good kid, m.A.A.d city

OIII KENDRICK FAVS (top 3): money trees, m.A.A.d city, swimming pools mençoes honrosas: bitch, dont kill my vibe; backseat freestyle; the art of peer pressure; poetic justice; good kid; sing about me, im dying of thirst cheio de bangers, bem religioso mas eu amo as vezes e cabe bem bonito no album nota final: 4.5/5

I think the problem with rating scales like stars is that they make some of your takes look absolutely insane. Like no, I don't think A Rush of Blood to the Head by Coldplay is a better album perse, but I gave that a 5/5 and not this one. Not that this isn't close, I think it would be if it ended with SAMIDOT instead of Compton. Even Real would've been ok, but I think he had a really incredible ending and he kinda just blew past it. This is still a top tier album, really amazing stuff from him. Favorites: Backseat Freestyle, m.A.A.d city, Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst

It's been maybe 5 years since I last heard this project front to back. There's a few songs I didn't remember, but for the most part it inspired the same feelings. It starts off really strong, the skits all help add context and don't feel as excessive as they might have in a '90s project. Most importantly, replaying the album sheds light on the concept, because even though the project has the structure of a well told story, the lyrics for the entire project work together outside of their order to complete details that add texture to the message. It gives me goosebumps just to think about how everything connects. This isn't the gangster appreciation music a lot of similarly situated artists bring, it's on the conscious rap side. Incredibly, it achieves quality lyrics over sexy beats, aiming for mass appeal and succeeding. I talk about artists making their concept work or not, and this is a hip-hopera, a short film for the ears. Most of it feels raw, and some of it might sound excessive, but the story telling isn't sacrificed and it doesn't feel cliché. I believe this effort becomes stronger thanks to future albums. You start hearing repeated material, fallen brothers, sex addiction, and the moral dilemma of having murdered a human being, a sibling of skin. There's no evidence outside of the K.Dot musical universe, but rap snitch knishes. I remember it was hard for me to enjoy Kendrick's work at the beginning as someone who dislikes organized religion, because his messages feel very Christian. Again, future albums clear things up. Christianity is the common ground, for the masses, to understand the moral issues being presented. It's a cultural language that he's constantly using for the message of it, not to convert you. As far as debut efforts go, this is so ridiculously strong. Even the various pieces of album art integrate perfectly with the energy of this release. It does drag a little, I think we can blame the concept of music as film for the length of the effort. That and, well, it's a very complicated message with too many intricate details. It's hard to appreciate that lengthy listen the first time around, it detracts from the initial experiences. 4.4/5

It’s a good album, but there are some misses for me like the opening track. I prefer To Pimp a Butterfly

A bold, gripping debut that still feels a slight step below what Kendrick would go on to do.

Loads of production flair, loads of rhymes, loads of great stories

Once again I always fall for a concept album... tragic and deeply authentic. Not my typical genre but I was still hooked by the lyricism and storytelling. Highlights: Good Kid, Sing About Me, Don't Kill My Vibe

really good.. REALLY long

Superb album that sees Kendrick coming into his own as an artist. Like any good hip hop album, it's so densely layered with meaning and sounds that one listen hardly does it justice. I listened through twice today, and the second play definitely crystalized some things, as well as revealed an interesting feature of the album's narrative timeline (it's essentially an endless loop). As many of his projects do, this album sees Kendrick treading a careful balance of gritty gangsta bravado, cerebral introspection, and heady storytelling wrapped up in flawless production that blends live instrumentation and samples. The beats hit hard. I missed this album when it first came out, but have been a fan of a number of his other projects and I'm glad I finally made the leap. 4.5/5.

Felt like I was listening to a movie. Excellent storytelling and fire beats but it's so long :,)

Don’t love every song but it’s a banger of an album

3.8/5 okay sue me but rap / hiphop is reallllyynot my thing- i knew some songs, and i liked some songs and i liked the album its just so not me that i probably won’t listen to it again (sorry 😭), but i mean, good nonetheless

goes harddddd larguisima (pro y contra imo) clasikk

Kendrick to król, ale ten album się wolno rozkręcał. Momentami nie był do końca dokręcony, ale jak już bujało to do upadłego. 7/10.

DIOS PERDI EL RESTO DE TRACKS Y NO QUIERO ESCUCHAR TODO OTRA VEZ OK OK - en resumen de los primeros 7 tracks los mejores sin duda son los 4 y 7, muestra una crudeza q siento q es estrella en este album pero tristemente los primeros se quedan cortos frente a esta, a nivel de letras no podemos negar q kendrick es un escritor de primera pero retomo la idea de q en algunos tracks se queda un poco corto. La parte de la produccion se roba toda la atencion (como persona que prefiere un buen beat frente a una buena letra ok) se nota el nivel tan alto que manejan los productores de este album (sigo con good kid pq q buena cancion y esta super underrated) ya ok. speak a language we all know u think is an accent I live inside the belly of the rough compton usa made me an angel on angel dust what track 8: MAN DOWNN WHERE ARE U FROMMM, m gusta ns ese tono de superioridad ??, me recuerda un poco a humble, EL SEGUNDO BEAT ???, yawk yawk yawk, OLD HIP HOP STYLE OMGGGG, escuchen con audifonos uwu track 9: no tengo nada q decir, me gusta mucho esta cancion ok, d r a n k, no le hagan caso no esta bien tomar tanto ok, btw tmb me gusta la version de lloyd track 10: DURA 12 MIN, veo q la cancion va sobre el manejo de la fama track 11: REAL LIFE Y ES LA TRANSICION UWUWUUWUWU, im real, im real, im really really real, amo el beat bailable af, what love got to do with it when you don't love yourself?, strong and conscience, siento q el coro es una manera de recordarnos de lo q somos, tomar una consciencia sobre nuestra vida y lo que somos track 12: king king kendrick lamar, DAFT PUNK OMG q manera de cerrar un album sigo resaltando la produccion no entiendo la necesidad de sexualizar algunas cosas me gusta como kendrick incluye voces femeninas en casi cada track, se siente limpio, natural y fluye se siente como un abrazito al alma q incluya audios de su madre :3

Some bangers. Classic album, although not all songs landed for me.

Top 3: 1. good kid 2. Money Trees 3. Sherane a.k.a Master Splinters Daughter Very fluid with an interesting story to tell. I never took it upon myself to understand or even look for the meaning behind the album as a whole or even the individual songs when I heard it the year of its release.

JANUARY 3RD fave: The art of peer pressure

There's so many great songs on here..thats undeniable.. however some tracks felt so long, and I wasn't really vibing with the dialogue between songs

This is an incredible album

Not my favorite Kendrick, and I do think it has the most melodic/production moments that I would say border on annoying, but still.

