tough yet philosophical chorus. Both "Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe" and "Swimming Pools (Drank)" were huge tracks when they came out. I remember walking around my college campus and passing by random groups of students hanging out and just hearing "pool full of liquor then you dive in" on repeat over and over. It was the cool stuff at the time, and I was happy to be a 2nd hand listener. If "To Pimp a Butterfly" is a 5/5, this one is a strong 4/5. It is an incredibly well done record, with great beats, flow, lyrics, and surprisingly good hooks, like on "Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe" and "Swimming Pools (Drank)".
Instant classic. Sets a tone of things to come not just for himself but for the direction of hip-hop.
Cool shi
Tiene canciones míticas de Kendrick, no lo escucharía todos los días pero para un dia que me apetezca algo chill pero con carácter algo fuerte está bien.
I’m a fan of Kendrick Lamar but I found this album underwhelming. I don’t much enjoy interstitial and I’m willing to let some in as this was a “concept” album but found it took me out of the listening experience. All in all I find he has gotten better with age and experience and this early one is not where I would have hoped it would be.
Having listened almost exclusively to rap from 1995-2010, I feel like I can grasp and analyze hip hop albums more than other genres. And this album is fantastic. Unfortunately for me, this album was released in 2012, outside of the aforementioned hip hop listening window. So this was my first time hearing this album. Clearly, it’s a coming of age story which is nothing new, but the way he weaves the overall narrative in a linear way through the voicemail messages, while weaving in songs that cover both past and present events/mind-state is fantastic. The album tells a story as vivid, and evoking as much emotion, as any movie could. It’s probably 4.5 for me right now, but I know at another point in my life it’s a 5, and probably with a few more listens it’s a 5. So I’ll give it a bump.
I like Kendrick a lot, he's one of my top artists listened to this year. I knew several of the songs off this one, like "Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe", "Money Trees", "m.A.A.d city", and "Swimming Pools". All good ones, and I like the rest of the album a lot too. So far Kendrick hasn't missed for me.
Good album, I'm not all that familiar so a nice surprise
Kendrick does have a way with words. Entertaining storytelling, unique voice and style, better to me when I'm paying attention to the lyrics. Really like the concept approach, very engaging, and quite listenable.
Very personal narrative, Kendrick is a poet. stripped back production, some excellent collabs on this album. In 2025 Drake being on a Kendrick album is hilarious.
I am not a fan of rap but this is accessible, love the melodies and production. Happy Birthday KEndrIcK!
Unreal album enjoyed pretty much every song backstreet freestyle, m.A.A.d city, bitch don't kill my vibe. Most of the album makes my playlist Kendrick one of the all time greats
Kendrick is a strong rapper with a sick flow. Some thought-provoking lyrics, some questionable lyrics. Cool beats.
Nonnonnonononononono
Did not enjoy
Hit ad miss for me.
one of the greats
Not really for me
In my opinion, Kendrick's greatest strength is not his lyricism - although he's excellent in that regard too - it's his sense of grandiosity. Almost everything he puts to tape has a certain aura of urge, necessity and, to be honest, even spectacle to it. This album too presents one of the most ambitious and effective narratives ever portrayed in album format, rarely dropping releasing the gas pedal and continuously driving the story and character arc forward. The only thing holding this music album back for me is, ironically, the musical content. There are fantastic tracks here, the standout being Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst, but at other points, the backing tracks can range from repetitive to overly commercial sounding to even a bit grating. But hey, when you're being served a chronicle such as this one, that shouldn't spoil the fun too much, no? If only Kendrick would release an album of equally epic scope with consistently jazz, funk and soul-inspired instrumentals approximately 2.5 years later...
9.25 / 10 - Incredibly well-written and produced album. Kendrick is undoubtedly an incredible lyricist, and his talent is on full show in GKMS. With great pacing and flow, this emotional album transports you on a journey through his adolescence, ending with the crescendo on Sing About Me. The themes can often be tricky topics to write about, especially in a reflective manner; however, as always, Kendrick delivers. Overall, one of the best rap albums ever produced and a well-deserved 5
Peak Modern Rap Favs - Sing About Me, Vibe, plus the Drake feature is prime Drake Compton kinda mid
Conceptually strong album with a clear journey. Each individual song is strong and emblematic of the best of the genre, but the connecting themes make this a top-tier album experience beyond a collection of songs.
Man Down. That song was cool. I didn't listen to the rest. I think he is overrated, though. Feeling like it's an emperor's new clothes scenario. Obvious talent. But how good is it really? It's no Eminem.
Hated the first few tunes Find kendricks rapping to be nauseating Art of peer pressure is decent Hated it at first listen, enjoyed it more second listen. I just find kendricks rapping annoying
Awesome album with some great tracks. 7.9/10
I was procrastinating on this one cause it's not really my thing. But, I was pleasantly surprised. Kinda had an old school vibe that I liked. I'll toss Backseat Freestyle onto the 1001 playlist. ~ 3.6 stars
No.
THIS IS THE BEST HIPHOP ALBUM EVER
I liked it but I'm not a big rap guy
Enjoy Kendrick. Great album.
