Kendrick Lamar leads the charge for this week's new rap releases. His Aftermath debut, good kid, M.A.A.D. City, arrived iTunes on Monday. Also on shelves this week:
- POS - We Don't Even Live Here
- Rapsody - The Idea of Beautiful
- RZA - Man With the Iron Fists Soundtrack
- Vinnie Paz - God Of the Serengeti
Comments
Well, it is now October 23rd and after two listens the Kendrick album has lived up to my expectations in full. It is better than both Killer Mike and El-p’s work and is also better than Life is Good. We are looking at the best album of this year and perhaps the best since The College Dropout. I look forward to the review.
I agree that it is definitely better than those other albums from this year, but it isn’t (for me personally) the best since The College Dropout. I’ll take MBDTF, Madvillainy, Sir lucious leftfoot, and maybe a few other hip hop albums over this, no doubt (not to mention a handful of releases from other genres). Also, I prefer Channel Orange to this as far as 2012 goes.I still need to give it a few more listens before I fully decide how I feel about it though.
I need to get Channel Orange, didn’t realize how good it is supposed to be. It’s hard to top Madvillainy, it was a magical moment in music shared by far to few. My views towards this album are far too biased. Like the mood I feel from listening to B*** Don’t Kill My Vibe and Money Trees, the lyricism in Sherane, art of peer pressure, and Real, the fun I had listening to good kid and mad city back to back, the hardness of Back streeet freestyle and Compton. It’s an experience that pummels MBDTF into the ground from my view. Sing About Me is one of the best songs i’ve ever heard. Swimming Pools is insanely ill. My one complaint about it was that it needed another verse…he delivered it to me on the album. I don’t know how this album will stand up but for me right now…sky’s the limit. Oh yea I did not like the three track deluxe cd. Something about a cd with 3 songs on it occupiying a spot in my cd booklet is fairly vexing. Is the recipe worth an extra $5…
I can’t believe what I am reading. WHY do people get so worked up about Kendrick? Dude is mad talented, no doubt about it — but nothing about the production on this album excites me, for one. There are definitely a lot of high points, but (no hipster) I enjoyed Kendrick Lamar EP way more. I found “B*tch Don’t Kill My Vibe” boring and the thing that annoys me the most about Kendrick is his pretentious monotone chanting during just about every track. I’d give it maybe a 4/5, which is still a great project in my opinion, and definitely one of the highlights of the year so far, but nowhere near worthy of going back one let alone multiple years as the best project since COLLEGE DROPOUT.
Also THE high point of the album for me had to be “M.A.A.D. City”, before AND after the beat switch
“There are only three guarantees in life: death, taxes, and people who will say, “good kid, m.A.A.d city is dope, but it isn’t as good as #Section80”, or if they’re feeling particularly ambitious, “…isn’t as good as Overly Dedicated.” (There’s got to be at least the one dude saying “this isn’t as good as the Kendrick Lamar EP.)” – Nathan S., DJBooth.net
Mitch, you had to be that guy…
I’m really surprised that many people’s favorite track on the album is mad city. To me it was a fun track…but it sounds like it belongs on some 2001 ripoff or something. I really like it tho. I don’t think it is anywhere near the best on the album. I really like the sound of kendrick’s voice/style on this album. It is kind of reminiscent of guru to me, and I realize that others may not like it. He does switch it up tho. We all know (except for mitch) that if he used his normal hiipower-esque voice the whole time the album’d still be a classic.
Ranking the album isn’t important, I got what i needed and will proceed to play this for years.
Mitch called “no hipster”, so you can’t call him on that.
While I might not go as far as Mitch, I tend to feel this way too. I was actually kind of disappointed on first listen, but it has been growing on me ever since. Personally, my favorite track is “Backseat Freestyle”, but I’m clearly a sucker for technical prowess. I really appreciate his unique style, but I tend to not truly love his songs, the way I do my favorite emcees.
If I had my way Backstreet Freestyle would have been on the bonus disc as well as the Compton track. Like I feel like they don’t fit the album. They are tracks that definitely represent him and sound great but like the recipe they belong on a different project. Perhaps Kendrick’s next work will be more geared towards songs like that and you guys will like it more. I like just about anything he does.
It was a strong project, don’t get me wrong. But I feel like it was geared toward a hipster audience which would be impressed by multiple tracks going over 6 minutes, when in reality they didn’t even have to approach it. Preachyness (I know that’s not a word) is something that has always bothered me about Kendrick. Similar to Lupe, he tries to say things which the general population finds amazingly deep, when in reality aren’t even articulated that well.
Yea, I agree that I could care less when emcees try to say things that are deep. Totally agree that it comes across preachy. That’s why I’m more into how an emcee says something rather than what they are actually saying. If you can find an a unique way to express an ordinary idea, it shows more intelligence and creativity than to tell me about what’s wrong with society in a ordinary way.
I don’t know. I feel like you guys have a warped sense of preachyness. So kendrick has a song about prostitution in his hometown. I don’t think that a rapper should be condemned as preachy just because his subject material is heavier. His lyrics in that song are in the form of storytelling, very few MCs even attempt this and even fewer do it well. I challenge you to try and write a verse in the form of a story and not have it come out corny. Lupe is different, in many cases, he just comes out and explicitly outlines things wrong with society, where as kendrick does it with far more tact. Prostitution may not be a problem where you live, but it must be large enough of a problem in Compton to dignify 2 major songs from Kendrick in the past 2 years. Kanye can spew lyrics about his wealth and talent for album’s on end and as we’ve seen you begin to approach a point of diminishing returns. What made the college dropout so great was the way that Kanye meshed in major social topics into his songs without making it blatantly obvious as it was hidden by arrogance. I have a huge problem with “cornyness” making me hate the guest featured singing in Section 80 where themes were explicitly stated before the song started. I think you’ll find no such problems with this album. I will listen again and tell you what I think.
