Reviews (page 9 of 13)
lots of his hits on here
I like his musicality, his low-key delivery and using back-up singers and guests to create a layered, elegant sound. I was only familiar with "Bitch Don't Kill my Vibe", which I quite liked, and the songs from "Money Trees" to "Sing About Me" are great. His auto-tuned singing voice is melancholic and a nice contrast to the rap. Adding (non-sampled) choruses to the music is a big plus. I won’t comment on the Pulitzer-worthiness of his rapping but from what I can hear he’s less flamboyant and more confessional that most – and with a great sense of humour. With lyrics like “first you get a swimming pool full of liquor then you dive in”, I was leaning to a 5, but my co-judge wasn’t as enthralled. Regardless, I’ll be listening to this again.
Great album. K.Dot's storytelling and lyricism is really on full display here
Started off with good music and weak lyrics but got better
The good tracks are good, but dont have a taste for the rest of the album. More personal preference, and still deserves a spot on the list
I'm not really into much rap but I REALLY love Kendrick's voice and lyrics. Wicked good record.
I've never knowingly listen to any Kendrick Lamar but kind of kept meaning to. The cover art paints a clear picture about what to expect, though the album title is a bit opaque. Anyway, here we go. ...I think that put me into a trance. I've definitely been through something. The first song paints such a vivid story I was completely pulled into the rest of the stories. Amazing. Not my kind of music at all. None the less, amazing.
Muito bom.
Not a strong start, but really picked up in later tracks
Modern hip hop king Fav Track : "Bitch don't kill my vibe"
7th March 2022 Listened throughout the day while working from home. Went to see the Duke in the evening which was ok. Always knew of Kendrick but never listened. This was a real treat, lyrically and his performance is on point.
I knew some songs off this album but never listened to the whole thing before. Definitely was enjoyable.
Good stuff. Storytelling in rap form.
Kendrick Lamar raps about life growing up in Compton, around gang life and all sorts of terrible things. This was the breakout record for Lamar, before following up with the incredible To Pimp A Butterfly 3 years later. Compared to other hip hip about gang life, Lamar paints it as a horror story rather than a hardcore bragging effort. This is impactful for suburban guys like myself who already scared of inner-city violence like this, and I'd imagine it hits hard for many others as well. Yeah, it's a great hiphop album. The 12-minute epic "Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst" is an easy highlight, but a few songs could but cut to give it more gravitas.
Die habe ich zufällig wegen einer Empfehlung bereits vor ein paar Wochen außer der Reihe gehört und fand sie im Gegensatz zu To Pimp A Butterfly richtig gelungen. Bitch Don‘t Kill My Vibe!
So. Good.
Góð plata. Margt sem var betra en mig minnti.
This album came out before I knew who Kendrick Lamar was, so I have never heard it. Upon first listen: Most of these tracks are great. Ones I didn't really care for: the remix of Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe, Compton, and kind of Sherane. I love the regular version of Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe. I heard Backseat Freestyle a while back and had no idea what album it came from, and didn't really know Kendrick Lamar back then. But I LOVED the vibe of the song. Still do. This track is great. Money Trees - I like this. Ya bish. m.A.A.d city is such an old school sounding track. Swimming Pools is a classic. So he uses this weird alien-ish voice in a couple of tracks, and I am so not a fan of it, but other than that, this album is solid.
I didn't really vibe with To Pimp A Butterfly as much as most hip hop heads seem to, so this probably won't be my jam. That said, it is interesting to see how Kendrick polarizes the site's user base like few others do. Many seem to either love him or hate him, yet I felt neither about TPAB. And I don't feel either about this, but simply see a passable rap album. Sometimes it has great storytelling, sometimes it leans into gangster cliches, sometimes it's interesting, sometimes it's boring. I just don't click with Kendrick like many people do, but I don't think it's bad music like many others do. His music, on both this and TPAB, just falls into that space of utter mediocrity for some reason. He's a good lyricist with occasionally good sample choices, but his music just doesn't inspire any feeling in me. I want to like him, but I just can't get into his stuff. This album is the top ranked album of 2012 globally. Other 2012 albums rated by me: Blunderbuss(2/5)-4 Django Django(4/5)-3
Good album. About as good as the similarly lauded To Pimp A Butterfly. A tentative, mysterious, sort of ethereal feel in the opening song, Sherane / Master Splinter's Daughter. The instrumentation is used pretty sparingly, but when it hits, it hits hard (see, for example, the brief descending bass lick that repeats throughout the track). Cool lyrical transition into Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe, though the end of Sherane teeters dangerously close to interlude territory, which obviously accounts for some of the absolute worst of what hip-hop has to offer. You have valuable space on your album. Make good use of it. Don't offer up over a minute of some woman speaking to her son on the phone. The transition to Backseat Freestyle is much more forgiving, only boasting a few seconds of musically inert content instead of minutes. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe is an excellent track. Very memorable and catchy, which is of course the most important aspect of any music intended for mainstream airplay. Backseat Freestyle, though... just nothing to latch onto. The first of a few genuinely bad songs. The Art of Peer Pressure is an immediate improvement with the smooth piano and percussion. That synth at the back of the mix is just loud enough to be piercing and annoying, but the rest of the musicianship makes up for it. To see what I mean, listen from about 1:00 onward to hear the exact moment (~1:06) where the song suddenly sounds orders of magnitude better. Another interlude, though. Bitch, you killed my vibe. (Even when I specifically told you not to?) Money Trees, though decently groovy, absolutely does not deserve its 2.2 billion Spotify streams while tracks like Mystery (Indigo Girls) scrape by with around 2 million despite being near-objectively more enjoyable and musically interesting. Ah, well. C'est la hip-hop. Next, Poetic Justice does pretty decently. Of course, the main event is that backing vocalist, who has a gorgeous voice that completely overshadows Lamar's own. good kid, the first of two title tracks, returns to the minor-key mystifying feel of Sherane. Otherwise, good but pretty unmemorable. m.A.A.d city is a little better, incorporating some pretty sweet guitar and bass parts that remind me of REM and similar bands from the 80s/90s. Cool horns and strings(?) as well. Throughout the song we hear a few rapidly ascending/descending guitar pluckage, plus plenty of other DJ-mixer SFX to give the listener plenty to latch onto. Another decent song with generally unmemorable hooks: Swimming Pools (Drank). This appears to be a theme. We then get two lengthy songs, including the monstrous 12-minute Sing About Me, I'm Dying Of Thirst. At least the soft guitar and drums, reminiscent of Identikit or other Radiohead songs from that period, completely carry the song to success. The final two songs, Real and Compton, are both debatable in terms of being actually "catchy" or "enjoyable listens". They also sound a bit like SITKOL-era Stevie Wonder, especially the latter, so I kind of file them in that category. Nifty processed vocals at the end. And of course, just blaze. 3/5 Key tracks: Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe, Poetic Justice, m.A.A.d city
Pasados los 2000 no escuché mucho rap ni hip-hop, conforme se convirtieron en estrellas mediáticas deje de interesarme por su música. Confundo a todos: Kendrick, Kanye, Jazzy, ... no me gusta cuando cantan con voz de pito como Eminen o como los Insane Clown Pose (pero al menos ellos eran honrados y vestían de payasos). Escuchando esta lista he recuperado algo de la música que me perdí. Hay grandes cosas y otras que siguen pareciendo una broma. Al menos si hay algo evidente que es una evolución: las bases sonoras y rítmicas. Casi siempre son más ricas, con profundidad, no cuatro samples en loop y una caja de ritmos.