I’m not a hip hop fan but this has a lot of musical elements that work great together.

🚐

Was a trip for sure, didn't like the first few but as it went on the story presented itself beautifully. Really piqued my interest, and even went back for some more, and stuck with me the next day pondering the album some more

No creo que este álbum necesite mucho más análisis del que ya tiene. Uno de los mejores sino el mejor álbum de Kendrick, no por nada está entre los artistas más aclamados hoy en día y hace 15 años. Personalmente ya había escuchado el álbum, no todas las canciones con mucha atención, pero totalmente de mi gusto. El álbum sigue la linea de Kendrick y se nota que desde sus inicios el tiene su estilo de música bien marcados. Para hacer la reseña un poco más dinámica, al ser un álbum que me gusta mucho diré las cosas que no me gustan o que no me terminan de convencer del todo: primero, si bien en general el álbum sigue una línea y se nota, en algunas canciones pierdo la esencia, no de Kendrick pero si de las pistas, en "sing about me, im dying of thirst" por ejemplo, adopta un estilo mas jazz/lofi que para mi sobra en el álbum, segundo, también en ciertas canciones siento muy forzada la inclusión de otros raperos, pero en ese sentido se puede entender ya que al ser de los primeros álbumes de Kendrick necesitaba ese "apoyo" quizás y por último, si bien el álbum se centra en las vivencias de Kendrick, como una autobiografía en música, en algún punto abusa del concepto pero no está mal, para mi solamente también puede sobrar en algunos momentos. Le doy un 4, muy buen álbum, muy de mi gusto. Cancion/es favorita/s: Money trees, m.A.A.d city

La mezcla de beats muy 90teros con canciones un poco experimentales con beats modernos hace que el álbum no se vuelva monótono a pesar de ser de un género que se caracteriza por un ritmo marcado y similar de bombo y caja. Punto adicional por contar una historia perfectamente hilada en el proyecto y por tener colaboraciones célebres como Dr Dre, Pharrel Williams, etc. Para algunos puede ser ofensivo, pero creo que lo crudo de las letras lo hace aún más valioso, a fin de cuentas está relatando lo que vivió y cómo se vive en los barrios de eeuu y probablemente los del mundo. Punto extra por traer la esencia del rap de vuelta, en una época donde los proyectos sin alma abundan Kendrick saca un proyecto que si le prestas atención te puede hacer reflexionar.

Muy buen disco, no me tiembla la mano al decir que es de los mejores álbumes en la historia del rap de uno de los mejores raperos de la historia. Good kid maad city es el segundo álbum de kendrick, probablemente el responsable de que me guste el rap y uno de mis artistas favoritos. Kendrick en cada álbum cuenta una historia, un capítulo de su vida, tiene una narrativa y una coherencia que no se ve en otros discos del género. En este, habla de su infancia y adolescencia en compton, cada canción es un día en la vida de un kendrick de 16 años donde va transitando en la dicotomía que significa vivir en un lugar donde las armas, drogas y la plata fácil son algo cotidiano y donde sobrevivir es algo que se busca día a día y por otro lado, la maduración de kendrick y como se va dando cuenta que ese camino probablemente lo llevaría a una vida vacía y a la muerte gracias a los consejos de su mamá y a su refugio en la religión. Este disco es como un radioteatro o una película, y en su portada lo dice “a short film by: kendrick lamar”. Sus increíbles letras son solo una pequeña muestra de lo que vendría después en sus discos siguientes. Este disco me hace sentir algo agridulce, algo de nostalgia, principalmente por los Beats y la forma de rapear de kendrick, yo creo que puede ser por qué siento que tiene sentimientos encontrados, por un lado compton significó una muy mala etapa de su vida, llena de violencia, sexo, bandas, lo superficial, el respeto, dinero y por otro lado el tremendo cariño que le tiene al lugar que lo vio nacer y crecer y que lo convirtieron en el artista y por sobre todo en la persona que es. El disco tiene una narrativa muy buena, como dije, es una película, contiene grabaciones de amigos de su banda, de su madre dándole consejos, de wnes de otras bandas, de la muerte de su amigo, etc que hacen muy buenos puentes entre canción y canción. Los Beats están buenos, pero sus letras y canciones se llevan los aplausos, por algo es ganador de un premio Pulitzer, kendrick lleva el rap en la sangre y transmite la poesía de la calle como ningún otro. El álbum es producido por mucha gente, pharell uno de los principales, pero eso para nada le quita mérito a la cabeza del proyecto. Para mí es un 4 bien puesto, y creo que esta un par de escalones sobre Be que escuchamos el otro día. Pensé en ponerle un 3 porque realmente kendrick tiene discos mejores que se ganan el 4 y se acercan al 5 pero no puedo ponerle menos Canción favorita: me gustan todas pero me quedaré con money trees y daré mención especial a sing about me, im dying of thirst que para mí esta infravalorada

this is the first album i’ve gotten that i’ve alr listened to before, but it’s been a long time. this used to be my favorite album oat, but i don’t listen to this kind of music anymore, this is still an amazing album tho, i love how it’s like listening to a movie, the story is great and still easy to follow. it’s truly sad the path that kendrick’s career went down, damn and everything after it is jst so much worse than his earlier stuff

he won a Nobel prize for a reason -1 star bc of drake

🌟🌟🌟🌟✨ lost faith for like 4 songs, but the rest are really good, 2 tiktok hits

4.6

I struggled to rate this one. I know it has an important place in music history, but, it also didn't really resonate with me. I think it's a 3.5 that I'll round up.

ICONIC! Such a great album. My favorite Kendrick album? No. Is it fun? Oh yeah. It is really good. Liked Songs: "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" , "Backseat Freestyle" , "The Art of Peer Pressure" , "Money Trees" , "Poetic Justic" , "good kid" , "m.A.A.d city" , "Swimming Pools (Drank)" , "Sing About Me, I'm Dying Of Thirst" , "Compton"

Bitch, Don't Kill my Vibe is classic. The Art of Peer Pressure is brilliant.

Kendrick raps about experience far from my own. His genius is undeniable, but this isn't ever going to be everyday listening for me. Even so, I think this is a near masterpiece. TPAB will come up at some point, and while I like the jazz influence on that record, this one feels more embedded in KL's personal life and the culture of the street.

Beaucoup de classiques, bonne production, bonne parole, génial.

listened at 930 pm 12/15/25

4/5 Fav: Swimming Pools (Drank), Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe, Backseat Freestyle Least fav: Poetic Justice

not the usual type of music i listen to but objectively just sooo good

Ett av de bättre rap-albumsen där ute, gör en otrolig blend av pop, hip-hop, långsammare, snabbare, partylåtar och några att gråta till.

