I have a hard time calling anyone the best of all time, because it's hard to compare Kendrick to Wayne, ghostface, and em in terms of style. But Kendrick might win the arguement based on consistency if he stays sharp.
Lex Cooper it’s far worse than that; it’s that they’re racist. I’d much rather they be a popularity contest than what they truly are. It’s truly unfortunate
@@sofun101 you truly are a fucking idiot, do you really think that Kendrick lost because he is black? No, he lost because Macklemore is more mainstream. Don't speak on shit that you have no idea about.
@@traplover6357 it has nothing to do with noone is racist in 21st century. Hes saying they get 0 benefit for being racist, its just like Horserace media. Fuck off with your conspiracies when its a clear result due to a clear misconception.
Grammy is corrupted . Mc had the 2nd this year . Kendrick was the best album but hey . Grammys is owned by white people so they are not really impartial .
Just a quick summary of the album... Backseat Freestyle is Kendrick rapping in the backseat of a car with his “friends”, that’s why the lyrics are gangster like and vulgar (he’s trying to fit in) but the next track -The Art of Peer Pressure is an internal dialogue that Kendrick has with himself telling himself that he’s not being him self. After they rob the house at the end of TAOPP, Kendrick suddenly feels like he’s a part of the crew and gets confidence to start rapping about money and in the next song girls. But when he gets stopped by other thugs who rep a different color than his he remembers that that’s not him and he once again has a dialogue with himself about being a good kid, and the next song Maad City symbolizes the craziness. After this revelation he gets stressed and drinks until he’s drunk to drown his sorrows so we get Swimming Pool. But in I’m real he realizes that he is Real meaning that he doesn’t need to be a gangster to be Real he can just be himself-a good kid in a mad city. There are also other elements to the story but that’s a brief summary. Great reaction btw👍🏿
Good summary, but in my opinion the story can be interpreted in so many different ways and has so many little nooks and crannies that the original (the version that you summarised) becomes something completely different.
Man I can't wait for TPAB.... Funny thing about the album is at the end of Compton he's getting back in his moms van so u can basically loop the album and it still flows and also symbolizing that this is just a day in the life but everyday can be equally as crazy
I think his 3 main albums flow into each other perfectly, too. I've listened to GKMC, TPAB, DAMN. in order dozens of times. DAMN even goes back into GKMC pretty well if you keep it on repeat.
I had another theory along with this - throughout the album, in the background, we always hear a sound that sounds a bit like a bicycle wheel turning, during the phone calls and the skits. Others say that it sounds like a movie reel. Either way, both of those show how much of a real cycle this entire album is for people growing up in such neighbourhoods as Compton, and i think it’s a small yet still beautiful touch to the album. What do you think?
UMG is going to claim the song 'i' from 'To Pimp A Butterfly so make sure to put that part on mute... it happened to BigQuint and the Mallory Bros. as far as I know.
Appreciate the heads-up - UMG claimed every single song on this reaction! And basically every single video we do on RR or I do on here. The robots have got better (or worse, depending on your POV). It's a nightmare tbh but I ain't giving up!
Sing about me, I'm dying of thirst is the greatest fucking song I've ever heard in my life. Goosebumps every time. When the gunshots abruptly stop him in the middle of his sentence, and towards the end where the voice just fades out after repeatedly saying I'll never fade away... just fucking incredible.
Unpopular opinion but Dying Of Thirst is the better part in this song. Both are incredible but they should have been seperate songs imo. Love this album!
Show someone this album and explain to them the store telling and the true meaning of this album. Deep dive into every song and watch their eyes light up. You’ll get that same feeling.
@@goodguysystem9324 you a bit late, but so am i. And you are right Good kid has been one of my favourites from this Album and kendrick in general since the Album was released.
Real is underrated imo. The way I interpreted it is what the different definitions of being "real" are for people. Whether it be being able to take your anger out on your enemies, loving your family or dedicating yourself to something completely (work or other things).
Watching you react to 'Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst' with context made me feel so warm inside, I could see it all being put together in your head and there's genuinely not much more satisfying than seeing that unfold.. or maybe I'm just weird.
Joe da Stick-Man the whole album feels like the structure of a film, I feel like Sherane is like those opening scenes in films that show a later part in the film out of context (like pulp fiction), bitch don’t kill my vibe is the opening credits, and backseat freestyle is where the film REALLY starts
The story behind this album is incredible. Sherane aka master splinters daughter acts as an intro chapter to the story the circle back later on in Poetic justice (the same eery beat plays to signify this) His momma tell his him to bring back her van so we know it's missing. The rest of the album relives the event of that day and why the van went missing. It follows the day of Kendrick, he is caught up in the streets as a 16 year old. Gangbanging and getting picked up by his friends with some weed and freestyle beats (backseat freestyle) into trouble with his friends (the art of peer pressure) robbing homes (money trees) which leads to one of the members of his crew being shot dead (Kendrick raps about this from the victims brothers perspective, as well as tammys sister from section 80, and finally himself in Sing about me, I'm dying of thirst) after being peer pressured into smoking a joint he realises he gets laced with heroin, making him un easy meaning he needs to go home. All his friends know he had previous plans to meet sherane tonight. Whilst contemplating his surroundings in his high state, Good kid represents him and his attitude to this dangerous life, whilst maad city acts as the opposite to sort of tease Kendrick into believing this life of danger is for him. Poetic justice tells the story of him trying to meet and get to know sherane, with audio clips showing that he was jumped while alone by sherane and her cousin and brother (which is the closing line of sherane) Bitch don't kill my vibe told the prequel type story of Kendrick and him not wanting to get into a life of crime and succumbing to the vices of the street which as we now know, happened anyway The album circles back to real, where Kendrick realises what has happened and that he is built for more than this, wasting his life robbing houses and seeing his loved one die shouldn't be happening to a talent 16 year old, so he decides it needs to change, the audio excerpts from his momma and father explain that they have learnt of his friends death, in the hope it hasn't affected him in the wrong way and that they love him and hope he finds the right path Compton then starts the with the lyrics "now everybody serenade the new faith off Kendrick Lamar" symbolism his change from small time gangbanging troublemaker to a rapper with a desire and passion to make it in life. What's so good about this song Compton is it acts as a closer and well as a prelude - play it before the album and summarises the destination he's arrived at/ play it at the ends and it shows the journey taken to get to that destination, both metaphorically and literally, as the song ends with Kendrick leaving the voicemail for his momma saying he's gonna borrow her van, the very topic that ended the first song. Incredible album. Incredible concept. Perfect story telling.