Best thing I’ve listened to too this whole journey.
Not my favorite Kendrick Lamar album (Damn.), but it’s fine. Except that song with Drake, that song is ass.
3.25 - It's been a while since I've listened to this. I thought I liked it a little more than I actually I did, but maybe I'm thinking of To Pimp a Butterfly.
I can see how he made the impact he did, but it’s just not for me. It’s an awkward mix made by a bit of a dork who doesn’t know if he wants to sound like a gangbanger, or near-gangbanger, or an underground Doom type or the new Kanye. It’s just very muddled. I’m also not a fan of Kendrick’s voice in general. That’s just personal taste. But he clearly is very talented and I enjoyed a lot of the instrumentals
very good, heard a few of these songs before. not exactly my style but okay
Not bad
The second Kendrick album I've listened to now. Similar vibes to the other one, great production values, some skilled lyrical content and some funky base. It doesn't feel like new boundaries are being pushed, it just feels like highly polished pop music to me. Where's the range in vocal skills, it's rhyming and poetry, but once you've done one they sound similar and begin to blend into incredibly similar songs as there's no real challenge or scale or scope.
Can't believe I'm giving this album the same rating I gave to Digital Underground's Sex Packets, which is in almost all ways an inferior work, but there's something about this album that's not connecting. Kendrick's a great storyteller with variegated flow and fluctuating energy and a variety of beats, all things which I love (and do love about his later stuff) but this album just seems half formed. I know it's a literary trick (metonymic? whatever) to make an album about a kid feel immature, but that actually makes it feel immature, not fully formed. Sure this album has a couple of hits but they're not enough to carry the sagging parts, given how long it is (a Kendrick special). Sure, an expansive album about a kid who's not able to make the right choices being reflected in an expansive album that could've made better choices is poetic, but also means it doesn't stick the landing for me, a white suburban dad
I preferred ‘Butterfly’ but still an enjoyable listen. I liked the humour, social commentary and he really is a great storyteller. I am not so much of a fan of how he refers to women and I did feel this seemed particularly heightened in this album. Tricky as I appreciate he is reflecting on the toxic masculinity from his youth but also maybe dont refer to women as bitches all the time.
Could've done with a few hundred albums between this and the last Kendrick Lamar, not the week we got! This is less musically interesting than TPaB, but also a bit less intense, I think I actually preferred the 'mood' overall, even though it has less tracks like King Kunta that grab you and make you sit up. Also, it's still too long. 'The Art of Peer Pressure' was my favourite ('we made a left, we made a right, we made another right' bit is great lol)
Had a lot of songs I’ve heard before but didn’t know they were on this album. A good bop if I’m feeling this vibe specifically, but rap has never been my first choice. I feel like it has some good artistic qualities.
I know I'm supposed to love this album but, honestly, just kinda meh for me. Love hip hop but Kendrick just doesn't really do it for me
та не люблю я кегдріка капіц
È un album molto figo e lui ovviamente bravo in quello che fa.
Not big into this genre. Some interesting observations here though.
Not his best work but better than average
This isn’t really my type of music. I didn’t follow the lyrics closely, and I’m not familiar with how to listen to hip-hop, so my judgment may not be fully fair.
Ну ок, из его песен мне только humble нравится, но она не в этом альбоме
Всё еще реп, но лучше, чем я ожидал
Favorite song: Good Kid
best rap album I've heard so far. I got more and more into it as I listened which is probably proof that it's just a lack of listening time probably
Some themes are... a lot. I think it falls way too heavy on my ears at times. But that can be expected within Lamar's territory. The album does so many good things but it also loses in some parts. Money Trees , bitch don't kill my vibe,poetic justic, swimming pools are some old favourites. On this full listen dicovered good kid, now or never (i love mary j. blinge) sing about me I'm dying of thirst (WOW, WOW,WOW), real, and compton. Will i ever listen to the entirety of this again? No. Will some of these songs be a part of my rotation? Yes. And sometimes that's all you need from an album
Honestly the songs I already knew are the only ones I’m gonna relisten to
Ma oleks peaaegu ratingu tegemata jätnud. Ausalt öeldes tunnen ma, et ma pole kõige parem sellele albumile hinnangut andma, sest ma ei ole nii kursis räpivooludega. Ma tundsin kindlasti, et tegemist on kvaliteetse räpialbumiga, mis pakkus palju eri kõlasid. Tegin seda kuulates trenni, niiet mul polnud nii palju hetki süveneda sõnadele ja sõnumile, mis on kindlasti osa selle albumi menust ja sisust. See ilustreerib taas seda, mida ma räpi juures hinnata oskan ja see on loo jutustamise võimalus, mida tihti popmuusika nt ära ei kasuta.
Good Kid and Swimming Pools (Drank) are two songs I genuinely like but really did not care for the rest of the album. The more I listened I think it was because of the pacing and just that I found the majority of these songs too slow for my taste. There are a few songs I really like on each Kendrick album but never fully connects for me From this listen, I found that I quite liked Collect Calls, the production at the start of m.A.A.d city, and 10:00-10:20 of Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst (but seriously I was not here for 12 minutes)
i dont even know tbh, i was sick when listening yo this, overall okay but i thought it was going to be more fun and experimental considering how people glaze kendrick
Too much gratuitous profanity
I guess even the modern greatest in the hip-hop game can't help himself. That first track? It's a solid showcase of what was, at the time, a rising star's flow, rhymes storytelling… and it starts with baby crying samples and ends with a voice message that feels like skit territory. In 2011? Why couldn't Kendrick have a dream where we don't do that any more? I don't really get K.dot in general, though. I get that he is skilled, I like that he pisses off people that should die mad. I just haven't really taken the plunge yet over a number of his albums. There's plenty of the childish bravado that takes some really clever work for me to get into, but I don't think that's it. There is the full on lift of Janet Jackson's “Anytime Anyplace,” the sort of wholesale use that should have died with Diddy's popularity. There's the embarrassing chorus on Real (*im really really real”... ok sure). There's “Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe,” which feels like it is too hazy and downbeat, which could have been a proverbial banger with a different, er, vibe. Something just doesn't connect. I think the two tracks that make up the title, on the other hand, are pretty solid showcases with minimal complaints. I appreciate the ambition of the 12 minute “Sing About Me I'm Dying of Thirst”. “Compton” puts Kendrick with Dr Dre, which can only be so bad, right? It's not my bag, it's not something I get the hype on, but it is a proof of concept for the mythology he's created in the ensuing years. 3*
Not what I'd normally listen to, but not bad as background music today.
