I think this album might be a harder listen for some of my older followers. After all, it’s not just a newer piece of art, but it’s hip-hop! How could an album that came out in 2012 possibly be ranked (consistently, I might add) among the outputs of some of the greatest artists of all time? Given that it celebrated its tenth birthday this year, what could it possibly have done to a) impact music in general, b) leave a fingerprint on hip-hop as a genre and c) justify a position at #12 on a music site where it has been rated over forty-eight thousand times.
The answer is quite simple. This album is timeless. Everything about it is masterfully executed. Every single beat is distinct and yet familiar, rivaling some of the greatest G-Funk and hip-hop beats ever created. Kendrick Lamar is in top form on this album (although he rarely missteps in general), demonstrating why he is the single greatest MC in the game as he takes the listener on a tour of Compton, the city he grew up in. The whole album feels like a conversation as Kendrick weaves verse after verse into a string of memorable stories. Some are pulse pounding (Lamar recounting the horrors of simply existing in “Maad City”), some are haunting (Kendrick trying to justify his life choices in “The Art of Peer Pressure”), and some are heartbreaking (the death of his friend and an honest reflection of himself and who he needs to be vs. the impact of his art on his community “Sing for Me/ Dying of Thirst”) but all are completely captivating. Heralded as one of the greatest concept albums of all time, Good Kid m.a.a.d. City is a harrowing tale of a day in the life of Kendrick’s past, a smart kid wrestling with a city he loves, and a city he also recognizes will kill him if it has the chance. The album is ultimately a tale of redemption and actually listens like you’re watching a movie, growing darker and darker before the triumphant set of closing tracks (“Sing for Me/ Dying of Thirst, “Real”, and “Compton”). Despite portraying the real horrors and trials of life in Compton, it’s clear that this album is a love letter as well. It’s not so much a collection of songs about escape, it’s about accepting the realities of his life before, and a hope for the youth of the future.
I think my rating is clear, but even before I listened to this album for this review session, this was one of my top ten albums of all time. Every single song is memorable and could easily be a contender for best hip-hop song of all time. Kendricks bars range from honest to philosophical, but every single line contributes to the overall message and meaning of the album. Even the skits between songs are important as they contribute to the image of a city torn between spirit and the struggles that many members of the community face. If I had to recommend one album to someone who has never listen to hip-hop it would be this one. If I could only listen to one hip-hop album ever again, it would be this one.
My Rating: 5/5
The Word and The Song 