Reviews (page 8 of 14)
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
I knew about Kendrick for a while but I hadn’t explored this record before. As a south American, with English as a second language, raised in a different culture, can say that this work is charming. Some songs are a little long - maybe this criticism dwells in the fact that I haven’t connected to a deep level - but I can feel the cohesion, the journey, the growth. Great album!
Kendrick captured in his lyrics what Meirelles and Lund portrayed in City of God
Exceptional storytelling
Fantastic. A fully realized album with great, thought provoking songs. Laying the groundwork for an incredible body of work. Pound for pound Kendrick is still one of the best rappers working today
3.5
The first time I hea heard this record it was back when it was up for album of the year. And the first half of it was really hard for me to take but as the story grew along I really became invested in the album a lot more than I am most rap albums. 8.5 ★★★★
One of the best hiphop albums in my book, even though this is out of my wheelhouse, this album has some real quality beats and some catchy songs. 4.5 stars
4.5
K-dot is my favorite current hip-hop guy, and I love the blend of politically and morally complex lyrics with some incredibly catchy beats. This is a good debut, but not my favorite of his.
Not really my thing but I get why it’s highly praised
Fuck this is a pretty dope album. I dont love all of it as aux shit but it has some mf bangers. Poetic justice ive been sleeping on, bitch dont kill my vibe, money trees, maad city, those are the car bangers. Its still a fjcking masterpiece
Knew the hits but had never listened to the album from end to end. Loved the back half of Dying of Thirst and Money Trees is a perennial favorite. Sets up To Pimp a Butterfly in big ways
enjoyed more than I expected incredible storytelling and blend of sounds two title tracks were possibly my favourites
Excellent album, I have never heard the whole thing but have listened to the hits. He is one of the best ever in my opinion, very nice flow and excellent lyrics. Great beats, all around outstanding. I'm sure I will be listening to this many more times.
8.30
Kendrick Lamar isn’t my regular cup of tea, but I have to give it up for Good Kid in M.A.A.D. City. It is a towering classic. https://open.substack.com/pub/richcain/p/project-1001-good-kid-maad-city-by?r=4ztyq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
While some of the tracks are way too long for my admittedly limited attention span, I was surprised to find I liked this record a lot. I don’t even like rap. Aside from the rich storytelling and depictions of street life, I like the cadence and flow and music.
The double album killed me due to time demands. Listed to most of, and will finish later. Found it very interesting!
Yes!! Yes!! I already know this one. Takes me back to 2012, which was a great year for me. When this came out, 106 & Park was still a thing (but not TRL or the Rock Countdown or the VH1 countdown). Anyhoo, I've still got it in the rotation. Highlights: I mean, Kendrick's got flow. It's undeniable. Almost all of these tracks are great, especially 'Backseat Freestyle', 'Money Trees', 'good kid' (the line "from a function that tooken place"!), 'Swimming Pools' Lowlights: 'Compton', the Jay-Z version of 'Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe', and, as you might expect from the genre, there's a lot of slurs* on this album, which is why I can't give it a 5. Imagine a (good) slur-free rap. I wonder if you can ;__; *For the pragmatics fans out there, I admit I'm using "slurs" a little imprecisely -- this album really only contains the b-word (which many (IMO incorrect) scholars say is not a slur) and the r-less n-word (which I agree is not really a slur (see Smith 2019), buut I still don't like hearing it as a white). So as these things go, it could be way worse.
This is such a difficult rating. I think it’s a 4 but I’m leaning 5. I wish 4.5 existed
Intense, obviously lyrically supremely sophisticated Storytelling 1000 D Hip Hop misogynie chani persönlich ned eif uusblende
Sehr geil, aber ich weiss nicht, wie ich mit den Lyrics umgehen soll..
Reminded again that I don’t really like skits on albums.
мне очень понравился саунд и сторителлинг, отдаленно похоже на горгород :):)
Wow! Eso fue todo un viaje. Lo que más puedo destacar de este álbum es la cinematografía y la historia que transcurre a lo largo de él. Una de las cosas de las que me puedo quejar es que sónicamente no me pareció nada muy interesante en general, tanto que de ser por mi la mayoría de canciones serían un 5, nada que me disguste, nada que me guste. Eso sí, la letra y la historia se llevan todo el crédito, aunque desde mi perspectiva no estoy de acuerdo en la construcción de ciertos conceptos, tampoco me opongo y me parece una muy buena historia con un mensaje muy interesante y realmente te hace reflexionar. Esas grabaciones al lo largo de todo el álbum son excelentes, un poco en partes lo que me hacía querer seguir queriendo escucharlo, ver como continuaba la historia y como concluía. No me decepciono. También tengo cosas que no me gustaron, como las letras de algunas canciones, aunque las puedo aceptar dentro del contexto de la historia del álbum, y no se realmente cual fue la utilidad de toda esa parte de flashback al principio del álbum, creo que sin la mayoría de todo esto, desde “Bitch, Dont Kill My Vibe” hasta “Poetic Justice” hubiese sido un álbum mas redondo, y me hubiese gustado mas, tal vez. Total (de la suma de canciones) del álbum: 71 Total real: 90 4,5 estrellas
This is the first album that has genuinely surprised me. I was so sure I wouldn't like it given I'm not usually into rap, and have listened to the odd Kendrick song before and not enjoyed them. Standout tracks were - MoneyTrees and Swimming Pools (Drank).
Henry has had me appreciating Kendrick for a few years. Though this album lacks any ‘hits’ for me, it’s solid and sets him up for his imminent genius period.
please don't kill my wife
If you want falsetto proto-metal
Ok, so this was the album ive been waiting for. I like hip hop but never found a way into kendrick. I found him a bit dense and lacking in hooks. Today i was visiting a city and put this on my headphones and walked around. The lyrics shone through, the beats were good and save for an obsession with his penis i thought that was great. Maybe i'll work through his back catalogue.