OK, but not my thing
Why does it have to be so long? It's difficult for me to follow the story of a concept album especially if it's hip hop. I lost my interest after maybe the song Good Kid (which was my favourite from the album). Also Money Trees is one of my favourite hip hop song of all time. So extra points for that. But overall, it didn't pack the punch TPAB did.
I like old school rap, maybe topping out in the early aughts with Jay-Z. The hip hop I enjoy most has either great funky sampling and/or jazz or otherwise organic music and the actual MCing has got to be rhythmic. Right away in the first track the rhythmic rapping is thrown right out the window - I know it's a preferential thing but there's no sense of rhythm to this, it's stream-of-consciousness words that I've no doubt I'd never be able to do but it all exists completely independently from the music. As if they're two completely unrelated parallel entities that were just placed together almost randomly. I intellectually understand that Kendrick Lamar is probably the best of modern rap, but his style is just not for me. 3.5⭐️
Great beats and interesting lyrics throughout, and very high energy, although I could have done without some of the outros.
Good album, m.A.A.d lyrical content.
I think this is good but it isn't for me. I don't mean that in the way of "it doesn't suit my tastes" which is sort of also true. But what I mean is Kendrick Lamar didn't make this for a middle aged east coast suburban dad. I don't feel qualified to appraise it in any fashion. I at least enjoyed that the skits were a carrying narrative that continued throughout the duration of the album. I also appreciate that I don't remember too much blatant misogyny which kind of pervades most other Compton-based acts on this list
Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst is sublime. That last 4 tracks really pull it all together for me even if the album as a whole is not my cup of tea. Knowing very little about Kendrick going in, this piqued my interest, I’m intrigued.
303/1001 Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d city Heard before? ✅ Revisit? ❓ It's not the Kendrick Lamar album I gravitate towards and on re-listen there aren't the tracks that I love. Interesting production etc. but yeah not enough for me...
I know this is good. It’s intense story telling, laden with hooks, interesting beats, quirky samples and Kendrick’s rap style is characterful and adds to the narrative. I just don’t think I’ll ever like it enough. That’s a me problem rather than the albums problem, but it does feel a little impenetrable for me
Not my typical genre, but waxes poetic. Favourite track: The Recipe
Decent album. Not a hip hop/rap fan but there’s some good songs on here
Don't like this as much as -- I think -- some of his newer albums. But he has a pretty high floor for me. His music has unique feel and creativity.
Has some banagers but I wouldn't revisit it
aj 3
Standouts Good kid
So far on this journey, my experience with Rap has been positive, at least when it comes to the big boys. Having grown up enjoying more of the harsher edged Hip Hop, which often went hand in hand with Metal, this isn't surprising, but my issue with what modern Rap I've heard in the charts is that it is so weak, so one note, and so lyrically inane that it does nothing for me. I don't know where Kendrick fits in this as I've only heard one song from him, to my knowledge. What I do know is that this is a bad album cover. I'm not a fan of most of the vocals and none of the songs stand out as anything I'd want to hear again. But there's impressive creativity amd ambition. A very middling effort that i don't believe would improve much in my estimation with additional listens.
good kid
Not into this artist or style, I’ll give it the benefit of the doubt for a round up since it was well received for the audience. 2.5/5
I don’t think I’ll ever fully be a Kendrick fan, but this album was an overall enjoyable listen. The rhymes are clever, and the production was understated which I think helps keep things interesting. And while I normally don’t care for skits in this genre, inserting them within the songs really helps with the storytelling. A little long winded on the backend, but a much more memorable album compared to others.
Shermz: Ohhh I think I’ve heard of Money Tree before! TBH I feel like what I’m learning from this experience is that I only listen to v pop pop songs LOL Wenz: The rap parts were not bad, but I usually prefer rap songs with nice hook, the hook in these songs were so-so to me 😅
ilkeit
I can appreciate the talent, the stories, and the beats. There were some high points but also some low/boring points for me. Probably won't listen to it again, but I'm glad I took the time to listen to it all the way through.
This is a good album, maybe a great one. I have a hard time with all the explicit lyrics though. It's too frequent for my sensistive ears.
This album dragged. I was really excited for this album and while Lamar’s lyricism is on point it frankly wasn’t enough to keep my attention. A perfectly fine record that I’m just in the minority of not really enjoying it.
Not my thing but found it relatively easy listening. Good storytelling and nice drumming.
Not really my vibe, and kind of blended together for me, but I liked the personal touches added that make it feel autnetic.
dying of thrist is pretty nice
The radio hits are classics. The rest drags on a little.
ничего мега крутого о нем не скажу. на фон поставить в целом пойдёт, ни одна не зацепила но и ужасных там не было, короче среднячок 5/10
The Art of Peer Pressure is a highlight. Not a fan of Kendrick's lyrics but the tune is sweet.
Twas good
5/10
Unpopular opinion: Kendrick Lamar is the most overrated rapper of all time. Perfectly decent flow (re: good but nothing special). Lyrics are meh. All due respect to Compton, but NWA would accidentally obliterate anyone who came up there after 2000. The kids just don't know. And then we have the double album of it all. For your company debut. Ugh. Let's just not talk about the skits.
Did somebody say "Domino's"?
Mid
i mean, i liked TPAB, i like the lyrical complexity and meaning, but i just cant like the beats. Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe and Backseat Freestyling had good beats, but it just doesn’t make up for the lack of in the other places
dopee
Storytelling reminds me of Eminem. Spans the gamut of rap styles, some I don't like, but musically it is excellent. I can't relate too much of the lyrical content but he is a great lyricist.
Trying to listen to this while working is ridiculous. There are a lot of words here. It's just too much to have on in the background. I've listened to Kendrick several times, and for whatever reason it just doesn't stick with me. I never really want to come back for another listen, even though it sounds solid. I guess I prefer Dre's style because "Compton" was a standout for me.
muy bueno la verdad, si bie me gusta drake q creo q es similar estilo, este no pene q me fuese a gustar tanto y me sorprendio muy bueno
I loved the production. Good storytelling and hooking. Sometimes it might have felt too long for some songs, but nothing too drastic.
So, yeah I didn’t hate this but there continues to be something I just don’t get - or keep missing - with Kendrick Lamar. He is the subject of so much gushing, on the internet and from people in real life whose opinion I value, but his music just seems to bypass me. There is nothing that stands out for me, other than him being obviously good at what he does i am always underwhelmed.
There’s a lot to unpack here. Some of this is excellent, the production and instrumentation is very good and there are some excellent tracks, then there are tracks with horrific vocals, and I’m not even sure who is providing them. *Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst* is a really good track ruined by Old Gregg singing the chorus. I could probably do without the skits but it’s just par for the course for the genre I suppose. So it’s a mixed bag, I don’t know if this would grow on me - I get why people would speak highly of this but at the same time, I’m a little unsure if I want to give it another chance.
