Music Review: Kendrick Lamar's "good kid, m.A.A.d city"

After dropping 3 critically acclaimed albums, "Kendrick Lamar EP", "O(verly)D(edicated)" and "Section.80" on the Top Dawg Entertainment indie imprint, the artist formerly known as K.Dot delivers his major label debut, a short film called, "Good Kid, m.A.A.d City". With so many artists conforming to the major label corporate agenda, dropping the typical radio single that sounds cookie cutter and manufactured in hopes of selling a lot of records only to recoup that advance back to the label; The great Dr. Dre gave Kendrick complete artistic control of this album that has no out of place songs or forced colabs. This album unfolds just like a movie. There are characters, good times, drama, thrillers, violence, a sex scene, redemption and some deep thought.

The film starts in the end. Pulp Fiction-esque. The album opens with a prayer in which he is asking Jesus to be his Lord and Savior. What is remarkable about Kendrick is his story telling ability. At the very beginning of the album he’s telling a story about how he met Sherane over the summer and then began to lust over her even though her family is tied into gangs. He then takes his mother's car to pay her a visit and is greeted by two guys in black hoodies. The song is interrupted by one of several skits that helps creates this album's cohesiveness. His mother calls asking him, “when are you bringing the car back?”, and his Dad is in the background irritated that Kendrick took his dominoes.  In the skit he states that Kendrick's mother is killing his vibe. Then the story really starts to take off with “Backseat Freestyle”. His homies come and pick him up and everybody is feeling good and carefree. Kendrick's friend pops in a beat CD and Kendrick lets off a barrage of aggressive rhymes with tales of being young and reckless over another banger produced by Hit Boy ("N’s in Paris", "Clique", "Theraflu").

“The Art of Peer Pressure” enters with K.dot stating that he is actually a sober soul, but he’s with the homies so he’ll indulge in their mischief of weed smoking, liquor drinking and hollering at girls.  His crew also gets involved with jumping guys from the wrong neighborhood and doing home invasions. The album takes a turn after he gets jumped by the guys in the black hoodies after he pulls up to Sherane's house. He finds himself in the role of Trey from "Boyz in the Hood", upset with the violence and police corruption that he is surrounded by with the Pharrell produced track, “Good Kid”. The MC Eiht assisted “m.A.A.d City” finds K.dot and his friends retaliating for the fight and ends up with K.dots friend Dave killed in the battle.

In “Sing About Me /I'm Dying of Thirst”, Kendrick finds hope in Jesus and holy water as he feels as though he’s dying of thirst and truly needs some type of guidance. The album ends with “Real” and “Compton”. His father explains to him that “real is in responsibility/real is in taking care of your family/real is God nigga” and “Compton” is the victory lap in which he is giving homage to the city that made him.

The lyrics, the beats, the cohesiveness, the introspective view and the concept of this album are all what’s missing in mainstream/radio Hip Hop today. Instead of throwing random songs together with the typical "flavor of the month" features, Kendrick took matters into his own hands. This debut album is a body of work and a rare commodity in gaudy mainstream Hip Hop. He’s definitely the “Good Kid in a m.A.A.d. city”. Certified classic debut.

By Shannon Page

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS
Are you a fan of Kendrick Lamar?
Have you heard his mixtapes?
What do you think about his debut album?
What is your favorite track on the album?

Snoop Dogg and Friends Document the 20th Anniversary of the L.A. Riots via Vh1's Rock Docs

Looking back 20 years ago to the week, all sorts of emotions came up when I watched VH1's latest Rock Docs film, Uprising: Hip Hop and The L.A. Riots, which premiered on May 1st on Vh1.  As West Coast representer Snoop Dogg narrated the documentary, he explained the social and economical triggers that led up to that fateful day on April 29, 1992, which lasted 4 days.  The documentary also highlighted how our new age civil rights leaders aka Hip Hop artists like KRS-1, Nas, Tupac, N.W.A. and Ice T, spoke on the growing rage and living conditions that were occurring in the ghetto prior to the uprising, yet why was no one listening? Instead they were trying to ban them from the airwaves because they were speaking the truth about the trials and tribulations that were occurring in the ghetto every day.