LP
Vette teksten, goede beats, maar net iets te weinig echte knallers
Kendrick Lamar es, sin duda, el artista de su generación. Este disco o cualquier otro (To Pimp a butterfly o Damm.) son de obligatoria escucha. Otros discos de 2012: TAME IMPALA "Lonerism", DJANGO DJANGO “Django Django”, The XX "Coexist", BEACH HOUSE "Bloom", CHROMATICS "Kill for love", THE SHINS “Port Of Morrow”, FRANK OCEAN "Channel Orange", DIIV "Oshin", ALABAMA SHAKES “Boys And Girls”, JACK WHITE “Blunderbuss”, SWANS “The Seer”, Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend! de Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Lambchop con Mr M, Anastasis de Dead Can Dance, A Wasteland Companion de M Ward, Born to Die de Lana del Rey, Spriritualized con Sweet Heart Sweet Light, Sweet Heart Sweet Light, Sweet Heart Sweet Light, Burial Kindred EP, Los Punsetes Una Montaña es una Montaña, Sigur Rós Valtari, The Raveonettes – Observator, Un Dígito Binario Dudoso. Recital Para Alan Turing de Hidrogenesse
A great record - maybe to me not as good as 'To Pimp A Butterfly' - but it's definitely among the best out there.
Nunca decepciona el muchacho Lamar
good kid, m.A.A.d city is a really good album, that much is clear, I just feel conflicted about it in places because I feel like I'm supposed to like it more than I do, and the reasons I don't like it enough to give it a 5/5 are really just stylistic choices. His flow, lyrical composition, storytelling and vocabulary is undeniably top-tier, and there are some absolute bangers on here, but where Kendrick loses me is a mix of a) his voice, b) some of the songs having a 'silly' quality and b) a lot of the chorus-type hooks are just him repeating the same line over and over. I've said before that my preference for hip-hop and rap sound is for a darker, grittier sound, so the run of good kid through to the end (except for Real, which is crap, and the 'Promise that you will sing about me' lines in Sing About Me, I'm Dying Of Thirst are a good example of the silly sound I dislike) is outstanding (so is The Art Of Peer Pressure), but a lot of the early tracks just don't resonate with me in the same way. There's also a weird thing where there are almost two songs in one in a lot of places and, while I'm sure that's an intentional decision, it feels a bit jarring to me. On balance it's a 4/5 because it's all good, it's just not all really good or entirely to my preferences, whereas something like The Blueprint absolutely was a few weeks back, that was one of the best albums we've had on this list regardless of genre, like top 5, and I don't think this is quite as good by comparison.
This is really good. Hadn't really listened to any of his stuff before we got his other album as part of this, but it's a really interesting listen. Think I prefer it to the other one of his we had, but only marginally - it benefits from being a bit tighter and less diverse in terms of the genres that he brings into it. There's not much that properly digs into your ears on a first listen (Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe the only one really), but it's definitely one I will want to come back to. Lyrics are great, it's a hell of a story, it's probably not a 5/5 for me yet but I think it might be after listening to it a few more times. 4/5.
At first I wasn't sure. I felt some songs had good beats but wrong deliveries, while others had great deliveries but horrible beats. It won me overtime and I think the overall concept is really good.
The lyricism of Kendrick is insane. The story of the album is really fully fleshed out. Excellent musicality and rapping. The guest appearances don't interrupt Kendrick's story of flow, but add to each song they appear in. The beginning of the album was a bit of a miss for me, but it picks up quickly and doesn't ever really slow down after that until the last couple songs. But an expertly created album. Favorite Song(s): The Art of Peer Pressure, Money Trees
It was good! I really liked the majority of the song.
Never been a hip hop person but obviously heard about Kendrick. Plus I’ve heard he’s the greatest! And I agree, I fully enjoyed this album. Nice beats but mainly sick lyrics.
Kinda embarrassed it took me this long to get to this album, but sooooo worth it. Just an absolute modern masterclass of modern songwriting.
I'm not from the hood and will not ever relate, and the opening tracks seem gangsta misogyn lets sign about my dicky BUT this mellows and says something and is a damn good listen. Definitely belongs on this list.
Naja, ganz abwechslungsreich. Eher eine positive Überraschung - auch wenn ich kein Wort verstehe, und der Text wohl recht wichtig ist für das Verständnis
One of my favorites
8/10
Solid front to back
I am not a big fan of modern hip hop (noted this is 12 years old now). An American colleague recommended it as an entry point. I never really went beyond this album to understand it's influence but I like it. After a few listens I feel my appreciation for it grew
The perfect palate cleanser after some of the trash we have gotten this week. Been waiting for this one to arrive, especially after it was chosen in Apple's top 100 albums. While I have a different Kendrick ranking than some and wouldn't put this above a few others, this is still a solid and powerful album. It will always remind me of hanging in the house that my brother and I rented in college as he played the vinyl in the living room. All these songs bring back those memories and that makes this more special than the songs themselves. Backseat Freestyle was my favorite from the album and something I listened to constantly as I roamed the lots in my parking services truck. Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe, Art of Peer Pressure, Money Trees, Poetic Justice, and Swimming Pools are all keepers for me. I could never understand if you were supposed to listen to the deluxe version or original because there were so many versions of this and that always frustrated me too. I just want an album to be what it needs to be, I'm tired of the deluxe business.