The comments on this album were all over the place and there was a lot of discussion on lyrics. I won't comment on messages or lyrics since I only listened two times through, but I enjoyed this. I know some of his music, but only his biggest hits. Favorite song: Compton

Flipping burgers song spotted.

Funny I got this rec when I already wanted to get into more hip-hop, especially Kendrick Lamar. Overall I enjoyed it. I see myself going back to this record often.

Yes. It's awesome. But probably too hard for my typical listening.

always interesting listening to Kendrick

nostalgic

8.5/10

Only realised this guys genius over the last few years so more than happy to have another deep dive into his catalogue. Didn’t know it was a concept album. It’s one of those albums that has a great vibe to just be on in the background or in the car or you can pour over every line and still have more to find. Maybe less accessible than some of more recent singles/albums. It feels more conscious rap than pop charts and maybe has got that combo perfect now. And some of this clearly over my head too and doesn’t grab me as much as other tracks. Instantly listened a second time and felt more familiar and engaged. Doesn’t hit the same as recent albums but as I say, I think a fair bit probably over my head. He is genius, undoubtedly.

Enjoyed this one. 4/5

Songs: "Sherane" 8/10, "Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe" 8/10, "Backseat Freestyle" 6.5/10, "The Art of Peer Pressure" 7.5/10, "Money Trees" 7.5/10, "Poetic Justice" 8/10, "Good Kid" 7/10, "M.a.a.d. City" 9/10, "Swimming Pools" 8/10, "Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst" 7.5/10, "Compton" 8/10 Thoughts: OG Kendrick has a really good flow and sound. Some pretty nostalgic songs and sounds. There is a reason he is considered one of the best. Every song has an outro, which I'm not necessarily a fan of. Funny to see Drake features in this album lol. The songs are a little long for my taste. Rating: 8/10

very very good! i wish i could give it a 5/5 but because i know what kendrick will continue to do this is a 4/5 for releasing 5/5 kendrick! i want to listen more :)

God-tier. Almost a perfect hip-hop album. Thing is, I'm not sure what I would cut. A pinnacle album that would lead to one of the most significant rap careers ever. And look: I get the bad reviews in here. Rap isn't for everyone. But this one is such a pure snapshot of a culture that seems so foreign to a lot of folks, but is so important. Also, that Halftime show was a work of art. Go Birds. 9/10, ya bish.

Really liked the production, the singles stood out, but the skits and interludes came close to, uhh, killing the vibe. But not quite.

Ba ouais nan les 3 premiers sons sa voix passe pas trop avec la musique , sinon le reste de l’album est superbe mais les 3 premiers sons arrrggghh

4.5

Adorei, o que mais gostei até agora!!!!

Not a big rap fan, but an enjoyable album to listen through. Some songs I was already familiar with, though I am not sure where I heard them before. Yes it is offensive at times, which reminds me of the more classic rap albums of the 90's. Which is a good thing in this case. Has it made me a bigger rap fan? No, that it definitely did not do. But was it one of the most enjoyable rap albums to listen through? Yes, sir it was. 4/5

Not surprisingly I don’t like my music to contain certain words ( yeah looking at you P and N words). But this album wasn’t written for an old white suburban woman and I really liked it anyway. I’ve already relistened which is the first album on this list to do that. Four stars.

I came back to this album after listening to some of the other hip hip / rap albums, which I enjoyed. After re-listening to this album I enjoyed it much more, and now I’m wondering why I didn’t like it in the first place

Goated

I’m a big fan of Kendrick, but I’ve always felt this album is a little bit After School Special. “I tried to have premarital sex but ended up smoking a weed cigarette but it was laced with something bad and I did crimes” I know it’s more complex than that, but that’s kind of the gist. It’s still a work of musical genius, but nothing is ever going to touch To Pimp a Butterfly.

Hip hop isn't my favorite genre, but I have always appreciated the poetry of it. Kendrick Lamar is a master of his craft.

Big up to Kendrick. I am not a huge fan of rap, but some of these songs were a vibe! Big ups to Kendrick!!

w album, the story telling is immaculate. although, it starts to get disinteresting almost at the 3/4 mark

Classic rap album: not quite as good as his follow-up To Pimp a Butterfly, but that's one of my top albums of all time.

Vibes: 4/5 Instruments: 4/5 Production: 5/5 Emotional Value: 3/5 Storytelling: 5/5 Stand Outs: Money Trees, Swimming Pool Overall Rating: 4.2

82/100 Could go higher on relisten 4 stars Sounds like some dreams i have Sometimes musically not super interesting Cool layers on some tracks Heavy Business so not an everyday listen Good Strings in a few songs, I love strings I like that it tells a story and that it is genuine and the self expression is good to see I was in the zone for a little where i went in the world so that’s probably more deserving than an 80. Obviously not the most relatable so it doesn’t hold a massive spot in my heart but the fact that it put me in the world for a little says somth

I went back and forth between a 4 and a 5 and landed on 4.5 rounded down because there were enough tracks that weren’t my favorite. But I added 5 to my faves list and REALLY like those!

8/10

My general apathy towards hip hop is well documented (I don't mind some experimental hip hop in the vein of Death Grips, JPEGMAFIA, clipping. etc.) but I've always found this to be far more interesting and dynamic than much of what I've been exposed to in the genre. There's some actual atmosphere and textural depth to the music - equally, when the album opts for an abrasive approach, it doesn't feel forced or tryhard. The beats are wide-ranging and fresh, and the lyricism is genuinely creative and intelligent. It's been an infrequent revisit for me since my initial discovery, but as a result, it never loses its sheen.

I found it a bit explicit for my liking. But, beyond the lyrics, there were some catchy beats and overall it was cool. 4 stars.

Another incredible rap album. I am among those who consider Kendrick Lamar to be the greatest rapper of all time. It's interesting to look back at this album versus his more recent albums. I think his lyrics reveal and criticize the gangster lifestyle. What I think makes Kendrick so legendary is his ability to perfectly hit the vibes of rap that feels good with party/club level production. Then his lyrics can hit some highly introspective insights. Later albums feel like they spun out of notes from therapy sessions. He bears his soul in his work.

Nice

Sherane … - Not into the intro, really love the bassline, the story told, and the voicemail outro. Bitch … - Mellow, reminds me of time spent in Italy. Backseat … - Meh. Feels like early Kanye. The Art … - Meh. Money … - I like it, progressions and melodies gel well with my earholes.

Great record for sure. I was familiar with DAMN and I am surprised this one didn't land on my radar much sooner.

It’s a good kid. Isn’t it.

Not my fave because I'm not a fan of the genre but I have to admit it is very good

Love it, no TPAB but a classic all the same.

