good kid, mAAd city Aftermath*****

Kendrick Lamar may be the one who reminds hip-hop of what it was before bragging became the de-facto stance. Instead of bigging himself up at every juncture, Compton’s Lamar has been simply getting on with business, and his haul of mixtapes and indie releases suggest a remarkable talent finding his lyrical feet.

Lamar's major label debut is a different matter: a powerful, significant, thrilling and astonishing affair, good kid, mAAd city recalls the heyday of West Coast rap supremacy while sketching out a new manifesto. Lamar observes life in his 'hood with an Illmatic- like eye and the pen of a master MC, contrasting the then of innocent teen years with a now that involves drugs and ever- present violence. Soundwise, Lamar and his producers cover a lot of bases, but nothing takes away from the blazing narrative of his lyrics. kendricklamar.com

Download tracks:Backseat Freestyle, Poetic Justice, I'm Dying of Thirst, Compton, Sing About Me