I'm well aware of Kendrick Lamar's popularity and acclaim, but this was my first time listening to him. I was super curious because this album has a pretty high score for being a divisive genre. My assessment of it was that it's very accessible and palatable for someone like me, who typically doesn't care for rap. I could actually decipher the lyrics and they were neither overly explicit nor hostile nor braggadocious. In fact, what I heard was thoughtful self-awareness and observation of the imperfect world we live in. I can see why this is critically acclaimed.
Thought it was an automatic 5-star when it popped up but landed on 4 instead. Can’t tell if I’m just a too used by it to be amazed or what… I will say that some of the placements are weak. Compton in particular (Real is the real closer) but also Poetic Justice, which while a good song, never actually fits the album space, and is ill-fitting after the hopeless day-dreaming of Money Trees. Plus I’ve never too big a fan of the reliance of interludes (baked into the songs in this case) as a storytelling device. Otherwise this is still full of bangers, obviously, with Money Trees, the two title songs (good kid is by far the most underrated song) and SAMIDOT hitting the hardest. Still probably a weaker 4.5★.
I'm less familiar with this album than with To Pimp a Butterfly - I forgot about some of the great tracks here and laughed my ass off when I heard Drake on "Poetic Justice"
top 10 record.it feels so real, and it is.
First track won me over; the next two put me right off (really irritating vocals); four and five had me back on board and then it was fairly consistent to the end. Definitely an intriguing one, will need more listening.
Haven't ever listened to Kendrick Lamar before and don't know why as this was an excellent album.
This is the first album from this project that I already bought, so, of course I like it. It's good. Swimming Pools (Drank) doesn't get enough credit. The words, the flow, the beat, the mix... it all reinforces the point of the song. I'm saying this now, half my life removed from high school partying, it really feels like a night where you went too far. The insecurities, the peer pressure, the second guessing, the alcohol making decisions for you, it is one of those great songs that captures an experience, the level of drunk that is never fun, but feels like the right choice in the moment, and the peer pressure that gets you there. The album as a whole, in September of 2024, is hard to rate "historically." "Not Like Us" is still in the top 10, months later. I think the influence of Kendrick, and this album, is still growing, seven years later. This was a breakout album for a reason. I feel like I have to give it four as an album, because Kendrick has topped himself multiple times, to the point that this album looks merely great in comparison.
On hyvä levy! Henk koht en pidä niin paljon ”näytellyistä osuuksista” (hälinät ja puheosuudet), arvostan vielä enemmän sitä, että tarina rakennetaan pelkällä musiikilla. Mutta onneksi se tehdään suurimmaksi osaksi tässä niin! Ei muuta analyysia, erinomainen levy.
m.A.A.d city -medley ja siirtymä Swimming Pools -megahittiin edustaa omassa, rajoittuneessa hip hop -universumissani jonkinlaista huippua: pää liikkuu täysin vastustamattomasti, ja haluaisin tiettyinä hetkinä jopa osata ajaa autoa - ihan vain blastatakseni tätä levyä. LP:n kaari kantaa hyvin, vaikka loppupuolen fiilistelyt/mietiskelyt vähän latistavatakin kokonaisuutta. Ainoa toinen kritiikkini on se, että artisti osoittaa välillä tiettyä taipumusta esteettiseen tyylitajuttomuuteen (esim. Bitch Don't Kill my Vibe, josta pidän, ja Poetic Justice, johon en ihan pääse sisälle): olen valmis kuuntelemaan kaiken - ja levyltä todella löytää alati uutta - mutta joka "vibeen" en kykene täysin varauksetta Kendrickiä seuraamaan. Mikä ei tarkoita, etteikö LP olisi itsessään verrattain lähellä täydellisyyttä. Erityismaininta: The Art of Peer Pressure. Uskomatonta miten hyvin tässä spoken word -flirtissä onnistuttiin. 4,5
4 stars
Always love kendrick
Well well well...look who is liking rap these days.
Very enjoyable -- didn't know this at all. Great vibe throughout with different sorts of songs. I'm excited about the Super Bowl halftime show.
The writing on the Polaroid graphic says "A short film by Kendrick Lamar," but I didn't pick up on the storyline at first. As the piece moves forward, the story emerges of a youth in the streets trying to rise above his circumstances and find escape and redemption through pain and faith. The album follows a similar thread. The earlier tracks are musically lackluster, relying on mainly on beat and lyrics for rhythm and melody. A turning point happens with "The Art Of Peer Pressure," which infuses more musicality into the intro, while the remainder of the track is again a bit bleak, again displaying the harsh reality of his situation. From "good kid" onwards, we get more interesting sounds and production, mimicking the maturing of the youth contemplating what remains if he dies and what purpose it would serve. We finally get redemption in "I'm Dying of Thirst" and then follow that with "Real", reflecting on how he was not real and whole with the earlier trappings of youth and gang culture until he finally left it. I can appreciate the overall positive message and the elevation of rap to an art form, though we wallowed long through some old tropes in order to arrive here, like Andy Dufresne, who "crawled through a river of shit and came out clean on the other side."
01) Sherane a.k.a Master Splinter's Daughter - 7,5 02) Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe - 9,5 03) Backseat Freestyle - 9,0 04) The Art of Peer Pressure - 8,0 05) Money Trees - 8,0 06) Poetic Justice - 8,0 07) Good Kid - 8,5 08) m.A.A.d city - 8,5 09) Swimming Pools (Drank) - 10,0 10) Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst - 8,0 11) Real - 7,5 12) Compton - 7,0 TOTAL: 8,29 (83/100) Current ranking: 82/298
Superb - his 2nd best....
Absolutely fantastic... Makes sense that it's before TPAB - bangers are certainly there but as a full album it doesn't exactly hit in that same seamless meter. Poetic justice, money trees, swimming pools are excellent among others. 4.475.