Bitch don’t kill my vibe is an iconic line (I think I like the OG version the best). Backseat freestyle is classss although the bell sound in background sounds like cow bells. Money trees and poetic justice are classics for a reason. m.AA.d city is a sick beat. I like when they’re lowkey aggressive. Swimming pool also sick flow. Album songs has funny intros/outros but I don’t actually like when songs do that. All those not mentioned are meh/ would not listen again.
Some bangers, some mid
I’m honestly not reallyyyyy into hiphop, but this album wasn’t half bad
I get it. It’s good. Has a couple real good party tracks.
Once again, I HATE HIP HOP. I gotta admit this has a few elements that I like; it sounds more interesting than older hip hop. I know that some of these songs were massive hits and trends, and maybe that influences me a bit. This album is good, though. I think it's the first time I've said this about an album pertaining to this genre. It's not as monotonous. I can distinguish between songs. There isn't much more I can say. I don't love it; I don't hate it. It's fine for what it is.
Just not for me. Can appreciate the reasons this stands out in the genre and the artistry, but I will likely never listen to this record again.
Some of the music in this is incredible. It’s a very good album, albeit one I’m unlikely to listen to often. 3.5
coool
-I’m using SoundCloud cause of the boycott -most are behind a paywall :( -could only listen to 3 songs: •swimming pools •poetic justice •bitch dont kill my vibe Anyways my notes on them SWIMMING POOLS -oooo nice :) POETIC JUSTICE -low-key a vibe :D -yes he can get it ✨ -oooo funky :)) BITCH, DON’T KILL MY VIBE -it’s ok :)
Rap isn't my favourite genre. In fact, I hate most rap songs as they sound the same to me. However, Kendrick seems to keep my attention for the duration of this album. The instrumentation is amazing. I do tend to prefer rap artists who use guitars, pianos, and real drums instead of doing everything inside of their DAW. There's more life to the music that way. I also like the voicenotes/spoken word bits at the end of traks that tell the story of Kendrick's childhood. Helps differentiate him from the countless sea of other artists who sing about sex, killing, and drugs like it's nothing. Then again, I would not listen to most of these tracks again on their own. Artists like Childish Gambino or Tyler, The Creator who are pushing a more experimental take on the rap genre are more my style than what this album has. Not to say that this album is bad - I like it - but I wouldn't play this on my way to uni or work. Favourite tracks: Sherane a.k.a Master Splinter's Daughter, Money Trees, the 2nd half of Sing About Me, I'm Dying Of Thirst, Real, and Compton 3/5
love the story telling and the transition in between track 1-2
I am not a huge fan of new rap, even though I appreciate that there FINALLY is something that sounds modern on this list, but out of all the newer rap I feel that Kendrick is absolutely the best. I vibed with this record pretty much.
Pretty great album, even if it's really not for me as a white British guy. I like rap but a lot of the more popular recent stuff kinda hits as pretentious. Some tracks I really liked but a few I just wasn't into.
It had it's moments of beautifully written lyrics and very thicc beat tracks. I'm not a rap connoisseur but I know Kendrick is one of the best of his era. I'd rate the full album as a 6/10
Um “3 grande” porque nunca tinha ouvido mas sabia que era considerado dos melhores do Kendrick, e como já tinha ouvido o TPAB tinha expectativas mais altas para este. Acabei por não gostar tanto, senti falta das inspirações de jazz to TPAB
Continua a ser um estilo que não aprecio, mas é um álbum ok
Rating 5/10 Best Song - Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst.
Clean, downtempo beats and rapping with very few hooks. I like the storyline continuing through the track list and the fact that it tackles some complex issues in a fresh and honest way. Also the voicemail messages are definitely better than the "comedy" skits some other albums have. Backseat Freestyle was fun, and m.A.A.d city is a great track, but most of the rest were interesting but not very enjoyable to listen to.
Trop long, trop tout.
The first track mentions Master Splinter who is a good rat. It's solid.
buenos beats
I hadn’t listened to this album by Kendrick before and as expected it was very good with some standouts for sure, but not my favourite of his.
Did not listen to all of this but I can see why ppl like it! Bitch don't kill my vibe is truly great driving music. Okay I tried to listen more over the weekend: Good kid is a good song. I don't really like to hear Drake that much so I skipped that one. Also I don't know like anything about their beef but I had forgotten that they did song together. Why is swimming pools the only song I know?
Nice West Coast Tunes
Rv
Love his weird little voice
This is great
I never fully got Kendrick in the way I got Kanye. Kanye grabbed me immediately, the samples, the hooks, the big musical moments. Kendrick always felt less about music pulling you in and more about words demanding your attention. "good kid, m.A.A.d city" isn't a musical album. It's a story. It's a proper coming-of-age narrative set in Compton: peer pressure, faith, violence, ego, survival. The skits tie it together so it feels almost cinematic. In fact, Lamar even billed it as a "short film". You can tell how carefully it's built. There's serious substance here. Spending proper time with it now, I do get a glimpse of why it's held up as such a big deal. The storytelling is sharp, the perspective shifts are clever, and when it hits, it really hits. "Money Trees" is the song that sticks out for me, the song that feels most instinctive and replayable. But if I'm honest, it still lives slightly outside my natural listening comfort zone. I respect it more than I love it. It's dense, and it asks more of you than most hip-hop I naturally gravitate toward. I'd probably give it three stars based on my own connection to it. But there's a part of me that knows it probably deserves more.
I like the music. I like the beats. I like the way his voice sounds and how he sings or says things. I just don't really care for what he's singing about. Some catchy songs.
Аранжировки местами прямо интимные.
5/10 25.02.2026
I listened to this quite a few times, as it wasn't one of his I'd heard before. Lamar is very clever, and I can see what people love about him, but somehow it didn't quite work for me.
Pretty coowel
GOING IN: No strong feelings LISTENED WHILE: post work, chillin' FAMILIARITY: New to me SKIP RATE: Played it straight through REPLAY VALUE: Might come back to it DISCOVERY CURVE: Slow burner this one ALBUM ARC: Pretty even, consistent VERDICT: Fair enough BODY'S VERDICT: Sitting nicely - Motionless appreciation FAVOURITE TRACK: My Rating: 3 I think this'll need a few listens. It deserves more attention.
How did I know the first thing I heard wasn't going to be music when I pressed play on this one? The interludes are maddening. Who wants to listen to that stuff EVERY time they listen to an album? I don't get it. But I digress . . . This falls into the same category as a quality jazz album for me. I appreciate it. I recognize the talent. I enjoy it to a degree. But, it doesn't grab me emotionally at all and I don't feel qualified to rate it anything other than a 3.