Good but much better and accomplished was to come which you can't help but compare to 3.5*
Scathing comments here but I'll provide a medium take. Since GFunk and Gangster Rap has rap ever been clean? I don't think the medium has been used for jovial clean rap unless in small subgenres like De La Soul, and Tribe. Even outkast is "dirty". Without fellating my man Kendrick too much. This was his Joe DiMaggio/Mickey Mantle era. The one we will always reference as the young blood blossoming into a full blown rapping poet and beacon of hope in the community. Kendrick did reinforce terrible standards in the genre but ultimately crafted tense scenes of southern california, and the trials and tribulations that black americans lives through some 30 years after NWA. Things didn't change positively, nor did the music. This is akin to the woke verses of street poets like Warren G and Tupac. GKMC was always my favorite in kendrick's run. He has a knack of story telling with crazy clever wordplay and brilliant verses. He has an ability to create tense scenes that inject you right into the crimes and storylines that took place from his childhood. With just enough post conciousness to reflect on it, and show a sense of growth. Growth that wind be extrapolated in 2015 with TPAB.
Great concept album, great storytelling, great songs. Love the hidden track. Maybe my fav hip hop album
I love him so much. Great beats. Great lyrics
Great album….nuff said Was able to see him touring this album and it was great live
Already a classic
Very nice. Love “the art of peer pressure”, “Bitch, don’t kill my vibe”, and “good kid”. And most tracks are really well written and produced. Also appreciate that he is a calmly emotional story teller. The arrangements complement his tones so well, the string at the end of bitch don’t kill my vibe is a piece of pure gem. This album is full of thoughtful details. Very tasteful.
Easy 5 stars. Straight poetry and art the whole way through. It just feels very measured and deliberate and he captures so many angles of his life and experience and the culture he grew up with in really a small amount of time. “If I told you I killed someone at 16 would you believe me” is a great line that I think highlights that a lot of gang life and hip-hop and black culture is all about optics. Because if you believe him, what’s that say about you? Are we assuming any kid from Compton is automatically capable of doing drive-bys? And if we don’t believe him, why not? Would someone really make up all this wild shit that they said they lived through? “If I told you a flower bloomed in a dark room would you trust it?” Flips it and makes you want to believe that someone who grows up embedded in violence can still rise above it all and see the beauty that others can’t. And any album that can make you think and feel that deeply and still drop bangers and bars is on another level.
easy five stars, this album fucking slaps. its so cool to go back to Kendrick's first album, especially watching his career over the last ten years. this whole album rocks, and i'm so glad it came up on this list
I haven’t listened too much to Kendrick and have even called him overrated before. I now feel ignorant and get the hype. Every single song is good, and a few are absolute bangers (backseat freestyle, money trees, swimming pools), and there aren’t really any “cringe” moments that pop up in a lot of older rap.
Because I’ve listened to it so many times it’s hard to really review this album. To try and pin point why I liked it so much in the first place and why its popularity has lasted so long. I think one of the biggest things about when it came out was that rap had become pretty poppy (the blueprint 3, watch the throne, recovery,…) where the generic formula was to get a pop artist for the hook/chorus and it would be a radio hit. This album took such a different turn than all that which made it so unique. The story throughout the album is done so intriguing and really rewards listening to the album as a whole. Love his flow. Love most all the songs. Love this album. A core musical moment for me is when I went to bonnaroo in 2013, Kendrick was playing super early in the day (which is typically reserved for the bands that aren’t as popular) but the crowd was absolutely massive. He comes out and starts off with m.A.A.d city and the crowd screaming “yack, yack, yack, yack” at the beginning was probably one of the most hype things I’ve ever seen. Also, quite ironic to think back on this show now cuz Macklemore came out and played right after Kendrick (the infamous Grammys moment hadn’t happened yet).
There’s not much that I can add when analyzing this album that hasn’t been said already. Kendrick’s storytelling is unmatched and draws me in every time. It’s incredible how the singles from this album flow seamlessly into the story and not only are the skits not corny but they’re massively important parts of the story. An easy five stars and a masterpiece through and through. But more important to me are the memories associated with GKMC. It’s an album that I remember exactly where I was, who I was with, and what I was doing the very first time I heard it. From hanging with Pete in his mom’s driveway, to blasting Swimming Pools at parties, and road trips where we listened to the entire album with no skips, this album was the soundtrack to my life for almost two years. I can’t count how many times I’ve listened to this album, but over a decade later I added two more to that tally and enjoyed every second. Shoutout to The Recipe with Dre and the Black Hippy remix on the extended edition.
I was excited to go into this album blind, but I unknowingly knew way more songs than I thought I did. Mostly from osmosis of my friends playing them all the time. The big songs are great, but what I really blows me is Kendricks story telling abilities. The songs that aren't necessarily big hits are usually telling a story that's easy to understand and follow with. He brings you into his life. Most of the other rap albums on this list have a couple of radio hits with the rest being skits or songs about how cool they are. The off songs on this record hook you further into his life. Really good album and understand why all my friends like it so much. I really want to know what happened to those dominos!
Oh, I'm not a huge hip-hop fans but I'm somewhat familiar with Kendrick's work. To be fair before I started listening to this one, I wasn't necessarily in the mood for a hip hop album. Once I actually dug in, the record kept pulling me in with each song with its narrative, the depiction of a certain life and challenges, the voice of both protest and desperation but also filled with indomitable spirit. The last few tracks fully opened the floodgates, especially the 12 minute Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst which perfectly captures the essence of the whole album. Astonishing!
Hip Hop not for me
Hip Hop, 32eme album => 1/5
Not for me
Good album, not incredible though.
Amazing album
Nem me dei ao trabalho de ouvir. Isto é puro lixo!