Super Bowl 2025 half-time show let's go
Grading on a Kendrick curve. Still a great album, but didn't land quite as well as Butterfly, possibly owing to its more traditional subject matter.
Good stuff 3.7
This felt like watching a movie. It locks you into a time, place, and feel and doesn’t let go. You can hear mistakes, dreams, aspirations, failure. It’s less developed than his later music, which has more complex beats, but lyrically it’s great.
I have a soft spot for Kendrick Lamar (and his mum, she nearly got me into Jesus in that interlude). He is one of the few big stars of this modern 'Nigga' shite rap that I have seen live, and not just managed to see the whole set without walking away, but actually enjoyed it at the time. (That is saying something about my self control under the influence of watered down beer at Reading Festival). As a whole, if you ignore the self centred, vanilla bollocks lyrics, the 'hard life growing up in the ghetto this sort always go on about, and just let the rhythms wash over you, and combined with the excellent instrumental arrangements - its really good, albeit a bit long. I liked the ambience of the music, I have no idea how much input a rapper has in writing the tunes but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt that he had a hand in it. If it had been anything other than a rap album, it would have been a 5, because of the vanilla lyrics. But, as I gave Kanye a 4 for the same reason, it would be very unfair not to give Kendrick the same. 4 stars
Der er godt nok nogen kæmpe bangers her.. Synes ikke helt det er en 5er fordi den bliver trukket lidt ned af konceptet og nogen meget lange numre som jeg ville ønske var kortere, men elsker de fleste af beatsene og elsker Kendrick som rapper. Havde Backseat Freestyle på repeat i hele 2012 så vidt jeg husker
Talented rapper. Need to revisit.
Good, but I love TPAB
Kendrick Lamar came on the scene when I wanted nothing to do with any current music, so his music has largely escaped me aside from a few major performances I’d seen, like the Super Bowl halftime show a few years back. His talent is evident from the first track. It fits in perfectly with the West Coast hip hop that I grew up with and loved (which obviously makes sense since Dr. Dre had a hand in it). This album is head and shoulders above most of the other hip hop I’ve heard from this time period. I definitely understand why Kendrick Lamar is considered so highly. I didn’t love everything about this album, but it’s solid, had a story, great production, and Lamar’s talent is evident. Definitely a worthy inclusion for the modern side of the list.
This is the first time I listened to this album in its entirety and though I'm not a rap fan, I thought this album was very good.
I need to try and be objective as possible here. So I hate the random skits at the end of every bloody song and they go on far too long and that detracts from the album as a whole...but the subject matter, Kendricks rapping ability, the beats, all so good. Its a 4 that could have and should have been a 5 Me trying to justify why it's not a 1 too the baby boomers at work Okay going on a tedtalks here. It genuinely does tackle the issue we all have with rap (misogyny, glorifying gang culture, drug culture and the violence associated to that) and really delves into how Kendrick was influenced by all this growing up and how it shaped him into a person he didn't like and he was lucky enough to be able to escape this by focusing on his music career, but he is lucky as most young black men in the ghetto don't have the luxury. The way Kendrick can we've so many double meaning into each verse still makes me think he's lyrically so gifted. He also has Drake on some tracks which was a real surprise to me as they absolutely hate each other now. TL;dr Kendrick good rap honestly. Reader.. they still think it's a 1...
funky and cool - works really well as an album and has some really great songs YAY!
I LOVE KENDRICK (drake clears tho) i already listened to this and if you don’t like it you suck poo poo very good story telling and could be a 5 if i was just judging off rap albums but compared to other perfect albums it’s a 4.5 DRIZZY DRAKE ON TOP 😩😩
anyone rating this album below a 3 missed the entire point (@ SOME OF THE DUMBASS GLOBAL REVIEWS ON THIS) and are thinly veiling their racism through pretending to gaf about "misogyny"...! but it's okay when your old white man idols do it??? lol! this album is genuinely excellent, its super clean and polished and is the first album generated that i have already heard completely from start to finish the only place where i think this album CONSIDERABLY falls flat is that it's kendrick's SECOND best album, and having outdone himself on tpab (more musically and lyrically dense, sonically SO smooth and so much more ambitious), this pales in comparison looking back but i will gladly admit that rating this a 4/5 is a product of my own personal bias i don't think this album is PERFECT, but 9/12 INCREDIBLE tracks (NOT COUNTING BONUS TRACKS ON DELUXE EDITION!!!!) brings it close!!! 4/5
This album is just hit after hit. Seriously, how does it have tracks like “Money Trees,” “Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst,” and “m.A.A.d city” all in one place? The beats are amazing, and the rapping is on point. I’ve always loved the beat switch on “The Art of Peer Pressure.” However, sometimes his voice can get annoying, like on “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe.” I also feel that in some songs, the beat feels repetitive and doesn’t justify the track’s length. 4.5
could i write poetry to this? n
The storytelling is just so good on this album. I don't like some of the character's voices and a few songs are too long, but the lyrics overcome.
Interesting because the lyrics can be seen as offensive and stupid but it appears to be a big critique of his youth growing up in Compton. Musically, it's a little bit boring to me. Overall a pretty solid record that would probably get better with more listens or listening while having all the lyrics up. I don't like this one as much as DAMN. or To Pimp a Butterfly. The Art of Peer Pressure really sheds a lot of light. It seems like Kendrick was a good kid but caught up with the wrong crowd. After finishing the record, I feel pretty sad. It's a heavy record thinking about the kids that systemically end up in situations like this where at a young age they have to learn how to process things like sex, drugs, and violence.
best thing he did
I love Lamar's voice and his contemplative approach to story telling. There is a pursuit of realism that sets him apart and then he really cares about the musicality of his art and that makes it really rewarding to listen to.