I guess this was okay. Under Peter's excellent rubric, it earns a 3 because I made it through 5 songs with some level of engagement. But, fuck if Poetic Justice didn't torpedo the heavily listing U.S.S. Everett Tries to Give a Shit. So, yeah, a 3, but heavily caveated.... ....unlike Surfer Rosa, which, as per my general dipshittedness, I managed to after-the-fact rate a 5 without providing a review. This album is straight bangers from front to back. How about that guitar sound on Gigantic? How about Kim's surreal tongue music on River Euphrates? How about the barely submerged sexual tension and longing in Black Francis's lyrics in Cactus? This album and Doolittle are the greatest 1-2 combo from any band in the 1980s and maybe from any band ever.
I appreciate the craft but i'm not fully into the tunes on this album. Don't dislike it as such but its not my fav work from Kendrick.
Kendrick is good. Never been a huge fan but know this album. On a relisten didn’t discover any new favs.
Hip-hop is usually not my genre but I appreciate the cultural impact this album has. The production is stellar, the lyrics are very good (except the profanity which I never like). No songs really stood out, but it was a good listen.
3 - good but expected more compared t.p.a.b
Very good album, not necessarily for me, but I understand its cultural impact and why it’s one of the greatest albums ever.
Better than I was expecting. I could revisit this. 3*
This album is very well produced and has a nice cinematic feel to it. I do not typically listen to Hip-hop as it not really what I enjoy listening to, but on this album, there were moments which positivley surprised me. The electronic samples are layered very well throughout the album. Swimming Pools is a standout song, with its synthetic keyboards and synthetic drums and I like the use of Hi-Hats on the song too. Lyrically, there are metaphors and annecdotes mixed in with humour which portray a bleak/seedy look into urban life and working class America. Themes of Violence and Peer Pressure are sprinkled throughout the album and how once you are involved in something too deep, you can never get out. This allows the theme of Drug and Alcohol abuse to come into play, as the characters in this album use drugs and alcohol as a form on escapisim (from the life that they have found themselves in). I must iterate that I do not listen to Hip-hop so I do not know the criteria of what makes a Hip-hop record great or even stand out, but my enjoyment form this record came from the presentation of the narrative, the narrative itself and how the lyrics have a narrative feel to them. The sound of the album was not always my cup of tea, but it had it's moments. 3/5
Didnt properly listen to all of it
A real mix here, the start and end were very good, I have heard about Kendrick's lyrical skill and it did shine through in some songs, this, as I've said in other reviews, being a genre were songwriting strength is very apparent. Sherane was a very good opener and most of the songs post m.A.A.d city were very enjoyable as well, Sing About Me, I'm Dying Of Thirst and Compton being some of the stronger songs. The spoken section in the sings really helped to build a picture of what it was like to grow up in the city and definitely added to the album's atmosphere, they were a nice addition. That being said a lot of the central section of the album was slightly lacking for me, the lyrics weren't as strong and the style of singing/rapping just didn't sound as good. Without meaning to sound too performative, I didn't like the objectification of women in a lot of these songs, I understand that's the nature of this style of music, and that perhaps Kendrick is showing 'the ways of the city' so to speak but it didn't sit right with me. It's difficult to give this a rating which describes the album as a whole as I did find it had its ups and downs. Overall a 3 seems the most fair, recognising that it had both good moments and less interesting ones. Perhaps someone more in line with this style of music can appreciate the album more than I. I skipped the remix versions at the end of the album, I'd heard the song. Hopefully didn't miss out on much. Also, someone get that man his Domino's. 64/100
Really enjoyed this - despite not being my fave genre. Good storytelling/ narrative. Does get slightly repetitive.
I listened to it the background but didn’t have time to listen as closely as I wanted to. Will probably revisit later
So from someone that listens to Tyler the creator and mac miller when I’m feeling that sort of vibe, although I’ve heard Kendrick’s damn album and enjoyed that, I’ve never give this one a go until now. I wish I’d have tried it sooner, the samples on the songs are on point for Kendrick’s voice, Blend of bringing the sound of new and old rap together. Money trees is a stand out song for me, as well as backseat freestyle. Bitch don’t kill my vibe even the remix’s are ok wouldn’t say it’s my favourite mainly the chorus I thinks just abit too much but the actual rap in them is stand out. I suppose if your not into that genre of music it would be hard to give this ago, it’s not my top genre but I can see how he’s in the mix on this.
Rap. Not bad, pretty catchy at times.
some good songs even tho i don’t really like hip-hop
Hmm. Even though I listen to Kendrick semi-often, I think I've always found it hard to really listen to the lyrics. This may be better than I'm giving it credit for, but if he didn't rap like a baby boy then maybe I'd understand what he was saying.
Kendrick is a true street poet. A great story teller. I understand the hype now. The exception is obnoxious lyrics like "I wish my dick was the Eiffel tower so I could fuck the whole world for 72 hour" and "I got all of these bitches, all of these bitches, all of these bitches, wifey, girlfriend and mistress". The kind of thing that makes people generally stay away from rap music because of misogynistic cliches.
First time listening to Kendrick Will check out some more
Not my usual listen, but I enjoyed the narrative and the flow into some jazzy bits
Heard this a while back and wasn't fairly keen on it. It maybe requires more listening to fully appreciate it. I'll give it another go.
A lot better than I thought it would be. Also arising different and better than Pimp a Butterfly
3. 5/ 5
“Sing about me, I’m dying of thirst” is my favorite track I think. The voicemails left by his mom and dad hit hard for me for some reason. “Backseat Freestyle” is my second favorite track. Anna Wise adds so much to this album. “Swimming Pools” makes me feel like I’m driving in the city at night. “Now or Never” is so hopecore. I don’t really listen to Kendrick that much in my day to day life but I can see why people see him as one of the GOATs in rap.
Sorry young boy is m.a.a.d. overrated. I keep hearing he's a "GOAT"ed rapper, but have given this Damn, and pimp an honest try and cannot hear it.
Great story telling and lyrics, just the music itself, I got bored. TPAB on the other hand, thats a different story
I am not a huge fan of rap but I actually enjoyed this listen. I knew more tracks than I assumed I would which was surprising.
Kendrick is a pretty listenable artist. Great instrumentals under the rapping. Beats are nice.
Was fun to listen to the whole thing. I'd go back and spend more time getting to know the lyrics
I think what I appreciate about this album is that the lyrics are easy to understand. Helps so much with connecting with the vibe and the story the album is telling.
Kendrick is all about lyrics, and he has lots of hits I love. However, this album is a bit boring and same-y, rhythmically and musically (outside of great lyrics).
This feels like something I’ll return to but could not connect with today.
Tight, deep and an impressive performance. On the other hand, it's so wrapped up in its own mythology I feel like I've been pulled off the street to hold the tissues on this guy's colonoscopy. Sorry mate, you seem really talented and energetic, and you seem to have some post traumatic developmental issues to work through but I'm just not that into you
Not my style but that was fun heh
Great story telling but a little too much raw audio for my liking. Excellent rhythm and beats. Probably would like it more if I listened to it more and learn about Kendrick's story.