So many influential songs for modern rap
love a concept album !! there were quite a few songs on this album I really enjoyed. I liked how diverse it was - each song had its own sound, and I loved the little 'skits' between songs. overall v good and v sad :'(
I had never really listened to Kendrick Lamar prior to this, but I came away really liking this album. I love good story telling and I love a concept album.
Might be one of the best rap albums of all time.
The style does stand out on its own, and there's more creative and complex decisions in the songs. But something about Kendrick's sound just never grabs me, I'm sitting through songs that I can get along with while waiting for a banger that never comes
The prestige TV of 2010s music: drawn out multi level storytelling with plenty of sex and violence, social commentary via personal coming of age narrative, flashy high end production, self consciously artsy, expertly assembled with some real virtuoso performances, building tension that drags a bit in the middle, loved by middle brow critics for its gritty authenticity.
2.0 - Weak
Some alright songs that I recognize, but not someone I could listen to regularly. I understand why people enjoy him though.
One of the best. The storytelling. This album flows from one song to the next perfectly. The Album covers (both of them) the written title by SchoolBoy Q. The only song I skip on this album is Poetic Justice, and that was before the Drake beef started. The use of his parents on voicemails, the non linear flow of the story, the admission of crimes done to survive in his environment, hearing him lose his friend in a careless shooting. This album pulls you in and makes you think about what you're hearing.
I did use a private spotify session for this one. Listening to these lyrics and knowing he played the SuperBowl halftime show reminds is undeniable proof I am out of touch with things. Between the frequent use of the N word and misogyny I get distracted from the music.
Whether you like the lyrical content of this album or not, there’s no denying that it’s sonically delightful. And while I hate all the white boys who make idolizing Kendrick their whole personality, I really like this.
Beats: 10/10 Flow: 10/10 Rhymes: 10/10
Tiene su interés pero sin letras......
occasionally vivid storytelling from a gifted writer. i like his poetry when he lets his guard down. i like his voice best when it cracks and gets wacky, gets a little weird. but this isn't consistently clear, vulnerable, or weird enough for me. it also lacks anything that gets me out of my seat. not surprising: dr. dre was executive producer. "m.a.a.d. city" probably comes closest to something funky when it morphs into a different song at 2:35 (boom boom bap), even with the squiggly high chronic synth that worms its way in near the end. apparently "backseat freestyle" is supposed to be kendrick's teenage self showing off for his buddies after one of them hits record and prompts him to rap, providing the backdrop for the juvenile eiffel tower dick stuff. but i listened to it four times, and i don't know how i'm supposed to get all that context. i also don't give a shit for skits or songs about someone's dick or sexual prowess (dr. dre, repeat offender: doctor's office / pause 4 porno). tryhard shortcut stuff. you're a good writer. find a metaphor. maybe that makes me a puritan, or maybe i just like wordplay when i know the artist is more than capable of it (kendrick, not dre). make it clever, not obvious, not crass, not boring. god it's boring. on the other hand, a song like "the art of peer pressure" is great. drop the posturing, peel back the production, give us something honest and biographical and retrospective. full of little details -- backseats and his boys and super nintendos and close calls. his voice is right there, too. go figure it's one of the least-listened-to songs on the album on spotify. count "good kid" and the aforementioned "maad city" in the same boat. more of that. i like some things about kendrick lamar, mainly tearing drake a new asshole before, during, and after the super bowl halftime show, but this sounds made for the masses. it's an autobiographical album, but the plot isn't clear enough and the beats aren't infectious enough to hold my attention for long enough to tell its story.
This album does it for me. For me it's the sample choices ..take it away youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2sLOOHcZBA
This just isn’t for me. I feel super old know I’m even less cool.
Bitch, don’t kill my vibe, backseat freestyle, money trees, good kid, the recipe are all favs
Personally, I prefer older rap with samples, but I get the copyright dweebs put a stop to that. Kendrick Lamar has been growing on me since the Super Bowl. Bonus points for him hating Drake. Fuck that dude. 3.5⭐️
Modern classic - easily a top 5 rap/hip-hop album on my list. You hear "hip-hop concept album" and your eyes might roll immediately...mine would too. But this tells such a great story with solid lyrics and beats, that you can experience the environment and feelings of a young adult's life in areas like this. Everything (less the Drake feature 🙃) still holds up. When it was over I was ready to rewind it like the VHS tape and play it again. Will never forgive the RIAA for giving the grammy to Macklemore over this!
A chronicle of Kendrick Lamar's formative years in Compton. I appreciate the concept and execution of the album, even if I probably won't come back to listen again. Standout track: Compton
It's not without some high points. But overall I just can't get into modern hip hop. 3/5 #77
Mr. Morale
Zo nu en dan gigantisch slechte teksten. Onnodig lang album. Gewoon domme muziek.
Wat een slecht albums. Kansloos teksten of kanslozen beats
I'm liking it Will I listen to again: 51%
Hip-Hop. 1/5
I was torn between three and four stars. I felt that more songs were three star than 4 star songs. However, this album was more than the mere sum of its parts. The songs work together thematically and compositionally in a way that bumps the album up to four.
Such a good fucking album. First listened during my high school hoodrat phase, soo nostalgiac. 5
It took me to the 2nd half for this to really land, but really solid back half. I think personally it's a 3.5 for me, but boosting.
Never listened to this album in full. An easy 4
Yes please
Was boppin' to this on a plane to Montenegro.