Highlight Song/s: Sherane, The Art Of Peer Pressure, good kid and Swimming Pools Haven't heard too many songs by Kendrick Lamar before. Having heard Money Trees and Swimming Pools in my Grand Theft Auto V play-through (ended less than a week ago as of review.) and I ended liking both of them, ESPECIALLY Swimming Pools. As well as the hit HUMBLE; so not TOO much of Kendrick. I also been meaning to listen to this in the past month (just like my previous album, Violent Femmes S/T) or so, but I just haven't found enough time to devote 70 minutes to, especially when the time I listen to an album is taken up by the generator's album a day. As a result of not listening to too much of Kendrick I haven't been exposed to his lyrics. But he is SUCH an amazing songwriter, so so introspective; the lyrics are just top-notch. I really like the usage of spoken word on this album, the way it is used is to tell a story which as I said, I appreciate it. Below is one or more things that I liked about the songs on the album. [Track 1/12] Love the build-up of tension in Sherane [Track 2/12] The verse flow in Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe is impeccable, it definitely gives the impression of a message he needs to convey urgently. [Track 3/12] I really like the Backseat Freestyle of the Jamaican patois-sounding sample, wish it was used more in the song, it sounds epic. [Track 4/12] The first minute is so serene on the track The Art of Peer Pressure, sounds like something straight off of Be (by Common.) [Track 5/12] Really like the chorus of Money Trees. [Track 6/12] I like like like, the soulful female singing, really lovely. [Track 7/12] The very middle-eastern-sounding melody, the frantic chorus, and the lovely post-chorus section are some of my favourite parts of the entire album so far. [Track 8/12] I have been quoting (probably wrong words, but similar sounds) the main part of song without ever knowing the song name, it is alas after all this time, m.A.A.d city. So my favourite parts is probably the beat, the menacing melody and the "Man down..." part. [Track 9/12] Everything about the song Swimming Pools, is PERFECT. Every aspect, every everything. [Track 10/12] Really like the relaxing beat on Sing About Me, I also enjoyed the second half of the song quite a lot (after the mid-song spoken word section.) [Track 11/12] The beat and the chorus are my favourite parts on Real. [Track 12/12] Of course a triumphant sound was bound to be used for closer on the album, and I - for the millionth time in this review - LIKE it.

This is pretty good but a tad inconsistent.

Gangster

Most of my favorite hip hop is from the 80s and 90s because I’m old. I don’t get into a lot of modern HH but Kendrick is an outlier, not just in this era but in any. His flow is great, but his lyrics are better. Outside of Nas in what is maybe the greatest hip hop record ever, Illmatic, few mcs have more eloquently captured life in their neighborhood that wasn’t a bunch of gangsta braggadocio. This one is his first, and I think To Pimp a Butterfly and Damn are both superior, but this is an insanely good debut. Again, up there with Illmatic in the debut category. If you love HH you already known Kendrick, and if you don’t then you won’t like him at all. But if you are HH curious, this might be a good place to start.

This is a great album and a breakthrough, but I need to leave some room for his future greatnesses even though I don't know if they'll be in the book or not.

Not as obviously political and socially conscious as later albums, but you can definitely hear the seeds developing. People who write this off as generic 'bitches and drugs' rap clearly did not listen very carefully. I forgot how great Poetic Justice is.

Rap is not my genre but this has a lot of hits and I would give it a three unless it was actually something that’s difficult for me and I still enjoyed it

Superb!

An album idea that is oft attempted yet seldom done well. This is an exception to that. Well-crafted storyline that allows Kendrick to showcase his lyrical proficiency.

Excellent album

Kendrick's flow and aura is wild. Backstreet Freestyle is so stripped down but sounds great. I feel like if I took more time on the lyrics this is more complex than it sounds.

han noni so viel vo kendrick lamar glost aber bin positiv überrascht - ned so an fan of misogyny though

pretty good. more complex and more of a coronation than i remember at the time

good kid and Art of Peer Pressure both really good revelations for me

I went into this only knowing one Kendrick song and came out of it a fan.

Jak nikt nie wie, co puścić w samochodzie, to puszczam Kendricka i zawsze działa.

Better than Coldplay

I love a good narrative concept album. And this is one cinematic record. Kendrick has so many gears in his delivery…..combine that with high level production and it’s hard to find fault with very much here. FOUR STARS

Kendrick is a great rapper and whilst some of the content may feel like stereotypical rap content it reflects where he has come from. Sing about me, i’m dying shows just how to make a long rap song listenable. Overall this is a really good album, but i dont think it’s his best

I had been meaning to listen to a full Kendrick album so this provided the perfect opportunity to do so. I was not disappointed.

The skits and god talk definitely take me out of it but if I cut all that fat out, it’s a really strong hip-hop album. 4 stars

Very cool album, nice instrumentals, Kendrick has a perfect flow, and the songs are very different from each other. I have my doubts about rating it a 3 or a 4.

sick

Kopfnicken Hip Hop, was will man mehr. Hat definitiv seinen Platz verdient!

Meilleur que je pensais

Great front to back, including the interlude skits.

Kendrick won a Pulitzer Prize award. Not for this album but you need to keep that in mind. He is an amazing lyricist just flat out one of the best hip-hop artists ever. When I first listen to a Kendrick album I listen to it first with headphones, then a second time with the lyrics. It's so dense and paints a picture that you feel. This is his second album and although he's not at the stage where people throw awards at him or he destroys other artists careers, you can see where he is going. You can see where he's coming from. I swear he wrote this album with his past in mind. It's a great album and I hope his other albums are on the list because the longer his career goes on the better he gets.

vibes. life. truth.

3.5

Great

Couple of bangers. Hadn’t listened to the whole thing I don’t think. Good listen overall.

One to revisit, not bad

No soy muy fan pero entiendo el revuelo con KL

Exceptional and leaving me wanting more.

Great album

I don't think anyone can in good conscience say that Kendrick's not at the top of his game. Is this my favorite music to listen to? No. Is every single song perfect? Also no. But his lyricism is just unmatched, and this album woks extremely well as a full package. Perhaps this is bold to say, but I think hip hop today has devolved with a lot of modern rappers, opting to boast about the easy topics. An album like this is right down the line of the original mission statement -- music for social change, to bring light to the dark corners of our underserved communities. Fave songs: - Backseat Freestyle - The Art of Peer Pressure - good kid - m.A.A.d city - Real - Compton

New era of Compton rap. A mixture poetry and jazz painting a picture of life in Compton.