Difficult to pay attention to the lyrics. I’m too slow and deaf for this.
Some not so great memories and some great memories with this album ☞ “Real”
Pretty alright.
Ok - bit too much beatching for me, but decent enough
I didn't hate it. That's saying something given that I like very little rap, and even less of the more modern albums on this list. Not sure I would go back to it, but I do admit the man is talented.
Really like Money Trees
I can tell it's good but it's not my style 3
Rap not my thing. I didn't know much about the artist except for recent beef with another rapper. Can't say I really followed it. So I went into this fully expecting to hate it. You know what? It was actually pretty good. Probably wouldn't listen again but this was a good use of my time.
It was good, not my taste but can’t deny a good album
наверно норм
The production and musicianship are excellent. Such a shame the album repeatedly chugged “degrading women juice” instead of “respecting women juice”. Otherwise this could easily be a 5.
It was hard to listen to, some songs felt very violent, but at least a couple of them I liked.
I can see why people would appreciate this but I'm encountering the same barriers to my enjoyment as with previous rap and hip hop albums. Overall, this album was more immersive, cleverer, and less antagonistic toward women than the average. Rounded up to 3.
I prefer other Kendrick Lamar albums to this one, although I still think it's good. It just isn't anything I would listen to again, as all the song sound very similar and the sound itself isn't particularly my preference.
ok
Sarmadı
2.5
lyrically dense, great message, definitely redefined modern rap in a way but i’ve moved on from this sound almost completely my enjoyability towards kendrick and similar artists has plunged like crazy
I thought annoying skits on hip hop albums died in the early 2000's. I liked half of this, hated the other. 2.5
Didnt listen but im sure it's decent
Smijem li biti prva osoba koja će reći da je ovo malo bolje od To Pimp A Butterfly? Onaj je valjda još duži i dosadniji. Mada mi se ni ovaj nije dopao.
pretty good but way too long
Very accomplished, but not for me. I think my tastes in hip-hop are much too pedestrian for this.
I can appreciate this album and its place in rap history...but, to me, it was a bit of a slog with a few songs that rose above it. Granted, as a 57 year-old white male, I am not the person to give this a good assessment. I liked its ambition and scope. And, as a song cycle or concept album, I liked how it changed course over the album. But quite a bit of it felt like the same old gang bangers with some "come to Jesus" interludes here and there.
I enjoyed this more than I expected. Lyrically, it's not overly relatable for me (recognising I'm not the target audience), but some good grooves to enjoy along the way.
Not confident rating this, as rap really requires careful listening and this is a monster of an album, so I dind't have time to do it justice. Clearly a very ambitious piece of work - not my usual style but I'm glad I gave it some attention.
Will listen again. For current hip hop, this album is above most. Music and backing tracks are minimalistic, lyrics are interesting.
This album never got me the way it did with everyone else. There's tracks on here I absolutely love; there's others I'm really not that into. It's really hot and cold for me. THAT'S JUST HOW I FEEL. I still love Kendrick.
Average rap stuff.
A bit too explicit for me and it takes me out of the music.
Initially I wanted to rate this album solely on his ridiculous performance at Super Bowl 59. With that said I did like the jabs at Drake and Serena Williams crip walking from that performance. After listening to the album, I enjoyed it more than I anticipated. I thought “Sing About Me” and “Black Boy Fly” were a couple good tracks. I liked the jazz vibes throughout, however I found most of the album just felt similar from song to song including the instrumentals and beats. 3.5
2.5
A lot of quality rap and beats in here but it's A Lot
Another album that just is not my thing, but I can appreciate the appeal that makes my kid want to have watched the Super Bowl lol
Major bangers on this older album, but didn’t like all the talking parts.
You can tell how he became so big. Rap isn’t my favorite but Kendrick is pretty great.
É muito complicado julgar rap. Não é feito pra mim, não tenho a vivência necessária pra entender minimamente o significado, o feeling, nada. Mas dito isso, esse álbum passa uma baita qualidade, dá pra perceber que teve uma produção pica, que o bagulho é bem feito. Vários detalhezinhos bem feitos, algumas músicas tem umas melodias mó gostosinhas, umas vibes susse daóra. Apesar de eu não conseguir absorver direito, eu acho 2 estrelas muito pouco pra qualidade e vibe. Parece meio injusto. Eu achei ele consideravelmente melhor e mais divertido que muitos álbuns chatões aí que ganharam 2 estrelas. Acho que merece 3 estrelas, mesmo eu não curtindo muito rap.
Honestly pretty good. Close to giving it 4
Honestly, he’s a pretty good lyricist. Never listened to a full Kendrick album as it’s not really my thing, but for modern rap he’s up there. I see why people enjoy it, but I’d rather listen to something else.
This sounds interesting right off the bat. I dig the unique flow and style of the rap and the backing track is good using a lot of interesting sounds. I’ve heard the album after this and enjoyed it as well so I definitely need to check out his more recent albums. As usual though with a lot of this kind of rap, the subject matter is personally unrelatable but it sure is fun and funny to listen to!
Took me a moment but glad I stuck with it. Intricate metre.
very good and foud content to my playlist but not quite my cup of tea
Don’t hate it. Might listen again
Solid lyrics and good jams…
Pas mon truc mais pas si mal!
It was an ok album - I don’t appreciate the vulgarity and misogyny but other than that it was ok musically.
The beats and music on this album are so good and the lyrics are so raw. Kendrick Lamar definitely has a sense of humour. The spoken bits at the end of songs are so funny, especially the father and his Dominos! With all of this, I'm not fully into it. I usually don't mind explicit language, but this is a lot for me. Liked Songs Added: Sing About Me, I'm Dying Of Thirst
Pretty good and chill, didn't fully grab me but was a nice background listen. I'd give it 3.5 stars if that was an option on this site, but I think I'm rounding this down to 3.
Good, need to spend more time with this.
This was better than To Pimp a Butterfly. A few songs that were melodically OK, and the breadth of his lyrics was impressive at times. Also, no skits or interludes as separate tracks. IPlus a Janet Jackson sample on “Poetic Justice”.
Not my style in terms of rap-style. but nicely produced. Good beats and entertaining
28/1001 Not my favorite style of music but Kendrick Lamer is undeniable and I do enjoy a good concept album. 5/10
Super talented but way too religious for my taste
Good but I preferred tpab
I really wanted to like it. Maybe I need to listen with lyrics next to me. Seemed to say bitch alot. Not bad, but I expected more.
The starting of tis album makes me wonder if this Kendrick is influenced differently because this album sounds really funny, as the songs goes on through out the album it feels more Kendrick. i like it but not love it.
Odotin enemmän. Oli ihan hyvä levy taas, mutta tavallaan pettymys kun bängereitä ei ollutkaan juurikaan. 3/5.
