It now has new, devastating implications that can only be understood if one has followed Kendrick’s story from the outset. However, as the narrative (a day in the life of teenage Kendrick) is slowly pieced together, with voice messages and supposed recordings from the day’s events, the album eventually returns to that prayer. It is unclear why they are praying – it could be grace around a dinner table or a sunday morning ritual. The album opens with a group of young men reciting a prayer. Meant to play out like a short film rather than an album, it is has a thematic thread that strings each song into a cohesive narrative. city as a reflection of his life path, from his upbringing in Compton to his modern state of mind. Because you too are searching for answers.” In other words, he is a human and he embraces all the oddities and complexities that come along with that. He says himself: “the next time I talk about money, hoes, clothes, god and history all in the same sentence, just know I meant it and you felt it. He is neither the prophet of the streets nor a what-are-they-thinking critic of the ghetto. Rather, he says that he “never want people to classify his music.” He crafts moments of introspection that run right up against more traditional “hood rap” lines. Lamar, in particular, built his reputation around the idea that he was not just a “conscientious” rapper. Dre tries to give him a handout he’s “gonna take his wrist and break it.” The Black Hippy crew have been nothing but fiercely independent from the outset, each carving out their own style and working hard to protect it. After all, Lamar’s early work was littered with lines like “fuck a funeral, just make sure you pay my music respect.” And on Section.80‘s “The Spiteful Chant” he notes that if Dr. Close followers of Lamar’s ascension perhaps knew that this would be the case. Good kid, m.A.A.d city is Lamar’s forceful declaration that being swallowed by the hype was never even an option. In other words, he was perfectly positioned to lose his sense of purpose. At only 25, he was about to release the only Aftermath record that wasn’t by Eminem or 50 cent in the last 6 years he was being labeled the next great leader of West Coast hip-hop and he was cutting tracks with Lady Gaga (?). Leading up to the release of good kid, m.A.A.d city, one couldn’t help but wonder if Kendrick Lamar would be handicapped by his rapid move into the limelight. It’s unfortunate, because while these artists have followed their early success with some interesting work (save for Jay Elec, who could be dead for all we know), those projects will inevitably be deemed lackluster next to that first blistering verse/mixtape/release. Acts like Wale, Blu, Clipse, Jay Electronica, Pac Div, The Knux and a litany of others have, in one way or another, failed to consistently deliver on their significant promise. Too often, these expectations are misplaced. Artists that show early promise are often touted as the next savior of hip-hop – a shining light of “realness” amidst the drudgery of the average rapper. "The best thing is to always keep honest people around, because when you have a bunch of yes men around that know that you're making a mistake but let you go on with it, that's when it ruins your mind state as an artist.Underground rap music is rife with high expectations. Moderators reserve the right to remove content or restrict users' posting privileges as necessary if it is deemed detrimental to the subreddit or to the experience of others.įresh TDE Classic Old OC Discussion News Article Merch Video Photo Fan Art Other Survivor pgLang Meta Question Images from social media must blur out the user's social media username. This includes, but is not limited to, offering and requesting leaks. Posting leaks on the subreddit are not permitted. are done completely at the risk of the buyer and seller. Any ticket sales, purchases, or exchanges etc. We do not endorse the selling and purchasing of tickets, merchandise, or other commodities. Any user who wants to self promote must have a reasonable post and comment history in this subreddit that is not related to whatever the user is trying to promote. This applies to podcasts, videos, blog posts, & etc. "Meta" is defined as about the subreddit or its members. If you want to make a "meta" post, you need to message modmail first asking for permission. Posting or seeking any identifying personal information will result in a ban without a prior warning.Ĭomment replies consisting solely of images will be removed.Ībuse of tags, link flairs, AutoModerator, and fake posts about new music will be removed and subject to ban. Don't be a dick, and use your better judgment. Personal attacks, trolling, and bigotry will result in bans. Regardless of the scenario, all posts and comments are subject to removal.