Not necessarily for me but I can appreciate it.
Not my kind of hip hop
Et 200... "good kid, m.A.A.d city" sera donc mon 200ème album écouté dans le cadre de mon projet "1001 albums a écouter avant de mourir". Autant la 100ème bougie m'avait laissé de marbre avec les Beatles et leur "Rubber Soul" (noté 3 sur 5) autant ici on rentre dans un autre monde. Sorti en 2012, le deuxième album studio, souvent sous-titré "A Short Film by Kendrick Lamar", n'est pas un simple album mais une immersion dans les rues de Compton, en Californie. "good kid, m.A.A.d city" est le récit poignant d'un jeune homme, K-Dot, naviguant entre l'innocence de la jeunesse et les dures réalités d'un environnement gangréné par la violence, la drogue et les pressions sociales. Dès les premières notes, l'album s'impose comme une œuvre conceptuelle ambitieuse. Kendrick Lamar nous invite à monter à bord du van Dodge Caravan de sa mère, et à travers ses yeux, nous vivons une journée type, ou plutôt une série d'événements cruciaux qui vont façonner sa transformation. Tel un puzzle biographique, chaque morceau est une scène, chaque interlude une transition. L'album tisse une toile complexe d'expériences personnelles qui parlent d'une vérité universelle sur la jeunesse confrontée à l'adversité. La production, assurée par Dr. Dre, Pharrell Williams, Sounwave, Hit-Boy, et bien d'autres, est d'une richesse et d'une diversité remarquables. Elle oscille entre des ambiances West Coast classiques, teintées de G-Funk, et des sonorités plus modernes et introspectives. Les beats sont tantôt langoureux et atmosphériques, comme sur "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe", invitant à la réflexion, tantôt explosifs et urgents, à l'image du titre éponyme "m.A.A.d city", qui dépeint avec une intensité brute la folie ambiante. Au cœur de cet univers sonore se trouve Kendrick Lamar. Son flow est capable de passer d'un murmure introspectif à une diatribe enflammée en l'espace de quelques mesures. Il incarne différents personnages, module sa voix, joue avec les rythmes et les cadences avec une aisance déconcertante. Ses textes sont d'une densité rare et d'une honnêteté désarmante. Il ne glorifie pas la vie de gangster ; au contraire, il en expose les conséquences tragiques et le cycle infernal. L'album explore une multitude de thèmes interconnectés. La pression des pairs est omniprésente, comme l'illustre "The Art of Peer Pressure", où Kendrick raconte comment l'influence de ses amis le pousse à commettre des actes qu'il regrettera. La tentation et ses dangers sont au centre de "Swimming Pools (Drank)", un morceau faussement festif qui dénonce en réalité les ravages de l'alcoolisme et la culture de l'excès. La violence est une toile de fond constante, culminant dans des titres comme "m.A.A.d city", avec ses couplets fiévreux et ses sirènes stridentes, ou le poignant "Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst". Ce dernier, divisé en deux parties, est une méditation profonde sur la mort, la mémoire, et la quête de rédemption. Kendrick y donne la parole à ceux qui sont partis trop tôt, et questionne le sens de son propre art face à la tragédie. Mais "good kid, m.A.A.d city" n'est pas qu'une chronique sombre. C'est aussi l'histoire d'une prise de conscience, d'une quête d'identité et d'une volonté de s'extirper d'un destin qui semble tracé d'avance. Des chansons comme "Good Kid" expriment le sentiment d'être pris au piège entre deux mondes, celui des "bons enfants" et celui de la "ville folle". La spiritualité et la religion apparaissent comme des phares dans l'obscurité, offrant une voie vers le salut, notamment dans les interludes parlés où l'on entend les prières et les conseils de ses parents. L'album est parsemé de sketchs vocaux impliquant ses parents et ses amis, renforçant l'aspect autobiographique et l'authenticité du récit. Ces moments, souvent empreints d'humour ou de tendresse, ancrent l'histoire dans une réalité tangible et permettent à l'auditeur de s'attacher davantage au jeune Kendrick. Ils servent de liant entre les morceaux, assurant la fluidité du "court-métrage" musical. L'un des aspects les plus fascinants de l'album est la transformation progressive du personnage principal. De K-Dot, jeune adolescent influençable et parfois naïf, il évolue vers Kendrick Lamar, l'observateur conscient, celui qui a compris les mécanismes de son environnement et qui cherche à briser le cycle. Cette évolution est palpable à travers la narration et la tonalité des morceaux, culminant avec la prise de conscience finale dans "Real". "good kid, m.A.A.d city" a non seulement propulsé Kendrick Lamar au rang de superstar, mais il a surtout offert un regard nuancé et humain sur la vie dans des quartiers souvent stigmatisés. Il a ouvert des conversations importantes sur la violence urbaine, les inégalités sociales, et la complexité de l'expérience afro-américaine. Un 4 sur 5 pour un classique instantané, pour un album essentiel à découvrir.
