Reviews (page 9 of 13)
One of my favourite rappers. This is one of his better albums. Has a few lows but overal an amazing piece of work
I've heard Kendrick songs before, but I've never really given his music a listen. Outstanding modern rap album. 4/5. Favorite Tracks: Backseat Freestyle, Swimming Pools, "Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst"
It's been a bit of time since I last listened but it holds up
Of its genre it's a really good album. Obviously a bit full on lyrically but goes with the terrain.
There's a lot of good stuff here but it feels over long. I know this album is held in pretty high regard but there could have been some songs cut. I said what I said.
Kendrick Lamar albums are generally cinematic and expansive in scope. ’Good Kid, M.A.A.d City’ is no exception, with its non-linear narrative that demands you listen to it closely, piecing together the storyline as you go. There’s a couple of missteps, ‘Backstreet Freestyle’ I find jarring and not Kendrick's strongest work lyrically, and ‘Compton’ which feels strangely out of place (and an excuse for Dre to make an appearance) tacked on to the end of the album, when the penultimate track ‘I’m Real’ is for all intents and purposes the real (and spiritual) ending. Minor gripes aside, ‘Good Kid, M.A.A.d City’ is for the most part excellent and well worth your while.
I first heard Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe in a remix and I thought he was saying "please don't kill my vibe." Album has fewer skit/random-chit-chat tracks than average, which is the truest sign of quality. Also Swimming Pools.
Albumi, jolla tuntuu olevan vahva replay arvo. Lyyrisyyttä en ole ottaen huomioon mutta antanen ymmärtää, riittävää.
Este es de esos discos que hay que digerir con tiempo, especialmente porque no es un género con el que estoy familiarizado.
Not a big rap fan but quite like Kendrick Lamar. Think I preferred ‘To Pimp a Butterfly’ but this is also great in its own right, and I imagine it’ll grow into a classic one day. Lyrically, it’s superb. Doesn’t follow the usual / stereotypical rap template - manages to easily mix the simple with the complex. I read a while ago that this album was being used in Universities to study language, alongside books by Hemmingway (I think Hemmingway anyway, my memory aint great). Only downside is it’s a bit long for a casual rap fan like myself, but regardless of that he’s the best of the best in his area (especially since Kanye West decided he was actually a massive bellend)
I found it difficult to enjoy this album the first time I listened because I wasn't paying enough attention. On a second listen I realised it was far more interesting than initially thought. Especially after I read the background about the album. I think I'll like this album more and more with subsequent listens. It's got a really good production so everything is really clean and easy to hear. I listened to the "Deluxe Edition" to hear the bonus tracks and "The Recipe" is a fantastic track that should have been on the original. Highlights were "Backstreet Freestyle", "M.A.A.D City" and "Money Trees".
I've been meaning to give Kendrick a proper listen for ages. I love hip hop but generally not a big fan of "gangsta rap", especially the more recent way it's gone, post 80s and 90s. I think this is approaching the stuff I don't like so much..... At the risk of sounding my age, rapping about money, "bitches", bling and violence doesn't really appeal to me! I know that's probably what he knew and grew up with, but it's old and I've heard it all before. I wasn't sold when I wrote the previous bit but by the end and another listen I've completely changed my mind! He's got great flow and some tracks I thought were quality and more of a commentary on the stuff I don't like. "The art of peer pressure", "Sing about me, I'm dying of thirst" and "good kid" were my favourites. Didn't like the singles so much! Maybe on later albums there is less of the "gangsta rap" tropes. I liked this enough that I'll be going to find out!
Yeah this is gonna go in the rotation. first time listening to OG Kendrick albums. won't be the last
I had to do some research into the order and reason for track listening but overall a really intense listen with an incredibly strong impact.
I have mixed feelings about this album there is some ugly sounds which I really dislike especially in Backseat Freestyle but on the other hand there are strange sounds that really work like in the song m.A.A.d city, which is by far the best song on this album where somehow the strange sounds make the song even better. I have songs I don’t like on this album, but also songs I really enjoy. The highlights of this album for me are, B***h Don’t Kill My Vibe, Poetic Justice, m.A.A.d city, Swimming Pools (Drank) and Compton. In total I liked 7 out of 14 songs on this album but the songs I did like I really liked. I can’t give an album that has Swimming Pools (Drank) and m.A.A.d city on it anything less than a 7/10.
Though I don't like this as much as "To Pimp A Butterfly," in many ways this album is more down to earth and, if not relatable, authentic. You can tell it's coming from a very real place of friends, family, and environment. One thing I always love about Kendrick Lamar is his ability to have these reflective, almost confessional verses that somehow interweave the usual rap bravado with a brave vulnerability.
The little I listen to Hiphop the more I admire Kendrick. His tales from the hood always contain the certain amount of melancholie that takes off the grim heat of the less adventurous but more or less pathetic heroism the big mouths in this boasty Business like to proclaim. Only „To Pimp a Butterfly“ can and will top this oeuvre. 4.4
8/10
In my opinion easily one of the best and most influential hip hop albums of all time and one of my personal favorites from Kendrick 9/10
The talent is obvious. The lyrics provocative and insightful. The vibe relaxed and cool, with tempos rarely rising above mid. Musically there is not much to catch my ear ,generally pretty simple and light with little to obscure the star of the show which is Kendrick's poetry. Personally I would prefer a higher level of musical intricacy perhaps but the understated jazzy vibe is pretty compelling and as I say it helps spotlight the poetry. I'm glad to have been introduced to this fine album. 4 stars
A bit long, but definitely better than I remember it being the first few times I tried to listen to it. And, I mean, the chart record kinda speaks for itself. Standouts: Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe, Backseat Freestyle, Money Trees, m.A.A.d city
A classic
listened to again a classic
Still conflicted on my rating system. The second half was definitely better than the first. Also, finally an album that uses skits without being annoying. Still, not really my taste.
Enjoyed a lot of this. Lyrically really interesting
Cinematic in scope on both the storytelling and production sides. The only album I've heard that feels this much like a movie.
A near perfect hip hop album, dragged down a bit by some songs towards the end that really bored me, and some really meh skits. 4/5 ?
My third Kendrick album I've listened to. It's really solid but doesn't reach the greatness of albums like Enter Wu-Tang.
good rap album
Tantalisingly close to the 100 mark, but this album prompted the longest pause of this project so far. And if nothing else, it’s noteworthy for that very reason. This is a seriously ambitious album, and one which you should definitely spend a bit of time with before making a judgement. I’ve done my best, and while its genius unquestionably reveals itself to anyone willing to approach it on its own terms, I can’t say that sonically this diverges too much from what I would somewhat crudely term “modern hip-hop”. Like most of the other great rap artists on this list, Lamar tends to hit upon nuggets of profound insight in fits and spurts - “Speakin’ language only we know, you think it’s an accent”. The subtle complexity of such an aphoristic observation is really jarring, and it also sums up a lot of misconceptions held by myself with regards to this genre. The relatively sparse backing for Lamar’s lyrics don’t ever sound anaemic, even if they aren’t especially memorable. It’s all a backdrop to the overarching narrative of a young man coming-of-age in the projects. A lot of the most objectionable content, however, is subsequently veiled by a deliberate cynicism as though the fact that Lamar is embracing a character’s mindset on a particular track is enough to absolve him, and may even be read as an ironic critique of hip-hop tropes. Problem is that this has been done so many times now that it’s almost becoming a trope in itself - and the misogynistic posturing all of a sudden starts to re-assume its original bone-headed character. The fact that this record evokes these sort of contemplations is a sign of its quality. It’s a tough listen on some levels (especially give the customary obscene run-time), but it’s very rewarding.
Al samo zato sto smatram to pimp a butterfly bar za jednu zvjezdicu boljim albumom
Rap isn't my number one genre and I'm definitely not a connoisseur by any means, but Mike and Katie listen to enough Kendrick that I was familiar with a lot of this album. My favorite tracks were Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe and Backseat Freestyle.
Becomes better after a few spins, and could probably grow even more on me.