Talent + attention to detail makes great work. Take notes
-I’d heard a few songs from this album but never listened to it in full. It’s very good and consistent in quality, felt a lot like a concept album -Seeing the Drake collab gave me whiplash -Favorites are Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe, Backseat Freestyle, and m.A.A.d city
June 21 2025 1. Intro de rezo. Good one, kinda dark beat. Liked. 2. Bitch don't kill my vibe, I know, fun. 3. Backseat Freestyle, fuck yeah, classic. 4. Didn't like this. 5. Money Trees, well damn nig'. Great, yeah 6. Poetic Justice. Didn't know about a Drake collab, that's funny to find out about now knowing all the beef. Ass song tho' 7. good kid. Loving it! Nice fucking beat. Fuckin raw beat, man. Loove it! 8. Recognize it. Beat gangsta conflictive. No me gustó mucho, pero el beat switch up sí ta fino, el beat tiene un aire a La Del Estribo. Cool one. Liked. 9. Swimming Pools. Yeah, good I guess. Don't love it. 10. Sing About Me. Well, entretenida. Not liking bc too long and the beat switch wasn't amazing and so much habladera de paja. Jesus message tho' 11. Real. No me gustó. Skipped after 4 minutes. 12. Compton with Dre. No way this sucks. I know they spittin some fire, but not enjoying too much. Didn't do much. Might relisten luego. 4.7 bc ajá.
Enjoyed this. I've never really gotten too deep into Kendrick Lamar's music. I feel like it's not made for me, so I have a hard time relating to it. I do enjoy listening to it, but sometimes feel like I shouldn't be.
It’s dope but dark
drank was old fave and still liked it
Great album. As someone who isn’t a huge hip hop fan and hasn’t listened to closely to KL, I wish I had heard this album before TPAB. Both are phenomenal, but gkmc is more traditional and accessible and a good taking off point. It didn’t have the same interesting and ecclectic musical texture, but it’s no worse off. ****
a decent boogie. very filthy. Backseat freestyle is my favorite song!
Solid four-and-a-half album. Kendrick really went hard with his debut. Amazing album, though some of the middle songs aren't as memorable as the first half ones.
I had Kendrick Lamar pinned as that one popular rapper with the odd voice and wacky flow. Odd voice? Sometimes. Nothing wack about the flow after listening to the whole album, though. Still not my favorite rap style or type of music in general, but definitely unique and high quality stuff. However, my favorite thing about the album is the concept. Not innovative by any means: life in the hood, rising from the gutter to a penthouse, losing friends and dealing drugs - the main themes of 90% of rap albums. But Lamar manages to tell intricate stories that neither glorify nor directly criticize the lifestyle, or only serve to lament his own suffering or bravery. Instead, there are sober facts and personal learnings. Aptly titled, good kid, m.A.A.d city encapsulates the feeling of a kid in a city. You can decide for yourself how you want to assign the adjectives when you listen to it.
I love Kendrick Lamar generally. And there a lot of my favorite songs by him on this album. I'll say my 4 star rating is due to the fact I don't think I was in a very hip-hop mood when I listened to the full album. And there's definitely some songs that are better than others on this album.
Groovy and fun, with very interesting lyrics that aren’t necessarily as serious as one might think. I don’t always appreciate Kendrick’s blend of hip hop and R & B, his eclectic palate, and his tendency to digress through very long songs, but it all works together nicely. Not every second is essential, but that’s pretty common in hip hop, I would argue, when being drawn into a daily life worldview of the artist, which I think Kendrick does especially well here.
Solid hip hop. After listening to mostly 90s rap on this list it was interesting to jump ahead 20+ years and hear how the art form had evolved. Kendrick’s lyrics are good - although they are juvenile at times. Beats and samples were top notch.
A remarkable piece of art, music, and storytelling. Such smooth sounds and beats throughout, and should be listened to in its entirety I just wish I didn't have to hear "nigga," "pussy," "bitch," and Kendrick sing about his dick every 3 and 1/2 seconds. I get it that it comes with the hip hop territory, but it prevents the more frequent air play I would otherwise give it.
Musically, it’s great. Lyrically, it’s like someone handed Shakespeare a thesaurus of insults and told him to focus on genitals.
The title track and "Swimming Pools (Drank)" are great. The entire album concept is cohesive and complex. The tracks are experimental, discordant and yet also quality rap tracks. Great introduction to Kendrick Lamar. 4.2 stars rounded down.
Ofcourse the comparison to TPAB is made. I do think TPAB is better, therefore a very high 4 stars. 4/5
This is one of those albums that came along in 2012 when I was feeling like I hadn't heard a good album in a while. And that so much hip-hop seemed lazy. This is great all the way through. Strangely enough, someone had tried to put me on to Drake a couple years before and that was one of the reasons I felt like maybe I was just too old for the new stuff. Turns out that wasn't true.
apple music putting this as the only kendrick album in the top 100 list is CRAZY!!! it’s good because it’s kendrick but it’s not even in the same realm as TPAB. this might be my least favorite album of his tbh, speaks to his greatness though
Putting this after kid rock means I think it is amazing
Forgot that Drake was on a track on this album. Guess things went awry from there.
Had heard many of the songs before, but good to hear it as a complete album and pay more attention to the lyrics. Very cool album, atmospheric.
Excellent arrangement. A classic. Even white boys got to shout.