Lukewarm, potentially cold take: I think Kendrick may legitimately be the GOAT. I am not a rap/hip-hop expert and will never claim to be, and I have heard considerably fewer albums in the genre than many people here. But across his catalog/career, I think he’s proven to be nothing short of otherworldly. His shifting vocal timbres and deliveries; his flow and technical prowess; his lyrics and everything they encompass (intelligence, emotional resonance, humor, cleverness, social awareness); his ability to craft both subtle master classes and undeniable bangers; his cultural impact; I struggle to think of too many artists who have excelled at/matched him on all of these levels. No one impresses me quite like he does. Hot take: although I think GKMC is clearly an absolute triumph from a thematic and storytelling angle, I don’t think it’s as strong on a song-by-song basis as some of his later works, and certainly not To Pimp a Butterfly. Honestly (and this may be an even hotter take), even though I like some of the earlier tracks, it doesn’t really get going for me until “m.A.A.d city”, which is the first track I truly love. Then, the three-song run of that, “Swimming Pools (Drank)”, and “Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst” is one of the most impressive 5-star run of songs I’ve heard on any hip-hop album. Again, all of this should be taken with a grain of salt given my general stance on hip-hop (I enjoy it much more as a songs genre than an album genre, and acknowledging that “genre” is being used loosely here due to all of the eras/sub-genres that could be discussed), but for me personally, although I applaud the overall accomplishment of GKMC, I think he goes on to make better records. One of them, at least. 3.5/5

Chill, groovy and gritty; lyrical metric like no other.

It's good, but man I cannot stand Kendrick's voice, it is just way too nasally. When he is rapping it is fine, but any time he "sings" it is unbearable. Also there are some song on here that are just bad like Backseat Freestyle. Other than that there are some good beats. Low 4.

Great album not sure what the negative reviews are about

Struggled with the first 5 or 6 songs. Really redeemed itself in the second half. Loved Swimming Pool (Drank)!!!

8/10…west coast hip hop

I have a confession to make: this is not my favorite Kendrick album. It’s hard to go back and listen to this one, because you can see the little kernels that Kendrick expands upon in later albums, and you WANT it to expand now! And in some respects, it does expand. You hear the narrative throughout that Kendrick weaves, as he tells a beautiful and tragic story of growing up amid violence and poverty. But alas, we’re not at TPAB yet. It’s still a great album, but it doesn’t reach the heights of his later work.

good

I was pretty late to the Kendrick party. I tried damn when it came out and it kinda bored me. Going back its decent but for all the albums ive listened to by him its the worst. And this one here is somewhere in the middle I would say. Its pretty good but not mindblowing. A good crop of hit hit hiiiit songs thats for sure. But the b sides aren't that compelling to me. Still good but not as good as tpab or for me Mr moral. Unpopular but I like Mr moral quite a bit. But Kendrick is great and even his worst output is above average at this point at least. And this might be middle of the road for me if im doing a lame internet tier list but its still great. The hits hit and that carries it pretty damn far.

So NOT in the mood to listen to Kendrick Lamar this morning much less review one of his albums but here we are. It's a very good album of west coast hip hop if you know anything about west coast hip hop you likely have a pretty good idea what it sounds like. It's very good with little that makes it stand out from the pack. Not sure if I will ever hear it again much less add it to my library but no doubt about it- it's an exceptionally well produced album & Lamar has talent coming out of his ears. The man is good. Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe is a great track. A Five Star instant classic. OK maybe I will add the album to my collection. OK that's all I have. I like Run DMC better than any modern rap except Kanye West up to 2013.

Enjoyed this

74/1001 :: Kendrick Lamar - Good Kid M.A.D.D. City Heard before? ❌ Would I revisit? ✅ Rating: 8 Listen before you die: Yes Fav Songs: Money Trees, Backseat Freestyle, m.A.D.d. City I’ve heard songs off this (Bitch don’t Kill My Vibe, Drank, Etc..) but I can’t believe I’ve never heard this whole thing til today. And welp, the praise is fitting. Just an incredible Hip Hop album. First of all Kendrick rapping like he has something to prove and he did at that point. I also didn’t realize Dr Dre not only had a feature but was a major contributor as far as the production goes. This has a very West Coast vibe but done in such a new school and interesting modern way. Thought the Pharrell track was great. I didn’t really love the Drake track. Drake is good for he does but this felt off. Also didn’t like Real. But frankly I need more listens. My son has this on vinyl, maybe I’ll steal it…

Great rap album by Kendrick not much more you can say honestly

This album was a surprise to me, mostly because I had just never listened to it. I really appreciated the story the album told across the length of the album. I tend toward pop, rock, and folk music, it just never occurred to me to listen to this album or that I would like it as much as I have. I’m so glad I didn’t skip this one.

Some great tracks on this, a couple that never seem to take off. 3.5 rounded up 4 Heard before? Yes, some songs Owned: Yes. 11/1001, 11/45 (24%) Will I get? Yes

The music is creative, the rapping is smooth and laid back. lyrics are artistic, songs are not radio style at all. the vocals are not good-sounding, very nasal, but it's got meaning rather than glitz. good kid is great. poetic justice is very good. swimming pools and now I get it

Engaging story-telling across a variety of good songs, best listened in one sitting.

The art of peer pressure was a good add to my list

Great album. it's another one that I hadn't heard all the way through.

Maravilloso

Very good rap album. Acclaimed for a reason. Let it be known that I was a Kendrick Lamar fan way before the Drake feud and allat, which gives me such a musical superiority complex that simply may never go away. I wouldn't call it a straight 5/5, but a solid 4. The theming throughout, interspersed with narratives and spoken-word passages, is captivating, and never sacrifices the actual music/content. It all flows well. It's not his greatest album, but a quite good one.

Wow such a sold album. Even though raps not my fav, that was great

Really dense, introspective lyrics with some wild backing tracks. This one blew me away

Great rap album from a great rapper. I haven't listened to the entire album from start to finish before and doing it today made the songs I've heard before even better. The songs mash well and the flow from song to song was great to hear.