This is an album in the truest sense. Lyrically, it tells a story, pivoting from the tired, misogynistic cliches in the opening couple of tracks to discussing the structural problems with hip hop culture, to alcoholism , and to personal growth against the backdrop of growing up in Compton. Powerful stuff.
Strap in boys, this is gonna be a long one. Full disclosure, I believe that Kendrick Lamar's run of "good kid, m.A.A.d city", "To Pimp A Butterfly", "DAMN." and "Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers" is completely untouched in the world of hip-hop. It might be the best run of albums for a solo artist ever. The man is on a completely different level. "good kid, m.A.A.d city" is the record that catapulted Kendrick Lamar into superstardom. This is before Kung Fu Kenny and before creating a political and societal shockwave. This is K.Dot transforming into Kendrick Lamar. Both are storytellers beyond belief, though I prefer the latter. The whole album really is a long journey - into the depths of Compton and into the depths of his transformation. Starting off with a flash-forward to the ending of 'Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst' is pure genius. It lets the listener know that the gangsta-rap persona is not here to stay and also plays into Kendrick being "thirsty" - but for what? Money, power, pussy or religion? In the spirit of transformation 'Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe' and 'Backseat Freestyle', although clever, are a bit underwhelming compared to the later tracks. I realize that it's K-Dot representing his own self-image at 16, but the record REALLY takes off from the storytelling of 'The Art of Peer Pressure' and onwards. From here on out, maybe except for the less interesting Janet Jackson-featuring 'Poetic Justice', the album is a full 10/10. The one-two punch of 'good kid' and 'm.A.A.d city' is impressive - the vocal effects and panning are sick. Combining the lyrics of the latter with confessions in 'Money Trees' it's very understandable why a lot of people believe Kendrick once killed a man. I mean, at the very least that is what he wants us to believe. The darkest moment might ironically be on the abstinence preaching 'Swimming Pools (Drank)' which became the number one party anthem in 2012. And you understand why - the production is off the charts. Then you are hit with the closing 3 tracks. 'Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst' is an instant classic with rich storytelling and introspective reflections. 'Real' is incredibly personal and then the tribute song 'Compton' hits with everything you could ever want - from Dr. Dre to Tupac throwbacks. I'm going for a 4/5 and saving 5/5 for the next 3 of his albums. DAMN this was good. But he was only just beginning.
What a show of power Kendrick Lamar enters the mainstream music scene with. That I’m able to call this my least favorite of TPAB, DAMN and Mr. Morale feels almost surreal, considering just how great good kid, m.A.A.d. city is. Possibly the greatest album streak in hip hop-history! Lamar is an extraordinary storyteller and matched with his unique vocal, masterful flow and ability to convey a full range of emotions, you are left with a rapper that easily ranks above the rest of the game. It takes a few tracks, but by “The Art of Peer Pressure” it feels like Lamar has fully moved on from his earlier efforts and emerges as a fully developed artist. From there on there are no missteps. By the time of the overwhelming masterpiece “Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst” I’m ready to just hand this a 5 star-rating. Maybe it’s knowing where Kendrick takes his sound from here or maybe it’s the few songs I’m not fully invested in, but i gently lower the 5 stars and saves it for Lamar for a later time. Also includes the unlikely, but nonetheless extremely popular, party song “Swimming Pools (Drank)”.
It's interesting because I went from Gang Starr to this. Incredible how much the art form has evolved in the 30 years. Kendrick Lamar's rhymes even in the first song are stark contrast. There's not really a bridge, but you start to realize that the first song is more of a poem than a song. Later songs has bits interstiched in them, but it's not as bothersome as some of the skits that some rappers put in. They come together to form a bit of a story, a pastiche, really. It works on both levels here. I was hoping for hearing "To Pimp A Butterfly" first, as I have heard nothing but praise for that album, but this is really good too as well. It takes a minute to get past the swearing, but once you get immersed in what he is trying to do, you let it pass you by. The sampling is really great too, it's not overly repetitive, and still comes off with a solidity throughout. Looking forward to hearing his other stuff.
So, is it fair to call this a rap opera? It is dense, but Kendrick Lamar is telling a deep, inter-connected story and deserves a lot of credit for that. He really includes a lot of detail, almost like what would be in a novel with character description. I listened to the album a bunch of times and I really came to respect his lyrics - I knew he was good but he is real good. My problem with his opera, as compared to a rock opera like The Wall, is it is so complex. And in a rock opera, when the lyrics go over my head, I can fall back into the music and the flow from song to song. I felt like my head was spinning more often than it would for a rock opera (what did he just say? Is that a real audio recording or a skit? Are we returning to a previous part of the story? Where are we in the story?) and the musical stylings don't line up as well. Some tracks had great beats and others were hard to get into. Still, the man is a lyrical genius. Favorite tracks were The Art of Peer Pressure (super deep and introspective), Money Trees (great groove), MAAD city (awesome beats and pretty deep), Swimming Pools/Drank (catchy and real personal), and Sing About Me/I'm Dying of Thirst (some annoying stylings but wow, deep). I also really enjoyed recordings of his parents (e.g., on Sherane) - can't believe those are real phone messages. I have a ton of respect now for Lamar as a writer and lyricist, but still didn't totally love all the musical stylings.
Amazing lyricism and storytelling throughout. His rapping techniques are the highlight of the album. Something rare in mainstream hip hop today. Musically, the lack of melodic hooks to generate some catchiness made the lyrics shine less, but overall his vision for the album was executed perfectly.
Good album with very sophisticated rap/lyrics. Would have liked it to maybe be a bit more melodic/better beats but overall still great
gutes Album, besser als die neueren, aber halt auch ziemlich anders die unbekannteren songs finde ich auch hier auch einfach schlechter/langweiliger als die bekannteren. 4/5
Probably his best album? I haven't listened to as much hip-hop in the past decade as I used to but after I first heard BDKMV I knew this guy was worth keeping an eye on. I reckon what sets Kendrick apart is his ability to come at traditional gangster rap themes from smart, introspective angles, (see: The Art of Peer Pressure and Swimming Pools for two examples) and be accepted/adulated equally by fans of each. Plus, while the writing and storytelling is the main selling point, the production is usually decent too. I think it's a great album and well worth a 4 or 4.5, though the full 70-minute runtime can occasionally become a bit of a slog, for me.
I wasn't expecting too much from this album, but it's pretty catchy, will listen again
great storytelling
deffo worth a listen, not something I’d pick everyday but has some gems
This album tells a compelling story through catchy flows and intelligent lyrics. Definetly makes me want to listen to more of Kendrick's stuff. 4.5/5 stars.
I've never listened to Kendrick Lamar despite numerous recommendations over the years. Glad I finally did. I enjoyed the almost concept-album structure of this. Some real earworms here that I'll have to return to. Standouts tracks for me were "m.A.A.d city," "the art of peer pressure," and "backseat freestyle."
I am already a big fan of Kendrick, but I haven't listened to this album as of yet. So far it obviously doesn't disappoint, Kendrick is always good. I'm particularly loving Backseat Freestyle. Unfortunately though, my experience of this album has been tainted by Vine and meme culture as I can't help but think of them when I hear m.A.A.d city or Swimming Pools (Drank). However, As always, Kendrick excels lyrically and even though we've come from completely different backgrounds, I feel like I can understand.
catchy, unique, classic kendrick, corny lyrics/structuring at times, cool samples etc
Un disco interesante, que tiene muy marcado el contexto en el que fue creado.
Lots of beats, repetitive, but really good
Fitting that this has popped up so soon after the release of Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. The most interesting thing is his various voices/personas that he employees throughout every song - at points sounds like you're listening to a totally different person.
This is essentially an autobiography of a young Kendrick Lamar. I can't begin to relate to his life, but I welcomed the opportunity to be invited in via this release. The lyrics are impressive and feel real. While the beats and production are impressive, this one is all about the words. On that front, Kendrick Lamar is brilliant.