sick
very good shit
WHEW
Me like old rap. Me not like new rap. Three or four decent songs in over an hour is a poor return on investment. Compton is the best song by far. Real, m.A.A.d city, and, surprisingly (because Drake), Poetic Justice were the other good songs. Most of the time, I enjoyed the phone conversations about dominoes more enjoyable than the songs. Almost every chorus is terrible and annoying. The list of producers is longer than the phone book. 3/10
I like the storytelling, and that you can see him looking back on these stories from the past. I’m not normally a fan of skits but I think they’re such a big part of the storytelling on this album. I think there are some great production choices, although some of it isn’t to my taste, like the really synthy, autotuned bit at the end of Compton. It’s not really my genre and while I enjoyed a fair amount of it, I don’t think I would listen to it again. There are moments in the second half that make me want to give it a 4 but going back to the first half of the album I don’t think I can. Fav song: Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst Least fav: Backseat Freestyle
Having heard Lamar’s name for years but never bothered to investigate his music, I wasn’t sure what to expect (you can blame the over proliferation of mumble rappers over the past ten years or so). I definitely wasn’t expecting a concept album for his major label debut!
wel oke volede me te cool
123/1089 - I never got the appeal of Kendrick. My favorite hip-hop is "A Tribe Called Quest" and East Coast rap. I mainly like the jazzy beats and swung vocal delivery. With that out of the way, I'm willing to give this album another shot. After listening, I dislike the skits and don't understand why hip-hop artists put them in (De La Soul being an exception because they at least add music to it). Kendrick doesn't look like OJ, that's as delusional as Soulja Boy's "bitch I look like Gohan" lyric. Some songs seem fine but he ruins it with his best Squidward impression on the choruses. Overall I didn't like it but I'm glad I listened to this.
Beats are fire but don’t like the vocals as much
Not my jam at all. Nasal mumbling.
Top 10 rap album of all time
Recognized way more songs than I expected. I can appreciate how good this album probably is for this genre, but just not my vibe. Don't think I could listen to it again.
Just not my vibe
Kendrick is an artist that doesn't hide the fact that he's standing on the shoulders of giants. He collects as many ideas as he can and makes a mosaic from them. I was never into Kendrick when his music was coming out. Even if he's not my favorite rapper, he's got my respect. Solid album.
Backseat freestyle is a 5 star song and Kendrick knows how to make a hype up song. Just not the biggest rap lover
No es mi jam al 100%, sigo acostumbrándome al género pero a nivel producción musical/ diseño sonoro es un 10/10.
Damn. Can the pun still be “not intended” if I realized it before I typed it? Whatever. I’ve definitely listened to this album once or twice to hear what all the fuss was about. Despite accusations of being a contrarian levied at me and Kendrick Lamar’s immense popularity, I can remember getting a ton out of this. I’m excited to revisit and I hope to glean even more from this effort. Good 29 year old MAAD suburbs is my working title of this review. Let’s start on a bad note. Sherane a.k.a Master Splinter’s Daughter - The Master Splinter requests an audience with the one they call Kendrick Lamar. Wait a minute. There’s no weird guy named Master Splinter? Whatever. As much as sex is an overused lyrical trope, this storytelling is out of this world. The musicality and lyricism blend so well. Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe - Catchy song but this has lost so much of its lustre for me. Very bright and exciting when I first heard it but I just don’t care about it anymore. Long live the 2020s attention span. The next generation will communicate in a series of bleeps and bloops. Not a horrible song, just doesn’t do anything for me these days. Backseat Freestyle - Man, this song is kinda bad. Repetition of really dumb lyrics in a very Kanye West fashion. Off-putting. The Art of Peer Pressure - More high quality storytelling. It’s nice to be rewarded for listening closely. As a song, this isn’t the greatest thing I’ve ever heard, but I’m certainly enthralled. A fascinating look at adolescent stresses, conflicting feelings, and morality. Money Trees - Another pop moment. However, The laid back yet highly infectious beat, the production, and the continuation of the narrative aspect of this album make this a true highlight. Poetic Justice - I hate this early 2010s club voice. I feel like it was used in so many radio songs. Do I have any source for that? Uhh. Look over there. Background vocals are pretty annoying in this case, but this isn’t abhorrent. Pretty catchy, fun. Oh NO. It’s Drake. Disgusting. He shouldn’t be allowed near any female without a Hannibal letter muzzle and a handler. good kid - This is the first song that I’ve kind of zoned out on. m.A.A.d city - Good lord. This is the kind of stuff that I gravitate towards. The old school aggression vibe with the brilliantly pointed lyrical criticism and acknowledgment of gang violence. A highly intelligent look at the emotions associated with a real issue while leaning heavily on best musical aspects of the genre. Greta feature from MC Eiht. Swimming Pools (Drank) - I feel like this song was the first meaningful song all the dumbest people I. High school listened to. I’ve heard so much discourse about this song for some reason. It’s great that such a popular artist can get that message to resonate, but “alcohol bad” is not exactly a revelation. Even in rap. We heard that excellent Public Enemy song a few weeks back. It is great to restate, especially considering the cultural connotations. Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst - Part deux of the average Lil Wayne listeners’ first experience of thought. I kid the lunkheads. This song this song is quite great. The rapping, the expert use of sound effects, and creation of in-depth emotion. The first beat is fairly boring to me, but everything else makes a very cool track. Real - Oh no. This chorus is awful. Really really really really real awful. Low energy nursery rhyme. I hate this. Compton - This sounds like a song that would appear in “Fight Night Champion.” I played a lot of that game. I think my expectations were too high here. I have certainly outgrown a lot of the feelings on this album. When Kendrick Lamar touches on something powerful that resonates with me, few modern rappers are as eloquent and impactful. There is also a lot of pop on this and frankly, not enough going on song-wise. Kendrick would improve on this formula in a couple years or so, but the songs here aren’t as good as we would hear on later projects. What a drab review. I’ll have to spice it up with something mean or something. I really have nothing. A highly literary rapper who crossed into the mainstream while not betraying one layer of himself. A complex look at street life with points of relation for every goofball in the suburbs make this an album that is ubiquitous in pop culture, and did a great deal to shape it as it is today. Like a MENSA meeting at a McDonald’s, this album is fascinating for its duality, if not slightly lacking in something to my ear. 3.5 HIGHLIGHTS: The Art of Peer Pressure, Money Trees, m.A.A.d city, Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst
There is a lot of talk about coming of age, but there was an entire generation of rappers saying the same things, violence and misogyny. That said, the beats were good. Perhaps not something I’d reach for, but not a bad album by any means.
