Kendrick Lamar-good kid, m.A.A.d city-2012 (CLASSIC)

[Black Ball]

Again I didn't say they were not affiliated or didn't do "gangsta" things. I said they didn't HAVE to. To me if your gangabanging cause it's fun or the in thing to do. Then you are a "fake" gangsta.

It's a lil deeper than that breh. Fun wouldn't at all describe the situation. Most people got pride in where they come from. Most nikkas gonna fight to defend their friends against other nikkas. Most young people of any background go with the crowd. Just so happens that ganglife is what's surrounding some. You looking at it from the outside looking in. If you grow up in the hood, you are not scared of these people(well some killas ya fear of course). These are people you see everyday, play ball with, etc and are like pseudo family members. A man with a certain integrity has it ingrained in him to ride for his people. It's more of a natural progression into adolescence for alot of nikkas out here. It aint like a suburban cac wanting to be down to look or feel cool.

A father gotta ingrain in his son that being apart of the gang is off limits and will result in major ass whoopings.

 

[PrnzHakeem]

Many people outside of cali and chicago don't understand the thought process/reasons why people bang/why people are in a gang. This shyyt is generational and runs deep

I grew up in a middle class neighborhood in LA (damn near the Wilshire district) and the lil niccaz was banging

Wasn't a warzone or nothing, but you still had to mind ya business and be careful. Came home one Xmas after like 6 years of living in Philly, and had a red shirt on and was standing in front of my parents house watering the lawn.

Baby gangstas drove by real slow lookin like

I was like , and remembered where I was.

 

[Gil Scott-Heroin]

For years I've been hearing albums like Common's Be called classics off the bat, then I give them a listen and they're depressingly "eh" to me. I started to realize every few years hip hop is desperate for a new universal classic, and fans try to force the label on a lot of projects. This album feels like a cohesive whole to me, an actual project, something that at least makes me think "shyt, is this a classic for this day and age?" Most albums people call classics these days, I don't even get that far, I can listen to them and just chuckle at the notion they're classic.

I've said this a couple of times myself around here. This is why in a roundabout way, I don't think there'll be another classic again, for the sheer fact that shyt gets anointed artificially and not naturally. You've got the whole Back to the Future revisionist-history going on. Plus the word is past tired now. I don't think there's any more room left in the sand for a rapper to leave his footprint like it'll be noticeable from high above....

 

[Gil Scott-Heroin]

I don't think this album is getting enough praise, honestly. The reason this cd sits well with me is because it comes from the same honest place that most young black men childhood resides. In any given neighborhood, there are maybe at most 10-15 "stars". Be it D-boys, playas, or athletes. The rest of us are sideline spectators to the world that those few stars live. So it's nothing to be a kid that never banged but understand the codes of your neighborhood. It's nothing to be a good student and come from a decent home yet get involved in smoking weed or doing petty crimes due to your influence from your friends. It's nothing to be a kid who parents actually take an active role in your life and well being (exhibited by the numerous phone calls through out the "day" on the cd) when you see other kids who parents not give a rats ass if they go to school, come in at a decent time, etc. One thing that Bomani said that rang true is that we want our rappers to be stars. I take it to a more honest level and feel that I want my rappers to be better than me (craft wise). Too many times we get records written from the "stars" of the neighborhood perspective. Everybody with a deal just so happens to be the biggest dope dealer his hood ever seen. Kendrick told MY story in a better way (craft wise) than I could even imagine. That's why the album is really good to me.

Not getting enough praise from the right people? Or not getting enough praise from ALL avenues in general?

I think it's safe to say it's getting enough praise from both. At the moment.

 

[MeachTheMonster]

It's a lil deeper than that breh. Fun wouldn't at all describe the situation. Most people got pride in where they come from. Most nikkas gonna fight to defend their friends against other nikkas. Most young people of any background go with the crowd. Just so happens that ganglife is what's surrounding some. You looking at it from the outside looking in. If you grow up in the hood, you are not scared of these people(well some killas ya fear of course). These are people you see everyday, play ball with, etc and are like pseudo family members. A man with a certain integrity has it ingrained in him to ride for his people. It's more of a natural progression into adolescence for alot of nikkas out here. It aint like a suburban cac wanting to be down to look or feel cool.

A father gotta ingrain in his son that being apart of the gang is off limits and will result in major ass whoopings.

I already admitted that much, and that it's just a cultural difference, but that still doesnt change how i feel about it. If you have food at home you shouldn't be out thuggin.

 

[CM_Burns]

This shyt sounds like lil wayne westcoast album with the pretense if genius saving hip hop, backseat freestyle is garbage lyrically.

 

[DonnyB]

This shyt sounds like lil wayne westcoast album with the pretense if genius saving hip hop, backseat freestyle is garbage lyrically.

It wasn't supposed to be deep. Just a young Kendrick riding around with his homies spitting senseless bars

 

[MeachTheMonster]

I don't understand the hate Real gets. My second favorite track on the album. Probably his best lyrically

 

[Gil Scott-Heroin]

I felt like dude should have just listened to it several times before he gave such a strong opinion on it one way or the other.

Album didn't jump out at me as being super special or classic on my 1st few listens, although I thought it was good. The music/sounds are unique, so you never know how you will vibe with them over time. Just like bangers that grab you on the 1st listen can get real old to a listener real quick. So far this record continues to improve to me with every subsequent listen. You can never know how you will feel about something years down the line, but I don't have a problem calling this piece of work a classic.

I not a big Kendrick fan either, so I understand the boring criticisms and the missing of that star quality criticisms. I definitely felt the same way before this record. Not even really sure that I'll enjoy his next release like I'm sure with other rappers that I love.

I got past 10 listens, and the shyt still didn't jumped out at me. I hear ya though.

 

[gluvnast]

some people need to listen to the song GOOD KID more closely.... especially the 1st verse.

 

[Gil Scott-Heroin]

LUPE's new joint is MILES better than this disc though.

 

[Why-Fi]

enjoying this album...

 

[darealvelle]

[ame=http://youtu.be/LCUfULx87PQ]Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d city Album Review | DEHH - YouTube[/ame]

 

[Busby]

some people need to listen to the song GOOD KID more closely.... especially the 1st verse.

he says it SOOO CLEARLY on there....nikkas are really THAT simple minded even when someone EXPLAINS it to you...

Now i know why R. Kelly did a commentary on the Trapped In The Closet videos because some of you nikkas are REALLY..THAT dumb..

 

[Flav]

there's no moment where Kendrick overwhelms you with his rapping ability... it's missing that wow factor

the verse he spit right after Mc Eiht with the vocals panning from right to left is a big WOW factor. he bodied that last verse! and that old school worm sound with those scratches jumps makes it that much better.