Alap
Good
I really lost track of Rap / HipHop the last decade and a half because of the insane amount of absolute garbage that is being released in the genre. I'm glad I'm catching up on some excellent albums The production on this album is superb. And what I genuinely like about it is that besides a great flow, and excellent beats and melodies, the lyrics are actually the greatest strength on the album, much more than with a lot of his contemporaries. The Art of Peer Pressure and Money Trees are great coming of age stories. Swimming Pools and Good Kid (with the fantastic Pharell beats) are superb. The only dissonant on this album I find the weak Backseat Freestyle and Compton.
I'm not a real big fan of rap but this was a good listen.
Heyrðu, bara ljómandi fínt. Áfram veginn.
Had high expectations for this album. Never listened to a Kendrick album, but the way people talk about him, how could it be anything but amazing? And then I started listening. And I hated it. And then I didn't hate it, but parts of it still put me off. Let's start with the sexist, boring, dick-heavy lyrics. Nothing says lyrical genius like talking about having a giant dick and fucking the world. Pinnacle of songwriting right there. That's the stuff that put me off. Some songs had a good/important message, but it felt like Kendrick thought he had to hide the message between typical lyrics about sex and murder. Is the album about growth? Yeah, maybe, but where's the line between reflecting on your misogyny and shitty behavior and glorifying it? You don't see the reflection and criticism until far too late in the album. This is especially problematic when the problematic songs are the ones that become singles. When those are the ones that resonate with people. Maybe that's the problem. It's the people listening to this who aren't getting the message. I don't know. Kendrick wrote the rap equivalent of a rock opera, he told a story, an unsavory story about being a little shit and then growing up, but a story nonetheless. I think I'm just tired of the casual misogyny and hyper-sexualization of women in rap. But, maybe, so is Kendrick. I'll have to listen to the next album to actually know for sure. A complex album that drove me through a wide range of emotions and feelings. I went through the process of thinking this was a 1 to thinking it's a 4. I don't really know how to rate it right now, so I'll just stick with the 4.
So good and new in many ways, though I can’t help but feel there is a little bit of “have your cake and eat it too” to the lyrics - like it’s wall to wall sinnin’, justified by a thin suggestion of personal and religious redemption. Some songs like Swimming Pools negotiate this tension very well, others not so much.
Not the magnum opus that To Pimp A Butterfly is, but good god what a major label debut. Kendrick’s got such unique flow - the album needs a cinematographer.
It's an iconic album and love a good proportion of this but not every song. Struggling to know what to give 3 or 4... But I deeply respect Kendrick, his style and cadence feel unique and the album as a whole is so tight
Pretty enjoyable I must say
4/5 Fantastic Album from Kendrick Lamar. Multiple 5/5 songs. Favourite Tracks: Backseat Freestyle, The Art of Peer Pressure. m.A.A.d city. Money Trees. Swimming Pools. Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe track after track it's good. Almost a 5/5 but there's a few tracks that fall short for me. Not a fan of some of the modified vocals on some tracks.
This grew on me as I listened to it. Kendrick Lamar's rhymes are solid and show an at times harrowing amount of depth. The beats are what drives this album for me. Having said that it gets repetitive by the end and the skits/dialogue between tracks pulled me out of the moment rather than added to the experience. If we could do half stars I would give this 3 1/2 but will give this 4 as I appreciate the importance of this album even if it ain't completely to my taste
Good album. Not my genre but I can appreciate the work.
good album slapper central
good album. full of high energy slappers Kendrick if racism didn’t exist: 👨🌾
I remember listening to this a long time ago and it being good, but not great. I was wrong and it is great. I was feeling a 5 initially, but now I'm more like a 4. I think it's a bit overlong, but otherwise it is really freaking good. 4/5
Yeah this is great. Sick beats, flow and lyrics. Kendrick is one of the best
This is the album where Kendrick really stepped up to take the throne. While he has since surpassed this album, it is the first one that really showed what he could do. Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe, Backseat Freestyle, and Swimming Pools are incredibly powerful songs.
drank
Dude ja kinda feela detta albumet idag de va hårt som bara den
Well told, well performed, accompanied by beats that fit like a glove (even when they aren’t to my personal taste). “Sing About Me, I’m Dying Of Thirst” is the clear winner for me, but the rest of the album isn’t very far behind
Banger skiva, några mindre bra låtar drar ner (poetic justice, swimming pools)
Instant classic - my only issue is the same with all of his albums, they could use a bit of trimming. Best Tracks: Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe; Poetic Justice; Swimming Pool (Dank)
Favorite songs: Swimming Pools, Money Trees
I think I'm continuing my own tradition of underrating GKMC. Truth is, I narrowly prefer the relative bloat and musical excess of Kendrick's next album. On this one, he sticks to narrative beats over expanding interludes, presides over a roundly West Coast soundscape, and embeds some of the best single tracks of his career. In defense of my rating, the last twenty minutes loses a bit of steam; Then again, everything before that revealed hitherto-hidden depths on this listen.
Kendrick Lamar’s “good kid, m.A.A.d city” shows a lot of the potential present in Lamar’s music, but it is far less mature both lyrically and stylistically than “To Pimp a Butterfly” and the rest of his career.
I have a lot of feelings about this album and Kendrick Lamar in general. Though I don’t have the words to express them well. All I can say at this point is that Kendrick’s style is correct. His flow, the vibe, is great. To use an expression I despise, but is appropriate: I really dig his energy.
simpilly Delightful
Bon album! Les beats sont cools, belle lignes de bass, je ne m'y connaît pas full dans le genre mais j'aime de plus en plus ça Quelques tounes sont moins bonnes à mon avis genre celle qui sonne comme Gangsta' paradise et la dernière, Compton que je trouve un peu quétaine Je comprends la démarche avec les messages de répondeurs et autres segments "documentaires " mais pas certain que c'est aussi efficace la quinzième fois que tu écoute l'album, ça tue le momentum un peu
La production est superbe. Ce que j'aime de Kendrick c'est qu'il ne se limite pas au rap. Il est capable d'incorporer de bonnes mélodies. Il a aussi un excellent flow et sa grande force est ses textes. Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe et The Art of Peer Pressure sont dans la veine des pièces qu'on retrouve sur l'excellent Damn paru en 5 ans plus tard. Backseat Freestyle est un solide "banger". J'aime beaucoup Money Trees à cause du sample de la chanson Silver Soul de Beach House. Le beat fourni par Pharell Williams pour la chanson Good Kid est fantastique. Ça fait quelques écoutes que je fais de cet album et ça vient juste de kicker-in, c'est un très bon album. On a les bases ici des 2 excellents albums qui suivront, soit To Pimp A Butterfly et Damn.
lots of his hits on here
I like his musicality, his low-key delivery and using back-up singers and guests to create a layered, elegant sound. I was only familiar with "Bitch Don't Kill my Vibe", which I quite liked, and the songs from "Money Trees" to "Sing About Me" are great. His auto-tuned singing voice is melancholic and a nice contrast to the rap. Adding (non-sampled) choruses to the music is a big plus. I won’t comment on the Pulitzer-worthiness of his rapping but from what I can hear he’s less flamboyant and more confessional that most – and with a great sense of humour. With lyrics like “first you get a swimming pool full of liquor then you dive in”, I was leaning to a 5, but my co-judge wasn’t as enthralled. Regardless, I’ll be listening to this again.
Great album. K.Dot's storytelling and lyricism is really on full display here
Started off with good music and weak lyrics but got better
The good tracks are good, but dont have a taste for the rest of the album. More personal preference, and still deserves a spot on the list
I'm not really into much rap but I REALLY love Kendrick's voice and lyrics. Wicked good record.
I've never knowingly listen to any Kendrick Lamar but kind of kept meaning to. The cover art paints a clear picture about what to expect, though the album title is a bit opaque. Anyway, here we go. ...I think that put me into a trance. I've definitely been through something. The first song paints such a vivid story I was completely pulled into the rest of the stories. Amazing. Not my kind of music at all. None the less, amazing.
Muito bom.
