Kendrick Lamar definitely does not disappoint with his new album, “good kid, m.A.A.d city.” With the underground, “The Kendrick Lamar,” and the indie LP, “Section 80,” the Compton native shows off his lyrical and story telling skills. Throughout Lamar’s new album, there is a storyline of Kendrick, aka K-Dot, as a youth going through the motions in Compton, CA.
In the first song, “Sherane aka Master Splinter’s Daughter,” we are introduced to Sherane, Lamar’s love interest. He meets her at a party and begins an innocent, sexual relationship with her. On his way to her house again, Lamar spots two men, in hoodies, outside her door. And the story begins. For the next few tracks, Lamar is gallivanting in his mother’s van around Compton with his friends, which is described on “The Art of Peer Pressure.” Lamar teams up with Drake on, “Poetic Justice,” to spin a passionate web as he revisits his seductress. In the title tracks, “good kid,” and “m.A.A.d city,” Lamar describes the street life of Compton. He talks about corrupted cops, gang banging, and his first encounter with drugs (the album’s m.A.A.d. acronym stands for My Angels on Angel Dust). On his popular track, “Swimming Pools,” Lamar is told to drown out his sorrows about Sherane and his altercation(he gets in a fight) as his friends decide to “run up” on the boys who Lamar came into contact with. Unfortunately, one of Lamar’s friends is killed in a shoot out that they take part in. Throughout the album, after each song, there are a few voice mails from his mother and conversations between Lamar and his friends that sets up the entire story. As a California native, I am truly impressed with Kendrick Lamar. He is reminiscent of Tupac with his heartfelt songs and lyrical genius. His style is one the can truly not be duplicated. What do you think about K-Dot’s new album?