Tenho uma relação complicada com a música de Kendrick Lamar. Na época que eu ouvia Rap mais avidamente eu gostava muito de suas canções. Hoje, já larguei o Rap pra trás. Não tenho preconceito com o gênero nem nada parecido, mas é difícil eu ouvir casualmente. Em anos recentes, fiquei supersaturado com a pessoa Kendrick Lamar, e pra piorar, achei seus últimos lançamentos bem medianos. Dessa forma, hoje em dia, se me perguntar, irei dizer que acho ele chato, e que detesto a voz de Gremlin que insiste em fazer em suas novas faixas. Mas, ao ouvir este disco, imediatamente volto para 2015-2016, a época que eu mais ouvia Rap, e a época que eu mantinha este disco em rotação constante. Até hoje sei de cabeça as letras e os interlúdios todos. E imediatamente me lembro que Kendrick Lamar já foi um bom artista, e um que eu verdadeiramente apreciava. É refrescante ouvir um álbum onde ele mantém uma voz normal e agradável por boa parte da sua duração. E sem aquelas batidas esdrúxulas que ele empenha atualmente, salvo raras exceções. Enfim, acho importante dedicar um parágrafo para discutir minha opinião do artista na atualidade, mas agora vou falar de good kid. Este sempre foi meu disco favorito do Kendrick. Mas ouvindo-o novamente dez anos depois, percebo algumas falhas. Pra começar, a duração. O disco é longo demais. Rap é um gênero que é melhor apreciado em curtas doses. Acredito que a faixa Sing About Me teria sido o final perfeito para o álbum, ele continuar para além disso é desnecessário. Além disso, temos o clássico, quase clichê a este ponto, problema — os interlúdios. Neste álbum, todas as faixas possuem um interlúdio praticamente. OK, eles contam uma história até que interessante e engajante. Mas vamos lá, essa história só é engajante na primeira vez que você a ouve. Depois de ouvir o álbum uma única vez, os interlúdios ficam redundantes e fazem você perder seu precioso tempo ouvindo. Agora de pontos positivos, por sorte, tenho vários pra listar. Neste álbum Kendrick realmente demonstra versatilidade. Ele compõe versos complexos e refrões chicletes. As batidas são maravilhosas, a produção do álbum todo é ótima, subentendida e muito bem temperada. Tudo no ponto certo, balanceado. Instrumentalização orgânica brilhante combinada com samples escolhidos e empenhados magistralmente. O disco possui poucos features, o que considero um positivo, e os que estão aqui são bons. A segunda parte da faixa titular, com participação de MC Eiht é um completo absurdo, definitivamente o maior destaque do disco, junto da maravilhosa Sing About Me I’m Dying Of Thirst. Se ele tivesse lançado os interlúdios como um projeto separado, visual ou apenas sonoro, e mantivesse o disco só com suas canções, ele facilmente estaria na lista dos meus álbuns de Rap favoritos. Mas, não é o caso. Uma pena! Continua sendo um ótimo disco, mas poderia ter sido bem melhor. 4/5

Decidí hoy comenzar mi camino con el generador, y no pude tener un mejor recibimiento. Este álbum se siente como una charla personal con Kendrick. Su sonido y letras me transportan a las calles de su adolescencia haciéndome sentir participe de su historia. Maneja un sonido fresco (y hasta innovador) que a pesar de ya tener 13 años de publicado se siente más relevante que nunca.

Allright. So. This is my least favourite Kendrick Lamar album by a long way. The narrative aspect is intereting, the flow and lyrics are obviously fine, but the sound and tempo is just not really my thing. That does not mean that it's a bad album by any stretch, but it's not amazing either.

i enjoyed this album a good amount. it's not the most polished or indispensable album on this list (and arguably not even from kendrick), but it has some high highs and huge names. some of the tracks are a bit samey and the typical gangsta rap misogyny is still very present here. the whole thing goes on way too long, but if you just skip the 12 and 7 minute tracks, it's pretty good! favorites: bitch don't kill my vibe, money trees, poetic justic, m.a.a.d city, swimming pools (drank)

an all-timer that kicked off a generational run.

The juxtaposition of talking so eloquently about God and then covering real-life scenarios the way Kendrick Lamar does is really interesting. I can tell he is a guy who wrestles with God and his faith. It’s so rare to get cultural commentary this authentic and raw. The dexterity with which Lamar writes and raps is incredible. I can see why he is so lauded. This album truly made me think. It’s deep, heavy, introspective, and such a fabulous commentary on culture versus self.

This album really should be listened straight through. Not a ton of singles, but as a complete piece, a well-articulated narrative on gangs, drugs, violence, and consequences. There's a lot to unpack with this one, so I'll be glad to put it on again in the future.

Already heard it

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.

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.

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.

very solid.

About as good as a pure rap album gets

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

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.

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

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

I like the variety of the beats.

quite the rap, see why the kids enjoy

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…

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Money City is, of course, the popular choice, yet there are other bangers that delve into social and political issues that feel personal.

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.

Didn't know him before, good rap album

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.

3.5

Enjoyed it!

Nice

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.

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

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.

All-timer, obviously. Seems to have solidified itself above TPAB for me.

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

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.

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...

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

Enjoy Kendrick. Great album.

Good but much better and accomplished was to come which you can't help but compare to 3.5*

Great album….nuff said Was able to see him touring this album and it was great live

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.

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.

This album does it for me. For me it's the sample choices ..take it away youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2sLOOHcZBA

Bitch, don’t kill my vibe, backseat freestyle, money trees, good kid, the recipe are all favs

I'm liking it Will I listen to again: 51%

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.

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.

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.

very good shit

WHEW

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!

Beats are fire but don’t like the vocals as much

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

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.

Pleide høre på før, bra album

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

No time

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.

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.

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!

Lyricism is peak in this album.

Not as good as x tho

Good intro for me to hip hop

Really good album. Had never heard the artist before, wouldn’t be against checking out some more of his stuff after this

I can appreciate the realness of the narrative of this album. I love the spiritual theme that rides along with the harsh realities of Compton life. The only song I didn’t really like originally was the freestyle, but it fits its purpose. Right now, without having heard much rap, I would say 4.0.

after the other days catastrophe this felt like a redemption, love kendrick love the album

Kendrick’s storytelling and smooth flow carry the album, and the production throughout is tight and immersive. Compared to To Pimp a Butterfly, this one is much more approachable and, for me, a more enjoyable experience all around. Oddly enough, the opening track might be the weakest track. A strong album that earns the praise it gets.

If there was ever a weekend album this is it. Lot to think about here, which speaks to what makes Kendrick special and how he’s elevated the genre. If you didn’t do the deep dive, this is a concept album with each song representing a scene over the course of days (with some exception for some introspection/reflections). In a way, this is the Compton version of Bat Out of Hell. Kendrick is trying to get laid and things go sideways. When it comes to KL I’ve always struggled with whether or not I listen to music for storytelling. The stories and subject matter are no doubt more interesting than almost all other rap, but what makes music music is not the words but the emotions a given song or album invokes. The ability to communicate thoughts and feelings without explicitly saying anything, or maybe it’s a phrase you ponder for years (I.e. Eating up the scum). Either way, credit where credit is due. 1. Without knowing anything about the concept some of these songs are hits and have been in the rotation for a decade (money trees, bitch don’t kill my vibe, Compton etc.) Making music that is both meaningful and slaps is an accomplishment. 2. Elevating a genre. Why it’s not a 5. I sense absolutely no joy or really passion. Obviously this is not a joyous topic, but usually you can sense the joy in making music. Kendrick is bummed out and even the breakthrough on the final two tracks didn’t showcase that feeling of happiness he no doubt had (when he found god and started working with Dr Dre). I think this album could have used a “Memory Lane” like track on the front to show what about life he enjoyed and was worth saving. The best we got was Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe… I also had the same feeling on a few tracks when you’re about 75% of the way through a non-fiction book “I get it… it was bad” High level, very happy someone is spending time to really make meaningful music and take the Hip Hop genre new places. Probably the best rapper of our generation.