Not a strong start, but really picked up in later tracks
Modern hip hop king Fav Track : "Bitch don't kill my vibe"
7th March 2022 Listened throughout the day while working from home. Went to see the Duke in the evening which was ok. Always knew of Kendrick but never listened. This was a real treat, lyrically and his performance is on point.
I knew some songs off this album but never listened to the whole thing before. Definitely was enjoyable.
Good stuff. Storytelling in rap form.
Kendrick Lamar raps about life growing up in Compton, around gang life and all sorts of terrible things. This was the breakout record for Lamar, before following up with the incredible To Pimp A Butterfly 3 years later. Compared to other hip hip about gang life, Lamar paints it as a horror story rather than a hardcore bragging effort. This is impactful for suburban guys like myself who already scared of inner-city violence like this, and I'd imagine it hits hard for many others as well. Yeah, it's a great hiphop album. The 12-minute epic "Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst" is an easy highlight, but a few songs could but cut to give it more gravitas.
Die habe ich zufällig wegen einer Empfehlung bereits vor ein paar Wochen außer der Reihe gehört und fand sie im Gegensatz zu To Pimp A Butterfly richtig gelungen. Bitch Don‘t Kill My Vibe!
So. Good.
Góð plata. Margt sem var betra en mig minnti.
This album came out before I knew who Kendrick Lamar was, so I have never heard it. Upon first listen: Most of these tracks are great. Ones I didn't really care for: the remix of Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe, Compton, and kind of Sherane. I love the regular version of Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe. I heard Backseat Freestyle a while back and had no idea what album it came from, and didn't really know Kendrick Lamar back then. But I LOVED the vibe of the song. Still do. This track is great. Money Trees - I like this. Ya bish. m.A.A.d city is such an old school sounding track. Swimming Pools is a classic. So he uses this weird alien-ish voice in a couple of tracks, and I am so not a fan of it, but other than that, this album is solid.
Everyone knows I love repetitive music. But it needs to grow, and in unexpected ways. This is in the spectrum of street rap that I'm just not interested in. Sort of the same issues I have R&B: it's just not interesting. Listening to the lyrics, I can applaud his going outside cultural comfort zones to tell unflattering stories of the life, and criticisms of things others hold up as virtue. But ultimately, it's just not interesting enough, doesn't break enough out of the mold. 6/10
Morceau préféré : 5 : Money Trees (merci le sample de Beach House) Morceaux bien kiffés : 7 : good kid 8 : m.A.A.d city 9 : Swimming Pools
Rapcito obviamente
Cool stuff, wasn’t able to get into it as much as I did with “to pimp a butterfly”, but it’s a solid album
I think this album is great for people who are more into this genre of music, but it's personally not my style. My favorite song was Bitch, don't kill my vibe... this is probbaly because I've heard it before. To be quite honest, this is my first album of the journey, and I came for music discovery and to find Kendrick Lamar on there was quite... unexpected. I still enjoyed listening, even though I can't see myself listening to these songs again.
Not my style but swimming pools and don't kill my vibe were very good.
album #121 well writtenn and well constructed!! ꩜ average track rating: 3.1/5 ꩜ favourite track(s): backseat freestyle, money trees ꩜ least favourite track(s): swimming pools ꩜ album rating: ★★★☆☆ ꩜ number of albums left to review: 968 ꩜ number of albums from the list that i agree with being on the list: 54 (+1 good kid, m.A.A.d city) ꩜ albums from the list that I would consider on my list: 24 ꩜ albums from the list I won't include on my list: 97
2.5
solid 7
yawn
I love I am supposed to love this..oh, the genius!
Blind album, probably the most tolerable of Kendrick. Kind of shocked im giving this a 3 when his other albums got a 1.
Good album. I haven't listened to much of Kendrick's music. I need to incorporate it more into my music rotations.
3 for moneys trees and swimming pools
Best Track - "Swimming Pools (Drank)
Favorite songs: Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe, Backseat Freestyle, The Art of Peer Pressure, good kid, m.A.A.d city, Swimming Pools (Drank), Compton Hard for me to reconcile some really great music with some really offensive lyrics. 3.5
3.5
This album has some good qualities, at times being quite listenable and certainly less abrasive than Lamar’s other album on this list, To Pimp a Butterfly. The story of the album is largely the challenges of trying to grow up in Compton, one that is told in places with impactful emotion and sometimes more from a female perspective than other rap by a man (‘Sing About Me…). However, in that process it does continue with some typical problems of the genre in its violent misogyny in places (that may be a reflection of its subject matter for social and historical reasons, but it does impede my enjoyment of an album), and being much too long. And although this is a better listen overall than To Pimp a Butterfly, it probably lacks a single or two that sticks in your mind.
I think I like this one slightly more than ‘To Pimp a Butterfly’, but not enough for me to give it a different score. The same comments apply, really; I respect this album as a piece of artistic work more than I actually enjoy listening to it. Again similarly, I generally enjoyed the music while finding it lyrically and vocally dense and a bit grating after a while, although I have to say not quite as much as ‘TPAB’. I can see why many people regard this album so highly, but in terms of my own enjoyment it’s a 3.
I didn't really vibe with To Pimp A Butterfly as much as most hip hop heads seem to, so this probably won't be my jam. That said, it is interesting to see how Kendrick polarizes the site's user base like few others do. Many seem to either love him or hate him, yet I felt neither about TPAB. And I don't feel either about this, but simply see a passable rap album. Sometimes it has great storytelling, sometimes it leans into gangster cliches, sometimes it's interesting, sometimes it's boring. I just don't click with Kendrick like many people do, but I don't think it's bad music like many others do. His music, on both this and TPAB, just falls into that space of utter mediocrity for some reason. He's a good lyricist with occasionally good sample choices, but his music just doesn't inspire any feeling in me. I want to like him, but I just can't get into his stuff. This album is the top ranked album of 2012 globally. Other 2012 albums rated by me: Blunderbuss(2/5)-4 Django Django(4/5)-3
Good album. About as good as the similarly lauded To Pimp A Butterfly. A tentative, mysterious, sort of ethereal feel in the opening song, Sherane / Master Splinter's Daughter. The instrumentation is used pretty sparingly, but when it hits, it hits hard (see, for example, the brief descending bass lick that repeats throughout the track). Cool lyrical transition into Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe, though the end of Sherane teeters dangerously close to interlude territory, which obviously accounts for some of the absolute worst of what hip-hop has to offer. You have valuable space on your album. Make good use of it. Don't offer up over a minute of some woman speaking to her son on the phone. The transition to Backseat Freestyle is much more forgiving, only boasting a few seconds of musically inert content instead of minutes. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe is an excellent track. Very memorable and catchy, which is of course the most important aspect of any music intended for mainstream airplay. Backseat Freestyle, though... just nothing to latch onto. The first of a few genuinely bad songs. The Art of Peer Pressure is an immediate improvement with the smooth piano and percussion. That synth at the back of the mix is just loud enough to be piercing and annoying, but the rest of the musicianship makes up for it. To see what I mean, listen from about 1:00 onward to hear the exact moment (~1:06) where the song suddenly sounds orders of magnitude better. Another interlude, though. Bitch, you killed my vibe. (Even when I specifically told you not to?) Money Trees, though decently groovy, absolutely does not deserve its 2.2 billion Spotify streams while tracks like Mystery (Indigo Girls) scrape by with around 2 million despite being near-objectively more enjoyable and musically interesting. Ah, well. C'est la hip-hop. Next, Poetic Justice does pretty decently. Of course, the main event is that backing vocalist, who has a gorgeous voice that completely overshadows Lamar's own. good kid, the first of two title tracks, returns to the minor-key mystifying feel of Sherane. Otherwise, good but pretty unmemorable. m.A.A.d city is a little better, incorporating some pretty sweet guitar and bass parts that remind me of REM and similar bands from the 80s/90s. Cool horns and strings(?) as well. Throughout the song we hear a few rapidly ascending/descending guitar pluckage, plus plenty of other DJ-mixer SFX to give the listener plenty to latch onto. Another decent song with generally unmemorable hooks: Swimming Pools (Drank). This appears to be a theme. We then get two lengthy songs, including the monstrous 12-minute Sing About Me, I'm Dying Of Thirst. At least the soft guitar and drums, reminiscent of Identikit or other Radiohead songs from that period, completely carry the song to success. The final two songs, Real and Compton, are both debatable in terms of being actually "catchy" or "enjoyable listens". They also sound a bit like SITKOL-era Stevie Wonder, especially the latter, so I kind of file them in that category. Nifty processed vocals at the end. And of course, just blaze. 3/5 Key tracks: Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe, Poetic Justice, m.A.A.d city
Pasados los 2000 no escuché mucho rap ni hip-hop, conforme se convirtieron en estrellas mediáticas deje de interesarme por su música. Confundo a todos: Kendrick, Kanye, Jazzy, ... no me gusta cuando cantan con voz de pito como Eminen o como los Insane Clown Pose (pero al menos ellos eran honrados y vestían de payasos). Escuchando esta lista he recuperado algo de la música que me perdí. Hay grandes cosas y otras que siguen pareciendo una broma. Al menos si hay algo evidente que es una evolución: las bases sonoras y rítmicas. Casi siempre son más ricas, con profundidad, no cuatro samples en loop y una caja de ritmos.