Ok
really nice
I enjoyed this way more than I expected. Reminded me a lot of the og gangsta rap. I enjoy rap about street life where the rapper is not an ultimate pimp but instead fucks up and looks at the game from a distance with some reservations. Less glorified than the OG stuff but with a similar style.
I'm not sure I can put into words how much of an influence this album had on me in my coming of age years. This was the first complete hip-hop album that I fell in love with. Personally, no other Kendrick Lamar album comes close to this one. Every song on here contributes to the overall masterpiece and even the skits contribute (I usually hate skits). It does such a good job of portraying Lamar's story (fact or fiction, not sure) as a young man growing up in Compton. "Money Trees" will forever be my favorite hip-hop song. "Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst" is a close second. Just a thoroughly great album and hip-hop doesn't get much better than this.
Chock full of year-defining hits
Those dismissing this album due to its language and perceived violence aren't paying enough attention to its coming-of-age theme. This is a concept album based on his life growing up in Compton surrounded by drugs, violence, etc. Hence the vocal snippets throughout of his elders guiding him on the right path. The final track is Kendrick reflecting on his life and being thankful that he avoided a potential life of crime or addiction while simultaneously celebrating Compton and its contributions to the world. This is why Dre is included along with a vocoded voice that mimics the G-Funk and Parliament-Funkadelic sound.
Pleide høre på før, bra album
Nope…got halfway through and that was enough. Decent beats but didn’t connect at all.
I've never been as into this album as I am for TPAB so I was hoping it would click for me this time around and it definitely did. This album is loaded for bangers. I still don't think its as good as TPAB but its a close second. Favorite track: Peer Pressure 4.5/5
A personal favourite.
No time
Dear author, please reconsider your actions of removing this from the 2018 version of the book. You only kept TPAB in because of the critical acclaim it sees from every RYM user, and DAMN is nowhere to be seen. The level of disrespect on one of the most popular and influential rappers of this generation, just crazy.
It's a cool album but definitely doesn't grab me as much as To Pimp A Butterfly, I just love that jazz influence.
A Rap essential
Well, you have to listen to everything I guess... I wasn´t convinced at the beginning but after all I finished and it wasn't that bad. it was good for 1h. 3/5
im a hot girl in a mad, mad world
Soms iets te veel ideeën in één nummer, en helaas is de door Pharrell geproduceerde track echt een minpunt midden op de plaat. Voor de rest echt weinig op aan te merken. Ik weet nog dat ik Kendrick Lamar heb gezien tijdens de tour van dit album. Gezien zijn huidige status toch wel een bijzondere ervaring.
Kendrick's raspy voice has taken awhile to grow on me, but he does have a great flow, evocative lyrics, and top notch production. I'm generally partial to 90's hip hop, so it was good to listen to a more modern classic all the way through. I wish I could hear a version minus the voice mail audio in between tracks, feels like it'd be annoying on repeat listens, but an enjoyable album overall.
One of the best of all time. Thank you, Kendrick.
Still about as perfect a record as kdot has pulled together. If it suffers from anything it’s that, like a lot of hip hop albums, good kid is a collection of tracks produced by separate artists, obviously with Kendrick uniting them. Butterfly is a more cohesive instrumental piece, but lacks the range of his other “pop” records, which good kid nails. It’s a concept record, which I am mostly allergic to, alongside the skits, but this one has a lived-in, believable quality that works as a framing device/jokes (although there are jokes!). The indie rock samples made gkmc a bit of a curiosity in the months before the release - Dr Dre is rapping over Twin Sister? - but that was just one of the entry points for me. Ultimately this was a word of mouth thing, folks adding “ya bish” to whatever, speculating that Sing About Me could be its own movie, TNC being turned off by Backseat Freestyle and then later being like “oh whoops, I get it now,” and on a personal level it had a lot of the same sound of vaporwave that I associated with my time in California - melodic, catchy, uncanny new, old sounds but never feeling nostalgic. From Sherane to Sing About Me it’s a cinematic tour-de-force. On a relisten 13 years later, I’m *still* captivated by The Art of Peer Pressure even though I know how it will turn out. The Drake guest spot always got a skip and the Pharrell track stuck out as an odd duck, but fit just enough to work with whatever side quests Kendrick took. Drank could be a one-off novelty track (and at the Vandy show I saw spring of ’13, it definitely was for the frat kids), but there’s enough background colour about extended family difficulties that it’s part of the Duckworth mosaic, not just a curio. After the all-time triumph of Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst a simple coda would make it a perfect record, but we have a bit of a clunker in Real and a necessary, but weirdly ill-fitting Dr Dre track. The fadeout takes us back to the beginning of the record and then there a handful of bonus tracks which I hope get excised from streaming some day... There was an album out a year earlier by The Roots with a similar storytelling framing, starting at the end, ending at the beginning, with many of the same concerns about temptation leading the hero astray. Both characters meet a similar “end” and Undun is likewise a collection of imagery and side stories, populated by Black Thought’s musings and similarly, an indie rock nod or 2 (Sufjan to Kdot’s Beach House), just...one contains volumes and a first person’s account/believability and the other is merely really damn good, but more abstract in the execution.