This style of rap is not really my style, and I find it unlikely that I'll return to any of these tracks in the future. That said then the beats were pretty cool on some of the tracks at times. Standouts Money Trees m.A.A.d city 3/5
Kendrick Lamar is a talented rapper and I appreciate that wordplay is used far more than other rappers - he doesn’t rely on the tropes in the same way that a lot of others do. I’m not an avid fan but have listened to (and enjoy) DAMN., which I do prefer as I think the hooks and music itself draws you in more - this didn’t quite capture my interest as much being a sometime fan. But it’s still solid and some decent tracks in there.
This album represents a significant development in hip-hop, giving a fresh new sound that seems to push the genre forward from the west coast hip-hop of the 90's. I quite enjoyed the dark, murky style and the nasal rapping over the well produced beats. I also liked that it had a variety of style and cadence, rather than feeling like you are listening to a single continuous tempo, Kendrick uses creative structures to vary tracks throughout the album. My main criticism is that a whole album of this genre is too much for me and what begins as fresh and interesting wanes by halfway through. That, on top of the fact that this is a long album which I think is about three tracks too long. If this was condensed down into a more efficient package it might have nudged into higher marks for me because I liked the general vibe.
Slower very autobiographical good for a chill rainy day situation
I know this one is supposed to be amazing but even when it came out I didn't get along with it. There are some good tracks on it but the flow and vibe don't always work for me. I wouldn't turn it off and there's only a couple of skips on it but it's not the Kendrick album I'd reach out for. Cool baseline on "Good Kid".
My son loves Kendrick Lamar. I’ve tried many times to listen to him and just don’t get it at all. So I approached this with caution fully expecting to feel like an old man yet again who just doesn’t get modern music… But I didn’t hate this! Can’t imagine ever listening to it again but it was good I think my issues with this - and a lot of hip hop in general - is goosebumps. The albums that I’ve given 5⭐️ on this invariably have moments that literally make the hairs on my arm stand on end. None of this moves me like that even if I can appreciate the stories weaved by the lyrics and tap my foot to the beat. That might be an issue inherent to me rather than any fault in the music but I just remain unmoved by this. Gonna give it a generous 3 though as I at least got close enough to seeing what my son sees in this
Not what I’d choose to listen to most of the time but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like it.
oh, kendrick. i usually hate gagsta rap but i have a sweet spot for "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe". i don't even understand why, it's just "hangin' on the sofa and chillin'" music, which i don't even do usually. it's probably what i'd imagin i could enjoy listening to when i'd arrive doing it. ha.
3/6
Ich verstehe, was Leute daran gut finden, und schlecht ist es auf keinen Fall, aber für mich zündet es nicht wirklich. Irgendwas fehlt, ich denke, etwas mehr Melodien und Groove, aber ich bin mir nicht sicher. Trotzdem echt in Ordnung.
In general, this just isn't for me but it did grow on me over the course of the album. I liked good kid, with it's retro vibe and the music of Swimming Pools (Drank) was really cool. I also liked Sing About Me, I'm Dying Of Thirst and Compton. I still don't like hiphop skits, and on a practical level, the skits being part of if the track on streaming so you'd be unable to skip through them, makes them even more annoying to me. They also make the album very long. I feel like I'm probably not appreciating the short movie format of this album, but it's just fine to me. 3/5
The album is a hell of a story as an overall arc. You need to almost invest in the entire album to follow the journey properly. That arc is genius. Each individual song isn't as stand alone for me.
Kendrick is a genius... period. That being said, this album didn't resonate with me as much as To Pimp a Butterfly.
Interesting rap album. Very talented, but I find it hard to keep up and enjoy him sometimes. 3/5 Might listen again
Meh
Just ok. Not a big fan of this album
I liked it better than I thought! he has a great flow of words, and great beats. 3.5
Alguns instrumentais interessantes: Bitch, D'ont Kill My Vibe; The Art of Peer Pressure e Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst
poignant narrative-led, almost confessional exploration of morality, masculinity and faith in a racially stratified america. always going to struggle with the over-sexualisation of women though. perhaps done to expose the distorted gender dichotomy/dynamics and violent toxic masculinity of the world he depicts, but with knowledge of his broader discography and tendency to sort of moralise female sexuality and objectify women, i question this a bit. the production itself, though, is so smooth. not the biggest fan of kendrick's voice, but the samples (especially beach houseee), deep bass, and interspersed jazz and soul elements compensate. 2.5/5
I appreciate the significance, and the storytelling is quite good. The music itself is also well thought out. Can’t stand much of the lyrics though..
Some really great stuff in there. Just a bit too much stuff I couldn’t be bothered with too
Some good musical moments, but on most tracks there is not enough and too much going on at the same time(?). Am I likely to listen to this album all the way through again? Probably not, but 2 stars feels too harsh. I’m obviously not cool enough, soz.
Täitsa enam vähem. Esimest korda üldse kuulasin seda artisti. Mingi loo märkisin meeldivaks
Really liked Sing About Me. Easy to see why he got so much attention.
Kendrick is a genius. I still don’t like the moodiness of modern day hip hop though
Once again, I struggled with this album, but I appreciated it. On one hand, the music quality and production is great. Kendrick Lamar does an excellent job of representing what life was like in Southern California’s less-than-wealthy neighborhoods, but by the other respect, this music is a detailed account of a culture that I obviously don’t understand and therefore feel like I am watching a sporting clips on the internet rather than being at the game. The Art of Peer Pressure was a powerful look at this world, and Poetic Justice was poetry. And mAAd City was hard hitting. Respect to him: he has more talent than I do. If I was younger I probably would have dug this. Now, I don’t think I will be returning to this neighborhood.
Random thoughts: * I can’t really comment on rap albums these days. I feel kinda old and like I just don’t get it. * It feels like Kendrick has a lot to say and I would need to put in more effort to truly “get” what he is saying. * I’ve never heard any of these tunes before although I have listened Kendrick before and listened to all of “Pimp a Butterfly” * I enjoyed the tunes but could use less profanity. But it represents how people talk. * I probably need a few more listens but doubt I’ll head back.
I didn’t get through all it. It was ok
Kendrick definitely deserves a place on this list, although I think DNA was a bit better, this one is also a banger. He just gets you pumped and he is a great lyricist. I wonder if his and Drake's feud was a marketing stunt?
A glimpse into a formative moment from another world outside my own. Well done with the theme carried neatly throughout. Several bangers I already have in rotation, but likely would put this full album on one a year or every other year.
Eh not for me but alright
Started off not great but got much better. Though I think to pimp a butterfly is better. Enjoyed the beach house sample in money trees.
Tuvo onda
I didn't love it but it had its moments.
1. Sherane - Not bad, not really liking it but it's still pretty much good 7/10 2. bitch don't kill my vibe - it's not bad, just okay 7/10 3. backseat freestyle - good, great even 10/10
There are flashes of brilliance here, but it just didn't click with me. That likely has something to do with me being too old and white. I'm guessing I'm not supposed to get it. Still, telling a story in a rap seems like a good format.