Best thing I’ve listened to too this whole journey.
Not my favorite Kendrick Lamar album (Damn.), but it’s fine. Except that song with Drake, that song is ass.
3.25 - It's been a while since I've listened to this. I thought I liked it a little more than I actually I did, but maybe I'm thinking of To Pimp a Butterfly.
I can see how he made the impact he did, but it’s just not for me. It’s an awkward mix made by a bit of a dork who doesn’t know if he wants to sound like a gangbanger, or near-gangbanger, or an underground Doom type or the new Kanye. It’s just very muddled. I’m also not a fan of Kendrick’s voice in general. That’s just personal taste. But he clearly is very talented and I enjoyed a lot of the instrumentals
very good, heard a few of these songs before. not exactly my style but okay
As much as I try, I just can't get into Kendrick
Not bad
The second Kendrick album I've listened to now. Similar vibes to the other one, great production values, some skilled lyrical content and some funky base. It doesn't feel like new boundaries are being pushed, it just feels like highly polished pop music to me. Where's the range in vocal skills, it's rhyming and poetry, but once you've done one they sound similar and begin to blend into incredibly similar songs as there's no real challenge or scale or scope.
Can't believe I'm giving this album the same rating I gave to Digital Underground's Sex Packets, which is in almost all ways an inferior work, but there's something about this album that's not connecting. Kendrick's a great storyteller with variegated flow and fluctuating energy and a variety of beats, all things which I love (and do love about his later stuff) but this album just seems half formed. I know it's a literary trick (metonymic? whatever) to make an album about a kid feel immature, but that actually makes it feel immature, not fully formed. Sure this album has a couple of hits but they're not enough to carry the sagging parts, given how long it is (a Kendrick special). Sure, an expansive album about a kid who's not able to make the right choices being reflected in an expansive album that could've made better choices is poetic, but also means it doesn't stick the landing for me, a white suburban dad
I preferred ‘Butterfly’ but still an enjoyable listen. I liked the humour, social commentary and he really is a great storyteller. I am not so much of a fan of how he refers to women and I did feel this seemed particularly heightened in this album. Tricky as I appreciate he is reflecting on the toxic masculinity from his youth but also maybe dont refer to women as bitches all the time.
Could've done with a few hundred albums between this and the last Kendrick Lamar, not the week we got! This is less musically interesting than TPaB, but also a bit less intense, I think I actually preferred the 'mood' overall, even though it has less tracks like King Kunta that grab you and make you sit up. Also, it's still too long. 'The Art of Peer Pressure' was my favourite ('we made a left, we made a right, we made another right' bit is great lol)
Had a lot of songs I’ve heard before but didn’t know they were on this album. A good bop if I’m feeling this vibe specifically, but rap has never been my first choice. I feel like it has some good artistic qualities.
I know I'm supposed to love this album but, honestly, just kinda meh for me. Love hip hop but Kendrick just doesn't really do it for me
та не люблю я кегдріка капіц
È un album molto figo e lui ovviamente bravo in quello che fa.
Not big into this genre. Some interesting observations here though.
Not his best work but better than average
This isn’t really my type of music. I didn’t follow the lyrics closely, and I’m not familiar with how to listen to hip-hop, so my judgment may not be fully fair.
Ну ок, из его песен мне только humble нравится, но она не в этом альбоме
Всё еще реп, но лучше, чем я ожидал
Favorite song: Good Kid
best rap album I've heard so far. I got more and more into it as I listened which is probably proof that it's just a lack of listening time probably
Some themes are... a lot. I think it falls way too heavy on my ears at times. But that can be expected within Lamar's territory. The album does so many good things but it also loses in some parts. Money Trees , bitch don't kill my vibe,poetic justic, swimming pools are some old favourites. On this full listen dicovered good kid, now or never (i love mary j. blinge) sing about me I'm dying of thirst (WOW, WOW,WOW), real, and compton. Will i ever listen to the entirety of this again? No. Will some of these songs be a part of my rotation? Yes. And sometimes that's all you need from an album
Honestly the songs I already knew are the only ones I’m gonna relisten to
Ma oleks peaaegu ratingu tegemata jätnud. Ausalt öeldes tunnen ma, et ma pole kõige parem sellele albumile hinnangut andma, sest ma ei ole nii kursis räpivooludega. Ma tundsin kindlasti, et tegemist on kvaliteetse räpialbumiga, mis pakkus palju eri kõlasid. Tegin seda kuulates trenni, niiet mul polnud nii palju hetki süveneda sõnadele ja sõnumile, mis on kindlasti osa selle albumi menust ja sisust. See ilustreerib taas seda, mida ma räpi juures hinnata oskan ja see on loo jutustamise võimalus, mida tihti popmuusika nt ära ei kasuta.
Good Kid and Swimming Pools (Drank) are two songs I genuinely like but really did not care for the rest of the album. The more I listened I think it was because of the pacing and just that I found the majority of these songs too slow for my taste. There are a few songs I really like on each Kendrick album but never fully connects for me From this listen, I found that I quite liked Collect Calls, the production at the start of m.A.A.d city, and 10:00-10:20 of Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst (but seriously I was not here for 12 minutes)
i dont even know tbh, i was sick when listening yo this, overall okay but i thought it was going to be more fun and experimental considering how people glaze kendrick
Storytelling wins this one. Am I a rap fan after this? Not really, but I can appreciate a bit...so bitch, don't kill my vibe...
Too much gratuitous profanity
I guess even the modern greatest in the hip-hop game can't help himself. That first track? It's a solid showcase of what was, at the time, a rising star's flow, rhymes storytelling… and it starts with baby crying samples and ends with a voice message that feels like skit territory. In 2011? Why couldn't Kendrick have a dream where we don't do that any more? I don't really get K.dot in general, though. I get that he is skilled, I like that he pisses off people that should die mad. I just haven't really taken the plunge yet over a number of his albums. There's plenty of the childish bravado that takes some really clever work for me to get into, but I don't think that's it. There is the full on lift of Janet Jackson's “Anytime Anyplace,” the sort of wholesale use that should have died with Diddy's popularity. There's the embarrassing chorus on Real (*im really really real”... ok sure). There's “Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe,” which feels like it is too hazy and downbeat, which could have been a proverbial banger with a different, er, vibe. Something just doesn't connect. I think the two tracks that make up the title, on the other hand, are pretty solid showcases with minimal complaints. I appreciate the ambition of the 12 minute “Sing About Me I'm Dying of Thirst”. “Compton” puts Kendrick with Dr Dre, which can only be so bad, right? It's not my bag, it's not something I get the hype on, but it is a proof of concept for the mythology he's created in the ensuing years. 3*
Not what I'd normally listen to, but not bad as background music today.
