good kid, m.A.A.d city

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

good kid, m.A.A.d city · After the independently released Section.80 from 2011, Kendrick Lamar signed with Interscope and Dr. Dre's Aftermath. His second album, released on 22 October 2012, was his first for a major label. It was recorded mainly in studios in California, with Dr. Dre, Just Blaze, Pharrell Williams and Hit-Boy, among others, as producers. The cover carries the description short film by Kendrick Lamar.

The album tells, in a non-linear story, of his youth in Compton, amid drugs and gang violence. The production is subdued and atmospheric, with subtle hooks, tight bass and light piano. The first song he recorded was Compton with Dr. Dre. Critics praised the thematic scope and the lyrics. The album received seven Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year, and in 2022 Rolling Stone named it the best concept album of all time.

Listening

Track list

1. 1Sherane a.k.a Master Splinter’s Daughter4:33Apple Music ↗
2. 2Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe5:11Apple Music ↗
3. 3Backseat Freestyle3:33Apple Music ↗
4. 4The Art of Peer Pressure5:25Apple Music ↗
5. 5Money Trees (feat. Jay Rock)6:27Apple Music ↗
6. 6Poetic Justice (feat. Drake)5:00Apple Music ↗
7. 7Good Kid3:34Apple Music ↗
8. 8m.A.A.d city (feat. MC Eiht)5:50Apple Music ↗
9. 9Swimming Pools (Drank) [Extended Version]5:14Apple Music ↗
10. 10Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst12:04Apple Music ↗
11. 11Real (feat. Anna Wise)7:23Apple Music ↗
12. 12Compton (feat. Dr. Dre)4:08Apple Music ↗
13. 13Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe (feat. JAŸ-Z) [Remix]4:38Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