I didn't realize how much of this I'd already heard before now. This album was absolutely huge among elitist white millennial circles in hipster Brooklyn when it came out, which isn't a criticism of it in and of itself, but may explain why I felt somewhat hostile to it initially. That and the fact that I thought Kendrick's super bowl performance and anti-Drake theater to be pretty lame and kind of depressing. That said, this is obviously an interesting and well-conceived piece of art about growing up - tapping into an American musical tradition that crosses cultures, genres and time periods. This is basically rap's answer to Bruce Springsteen's Born to Run era, mostly about being young and ambitious and needing to break loose of your environment to discover who you really are. But where usually songs about this classic theme have an ebullience to them (i.e the ecstatic and anthemic feel to Born to Run), Kendrick's take is somewhat tepid. He doesn't burst into adulthood so much as sort of just adapt to it. He slinks into it. It's not the most compelling or fun story, but is probably more true to what growing up actually feels like for most of us. So if that was Kendrick's goal, good job. But while I can appreciate the artistry and skill in storytelling here, I don't personally turn to mass market pop music (as an art form in general) to reflect back the feeling of everyday life in such generally plain and straightforward language. I've heard Kendrick described as some type of elevated lyrical genius and a poet and all that - but I don't really hear that when I listen to him. To me he's more of a 'truth-teller' type of writer, rather than someone who can transform the banal into something higher with the power of language alone. Because of that, I wish the beats and hooks were more fun to listen to. Giving this a 4 because I recognize there's something appealing about rap to many people that I think I'm just unable to fully appreciate for whatever reason, and that might be more user error on my part. For what it is, this is great. But what it is still doesn't really do it for me.

Been dreaming of a swimming pool of liquor to dive into since this came out in 2012 ;;;;;;;;;;) Anecdote: this album came out during my freshman year of college. I remember hearing Bitch, Dont Kill My Vibe and Swimming Pools in every grungy basement for a solid 6 months Honestly, I don't expect to enjoy the rap albums that surface on this list (a bias I need to fix because I really liked Wu-Tang) and I was still impressed with this. Its probably a 5 in the rap world and a solid 4 for my tastes. Hearing Poetic Justice was funny... Didn't realize Drake and Kendrick were actually friends for a while. I don't love the song M.A.A.d city. Curious what others thought on that one specifically (it seems super popular) Big fan of Money Trees.

Still love this album. Kendrick brought a lot of pop rap fans into more lyrical rap (at the same time Drake was bringing gangsta rap fans into modern emo rap, which was a lot lamer). This album is still my favorite of his - it’s earnest and thought provoking without being self serious and arty like much of his later stuff. Really puts you in his teenage head in a relatable way. The production is glorious on these tracks and carries a clear tone throughout the album, and the interludes actually add useful context to the songs (usually I find rap interludes pretty useless). The ponderous lyrical stuff is paced nicely against the party beats so it has a good balance. My only knock is that it’s probably a song or two too long (Real is objectively a shitty song)

Sydäntä riipaiseva albumi! Todella makeeta biisiä välillä, helposti tietyt biisit vois mennä jollekin omalle mix listalle.

Some really fun shii on this one.

Kendrick's best work, but my favorite track is The Recipe on the bonus disc not linked here.

Above average

I love the phone calls and random conversation samples. Easy listening album, no songs I really dislike and a couple of bangers towards the end (Real, Compton, also Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe) probably 3.5/5

Love how Kendrick just changes his styles within this album. Brilliant story teller

Fascinating throughout and still sounds fresh after 13 years. Heralded for a reason and a banner of what other greatness was to come from Kendrick. (4.5 stars)

I enjoyed TPAB but none of Kendrick's other albums have really clicked with me. This one is better than I remembered. I really enjoy how variable his flow and cadence are - he's a very expressive rapper. And I appreciate how he uses many elements of gangsta rap (which isn't a style I typically enjoy) and creates something that is reflective and smart, whilst still being hard-hitting. I respect the ambition of a story-telling quasi-concept album with different characters and voices, although I'm not sure it is put across 100% clearly. My main complaint is the production, which is very forgettable. Given that the album is about Compton, it might have been cool to have an updated West Coast sound, which we only get on a couple of later tracks. The aim was clearly to have a softer, dreamier sound overall, but it didn't need to be so innocuous. A few jazz samples would have gone a long way, or just a little more G-funk. Still a very strong record even if it will never be a favourite for me. 4*

Theme runs the album. Definitely songs we need to listen to and have an understanding for today. 8/10

Amazing lyricist! I saw Kendrick after this record dropped, and it’s still a good listen.

pretty good 4 stars i‘d say einige Neuentdeckungen

Haven't listened to this since 2015 or so. It's as good now as it was then. The little vignettes remind me of Wyclef Jean's debut album. It's a lot more chill than I remember, excepting a few tracks. Compton slaps.

custom_rating:8.5

[7/10]

Great - hard to rate it fairly when I know how much better they’re going to get

not typically a genre i would gravitate towards, but i liked it. definitely knew some songs.

Classic Kendrick and a hell of an album from start to finish. Excellent storytelling that means that it's one of those albums that may take a listen or two to catch everything that's said. The instrumentation/beats is also great. It's a really well-produced album.

kendrick solid

I enjoy this album and I feel like I come back to the songs on this one a lot more compared to TPAB. Favourites: Money Trees, m.A.A.d city, Swimming Pools (Drank) and Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst. Rating: 4.5

This album was much better than I thought it would be. Some good deep songs, as well as regular pop-y songs. Altogether, exceeded my expectations.

Appellerer både til mainstream og undergrund hiphop. har høj metacritic score. Kendt for god storytelling og god produktion. det har stor kulturel Impact og blevet studeret for societal problemer som systematisk racisme, vold osv. det er subtitled “a short film by kendrick lamar”

This guy knows his crap, he is just such an interesting and polished album for his second album. Great singles, good album tracks and his death in the album too. No wonder he is the top rap artist right now.

I understand why some people consider this one of the greatest albums ever made, but it's a tad over-long to really be 5 stars. 4.0/5.0: Great

i had heard 3/4s of the tracks before. obviously kendrick is a great rapper and the beats are great as well but i was always annoyed by the high pitch voice he uses on some of the songs. money trees and swimming pools in particular use it quite frequently. i understand that thematically its supposed to represent his conscience but it doesn't work for me. additionally almost every song overstayed its welcome by multiple minutes. even with those complaints i still enjoyed it for the most part

One of the most influential albums of the 2010s and it's easy to see why do many like it. The lyrics are great and add a lot of depth to these songs. Along with great production it becomes one of the best rap albums ever made. Personally I prefer a little more emphasis on the backing track like in Illmatic but this is still a classic.