OK, but not my thing
Why does it have to be so long? It's difficult for me to follow the story of a concept album especially if it's hip hop. I lost my interest after maybe the song Good Kid (which was my favourite from the album). Also Money Trees is one of my favourite hip hop song of all time. So extra points for that. But overall, it didn't pack the punch TPAB did.
I like old school rap, maybe topping out in the early aughts with Jay-Z. The hip hop I enjoy most has either great funky sampling and/or jazz or otherwise organic music and the actual MCing has got to be rhythmic. Right away in the first track the rhythmic rapping is thrown right out the window - I know it's a preferential thing but there's no sense of rhythm to this, it's stream-of-consciousness words that I've no doubt I'd never be able to do but it all exists completely independently from the music. As if they're two completely unrelated parallel entities that were just placed together almost randomly. I intellectually understand that Kendrick Lamar is probably the best of modern rap, but his style is just not for me. 3.5⭐️
Great beats and interesting lyrics throughout, and very high energy, although I could have done without some of the outros.
Good album, m.A.A.d lyrical content.
I think this is good but it isn't for me. I don't mean that in the way of "it doesn't suit my tastes" which is sort of also true. But what I mean is Kendrick Lamar didn't make this for a middle aged east coast suburban dad. I don't feel qualified to appraise it in any fashion. I at least enjoyed that the skits were a carrying narrative that continued throughout the duration of the album. I also appreciate that I don't remember too much blatant misogyny which kind of pervades most other Compton-based acts on this list
Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst is sublime. That last 4 tracks really pull it all together for me even if the album as a whole is not my cup of tea. Knowing very little about Kendrick going in, this piqued my interest, I’m intrigued.
303/1001 Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d city Heard before? ✅ Revisit? ❓ It's not the Kendrick Lamar album I gravitate towards and on re-listen there aren't the tracks that I love. Interesting production etc. but yeah not enough for me...
I know this is good. It’s intense story telling, laden with hooks, interesting beats, quirky samples and Kendrick’s rap style is characterful and adds to the narrative. I just don’t think I’ll ever like it enough. That’s a me problem rather than the albums problem, but it does feel a little impenetrable for me
Not my typical genre, but waxes poetic. Favourite track: The Recipe
Decent album. Not a hip hop/rap fan but there’s some good songs on here
Don't like this as much as -- I think -- some of his newer albums. But he has a pretty high floor for me. His music has unique feel and creativity.
Has some banagers but I wouldn't revisit it
aj 3
Standouts Good kid
So far on this journey, my experience with Rap has been positive, at least when it comes to the big boys. Having grown up enjoying more of the harsher edged Hip Hop, which often went hand in hand with Metal, this isn't surprising, but my issue with what modern Rap I've heard in the charts is that it is so weak, so one note, and so lyrically inane that it does nothing for me. I don't know where Kendrick fits in this as I've only heard one song from him, to my knowledge. What I do know is that this is a bad album cover. I'm not a fan of most of the vocals and none of the songs stand out as anything I'd want to hear again. But there's impressive creativity amd ambition. A very middling effort that i don't believe would improve much in my estimation with additional listens.
good kid
Not into this artist or style, I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt for a round up since it was well received for the audience. 2.5/5
I don’t think I’ll ever fully be a Kendrick fan, but this album was an overall enjoyable listen. The rhymes are clever, and the production was understated which I think helps keep things interesting. And while I normally don’t care for skits in this genre, inserting them within the songs really helps with the storytelling. A little long winded on the backend, but a much more memorable album compared to others.
Shermz: Ohhh I think I’ve heard of Money Tree before! TBH I feel like what I’m learning from this experience is that I only listen to v pop pop songs LOL Wenz: The rap parts were not bad, but I usually prefer rap songs with nice hook, the hook in these songs were so-so to me 😅
ilkeit
I can appreciate the talent, the stories, and the beats. There were some high points but also some low/boring points for me. Probably won't listen to it again, but I'm glad I took the time to listen to it all the way through.
This is a good album, maybe a great one. I have a hard time with all the explicit lyrics though. It's too frequent for my sensistive ears.
This album dragged. I was really excited for this album and while Lamar’s lyricism is on point it frankly wasn’t enough to keep my attention. A perfectly fine record that I’m just in the minority of not really enjoying it.
Not my thing but found it relatively easy listening. Good storytelling and nice drumming.
Not really my vibe, and kind of blended together for me, but I liked the personal touches added that make it feel autnetic.
dying of thrist is pretty nice
The radio hits are classics. The rest drags on a little.
ничего мега крутого о нем не скажу. на фон поставить в целом пойдёт, ни одна не зацепила но и ужасных там не было, короче среднячок 5/10
The Art of Peer Pressure is a highlight. Not a fan of Kendrick's lyrics but the tune is sweet.
Twas good
5/10
Unpopular opinion: Kendrick Lamar is the most overrated rapper of all time. Perfectly decent flow (re: good but nothing special). Lyrics are meh. All due respect to Compton, but NWA would accidentally obliterate anyone who came up there after 2000. The kids just don't know. And then we have the double album of it all. For your company debut. Ugh. Let's just not talk about the skits.
Did somebody say "Domino's"?
Mid
i mean, i liked TPAB, i like the lyrical complexity and meaning, but i just cant like the beats. Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe and Backseat Freestyling had good beats, but it just doesn’t make up for the lack of in the other places
dopee
Storytelling reminds me of Eminem. Spans the gamut of rap styles, some I don't like, but musically it is excellent. I can't relate too much of the lyrical content but he is a great lyricist.
Trying to listen to this while working is ridiculous. There are a lot of words here. It's just too much to have on in the background. I've listened to Kendrick several times, and for whatever reason it just doesn't stick with me. I never really want to come back for another listen, even though it sounds solid. I guess I prefer Dre's style because "Compton" was a standout for me.
muy bueno la verdad, si bie me gusta drake q creo q es similar estilo, este no pene q me fuese a gustar tanto y me sorprendio muy bueno
I loved the production. Good storytelling and hooking. Sometimes it might have felt too long for some songs, but nothing too drastic.
So, yeah I didn’t hate this but there continues to be something I just don’t get - or keep missing - with Kendrick Lamar. He is the subject of so much gushing, on the internet and from people in real life whose opinion I value, but his music just seems to bypass me. There is nothing that stands out for me, other than him being obviously good at what he does i am always underwhelmed.
There’s a lot to unpack here. Some of this is excellent, the production and instrumentation is very good and there are some excellent tracks, then there are tracks with horrific vocals, and I’m not even sure who is providing them. *Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst* is a really good track ruined by Old Gregg singing the chorus. I could probably do without the skits but it’s just par for the course for the genre I suppose. So it’s a mixed bag, I don’t know if this would grow on me - I get why people would speak highly of this but at the same time, I’m a little unsure if I want to give it another chance.
Bitch don’t kill my vibe is an iconic line (I think I like the OG version the best). Backseat freestyle is classss although the bell sound in background sounds like cow bells. Money trees and poetic justice are classics for a reason. m.AA.d city is a sick beat. I like when they’re lowkey aggressive. Swimming pool also sick flow. Album songs has funny intros/outros but I don’t actually like when songs do that. All those not mentioned are meh/ would not listen again.
Some bangers, some mid
I’m honestly not reallyyyyy into hiphop, but this album wasn’t half bad
I get it. It’s good. Has a couple real good party tracks.
Once again, I HATE HIP HOP. I gotta admit this has a few elements that I like; it sounds more interesting than older hip hop. I know that some of these songs were massive hits and trends, and maybe that influences me a bit. This album is good, though. I think it's the first time I've said this about an album pertaining to this genre. It's not as monotonous. I can distinguish between songs. There isn't much more I can say. I don't love it; I don't hate it. It's fine for what it is.
Just not for me. Can appreciate the reasons this stands out in the genre and the artistry, but I will likely never listen to this record again.