I was 11 years old and was not allowed to leave the house when all of the fires and looting were taking place.  53 people were left dead, while countless Los Angelenos were injured and billions of dollars of damage was done in the streets of South Los Angeles and abroad.  While watching the documentary I think a lot of myths about the riots were dispelled as they showed races other than African Americans looting and causing mayhem.  Furthermore, they also portrayed how many individuals who didn't even live in the area that came by to participate in the debauchery...SMH (Shaking My Head)

I understand the anger and rage that the people of my community felt on that day where the (4) LAPD Officers were acquitted for the brutal beating of Rodney King that was caught on videotape.  Seeing an injustice like that first hand changed my view of this country and the world I lived in forever.  However, the aftermath of the rage and violence left us with little to show for, other than a few pairs of Jordans, some electronic equipment, diapers, burned cars and buildings, and an infrastructure that would take years to rebuild.

I recall my parents taking us around on a tour of the devastation in the aftermath.  We rode around South Los Angeles and saw all of the destruction first hand for the first time and not from the news channel's camera lense or perspective.  Depression and activism followed shortly thereafter as black folks came together for what had seemed like the first time in my young life.

The documentary really brought some things to light that my young mind was not able to process at the time, yet in hindsight makes so much sense.  Hearing the story told from the eyes of the musically artistic heroes of then and now really gave me a new perspective on this tragic incident in our history.

Below are some pictures to remind us all of the devastation 20 years ago:

As the country is yet again polarized on incidents of brutality and the mistreatment of people of color, such as in the Trayvon Martin case, many people have alluded to the 1992 riots reoccurring, if his killer, George Zimmerman is acquitted.  Although it is not a situation of Police brutality, it shines the light on the realization that not much has changed when it comes to race relations and perceptions in this country, as well as, law enforcement's proclivity to protect their own, bury evidence and block the shade from tragedies such as Martin's unjust murder.  Regardless, I urge us all across the country to think twice before we burn our own communities down, again, in a fit of rage and violence, because as we look back to the worse riots in our country's history, it doesnt change things.

Check your local listings and the link below to see when the Rock Docs will air again on Vh1:

http://blog.vh1.com/2012-04-04/vh1s-latest-rock-docs-film-uprising-hip-hop-and-the-l-a-riots-to-premiere-may-1/

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS

Were you old enough to live through and remember the L.A. riots of 1992?

Do you think anything has changed from then to now?

Do you think people will riot if George Zimmerman is acquitted?

Were you one of the ones looting and burning?

If we could respond differently then, what would you say we should've done?

Throwback Thursday: New Edition - "You're Not My Kind Of Girl"

I believe it is so important to stay up on what's new and what's hot, but also making sure to honor your roots and the history of the past.  Growing up in the 80s, New Edition was everything!!!!  They were B2K, Jodeci and Mindless Behavior all in one.  They were quintessential performers, combining new dance moves with the tailored group style dance of the 60s and 70s (think The Five Heartbeats or The Temptations) and were definitely the biggest R&B group at the time.  To say 80s babies grew up on the sounds/energy/fashion of New Edition would be an understatement.

Well, here we are in 2012 and New Edition still has so much relevance in this age of music and performances.  For instance, Beyoncé's "Love on Top" single off her studio album "4", incorporates audio and dance elements from New Edition's "If It Isn't Love" off their N.E. Heartbreak album released in 1988.  Not only did Beyoncé sample the music, but the video and the dance moves as well.

Another new artist that is taking cues from New Edition is popular Rap artist Big Sean of Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music label.  His debut single "My Last" sampled New Edition's "Can You Stand The Rain", also from N.E. Heartbreak.  I sincerely hope our youngstas learn to value the present and the past, as they journey into the future of music, artistry and entertainment.  Knowing the history of music and art is so rewarding and it gives an added value to our lives, as well as, a different perspective on trends, new and old.

Check out New Edition's "You're Not My Kind Of Girl" video for this installment of Throwback Thursday:

ENJOY!!!!