Not much can be said about this album that hasn't been said before. The concept is done to perfection, it touches on so many brilliant themes with incredible beats, lyrics, flows and features. They're not exaggerating when they say that this is probably the greatest rap album of all time. I usually have no opinion on little conversation pieces in songs, but for this album they feel so integral to the concept that I just can't skip them. Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst is easily a greatest song of all time contender. An absolute master class of lyrics and storytelling, with a great beat to back it up. I especially love when the medium of song is taken advantage of, such as "And if I die before your album drop" or "I'll never fade away". Top 4: SAMIDOT, Money Trees, m.A.A.d city, Real 9.5/10
This album is the story that Kendrick was born to tell. It is a memoir that captures, probably better than any other piece of art that I've seen the intersectional experience of poverty, youth, and life in a city with gang culture (in lieu of a better word). The story of this album is not chronological which I think obfuscates the actual plot to a first time listener, but does result in a satisfying listening experience as the listener starts to understand how different pieces connect. The voicemail and the various voice clips for use as connective tissue is essential to piece this story together because it's easy to lose track of key events of the story. As a whole I think that this album is a masterpiece. It's a story of Kendrick at a crossroads where he deals with love, opportunity, power, trust, risk, death, and faith. The way in which the story jumps around juxtaposes those concepts with callbacks and contradictions. Kendrick wants to be cool and rich and powerful, but if he wants to get those things he needs to be risky, break the law, engage in gang behavior, potentially giving up his potential path to wealth and power. He has this golden opportunity to success through his rapping which allows him to gain respect and power outside of fear and gang politics. It is from this privilege that he is able to report on those without that privilege who had to rise up via guerilla tactics, gang crime, and murder. This is the story of all of the "Good Kids" who are corrupted by the "Maad City" and the story it tells is relatable while distant to much of the world. He brings us into life in Compton through the mindset of a young man living it. This album does a great job in never breaking the fourth wall. He never tells you who was right and who was wrong. He has so many voices talking to him and he doesn't know who to believe. We all have our biases but the album never tells us who was right. When I hear about Kendrick going in and robbing that house, I think it's a bad idea, and an immoral action. Someone who's been in that situation could have a different experience, robbing a house is a rite of passage, a path towards power and acceptance, an evil in the same way that slaughtering a cow or going off to war is. When we see that Kendrick is having these conflicted feelings and chooses one of the many paths that lay in front of him, we have to respect his choice, not because it is the objectively right choice, but because it's true to him. There is no judgement of Kendrick's friends here, they are also good kids and if the mad city turns them to murderers, that is a sad reality. When Dave dies, the juxtaposition between what we just saw "[pop pop] HA, I got them n******s". We see what it looks like to get caught up in the game of war. We see what revenge costs and all this over a turf war we don't even know how it started. It's a game of ping pong and retributive violence that takes innocent lives from both sides, and in the middle of it is Kendrick who feels that his horniness has caused it. Kendrick just wants to rap, and he is wrapped up in the middle of it, suffocating him, and the only thing he has to get out of it is his rapping, his escape rope. For the others involved, what it takes for them is to put their faith in God to take them out of it. They don't have the escape rope that Kendrick does, but they can see the bigger picture after Dave's death and have something that they can put their faith into to escape also. After that the story is coded in triumph, the track real is the escape out of it. They may still be in Compton, but they have a new focus, that of faith and honor. Being true to themselves when they can put down their armor of gang colors that they used to protect themselves from the abrasive environment of Compton. And the song Compton shows us who's on the other side of the escape rope. Fuckin Dr Dre! The gold standard for a man who grinded his way out of the projects to become not just a success, but a businessman and a global brand, respected across the world. And the Bitch don't kill my vibe remix is a reminder that he is the same guy and now he gets to be true to himself in a way he was trying to but wasn't able to in Compton. Talking about the music specifically, the album is sick. There are high points where Kendrick is aggressive and bombastic, representing the highs of that time, projecting the confidence that only a young man really has. The softer songs like poetic justice, bitch dont kill my vibe, and money trees are all great. Kendrick's use of features is always spot on. Bringing Drake to be a guy who he's competing with for Sherane is awesome. Swimming pools is great, even if it's not super relevent to the story. The way Kendrick layers tracks to create the feeling of having so many people and thoughts coming at you all at once is such a great way to use that tool. There are so many things that feel intentional about this album. Releasing swimming pools as a single and then putting the swimming pools extended version on the album to add context and call out the listeners for not realizing that they are participating in the peer pressure that the song is criticizing. Genius move. So creative. Adds so much to the listening experience. Dying of thirst gives me chills every time and it succeeds as the emotional centerpiece of the album. The only track I really don't care for is Real where I think the hook is just weak. I also never really loved bitch don't kill my vibe, so having it on the album twice isn't my favorite decision. Overall this album is amazing. I consider it essential listening. The way it tells a story is on another level and in concept and execution alone I think it succeeds. It also includes some great tracks, great samples, and world class story telling and symbolism. In many ways this album is cumulation of Kendrick's, with the emotions captured photographically and released with the hindsight of a matured man. I'm pretty sure TPAB is also on the list so we will get to that, which is amazing in a completely different way and goes into his life in a completely new way. I feel that we are lucky to have these two albums and I think there are untold impacts from this guy's meteoric rise in the 2010s. It would be pretty funny if I were to give this album a 4.