I’m not a rap fan, but I thought this was good. The overall ambiance was okay well set and what I could follow of the story I liked, but there wasn’t anything that resonated with me and made me want to listen to it again
Damn good. I need to give this another listen. Never listened to a full album by him and I see why he’s the GOAT
Never listened to this whole album before. As a concept and artistically, I think it's great, but it's not something where I'd keep going back to listen. I'm torn what to rate it. I think it's an authentic, beautiful self-portrait. 5 star concept, 3 stars for personal listenint preference. Round it to 4 I guess. Favorites were good kid and maad city as well as backseat freestyle.
This review box has been staring at me for a way too long time. I'll just leave a 4 and move on.
Sing about me is a MUST for anyone who loves rap, or music in general. Lots of good songs, but the 2000s hiphop sound that appears on many songs just reassures me that TPAB is THE k dot album and not this one.
If I didn’t just have Fear of a Black Planet and Straight Out of Compton the two previous days, I might have given this album a 5. But going up against two of the greatest rap albums of all time, not sure this is quite as good. Very close though. If we could do half stars this would def be a 4.5.
3.9 he's got better ones, personally, but still awesome faves: money trees, sherane, sing about me
I remember when this album first came out. I kept hearing songs in DJ mixes, so I initially downloaded it for just a couple of tracks. Before I knew it, I was letting the entire album play over and over in my car. I was amazed by how raw, stripped down, and original it was—like a return to the basics. Kendrick Lamar's ability to draw the listener into the story and make them feel as if they were living out the moment with him is truly remarkable.
Another Kendrick banger, fuck Drake
Kendrick Lamar didn't need a diss track to win our hearts over. He did it with this album.
With bad rap, every song sounds basically the same and relies on vapid hooks and lyrics to keep the listener engaged. Kendrick shows his artistry here both musically and lyrically providing gangsta riffs and grooves that get you to move. I didn’t spend any time analyzing the lyrics but recognize there’s enough shit-talking of women to ding the rating.
4.5
Musically vibrant and interesting. This album really drops you into the setting of his experiences as a young man.
Never heard this before. Liked the sound but would need a bunch more listens to appreciate this fully.
I was excited to see this on my album list, and it delivered, 4.5 stars! But I’m rounding down because I’m mean.
Top Rap
One of the best modern hip hop albums, the lyrics are deep and intense without being heady. A
Good
this defined my early 20s and being a total idiot and living poorly in every sense. Some undeniable bangers that are still used in popular lexicon. My only critique that prevents me from a 5/5 is that I can’t grasp the overarching theme of this album. I struggle to find a through line for something like money trees to swimming pool. Both are bomb ass songs for me but I don’t see why they’re on the same album. I loved some songs that I may have missed the first million times around like “good kid” hit different now. 4.5
Love this album some hugeeeee standouts, but overall not a 5/5 for me because some songs do just go on for way too long
A rap album.
I didn't appreciate it at first, but I think I just needed to adjust my expectations. Kendrick isn't like anything else I listen to, so I'm pleasantly surprised by the things I like about it. There's a narrative, and it's strong. It tells a story, and I like that.
good album, m.A.A.d. city! Kendrick and his homies killed it on this one. All songs really good (except the overdone, showtuney Compton - I get the concept, the song just isn’t good). Love his lyrics. Ie; sleep is the cousin of death. … din’t make me skeptical, but not enough to stop me from getting a nut… <— that’s clever. Listened to the album twice (that’s a first) in its entirety. Who knew you could mix rap and violins (<— that’s not a spell check correction for violence either.) Smooth rap (4.2*s)
I think Kendrick's note on the cover art "A Short Film" rings true as this is a more immersive hip-hop album than usual for the genre; it illustrates a full storyline in a cool way and is better listened to all the way through. He overcame immense challenges (hood life, a full stutter, murders, homelessness, etc.) and changed hip-hop forever (in a positive way). His lyrics are progressive and socially conscious, his songs actually have melody, he uses complex rhyme schemes, and he can actually sing. I think it says a lot to be in this genre and not be offensive or raunchy and still manage to be mainstream. I give him a lot for that and this album slays. Bitch, This is My Vibe. Solid 4's.
Amazing album but 4 stars because I like other Kendrick better.
Helt aaaiiiittt noen bangers
Really interesting musically. I thought the lyrics were relatable.
Didn’t listen to it at the time and it felt a bit too late when I was interested so I never did because it felt like homework. Andre 3000 ass voice though.
Great record. Rap is not my thing, but so far not a single bad rap album.
Had only heard the follow up to this, before now. Liked that one, like this one even more.
Amazing album, Kendrick never disappoints.
Prefer Kendrick’s most recent stuff but this is such strong debut - tracks like money trees, swimming pools etc just classics and so good now
overall great rap album, not a huge fan of all the themes and lyrics but the beats are consistently solid. don't like the talking portions appended to the songs
Again, I really dislike hiphop/rap. I hate swearing in songs, I see no point in such vocabulary. But the melodies and the general flow of the music on this album left a positive impression.
Pretty cool, quite grungy, harmonically interesting, and surprisingly beautiful
One of the great rap albums of all time. Plenty of above average songs. 7.5/10 (3.75/5)
Great album. One of my favorite rap albums I’ve heard. His storytelling is honestly incredible. Pretty good flow too
"did somebody say dominos?" Can really hear Dr. Dre's influence on the beats, so many bangers.
Complex and deep. Rap is not my preferred musical genre somewhat because most of it feels so one note and the same thing over and over. But not this, at times yes but it was still deeper, had substance, and made you want to listen to the lyrics and words not just dance along and shake your booty.