Doesn't hit me quite as hard as To Pimp A Butterfly, but there are some great tracks here. Sing About Me, Dying of Thirst hit my heart in ways I wasn't expecting.

This is astonishing. Now I get it. Now I see what the fuss is about

Pregame notes: I am excited for this one, but I’m not super familiar with Kendrick’s catalog. What I have heard, mostly features on other artists’ albums I like. Postgame notes: Started a little slow, especially with all the god/bible stuff, but overall I enjoyed this one. Compton was probably my favorite track, but the back half is excellent.

So, my kid is super in Kendrick Lamar and Tyler, the Creator right. So I have heard this album a lot recently (and heard all the backstory about every track). IMO, there are several really really good tracks on here, Swimming Pools (Drank), Sing about me, I’m dying of thirst and Bitch, Don’t Kill my Vibe and then some other pretty ok songs songs and then some forgettable interludes….solid album overall

Difficult. A highly-praised and immensely popular album. It's well-done; some parts sound amazing. I don't foresee coming back to it very often, though.

Upee!

85% Best: Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe; Backstreet Freestyle; Money Trees; good kid; Sing About Me, I'm Dying Of Thirst Must-Hear? Sure

Makes me sad that there's this remarkable talent and these are the stories he needs to tell us. It's a m.A.A.d world.

Predicting this one coming up next was like getting wordle in 1!

This first few songs of this album weren’t that great but then it goes into something completely different, and sucked me in. 8.2/10.

This album was my first exposure to Kendrick's music. I was pretty impressed on how well spoken he was in his rap. I really like the inclusion of recordings of (I would guess) real conversations that Kendrick had in his life. Can't miss songs: Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe good kid Swimming Pools 3.5/5 = 4 in this scale.

finally, some good fucking food I've started listening to Kendrick after his super bowl halftime show, but I'd only got through the Drake diss songs and To Pimp a Butterfly, so this was next on my to-do list anyways. I'm not really into hip-hop, but what I've heard from Kendrick so far is great, this included. I'm giving a 4/5, but I wouldn't be surprised if that goes up after repeat listens.

Love Kendrick. Not this album though, per se, as it's how he got his foot in the door..it took me a while to get into him and then it literally just clicked w a live performance at the grammys and I thought 'OHHHH I get it now, this guy is a GENIUS!' : ) Kendrick's mom loved the Temptations so she named him after Eddie Kendricks, must have brought him good luck bc this guy has massive talent.

After the Super Bowl show, I greatly respect him and his music. He does not pander to an audience; he walks the talk and lives his life in alignment with his values. I like his use of phone calls and religious prayers to bring the song into more context.

This is a solid album. It listens well top to bottom. 4/5.

My third-fav album from K-Dot.

pretty great debut album

Oh, more sold on this than his first album. More flow and musicality. Still think he's overrated as a lyricist though.

Brilliant story teller. Sometimes when someone is this good at painting a picture I feel like I'd rather read or watch than listen. I enjoyed it a lot, but seems like the wrong medium.

Great start.

not my favorite kendrick but that could be recency bias. great album!

Oi da chund de Kendrick ja zumene optimale Ziitpunkt hinefüre. Macht mi grad no chli meh giggerig zum tüüfer i de ganzi Spass ihztauche. Ufjedefall isch de Kendi min guete Morgebegleiter gsi am Flughafe züri und au no biz im Flugi selber bisi uf mini downloadede Playlist han müsse uswiiche. 4 Drake disses Bar ufs Hand. Salam Alaikum mitenand und ich hoff ich chan mini Album Quote dur die negste 3 Wuche ufrecht erhalte.

No es el mejor álbum de Kendrick en mi opinión pero sería una mentira decir que no es buenisimo Rating:9 Cancion favorita: Bitch don’t kill my vibe

Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 4/5

I can see Kendrick’s appeal, but I found the message of the album mostly lost on me. I did appreciate the stories of his life and that of the disadvantaged youth experienced growing up with drugs and crime. No subtlety to it, but good beats. I like one or two songs and would listen again e.g. m.A.A.d city and swimming pools. I kind of liked Backstreet Freestyle too

It is rare when an artist emerges as brilliantly fully formed on their debut album as Kendrick Lamar does on good kid, mAAd city. Yes I know this is technically not his debut. Still.

Already heard it

I PRAY MY DICK GET BIG AS THE EIFFEL TOWER SO I CAN FUCK THE WORLD FOR 72 HOURS fiquei imerso demais nesse aqui. papo reto. sempre tentei ouvir kendrick direito e nunca me desceu, mas agora foi. um absurdo. uns beat lindíssimo, storytelling cabuloso e não-linear (que eu aprecio mto), o cara escreve só pedrada. ainda dizem que o to pimp a butterfly é melhor? pqp num posso espera.

Goated

i've always felt a little out of place among my peers for not thinking this album is as good as others do. it's still great, don't get me wrong, but i find it a bit padded out and somewhat boring on some tracks. still, it showcases a ton of talent, and sing about me, i'm dying of thirst is still one of kendrick lamar's best songs, even all these years later.

Lots a great classic song that I didn’t know where from that albume

Classic

pretty damn good! there’s so much beautiful stuff happening musically and a lot of great lyrics and i can hear/recall how much it informed the culture, but the songs often felt overlong and the whole album felt like it dragged a little as a result.

it's goooood. a lot of really beautiful songs where once again I'm sure if I could register lyrics, would be even better. "Swimming Pools" is the only one that sounds really of its time to me, but other than that it feels like it could come out today. Which is possibly why I'm not so blown away...it doesn't sound that unique to 2025 ears but I guess that's because it was ahead of its time and stood out when it was released.

Unexpectedly not bad, has some solid songs, would listen again.

Great concept record with an interesting story and some catchy songs.

7/10 enjoyed, some really catchy songs, loved the parents voicemails

There's a few songs here I couldn't really get into, but it's easy to see why this is so well regarded by hip hop fans and the general public. Swimming Pools (Drank) is still such a fantastic tune.

Long album of sad bangers

Really solid, NSFW but enjoyed the beats and lyrics.

my scrotum imposin sooooo nostalgic. I’m smoking weed at the park in high school in 2015. charming in its scrappiness but still a masterful album deftly executed. kendrick’s preachy shtick is definitely less affecting with the benefit of time and hindsight and his following albums, but man it’s so good! m.a.a.d. city followed by swimming pool made me drive unwisely in the snow