A certain amount of hype comes with being proclaimed as Dr. Dre’s protégé. Kendrick Lamar’s debut album, “good kid, m.A.A.d city,” released Monday, lives up to the high bar set for him. Lamar’s first album plays out like the tale of a kid from Compton, Los Angeles, aiming for a better life.
The 25-year-old Lamar writes about the violence and degeneration of his hometown, but the album is packed with dense and smart lyrics which breaks the mold of other albums with a similar story.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Lamar said he wanted to produce an album that focused more on his journey than those who went before him.
“I wanted to construct an actual album that makes sense, with a full story and a dialogue about what kids are going through and what my generation is reacting to,” Lamar said. “What I want is for someone, when they think about this album, is to say, ‘I know who that person is,’ not ‘That song went to the Top 40.'”
While some artists struggle with their addictions to drugs, alcohol or other vices, the main antagonist of “good kid, m.A.A.d. city” is Lamar versus his hometown, Compton. Two tracks on the album, “good kid” and “m.A.A.d city” directly juxtapose Lamar’s desire to escape his hometown and how the wrong role models and circumstances keep others from leaving.
Other tracks like “Swimming Pools (Drank)” and “Poetic Justice,” featuring Drake, are already Internet and party hits. A whole album focusing on Lamar’s upbringing would have grown tiresome, so the few tracks which allow the artist to have fun feel warranted.
Lamar feels more like a storyteller than anything else. Clever writing and thoughtful presentation makes Lamar’s album different and more enjoyable than other rap releases this year.