The last time I reviewed a Kendrick Lamar album, I used words like socio-political commentary. Well, this time I’m just going to say, I didn’t particularly like it, but Kendrick Lamar is better at rapping at me for 75 minutes than most.
There are a couple of songs I liked but overall, not for me.
eek, I'm not sure how to rate this one. i enjoyed it, and I especially enjoyed reading more about it and the important role is played both in rap generally and in Kendrick's own career. How cool that it's been taught in classes alongside other notable coming of age texts. I wish I liked it more - I think I prefer Kendrick's later style over this very spare instrumentation. Still, I'm glad I listened to it!
If TPAB is an album for music nerds GKMC is an album for rap nerds, theres great things in it but for me as a rock nerd this wasn’t an instant love for me. Sure ‘money trees’ is great and ‘master splinters daughter’ is a good way to open but then theres tracks like ‘bitch don’t kill my vibe’ and ‘poetic justice’ that I was a bit neutral too. I’m sorry but I just can’t put this in the same tier as ‘alright’, ‘the blacker the berry’, ‘king kunta’, ‘wesleys theory’ etc… I will give a shoutout to ‘sing about me I’m dying of thirst’ there was a bit of the album that flew by quite quickly but it stopped with this song (ik he’s got mortal man on TPAB) but this is kendricks ‘desolation row’ moment. A brilliant 12 minute epic that earns its length. The album has to be a 3/5 tho
Elment, de nem hoz lázba továbbra sem Kendrick Lamar
Ok, had some good parts but not really for me. Not as good as To Pimp A Butterfly.
weighted and deep lyrics, religous touch with elevated gangsta rap, very wide range, biographical elements, very long songs, voice message "Money trees"/"Poetic justice"/"Good kid"/Swimming pools (drank)
Strong 3. Obviously iconic, landing nicely on the ears
Crazy
Some 10/10 songs, some are not too special. Kendrick’s rap is always on top, but in comparison to his later releases, this one just isn’t as strong anymore.
Classy stuff from Kendrick, but not his best album
Really good as far as rap goes.
I can’t pinpoint why I can’t get into Lamar, maybe it’s his flow. I respect it, it’s just not for me.
Though it had rhythm and rhyme, it was still boring.
It's OK, not as good as I expected.
70/1001. Another Lamar for me, tpab was first, so this is sort of in the wrong order. This definitely is an album that would need more listens. But the problem is that I don't really listen to this kind of music. Nor that I wouldn't want to, but there is just too much beyatch to get over.
2010s gen z childhood music
Not quite the star quality as his more recent music.
Kult nok. Et par gromlåter.
Not my usual thing but in the right mood I would enjoy this. Not sure.
Oh boy, here comes a review of Kendrick Lamar from a non-rap listener. Guess it took this long for me to listen to him, because I gusss the Drake beef and the Super Bowl weren’t enough. I heard plenty of good things about Kendrick, but let’s just say that I didn’t reach an epiphany from this. Some of the problems I have with rap albums are present here, such as the long length (why are most rap albums fucking an hour long) and the questionable lyrical material. I don’t mean “questionable” like offensive, but more in the sense of juvenile. I’m starting to come to terms that shit like this is what to expect in rap/hip-hop albums and Kendrick couldn’t convince me otherwise. He has, however, provided some refreshing changes. For one, there aren’t any skits in the sense that they are…voicemails? Is that what you would call them? Whatever they are, they add more value to the album than any stupid skit would have. I also noticed that I liked the latter half of the album more than the former, probably because it shows Kendrick maturing as the album goes on. It’s a nice little touch that gives this album a slight edge over some of the other hip-hop I heard. Overall, I’m not completely sold on Kendrick Lamar. I can see why many would love this album, but it’s really not for me personally. Maybe his later efforts can help convince me. I’m sure that there are down the pipeline on this site. Favorite track: Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thrist Other hits: Swimming Pools (Drank), Real, Compton, Money Trees, Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe
I was not really enjoying this until it got to good kid, but even after that it was just alright
This album was better than I expected. I appreciated that it did not have overkill of cussing and womanizing. I appreciated that he talked about faith and getting out of the bad situations in Compton without being a drug lord.
meh. hip hop is not my thing. can appreciate the sounds & different samples but don't find him the gifted lyricist that many do.
Songs were kinda hit or miss for me. Best song: Backseat Freestyle Notable(s): Bitch, Dont Kill My Vibe, Swimming Pools (Drank)
I love the phone skits. Some songs are a little long for my taste, but there are some jams in here. Probably a 3.5
It’s fine
One of the few “modern” rap albums I enjoy
Not into this genre but i enjoyed some
Its an album of two halves and the second is definitely better.
Thematic and cohesive as an album
Some beats are good.
alright, kinda cool as an art piece, maybe wouldnt listen to it all the time. once again, good for background music (maybe at a party) but no songs jumped out at me
Never dove into a full Kendrick album. I knew the production would be on point and his flow is nasty. Aside from that, I liked the way the album unfolded and got a little more accessible and closer to an R and B vice later on the album. Good use of skits to help the story unfold.
It was fine. Nothing spectacular.
Would it be cool if I loved him and loved this? Most of the music is definitely cool. Minimalist, a backdrop, a soundtrack. I know he's widely revered but far too much here is predictable, especially the sexual references. I can't tell if they are supposed to be funny? Some may just be unintentionally hilarious! I expected more genuine social commentary. There is some, especially later on in the album, but even then it doesn't grab me, it's too clichéd. And turning to God, or the idea of turning to God, does nothing for me. Another issue! His spoken word vocals are cool sometimes, but so annoying when he does the high squeaky stuff! Is that even him? Near the end "Real' goes on and on about loving yourself. A tired message. 'Compton' is closer to what I expected from the whole album. Hey ho, maybe I'm just old. For rap with social commentary I prefer Public Enemy and 'The Message'. Away from rap Bob Dylan, Matt Johnson, Billy Bragg, Morrissey, even The Housemartins and more recently Bob Vylan all have more to say. Gets a third star, but only just.
The beginning was a hard listen hearing the mindset of a teenager so crude and toxic (in their toxic world). The music was good and I like there being a journey over the album. I think I would have to listen a few times to appreciate more of the arc. I
Kendrick is pretty good, I think this was my first time going out of my way listening to his music and it leaves a good impression.
Tiene canciones míticas de Kendrick, no lo escucharía todos los días pero para un dia que me apetezca algo chill pero con carácter algo fuerte está bien.
I’m a fan of Kendrick Lamar but I found this album underwhelming. I don’t much enjoy interstitial and I’m willing to let some in as this was a “concept” album but found it took me out of the listening experience. All in all I find he has gotten better with age and experience and this early one is not where I would have hoped it would be.
I am not a fan of rap but this is accessible, love the melodies and production. Happy Birthday KEndrIcK!
Kendrick is a strong rapper with a sick flow. Some thought-provoking lyrics, some questionable lyrics. Cool beats.
Hit ad miss for me.
Awesome album with some great tracks. 7.9/10
Good album, not incredible though.