@smike55 Dude, you’re sounding waaaaay too defensive of your boy Kendrick Lamar.
These other dudes are pretty much agreeing that its a dope album. They’re just not giving it 6 out of 5 and running out and getting “Kendrick Lamar” tramp stamp tattoos like you, man.
Plus I don’t get why you’re talking like this album is absolute perfection one minute, then you’re sh*tting all over the tracks that these other dudes are f*cking with.
Basically, if you haven’t already, just check out big ghost’s review of good kid maad city. It’s one of the first times I’ve seen him come with praise of a new album.
Oh and I haven’t given this album a 6/5. I stated that it’s the best since college dropout…its only competition is Madvillainy (one of my all time favorites). I think that’s realistic praise for now.
For the hell of it:
My Top 5 Albums All-time (work in progress)
*no correction for influence/history
Illmatic
Ressurection
Slim Shady LP
The Infamous
Ready to Die
I’d say GKMC is somwhere in the t20 for now
I haven’t said that the album is without flaws. I was merely trying to state that the lyrics are not corny despite the heavier subject matter. I believe I have a good ear for corneyness (despite its preferential nature). I just hope you guys are actually listening to the words and not just tuning out when you hear the term crack addict or gangbanger in a song. I will defend the albums lyrics to the end. In terms of production…I think the album is very good… its no Chronic, but sounds so good. One might call the more melow beats hipster…but that’s the sound hes created that I love. If you prefer the maad city beat…I’ll just lol to myself. Minor flaws I have with the album are its organization (for thematic reasons) and 2 misplaced songs. I really like the deluxe edition tracks but having a 3 track cd in my booklet is an annoyance.
And what is wrong with some discussion about an album. Just because I write with a conviction that some may feel is intolerant doesnt mean you can’t listen to my ideas. Grow up. Also I didnt sh-t on any tracks, I just stated that I didnt think that Backstreet Freestyle fit the album. You see this is a tricky matter. 9 of the 12 tracks fit the concept of the album. The rest I feel are on their to prevent people from labeling him as a conscious rapper (something hes blatantly stated he doesn’t want). So, they are planned flaws so I’m ok with them.
In my opinion, Kendricks technical skill in the way he arranges lines, changes tone, changes his voice, alters the speed etc. is effective on every song. Is it as insane as say Pharoah Monch? no and I’m cool with that.
Do not like the preachy tag being aimed at lupe all the time… yeah he is like that now… but don’t forget he dropped the Cool and F&L and the farenheit 1/15 mixtape series… if that wasn’t creatively getting across soical commentary I don’t know what it
Also Big Ghost’s reviews are played out…
Sing about me… is best song by mile.
Album = great album (as in how its put together) but most of the songs are merely very good… They all work better as part of the project.
Kendrick delivered + hype over him = massively overrated album and reviews all jumping on the bandwagon for web hits or magazine sales… much like MBDTF.
I don’t think smike55 is being way too defensive. He’s giving his opinion. It’s all good. Anyway for the record, I do think Kendrick and Lupe are a good deal different. There are very few Lupe songs that I even like at all. On the other hand, I actually like the majority of Kendrick’s stuff… just not sure I love it.
And, I understand where you are coming from about the prostitution stuff. I recognize that because it’s not something that affects me very personally, it’s just not gonna hit home like other stuff will. That’s why I try to talk about how I feel about it, and not just use the words “good” or “bad”. As far as Ye goes, I love him, and the wealth stuff definitely gets to me sometimes. For example, for the majority of Watch the Throne and Cruel Summer, this got on my nerves. But when Ye touches on those types of relationship issues like in Runaway or Blame Game, it works perfectly for me.
I think the difference between one of those songs and the songs from GKMC is simple. Kendrick is storytelling for sure, but it seems like he has made up these stories to illustrate a point. Kanye, on the other hand, is pouring out his soul. He lived those songs. He’s dealing with some personal stuff for the whole world to hear, and there just happens to be a really good message in the middle of all of that. Just how I feel I guess. I like this top 5 thing though so I’ll give it a shot. I’ll stick to hip-hop albums since that is what we’re talking about, even though my real top 5 would have other stuff in it. Here goes (subject to change):
MBDTF
Madvillainy
Aquemini
Supreme Clientele
OB4CL
Any chance we will get a review of the new P.O.S. album?
I wouldn’t get your hopes up Greg.
Hey guys im not being way too defensive, no im not biased I have a grip on reality its just the best album (aside from Madvillainy) within the past 8 years. smh
Since we’re putting out top 5′s and just because I want to:
The Old Prince – Shad
Food and Liquor
Illmatic
The Eminem Show
Cats and Dogs – Evidence
If I were honest, it would just be Shad’s whole catalog, but I figure I’ll give other rappers work a mention instead. @Smike: love all except mobb deep. I just don’t like mobb deep except a few hits. @kris: like most except I don’t like outkast. I know thats considered a hip hop sin to some, but whatever.
Shad is fantastic so I cant blame you. I thought he might get more success with TSOL. I hope he makes more music.
I’m sure he’ll be making more music. Yeah, I’m just a big fan of everything he’s done. In the same vein, I can respect how you may be biased towards Kendrick. Some rappers just speak to you way more than others and everyone’s views are different.
Henry, what did you think of Dreams and Nightmares? I know you had Meek Mill as a rapper to watch this year so I’m guessing you were disappointed in the album.