Some of the music in this is incredible. It’s a very good album, albeit one I’m unlikely to listen to often. 3.5
coool
-I’m using SoundCloud cause of the boycott -most are behind a paywall :( -could only listen to 3 songs: •swimming pools •poetic justice •bitch dont kill my vibe Anyways my notes on them SWIMMING POOLS -oooo nice :) POETIC JUSTICE -low-key a vibe :D -yes he can get it ✨ -oooo funky :)) BITCH, DON’T KILL MY VIBE -it’s ok :)
Rap isn't my favourite genre. In fact, I hate most rap songs as they sound the same to me. However, Kendrick seems to keep my attention for the duration of this album. The instrumentation is amazing. I do tend to prefer rap artists who use guitars, pianos, and real drums instead of doing everything inside of their DAW. There's more life to the music that way. I also like the voicenotes/spoken word bits at the end of traks that tell the story of Kendrick's childhood. Helps differentiate him from the countless sea of other artists who sing about sex, killing, and drugs like it's nothing. Then again, I would not listen to most of these tracks again on their own. Artists like Childish Gambino or Tyler, The Creator who are pushing a more experimental take on the rap genre are more my style than what this album has. Not to say that this album is bad - I like it - but I wouldn't play this on my way to uni or work. Favourite tracks: Sherane a.k.a Master Splinter's Daughter, Money Trees, the 2nd half of Sing About Me, I'm Dying Of Thirst, Real, and Compton 3/5
love the story telling and the transition in between track 1-2
I am not a huge fan of new rap, even though I appreciate that there FINALLY is something that sounds modern on this list, but out of all the newer rap I feel that Kendrick is absolutely the best. I vibed with this record pretty much.
Pretty great album, even if it's really not for me as a white British guy. I like rap but a lot of the more popular recent stuff kinda hits as pretentious. Some tracks I really liked but a few I just wasn't into.
It had it's moments of beautifully written lyrics and very thicc beat tracks. I'm not a rap connoisseur but I know Kendrick is one of the best of his era. I'd rate the full album as a 6/10
Um “3 grande” porque nunca tinha ouvido mas sabia que era considerado dos melhores do Kendrick, e como já tinha ouvido o TPAB tinha expectativas mais altas para este. Acabei por não gostar tanto, senti falta das inspirações de jazz to TPAB
Continua a ser um estilo que não aprecio, mas é um álbum ok
Rating 5/10 Best Song - Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst.
Clean, downtempo beats and rapping with very few hooks. I like the storyline continuing through the track list and the fact that it tackles some complex issues in a fresh and honest way. Also the voicemail messages are definitely better than the "comedy" skits some other albums have. Backseat Freestyle was fun, and m.A.A.d city is a great track, but most of the rest were interesting but not very enjoyable to listen to.
Trop long, trop tout.
The first track mentions Master Splinter who is a good rat. It's solid.
buenos beats
I hadn’t listened to this album by Kendrick before and as expected it was very good with some standouts for sure, but not my favourite of his.
Did not listen to all of this but I can see why ppl like it! Bitch don't kill my vibe is truly great driving music. Okay I tried to listen more over the weekend: Good kid is a good song. I don't really like to hear Drake that much so I skipped that one. Also I don't know like anything about their beef but I had forgotten that they did song together. Why is swimming pools the only song I know?
Nice West Coast Tunes
Rv
Love his weird little voice
This is great
I never fully got Kendrick in the way I got Kanye. Kanye grabbed me immediately, the samples, the hooks, the big musical moments. Kendrick always felt less about music pulling you in and more about words demanding your attention. "good kid, m.A.A.d city" isn't a musical album. It's a story. It's a proper coming-of-age narrative set in Compton: peer pressure, faith, violence, ego, survival. The skits tie it together so it feels almost cinematic. In fact, Lamar even billed it as a "short film". You can tell how carefully it's built. There's serious substance here. Spending proper time with it now, I do get a glimpse of why it's held up as such a big deal. The storytelling is sharp, the perspective shifts are clever, and when it hits, it really hits. "Money Trees" is the song that sticks out for me, the song that feels most instinctive and replayable. But if I'm honest, it still lives slightly outside my natural listening comfort zone. I respect it more than I love it. It's dense, and it asks more of you than most hip-hop I naturally gravitate toward. I'd probably give it three stars based on my own connection to it. But there's a part of me that knows it probably deserves more.
I like the music. I like the beats. I like the way his voice sounds and how he sings or says things. I just don't really care for what he's singing about. Some catchy songs.
Аранжировки местами прямо интимные.
5/10 25.02.2026
I listened to this quite a few times, as it wasn't one of his I'd heard before. Lamar is very clever, and I can see what people love about him, but somehow it didn't quite work for me.
Pretty coowel
GOING IN: No strong feelings LISTENED WHILE: post work, chillin' FAMILIARITY: New to me SKIP RATE: Played it straight through REPLAY VALUE: Might come back to it DISCOVERY CURVE: Slow burner this one ALBUM ARC: Pretty even, consistent VERDICT: Fair enough BODY'S VERDICT: Sitting nicely - Motionless appreciation FAVOURITE TRACK: My Rating: 3 I think this'll need a few listens. It deserves more attention.
How did I know the first thing I heard wasn't going to be music when I pressed play on this one? The interludes are maddening. Who wants to listen to that stuff EVERY time they listen to an album? I don't get it. But I digress . . . This falls into the same category as a quality jazz album for me. I appreciate it. I recognize the talent. I enjoy it to a degree. But, it doesn't grab me emotionally at all and I don't feel qualified to rate it anything other than a 3.
I guess this was okay. Under Peter's excellent rubric, it earns a 3 because I made it through 5 songs with some level of engagement. But, fuck if Poetic Justice didn't torpedo the heavily listing U.S.S. Everett Tries to Give a Shit. So, yeah, a 3, but heavily caveated.... ....unlike Surfer Rosa, which, as per my general dipshittedness, I managed to after-the-fact rate a 5 without providing a review. This album is straight bangers from front to back. How about that guitar sound on Gigantic? How about Kim's surreal tongue music on River Euphrates? How about the barely submerged sexual tension and longing in Black Francis's lyrics in Cactus? This album and Doolittle are the greatest 1-2 combo from any band in the 1980s and maybe from any band ever.
I appreciate the craft but i'm not fully into the tunes on this album. Don't dislike it as such but its not my fav work from Kendrick.
Kendrick is good. Never been a huge fan but know this album. On a relisten didn’t discover any new favs.
Hip-hop is usually not my genre but I appreciate the cultural impact this album has. The production is stellar, the lyrics are very good (except the profanity which I never like). No songs really stood out, but it was a good listen.
3 - good but expected more compared t.p.a.b
Very good album, not necessarily for me, but I understand its cultural impact and why it’s one of the greatest albums ever.
Better than I was expecting. I could revisit this. 3*
This album is very well produced and has a nice cinematic feel to it. I do not typically listen to Hip-hop as it not really what I enjoy listening to, but on this album, there were moments which positivley surprised me. The electronic samples are layered very well throughout the album. Swimming Pools is a standout song, with its synthetic keyboards and synthetic drums and I like the use of Hi-Hats on the song too. Lyrically, there are metaphors and annecdotes mixed in with humour which portray a bleak/seedy look into urban life and working class America. Themes of Violence and Peer Pressure are sprinkled throughout the album and how once you are involved in something too deep, you can never get out. This allows the theme of Drug and Alcohol abuse to come into play, as the characters in this album use drugs and alcohol as a form on escapisim (from the life that they have found themselves in). I must iterate that I do not listen to Hip-hop so I do not know the criteria of what makes a Hip-hop record great or even stand out, but my enjoyment form this record came from the presentation of the narrative, the narrative itself and how the lyrics have a narrative feel to them. The sound of the album was not always my cup of tea, but it had it's moments. 3/5
Didnt properly listen to all of it
A real mix here, the start and end were very good, I have heard about Kendrick's lyrical skill and it did shine through in some songs, this, as I've said in other reviews, being a genre were songwriting strength is very apparent. Sherane was a very good opener and most of the songs post m.A.A.d city were very enjoyable as well, Sing About Me, I'm Dying Of Thirst and Compton being some of the stronger songs. The spoken section in the sings really helped to build a picture of what it was like to grow up in the city and definitely added to the album's atmosphere, they were a nice addition. That being said a lot of the central section of the album was slightly lacking for me, the lyrics weren't as strong and the style of singing/rapping just didn't sound as good. Without meaning to sound too performative, I didn't like the objectification of women in a lot of these songs, I understand that's the nature of this style of music, and that perhaps Kendrick is showing 'the ways of the city' so to speak but it didn't sit right with me. It's difficult to give this a rating which describes the album as a whole as I did find it had its ups and downs. Overall a 3 seems the most fair, recognising that it had both good moments and less interesting ones. Perhaps someone more in line with this style of music can appreciate the album more than I. I skipped the remix versions at the end of the album, I'd heard the song. Hopefully didn't miss out on much. Also, someone get that man his Domino's. 64/100
Really enjoyed this - despite not being my fave genre. Good storytelling/ narrative. Does get slightly repetitive.
