One of The Best Hip-Hop Albums Ever Made
Kendrick Lamar's good kid, M.A.A.D city album cover is shown here.
Kendrick Lamar is an icon in modern hip-hop. He debuted on July 2, 2011, with his album, Section .80. Since then he has released 5 other albums. He’s amassed 16 Grammys, including the best rap album and song award of this year’s Grammys. Today I would like to take a look at his second album.
Kendrick Lamar's "good kid, M.A.A.D city" is a masterpiece of modern hip-hop that tells a story of Kendrick's life growing up in Compton, California, and the struggles he faced growing up in a city plagued by gang violence and poverty. The album was released in 2012 and has since become a classic, cementing Kendrick's place as one of the greatest rappers of all time.
The album's production is top-notch, with beats that are both haunting and energetic, and samples a range of musical styles, from jazz to funk to soul. The beats are accompanied by Kendrick's sharp, lyrical flow and introspective storytelling, which are on full display throughout the album.
The album's opening track, "Sherane a.k.a Master Splinter's Daughter," sets the tone for the rest of the album, with Kendrick rapping about his relationship with a girl named Sherane, who he met in a club and who ultimately leads him down a dangerous path. The track's beat is dark and ominous, and Kendrick's flow is confident and precise, making it clear from the outset that this album is going to be a ride.
One of the standout tracks on the album is "Poetic Justice," which features Drake and is built around a sample from Janet Jackson's "Any Time, Any Place." The track is a love song, with Kendrick rapping about a girl who he's fallen for, but it's also a meditation on the violence and poverty that surrounds him in Compton. The beat is slow and dreamy, and Kendrick's flow is contemplative and introspective, making it one of the album's most emotional tracks.
Another standout track is "The Recipe," which features Dr. Dre and is built around a sample from the Isley Brother's "Footsteps in the Dark." The track is a celebration of Kendrick's success, but it's also a warning to the younger generation not to follow in his footsteps. The beat is upbeat and energetic, and Kendrick's flow is confident and boastful, making it one of the album's most energetic tracks.
One of the album's most powerful tracks is "Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst," which is split into two parts and is a meditation on death and the cycle of violence in Compton. In the first part of the track, Kendrick raps about the death of two of his friends, Dave and Keisha, and the impact that their deaths have had on the people who loved them. In the second part, he raps from the perspective of Keisha's brother, who is seeking revenge for her death. The beat is slow and sorrowful, and Kendrick's flow is raw and emotional, making it one of the album's most powerful tracks.
The album's final track, "Compton," is a celebration of Kendrick's hometown and a tribute to the city that shaped him. The beat is energetic and upbeat, and Kendrick's flow is confident and boastful, making it the perfect end to the album. In conclusion, "good kid, M.A.A.D city" is a classic album that tells the story of Kendrick Lamar's life growing up in Compton, California, and the struggles he faced growing up in a city plagued by gang violence and poverty.
The al bum's production is top-notch, with beats that are both haunting and energetic, and Kendrick's flow is unmatched. The album is a masterpiece of modern hip-hop that cemented Kendrick's place as one of the greatest rappers of all time and an absolute sigma beast when it comes to storytelling. This album has my, and many others’ hearts. I love this album dearly and it is one of the only albums that I would give a 10/10. If you like rap music or just deep and thought-provoking music in general, then this album is an absolute must-listen.