Kendrick is a fantastic rapper. I like m.A.A.d. city and Swimming Pools, and it’s fun to hear Dr. Dre in Compton. Some of the album was hard for me to get into because a lot of the rapping is accompanied by kind of a boring steady beat. That being said though, I appreciate how well crafted and well written this is, and how intentional the storytelling is. It feels like a journey that evolves in kind of a beautiful way. I liked it better on my second listen, which is always a good sign. Except…the “bitches” gets old, we are ladies dammit.
just heard it for the first time. wonderful. 12 minute track really had me feeling
I haven't listened to this as much as I have TO PIMP A BUTTERFLY or even DAMM., but it's what kicked the door open for K.Dot, so... I wish I had more to say about this album, but I really don't. It's just good-ass raps around a story where a young Kendrick realizes maybe this hood life ain't so good after all. And note: a **YOUNG** Kendrick. To the guy whose response to the Eiffel tower line in "Backseat Freestyle" was "FFS grow up": did you even understand the plot? Seriously. Anyway, uhm, I'unno. "m.A.A.d city" goes hard as hell and that's the last thing I wanna say. Well, aside fro—YAWK YAWK YAWK YAWK.
yea nigga yea
A sick album, super hype, nice beat and rhythm, makes me feel cool while im walking or riding listening too it.
A little too long. One of the best
Money trees rly is the only place for shade these days. 4.5
Hiphop isnt my style, but I enjoy this
Great album!
This was such a great album in high school, but it's been overplayed. Money Trees is the best song.
The album that brought one of the best current rappers to the masses. I think I enjoyed this a lot more before all of the songs became severely over played.
This one surprised me. This isn't a genre I typically listen to, but I enjoyed this album. Kendrick Lamar is a great lyricist and tells a story through his lyrics.
This album only looses points for the lyrical content and style. I do not enjoy the high-pitched, nasal sound that accompanies much of this. However, the concept album is executed extremely well, and he, or his writing team, are very skilled at writing bars. There's such an overall flow and fit to his lyrics and verses, and it's a breath of fresh air for a more modern artist. There's actually a lot of talent here. I don't vibe with the lyrics, but they're good. Beats and flow of the songs in general are great too. Fav tracks: m.A.A.d city, Sing About Me, I'm Dying Of Thirst, Swimming Pools (Drank)
Not my normal style, but an interesting album that pulled me in. Much more than it appeared at the surface when paying attention to the lyrics and stories.
Come a long long way since Fame Academy. Fair play 4.2
First time listening to Kendrick Lamar. It took me a couple of songs to get used to the language but after that I started to really listen to the lyrics and hear the beats. The lyrics are very poetic and powerful. He gives us a glimpse into his reality and isn’t afraid to get raw and real. This is not my typical genre of music that I listen to but by the middle of the album I was enjoying the music. Very talented artist!
4.08 per track. *clutches pearls*
flow nerdy
Somewhere between 4 and 5
Interesting one. I don't know loads about Kendrick, which is on me, as he's so highly respected by people whose opinion I value. I'm aware this is early in his career, and that To Pimp a Butterfly and DAMN are still to come (presumably at least TPAB is on The Project), and it came across like this. There's no end of talent, but it doesn't feel like someone who's totally risen above the 'generic rap/hip-hip' template at this stage. It's mightily impressive, despite that, and got me excited for what's to come.
I was surprised how much I enjoyed this. It starts with Sherane and Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe - so far, so stereotypically gangsta rap. I was braced for an hour of the usual brag-rap about ‘bitches’ and guns. But then it turns into a concept album about a teenager trying to outgrow those tropes and his environment. The music is great too. Touches of jazz, smooth pop and weird Parliament/Funkadelic vibes interspersed with funny (and later on poignant) segue-ways between tracks. Admittedly, my knowledge of rap is pretty limited, but this has immediately become my favourite album in the genre.
Zo veel bangers. Kan niet geloven dat dit album al 13 jaar oud is! Doet me denken aan de middelbare school, met nummers als "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe". Tijdloos.
Rock on 🤘🏻 Changes was pretty good
Quite good, and I appreciate that it seems to tell a story.
I’m mad this album forced me to listen to Drake. That’s my biggest criticism. I guess the last couple songs also kinda fell off, but if you could’ve seen me dancing and singing in my office to this.. sheesh.
Solid.
Very clean flow and tight beats. I could do with less of the talking interludes and "skits" especially since they're tacked on to the end of tracks and not easily skippable. Would've rated a 5 otherwise.
This album defined the early 2010s, and has stood the test of time. Sing about me, Real and Compton are not the strongest end to the album.
Not at the level of TPAB but an excellent album with a lot of good music. Probably one too many skits but I think they do add to the overall vibe of the album.
There’s a reason why Kendrick became the Next Great Hope for Hip-Hop and you can hear it here. It’s not really a formula, but if it were, Kendrick mixed up the medicine while warning about just that on the standout track “Swimming Pools (Drank).” His abilities impressive—each track is a verbal workout with his Id and his social conscience working in tandem. But it’s really the album as a whole that’s impressive as a conceptual piece (or “short film as Kendrick titles it). The next record would be the masterpiece with the one after that a Pulitzer Prize winning effort, but it’s on “good kid, m.A.A.d. city” where Kendrick really switches on a naked light bulb in the basement, exorcises some demons, and gets ready to make a run for the throne.
Wenn man HipHop Fan ist, bestimmt umwerfendes Album. Gute Produktion! Mir teilweise doch aber bisschen zu anstrengend. Muss man sich bestimmt reinhören
Storytelling. A language of bragging, raw description, violence, everyday anger and threat. Looking for the money tree, the escape. Born in a car crash, in a shooting, in a drug haze, in the sex scene, already buried. You got to dig yourself out. What you are and what you want to be. If this was made up, it would be dark--like a story of vampires--a fiction to learn something from. But it isn't. It is description of the world that is found when you wake up and when you go to sleep that some are born into and that is part and parcel of a larger world no matter how much this smaller one skews to its own reality. This album is solidly built in a place and time--captures it, accepts the world and wants more: Ain't no city like mine. And I think that is true--it spins up when you start to play it. And stays even after the songs are done.
