10th anniversary re issue - 'Good Kid, M.A.A.d City' is the second studio album by Kendrick Lamar. It was released on 22nd October, 2012, through Top Dawg Entertainment, Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. The album features guest appearances from Drake, Dr. Dre, Jay Rock, Anna Wise, and MC Eiht. It is Lamar’s major label debut, after his independently released first album Section.80 in 2011 and his signing to Aftermath and Interscope the following year.

Good Kid, M.A.A.D City features production by Dr. Dre, Just Blaze, Pharrell Williams, Hit-Boy, Scoop DeVille, Jack Splash, and T-Minus, among others, contributing to the album. Billed as a “short film by Kendrick Lamar” on the album cover, the concept album follows the story of Lamar’s teenage experiences in the drug-infested streets and gang lifestyle of his native Compton. The album earned Lamar four Grammy Award nominations at the 2014 Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year.

TRACK LISTING

Sherane A.k.a Master Splinter’s Daughter
Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe
Backseat Freestyle
The Art Of Peer Pressure
Money Trees
Poetic Justice
Good Kid
M.a.a.d City
Swimming Pools (drank) (extended Version)
Sing About Me, I’m Dying Of Thirst
Real
Compton

Kendrick Lamar releases his first album in 5 years, 'Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers'. The prolific and political rapper has fast become a spokesperson for an entire generation; highlighting injustice, institutional racism, misogyny and a whole lot more whilst also reflecting on his own failures, weaknesses and insecurities - a poignant bard who searches for truth and change with almost every lyric.

Adorned in a diamond crown of thorns, Kendrick's reference to Jesus is supposedly a challenge for us all to live better, more moralistic lives. You could argue Lamar is dangerously idolized; his cult fan base taking every word as (excuse me) Gospel. But you feel, as we traverse an age of discontentment, that his timing and relevance couldn't be greater. They might cut deep, but Kendrick's messages NEED to be heard, more urgently than ever. As much as his scathing political dissections; his self musings on sex addiction, fake feminism, man's exploitation of woman & the exploitation of Black culture are painfully stark and honest.

Numero said that the album is comparable to a Greek tragedy. And by the end of the second disc you'll feel your psyche has certainly been tested. A mental cross country run navigating the failings and entrappings of modern society. Thankfully the rapper's unique drawl / flow and razor sharp production offer enough mellifluous elements as to save it being a chore to listen to. The unease is juxtaposed by some hefty, Jeep-bumpin beats and luxurious musical passages which I have to say, equal Little Simz recent (and as-imperative) album also released this year. A masterpiece. 

STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: The prolific and political rapper has fast become a spokesperson for an entire generation; highlighting injustice, institutional racism, misogyny and a whole lot more whilst also reflecting on his own failures, weaknesses and insecurities - a poignant bard who searches for truth and change with almost every lyric.

TRACK LISTING

Big Steppers
1. United In Grief
2. N95
3. Worldwide Steppers
4. Die Hard Ft. Blxst & Amanda Reifer
5. Father Time Ft. Sampha
6. Rich (Interlude)
7. Rich Spirit
8. We Cry Together Ft. Taylour Paige
9. Purple Hearts Ft. Summer Walker & Ghostface Killah
Mr. Morale
1. Count Me Out
2. Crown
3. Silent Hill Ft. Kodak Black
4. Savior (Interlude)
5. Savior Ft. Baby Keem & Sam Dew
6. Auntie Diaries
7. Mr. Morale Ft. Tanna Leone
8. Mother I Sober Ft. Beth Gibbons Of Portishead
9. Mirror

First thing's first, Kdot's the greatest rapper alive. Through the hype-heavy new school G-shit of "Good Kid M.A.A.d City", the politically charged 'Martin Luther King Jr meets Miles Davis at a cypher' stylings of "To Pimp A Butterfly" and the free-wheeling, string of consciousness expression of "Untitled Unmastered", the West Coast rapper has embarked on a creative period comparative to Stevie Wonder in the 70s. Not concerned with setting the bar at Olympic record heights, Kendrick follows the 'voice of a generation' vibe of "To Pimp A Butterfly" with a move straight out of the Bob Dylan playbook. Much like the folk great going electric and swapping the protest songs for personal reflections, Kendrick finds the middle ground between the hard hitting car bumpers of "GKMC" and societal rage of "TPAB" with a fourteen track examination of his place within contemporary America. Over a series of whip beating, bass heavy beats, Kendrick muses on religion, the media, whack rappers and relationships, inviting mega stars Rihanna and U2 along for the ride. Beyond the massive singles "Humble" (better than Drake's whole album) and "DNA" (FEAT. bowel emptying bass!) we get a faultless LP of diverse moods and themes, culminating in the sublime "Duckworth". Taking us back to the early 90s, Kdot explores a chance meeting between his father and TDE's Top Dawg, which could have resulted in Ducky's death, Top Dawg's prison sentence and no Kendrick. Chillingly deep yo.

TRACK LISTING

1. Blood
2. DNA
3. Yah
4. Element
5. Feel
6. Loyalty Ft. Rihanna
7. Pride
8. Humble
9. Lust
10. Love
11. Xxx Ft. U2
12. Fear
13. God
14. Duckworth

Kendrick Lamar has released a surprise eight-track album, 'Untitled Unmastered', comprising outtakes from the Grammy-winning 'To Pimp A Butterfly'. Filled with jazz solos and politically-charged lyrics, it appears to be a companion piece to 'Butterfly', rather than a standalone record. All of the tracks are untitled, save for the date they were recorded.

