Kendrick The Great

Kendrick Lamar

Brand New West Coast Lyrical Fire

If the term “West Coastin” means anything to you then you know the west coast hip hop movement brings a lot to the table. The west however needed someone new to bring back that fire, along came a new emcee with a lot of passion for the game of rap aka Kendrick Lamar. Kendrick who was born and raised in Compton, California embraced the culture and music even at a young age. He also was able to see part of the popular video “California Love” by 2pac and Dr. Dre being filmed in his hometown. Inspired by the music and culture surrounding him Kendrick would go on to make his own imprint in the hip hop horizon. In 2003 Kendrick Lamar released his very first mixtape “Youngest Head Nigga In Charge”. He then went under his old moniker of “K-Dot”. “Youngest Head Nigga In Charge” is such a rare mixtape it’s very hard to find. Next up Kendrick got a record deal with indie label “Top Dog Entertainment” and released his second mixtape “Training Day”. Still under the “K-Dot” moniker “Training Day” featured many great freestyles over lots of popular hip hop beats. The mixtape is actually able to be listened to and downloaded on datpiff.com. In between doing his own work Kendrick would also be a part of many cameoes.

            Some of those cameos include a featurette on two of the Game’s songs "The Cypha" and "Cali Niggaz" as well as a brief appearance in the music video by Jay Rock called "All My Life (In the Ghetto)". Kendrick would get even more recognition as he would receive a co-sign from Lil Wayne. Kendrick then went on to release his third mixtape”C4”. Some noteworthy tracks to check out are “West Coast Wu-Tang”, “G Code” and “Young & Black”. Following that later in 2009 Kendrick would drop his minker “K-Dot” and go with his birth name. Releasing a self titled EP “Kendrick Lamar”. A very good EP with so many great tracks here’s some tracks to check out “Celebration”, “Wanna Be Heard”, “Faith” and “Determined”. Kendrick with then create the group “Black Hippie” which included fellow  California artist Jay Rock, Schoolboy Q and Ab-Soul. Also Kendrick toured with Strange Music’s own Tech N9ne as well as his fellow “Black Hippie” member Jay Rock on “The Independent Grind” tour. Later in 2010 Kendrick released “Overly Dedicated”. Considered a highly acclaimed mixtape it includes banging tracks like “Opposites Attract (Tomorrow Without Her)”, “Ignorance Is Bliss”, “R.O.T.C (Interlude)” and “Average Joe”. Early in 2011 Kendrick was featured on “XXL Magazine” along with many other high caliber artist including Meek Mill, Big K.R.I.T., Mac Miller and Yelawolf. Later in 2011 Kendrick released “Section80”. “Section80” Kendricks first independent album is still by many considered to be highly acclaimed and features many guest appearances and tons of amazing tracks. Some of the noteworthy tracks you should check out are "Hol' Up", "A.D.H.D.", "Ronald Reagan Era (His Evils)", "Rigamortis", "Kush & Corinthians (His Pain)" and "HiiiPower".

          

  I’ll never forget when I first hear the track “HiiPower” (produced by J. Cole) you could feel the power in the track and I was blown away by it. With the recent success of Section80 Kendrick once again would get many cameo appearances on Game's “The R.E.D. Album”, Tech N9ne's “All 6's and 7's” Drake’s “Take Care” and the highly acclaimed  9th Wonder's “The Wonder Years”. All the recent success would get even better as the good Dr. aka Dr. Dre would sign Kendrick to his “Aftermath” label and “Interscope” label took interest in Lamar. Dr. Dre and Kendrick released a great single called “The Recipe” that is very noteworthy.  Following this Kendrick released “Good kid, m.A.A.d city”. Arguably one of the best albums to come out in a while “Good kid, m.A.A.d city” has an excellent amount of tracks and many great featured artists. Definitely check out "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" , "Backseat Freestyle", "Poetic Justice", "m.A.A.d city", "Swimming Pools (Drank)" and "Compton". Lady Gaga would go on to tell people on twitter about a demo version of “Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe” that never made it to the final album. For the Gamers out there Kendrick recorded an original song for the video game “Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier” called "War Is My Love". Kendrick also had a guest appearance on The Lonely Island’s song and video “YOLO”. As you can see Kendrick Lamar is a phenomenal emcee. He has always stated he is influenced by artist like  2Pac, The Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, Nas and Eminem. Bringing back that west coast flava Kendrick is a hot new artist all hip hop heads should check out.

The skills that Kendrick has in the booth has got to make hip hop fans happy. I mean what is there not to like?  He brings passion behind his music with the  right skill to make you feel it. Honestly It’s nice to hear! I know he caught my attention because he spits the truth , and most these new artists’  talk to much about partying  that is not rap nor is it hip hop its called party music. Life is not all about a party remember we all live here and we all will die here, unless an asteroid hits and I die in space lol ! But I’m sure you get the point but here  is the lyrics to  a song I  really like, the name of it is Cartoon and cereal 

Liberation...leader...
Popular pie plant pictured here...
Wile E. Coyote! Wile E. Coyote!


This shit make a nigga just wanna write
Reminisce when I had the morning appetite
Apple Jacks and after that I hit the TV Guide
Animaniac the only thing that gave me peace of mind
I’m a maniac when aiming at the enemy that lied
Tell a story that I'll never glory 25
Not to worry, every warrior will come and see euphoria
And that's a covenant I put on every tribe
Ain't nobody gon' tie your shoe
Nobody gon' abide by your rule
Nobody holding your gun, how come your tongue say killa then kill my mood
Light speed living in the world you know
Little old me, feeling like a live wire
Bet I put some new tires on a lightning bolt
'Til I wreck into a pole, like a right to vote
I'm from the bottom of the jungle
Living in the bottom of the food chain
When you get a new chain, nigga take it from you
A new name, want stripes, and you a zebra look-alike
Hope another homicide don't numb you and none do
Things we will never learn soon
In the era where we wanna earn soon
That's a error, you can smell it in the air and everybody really doomed
That's why I'm backdooring you motherfuckas
All y'all can suck my dick
All them days at the county building
Now I'm 'bout to make my mama rich
Cartoons and (cereal!) I ain't felt this good since
Scrooge McDuck, (here we go!) Elementary hood shit