Stellar production! Backseat Freestyle's use of Yo Soy Cubano is clever. Money Times, Poetic Justice, Real, and Swimming Pools (Drank) bangers. Solid
cohesive and well-crafted
J'avais pas trop de notions dans ce style, mais quand c'est posé ça régale
4.5. so many bangers.
Great album, one of the last that i liked from Kendric 4/5
❤️
Great production and lyrics. I like the way how it tells a story and songs link between each other. Can’t really relate though. I really like the sounds that are added to the songs to complete the meaning of the lyrics. Fav song: Backseat Freestyle
One of Kendrick’s best, probably just after To Pimp a Butterfly.
stunning and exceeding even its own reputation. i ain’t gonna be back in this town.
Not mi género, pero sorpresivamente no sufrí escuchándolo
Great Album, cool beats, cool sounds, cool flow...caught me from the first second.
Álbum bom! Adorei começar o dia ao som de Kendrick Lamar
Pretty good. Would never have been played on any radio station when I was young. Haha. Too explicit.
I liked the low key sounds. I think the lyrics would connect with many people.
I've loved this one for a while.
I'm going to say four stars. The overall sound seems interesting and professional, pretty much what I expect from an album included on this list as an example of modern rap. I was listening to this in the background, so in most tracks, I only understood the general narrative, but a few really pulled me in with the story and got me to pay close attention to the lyrics. The circular concept of the album is also cool. Unfortunately, some tracks have examples of how women are often represented in rap - a dismissive and one-dimensional representation at best. Those are obvious skips.
Dat narrative
deliciaaaaaa
Bitch didn’t kill my vibe Simpsons: No
Good album will listen again.
Good.
"The Art of Peer Pressure" is the peak of this album for me, 5/5 for that song, phenomenal backing track and lyrics, just seemed to have a bit more heart than some of the other tracks. Overall a good album, 4/5. Also the bass on this one go boom boom boom. Appreciate that.
Easily the best, though tbf one of the only decent rappers I've had in the last 20 years. Take off a few dross tracks and this is a great album. A combined hits from this + pimp a butterfly would be approaching 5* which is incredible for rap for me.
Did somebody say domino's? Money Trees is wel echt het beste nummer van dit album
Cinematic
All i hear is gyat gyat gyat
Not really my style, a lot of language but I can see why it is on the list.
So goof Very very high 4
Solid lyrics, great album. The vocals can be annoying sometimes though. I wish I could rate 4.5, but since I can't - 4 it is.
i like the story telling aspect, tracks flowed together nicely telling a cohesive story. rapping was great and beats were too. top 3: the art of peer pressure, swimming pools (drank), and compton.
The correct evolution of hip hop
Nowhere near as good as Butterfly but I still like his style and his melodies.
This is an album that definitely requires multiple listens. Really enjoyed the journey and feel there’s a lot this album has to offer that I’m not fully appreciating. Great songs, not quite TPAB, but a really enjoyable album.
De 14 temas me gustaron 3
Very cool/10
Awesome album.
3.5/5
Buenazo.
Musically, this is good, but not great. However, that's true of a lot of rap really. But The lyrics are good enough to get it over the 3 1/2 star hump and make it 4 stars.
It was ik. Like kendricks voice but a but to profane
What an iconic album. While it may not be as masterful as To Pimp a Butterfly, the story Kendrick tells here is nearly as compelling. Even looking past that, the music and production here are just as good on a surface level. I guess it's not every cup of tea, but Swimming Pools (Drank) and Sing About Me, I'm Dying Of Thirst are songs that have kept and will keep me coming back to this album for years. Highlight: Swimming Pools (Drank) Lowlight: good kid Surprise Hit: Sing About Me, I'm Dying Of Thirst
A powerful album about being both nostalgic for and proud to have risen above the violent place you were raised, while also being immediately obvious just how much the songs on this album influenced rap for the next decade
I didn't really like the start of this album but the more I listened to it, the more I enjoyed it. Took some time but after getting to the end I wanted to listen again. There are a couple of songs that are really not enjoyable for me and I really couldn't ever see myself casually listening to, but overall I liked it by the end.
if I could remove like 4 songs and remove all the interlude / storytelling parts then this album couldve been a 5 but some songs are just so mid (like Backseet Freestyle) and all the interlude shit
Bra och välproducerat rakt igenom, bra texter/storytelling. Stark fyra. Bäst: Bitch don’t kill my wibe (med kungen Jay-Z såklart) Poetic justice Sing about me, I’m dying of thirst Money trees Maad city
Tough one to rate, some bangers, his voice is not my fave though
Really cool. Ben meaning to check this out for years
Lyrical flow incredible
An all time great rap album. Kendrick really liked to experiment with his sound and had several styles that he used to perfection. He is not just a rap bot but bring a message with a variety of styles. A few week songs but overall a solid album.
Swimming Pools was wel goed
Fun
I'm not deep into hip-hop, but DAMN. Pun intended. Smart, brash, bold, and a complete album. I've spent more time with To Pimp a Butterfly and DAMN, but this one is so good.
Great flow, whole album progresses nicely, 8/10
Great album, lots of good songs
Excellent album. A worthy 21st century addition. Compton's new prodigal son making a big splash with this record, torn between the conscious realization that a hard world demands hardiness, and the artists desire to bare his altruist heart.
Right where it counts, excellence from Kendrick
It's some kendrick all right. Some classic tracks, some tedious skits