TRACK LISTING

01. Untitled 01 | 08.19.2014.
02. Untitled 02 | 06.23.2014.
03. Untitled 03 | 05.28.2013.
04. Untitled 04 | 08.14.2014.
05. Untitled 05 | 09.21.2014.
06. Untitled 06 | 06.30.2014.
07. Untitled 07 | 2014 - 2016
08. Untitled 08 | 09.06.2014.

Rush-released due to Internet leakage, Kendrick Lamar's 'To Pimp A Butterfly arrives in double quick time. 

With Lamar's previous album, 'Good Kid M.A.A.d City', lauded as one of this fledgling Century's best, the level of expectation on its follow up was sky-high. How do you proceed after such a triple A-rated straight-up hip hop smash? Get afflicted by the (P)funk, that's how. Channelling the psychedelic stew of Parliament / Funkadelic, 'To Pimp A Butterfly' positions Lamar along the higher branches of rap's genre-busting evolution (see also The Roots’ 'Phrenology', Common’s 'Electric Circus', Q-Tip’s 'Kamaal the Abstract', André 3000’s 'The Love Below'). The expansive scope of Lamar's vision also runs to a live studio band featuring Robert Glasper, Flying Lotus' fretless bass maestro Thundercat and producer /sax player Terrace Martin, who add free jazz backing, pulling the music in another direction.

Lyrically the album walks in the footsteps of the socio-political commentary of Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye, but in the post-Ferguson era of continued police brutality towards African-Americans, Lamar's anger burns bright. Less 'What's Going On', more ' The Predator'. He offers a thoughtful and thought-provoking exploration of what it means to be a black man in America today, often introspective, but never naval-gazing.

Inspired and inspiring, 'To Pimp A Butterfly' is an adventurous and challenging album, and one that can be added to the essential hip hop list.

TRACK LISTING

1. Wesley's Theory Feat. George Clinton And Thundercat
2. For Free? (Interlude)
3. King Kunta
4. Institutionalized Feat. Bilal, Anna Wise, And Snoop Dogg
5. These Walls Feat. Bilal, Anna Wise, And Thundercat
6. U
7. Alright
8. For Sale? (Interlude)
9. Momma
10. Hood Politics
11. How Much A Dollar Cost Feat. James Fauntleroy And Ronald Isley
12. Complexion Feat. Rapsody
13. The Blacker The Berry Feat. Assassin
14. You Ain't Gotta Lie (Momma Said)
15. I
16. Mortal Man

Every so often an artist comes along who changes the musical landscape, an artist who brings something different to the game... Step forward Kendrick Lamar.

Hailed as the new face of West Coast Rap, the 24 yr-old Compton-native has already been making his mark on the music scene, first with his sought-after mixtapes - ‘Training Day’ and ‘C4’. Then with his self-titled debut EP, 2009’s ‘Kendrick Lamar’ which featured his trademark singles ‘P&P’ and ‘She Needs Me’, followed up by 2010’s ‘(O)verly (D)edicated’ powered by the singles ‘Michael Jordan’ and ‘Cut You Off’. In 2011 he independently released ‘Section. 80’ becoming one of the top digital hip hop albums of the year.

Fast-forward to 2012 and with the weight and backing of Dr. Dre (the two recently had a joint XXL cover), Kendrick is ready to release his highly-anticipated major label album ‘Good Kid, m.A.A.d City’. Hot single ‘Swimming Pools (Drank)’ serves as a good taster to the album, alongside the previously released warm-up single ‘The Recipe’ ft. Dr. Dre and the recently announced collaborative single with Lady Gaga called 'Partynauseous'. As well as scene stealing features alongside The Game, Drake, Rick Ross and others - Kendrick is poised to be the first artist in a long time to not only change how the country views West Coast hip hop, but how the world sees Hip Hop as a whole.

“The coolest shit to say used to be the gangsta shit,” Kendrick says. “But now, the real cool shit to talk about is supporting your family.”

TRACK LISTING

CD Tracklisting:
1. Sherane AKA Master Splinter’s Daughter
2. Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe
3. Backseat Freestyle
4. The Art Of Peer Pressure
5. Money Trees - Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock
6. Poetic Justice - Kendrick Lamar, Drake
7. Good Kid
8. M.A.A.d City - Kendrick Lamar, MC Eiht
9. Swimming Pools (Drank)
10. Sing About Me, I'm Dying Of Thirst
11. Real - Kendrick Lamar, Anna Wise
12. Compton - Kendrick Lamar, Dr. Dre
13. Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe (Remix - Featuring Jay Z)
14. Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe (International Remix - Featuring Emeli Sande)

Vinyl Tracklisting:
Side A:
1. Sherane A.k.a Master Splinter’s Daughter
2. Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe
3. Backseat Freestyle
4. The Art Of Peer Pressure

Side B:
5. Money Trees - Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock
6. Poetic Justice - Kendrick Lamar, Drake
7. Good Kid
8. M.A.A.d City - Kendrick Lamar, MC Eiht

Side C:
9. Swimming Pools (Drank)
10. Sing About Me, I'm Dying Of Thirst
11. Real - Kendrick Lamar, Anna Wise

Side D:
12. Compton - Kendrick Lamar, Dr. Dre
13. The Recipe - (Bnus Track)
14. Black Boy Fly (Bonus Track)
15. Now Or Never - Featuring Mary J. Blige (Bonus Track)