I listened to it the background but didn’t have time to listen as closely as I wanted to. Will probably revisit later
So from someone that listens to Tyler the creator and mac miller when I’m feeling that sort of vibe, although I’ve heard Kendrick’s damn album and enjoyed that, I’ve never give this one a go until now. I wish I’d have tried it sooner, the samples on the songs are on point for Kendrick’s voice, Blend of bringing the sound of new and old rap together. Money trees is a stand out song for me, as well as backseat freestyle. Bitch don’t kill my vibe even the remix’s are ok wouldn’t say it’s my favourite mainly the chorus I thinks just abit too much but the actual rap in them is stand out. I suppose if your not into that genre of music it would be hard to give this ago, it’s not my top genre but I can see how he’s in the mix on this.
Rap. Not bad, pretty catchy at times.
some good songs even tho i don’t really like hip-hop
Hmm. Even though I listen to Kendrick semi-often, I think I've always found it hard to really listen to the lyrics. This may be better than I'm giving it credit for, but if he didn't rap like a baby boy then maybe I'd understand what he was saying.
Kendrick is a true street poet. A great story teller. I understand the hype now. The exception is obnoxious lyrics like "I wish my dick was the Eiffel tower so I could fuck the whole world for 72 hour" and "I got all of these bitches, all of these bitches, all of these bitches, wifey, girlfriend and mistress". The kind of thing that makes people generally stay away from rap music because of misogynistic cliches.
First time listening to Kendrick Will check out some more
Not my usual listen, but I enjoyed the narrative and the flow into some jazzy bits
Heard this a while back and wasn't fairly keen on it. It maybe requires more listening to fully appreciate it. I'll give it another go.
A lot better than I thought it would be. Also arising different and better than Pimp a Butterfly
3. 5/ 5
“Sing about me, I’m dying of thirst” is my favorite track I think. The voicemails left by his mom and dad hit hard for me for some reason. “Backseat Freestyle” is my second favorite track. Anna Wise adds so much to this album. “Swimming Pools” makes me feel like I’m driving in the city at night. “Now or Never” is so hopecore. I don’t really listen to Kendrick that much in my day to day life but I can see why people see him as one of the GOATs in rap.
Sorry young boy is m.a.a.d. overrated. I keep hearing he's a "GOAT"ed rapper, but have given this Damn, and pimp an honest try and cannot hear it.
Great story telling and lyrics, just the music itself, I got bored. TPAB on the other hand, thats a different story
I am not a huge fan of rap but I actually enjoyed this listen. I knew more tracks than I assumed I would which was surprising.
Kendrick is a pretty listenable artist. Great instrumentals under the rapping. Beats are nice.
Was fun to listen to the whole thing. I'd go back and spend more time getting to know the lyrics
I think what I appreciate about this album is that the lyrics are easy to understand. Helps so much with connecting with the vibe and the story the album is telling.
Kendrick is all about lyrics, and he has lots of hits I love. However, this album is a bit boring and same-y, rhythmically and musically (outside of great lyrics).
This feels like something I’ll return to but could not connect with today.
Tight, deep and an impressive performance. On the other hand, it's so wrapped up in its own mythology I feel like I've been pulled off the street to hold the tissues on this guy's colonoscopy. Sorry mate, you seem really talented and energetic, and you seem to have some post traumatic developmental issues to work through but I'm just not that into you
Not my style but that was fun heh
Great story telling but a little too much raw audio for my liking. Excellent rhythm and beats. Probably would like it more if I listened to it more and learn about Kendrick's story.
Difficult to pay attention to the lyrics. I’m too slow and deaf for this.
Some not so great memories and some great memories with this album ☞ “Real”
Pretty alright.
Ok - bit too much beatching for me, but decent enough
I didn't hate it. That's saying something given that I like very little rap, and even less of the more modern albums on this list. Not sure I would go back to it, but I do admit the man is talented.
Really like Money Trees
I can tell it's good but it's not my style 3
Rap not my thing. I didn't know much about the artist except for recent beef with another rapper. Can't say I really followed it. So I went into this fully expecting to hate it. You know what? It was actually pretty good. Probably wouldn't listen again but this was a good use of my time.
It was good, not my taste but can’t deny a good album
наверно норм
The production and musicianship are excellent. Such a shame the album repeatedly chugged “degrading women juice” instead of “respecting women juice”. Otherwise this could easily be a 5.
It was hard to listen to, some songs felt very violent, but at least a couple of them I liked.
I can see why people would appreciate this but I'm encountering the same barriers to my enjoyment as with previous rap and hip hop albums. Overall, this album was more immersive, cleverer, and less antagonistic toward women than the average. Rounded up to 3.
I prefer other Kendrick Lamar albums to this one, although I still think it's good. It just isn't anything I would listen to again, as all the song sound very similar and the sound itself isn't particularly my preference.
ok
Sarmadı
2.5
lyrically dense, great message, definitely redefined modern rap in a way but i’ve moved on from this sound almost completely my enjoyability towards kendrick and similar artists has plunged like crazy
I thought annoying skits on hip hop albums died in the early 2000's. I liked half of this, hated the other. 2.5
Didnt listen but im sure it's decent
Smijem li biti prva osoba koja će reći da je ovo malo bolje od To Pimp A Butterfly? Onaj je valjda još duži i dosadniji. Mada mi se ni ovaj nije dopao.
pretty good but way too long
Very accomplished, but not for me. I think my tastes in hip-hop are much too pedestrian for this.
I can appreciate this album and its place in rap history...but, to me, it was a bit of a slog with a few songs that rose above it. Granted, as a 57 year-old white male, I am not the person to give this a good assessment. I liked its ambition and scope. And, as a song cycle or concept album, I liked how it changed course over the album. But quite a bit of it felt like the same old gang bangers with some "come to Jesus" interludes here and there.
I enjoyed this more than I expected. Lyrically, it's not overly relatable for me (recognising I'm not the target audience), but some good grooves to enjoy along the way.
Not confident rating this, as rap really requires careful listening and this is a monster of an album, so I dind't have time to do it justice. Clearly a very ambitious piece of work - not my usual style but I'm glad I gave it some attention.
Will listen again. For current hip hop, this album is above most. Music and backing tracks are minimalistic, lyrics are interesting.
This album never got me the way it did with everyone else. There's tracks on here I absolutely love; there's others I'm really not that into. It's really hot and cold for me. THAT'S JUST HOW I FEEL. I still love Kendrick.
Average rap stuff.
A bit too explicit for me and it takes me out of the music.
Initially I wanted to rate this album solely on his ridiculous performance at Super Bowl 59. With that said I did like the jabs at Drake and Serena Williams crip walking from that performance. After listening to the album, I enjoyed it more than I anticipated. I thought “Sing About Me” and “Black Boy Fly” were a couple good tracks. I liked the jazz vibes throughout, however I found most of the album just felt similar from song to song including the instrumentals and beats. 3.5
2.5
A lot of quality rap and beats in here but it's A Lot
Another album that just is not my thing, but I can appreciate the appeal that makes my kid want to have watched the Super Bowl lol