One of the great things about Kendrick, that so many other modern rappers lack, is that he's actually very good at rapping and telling a story. He can still express a vibe as well as anyone else, maybe more, but his real strengths are in the technical rapping and story telling. I love that he can change styles seemingly on a dime. He's got his own of course, but he can sing, speed up, imitate other rappers (the Eminem style verse in Backseat Freestyle is so exact, it's so well done), and of course weave a good story like the real kings of rap. The beats on this album are clean, mostly compiled from samples, or at the least sounding that way. There are no artificial synth sounds or digital sounding beats, even if they were made that way. It lends a seriousness to the work and works as a great homage (or great imitation, aspiration, etc), again, to the masters of the genre. The only negative I have about this is that nearly every track ends with some over the phone bullshit with people arguing or just talking at each other. It only adds something in the first track where it's tied in to the story being told, the rest just seems unnecessarily forced for no good reason. Oh and lol at "Poetic Justice", what a hilarious feature in hindsight.
Kendrick delivers an introspective into how he became who he is. This is a demonstration of why he is considered one of the best rappers of all time. Not enough bangers.
Pretty fire. I like Money Trees and I was surprised at how much I loved the Backseat Freestyle, which is super catchy. Bitch Dont Kill My Vibe is famous for good reason. The Art of Peer pressure was good social commentary as well as good music. Swimming Pools is currently viral and just super good in general. Kendrick's voice is unique but not like super nice to listen to in a more melodic track like Swimming Pools so I prefer the stupid tiktok covers but it's still a feat. Super good album despite me not really being familiar with rap/Kendrick!
I'm old(ish), and love me some good late '90's and early '00's rap. Kendrick seems to be carrying the torch for that. Oddly enough though, I didn't get into him until his more recent shit. I think I like this, but it's going to take more listening for it to land.
Skillfully made but this album doesn't really vibe with me for the most part. The Art of Peer Pressure and Money Trees were chef's kiss, though!
Just stunning, what an incredible album
Seemed pretty big standard stuff and didn’t really stand out. One listen only - just seemed a bit boring really
Nope.
I'm sure Mr Lamar won't care about a review but I can only wish that zero stars was an option. Mr Lamar is clearly not an artist for me. Seeing as it's full of swearing I feel ok saying "What a pile of Misogynistic wank."
It's not my favorite K-dot album but it's one of his most important, culturally speaking. Lyrically incredible and the production on this .... wow. I am biased because it came out when I was starting to really listen to US rap. A true icon, a true rapping legend. Can't wait to have TBAP later. and fuck Drake 9/10 fav songs : Good Kid & Now or Never
It was OK but not for me.
This isn't my type of music nor does it speak to my life experiences, but I found it educational. Lyrically dense and smooth. I can see why he is so popular. He did ruin the Eiffel tower for me though... "We made a right, then made a left, then made a right Then made a left, we was just circlin' life"
I understand what this is, and it's not for me.
Liked a few of the songs, but just not a big fan of the genre.
This is #day267 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... this is my first time ever listening to Kendrick Lamar. Now, I should clarify: I do love some hip-hop now and then, especially the golden age stuff. I'm also a huge Eminem fan (well, early Eminem, to be more precise, the kind I listened to up until I was about 15). Lately, I've been digging into his newer work, and I absolutely love The Death of Slim Shady (even have it on a UK limited edition cassette), but that's another story. Aside from Em, I've listened to some 50 Cent, some Dre, some Jay-Z... those guys, you know. But that was back in the early '00s. I've never really stepped into the more modern hip-hop territory, especially the 2010s or 2020s. I was into different music back then. So listening to good kid, m.A.A.d city felt... disorienting. It's just too contemporary for my ear, I guess. The production, the flow... all feels distant from the style I connect with. I'm not sure I get the hype. Closer to the middle of Money Trees, I didn't feel like continuing, so I quit. This is a 1 out of 5 for me. Looking forward to #day268.
One of the best rap albums I've ever heard 9.7/10
So first off, rap is definitely not really my genre. But I did like a lot of this. Some of the rhymes and flow were pretty good, and the music was excellent. A lot of this album felt like talking and was quite boring when I'm looking to listen to music. Overall I appreciated the talent that went into making this album, but I'm probably never listening to it again. Three stars.
Didn't like this one at all.
Best Kendrick album, could listen to this on repeat.
OPE left a review with the other account, still my favorite Kendrick album (Excuse to boost the review?)
When this popped up I was like "Ooo how exciting I haven't heard this top to bottom in a few years" only to then realize 80% of these are still in rotation and likely will be forever. I chose to do the deluxe version for this listen. This album still feels ahead of its time with the attention to detail, themes and overarching narrative. Probably my second favorite Kendrick project behind Mr. Morale (yeah yeah yeah, you'll get it one day)
A few catchy tracks. I can see the appeal but overall not for me
1 - 100% basura.
Lyricism is peak in this album.
I hate this.... A lot. Fck this asshole that think it's a god or some shit.
Not as good as x tho