I understand everyone has their opinion, but good kid was a damn near flawless album. From storytelling, flow switches, song transitions, rhyme schemes, call backs. There’s so much about that album that will make it last as long as music does. I’m just saying
@@MiniMuni69 I think that tpab has one or two tracks that aren't that special, the lows are lower than on good kid which is more consistent in my eyes.
I always say kendrick is at his best when he's telling stories of his past. Even though he's great at every aspect of rap. That's why I love good kid so much. My favourite album
Made itttt. Go into TPAB with as open as mind possible, first listen is tough for anyone.. musically, lyrically, just everything about it really so just absorb it and try not to understand it too much on first listen, just vibe on it.
Yep my first listen back in 2016 I definitely wasn't feeling it only a few songs caught my attention like For Free, These Walls, U, Mortal Man, but the rest was meh. And fast forward to now, the TPAB album's my favorite album of all time.
Josh Biggs How is tpab a tough listen musically for anyone? If you just listen to charts then sure but if you listen to multiple genres and less mainstream music literally nothing sonically is crazy in it. Amazing album but not groundbreaking sonically.
ronald bangtidy if people listen to it and love it at first listen, I guarantee they come in very few numbers. TPAB sounds like nothing we have ever heard. To go from the pure Hop-Hop in GKMC where it’s straight story telling and rhymes to the jazzy pianos and orchestra. For someone as big as Kendrick, it’ll be looked back on as one of the most 180’d albums ever. Mainstream has nothing to do with it, the album is in a category on its own.
It will be interesting. Him and Simon reacted to accordion before which was a big mistake. Imo Madvillainy is an album I wouldn't recommend to a first time DOOM listener. I would probably go with Operation Doomsday or Vaudeville Villain first.
REALLY COOL DETAIL that most people won’t realize: in maad city the first half is Kendrick actually tripping on the cocaine laced blunt that he hits and the end of the art of peer pressure, and he is experiencing paranoia in the verses. This is why you hear the distorted voices in the beginning saying “where you from n****, fuck who you know where you from, where you grandmas stay...”. That is the voices two men who jumped him. This is why the beat/sample sound so psychedelic in the first part. Then when the beat changes somebody wakes him up from his trip when he hears “Wake yo punk ass up”... then in the second part of the song he says, “projects torn up, gang signs get thrown up, cocaine laced in marijuana”- relating to the blunt that he hit Kendrick is a goddamn genius
yeah definetly one of his best lines ever. Thats i think where you can really say that Kendrick is one of the best lyricists ever, even though its a different form of lyricism. Its not the usual punchline with insane wordplay, but its a line that hits really hard. Thats the case with most of Kendricks lines. His lines have such a big impact on the listener, simply because of the way he phrases it.
“I suffer a lot and every day that glass mirror get tougher to watch I tie my stomach in knots, and I’m not sure why I’m infatuated with death my imagination is surely an aggravation of threats that could come about, cause the tongue is mighty powerful”
You know Kendrick's your favorite rapper when your favorite songs and albums from him change from time to time. Money Trees used to be bar none my favorite track, Sing About Me and Art of Peer Pressure also fluctuated near the top. I don't even know what my favorite track from TPAB is. Shit I thought DAMN sucked when it first came out, bumped it a week later and loved it, then my views changed again cuz I played the shit out of it lol. Right now, I can't decide if it's Section.80 or TPAB as my favorite album. One things definitive for me though, and it's that Kendrick will likely go down as the best rapper of all time if he continues this amazing feat of consistency.
I can't listen to Sing About Me without being on the verge of tears man. It's so fucking good. I'm a working class White guy in England, who has never experienced gang culture, or violence really, but Kendrick is such an excellent story teller you can completely empathise and understand exactly what he's putting across. That song is truly beautiful and heartbreaking. I was never a big hip-hop fan, and was always a metal head. I thought hip-hop was just about promoting drug dealing, gang culture, objectifying women, and how rich rappers are. I was frequently chilling out with my friend at the time of this album coming out though, and him playing it slowly got me listening to it, and accepting it, and then being blown away by it. This album got me into hip-hop and that's why for me Kendrick will always be my number one rapper and this album will always be my number one album. TPAB is an excellent album, but didn't transport me into Kendricks mind and eyes like GKMC.
most of the beats on this album are insane but the beat on Good Kid always makes me make a face... like it’s so mysterious and upbeat at the same time it’s wild
Great reaction, it's worth noting that the bonus tracks on this album are worth checking out too, particularly 'The Recipe' with dre which should have easily been on the main release.
As someone raised in Compton my whole life, I hold this album in the highest regards because in a sense.. he speaks for all of us “good kids” that grew up in this mad city that is Compton.. kendrick speaks on a lot of relatable topics that resonate with a bunch of us that went through similar things here & for that I praise the man. This album Forever #1 on my list!
We’ve all been waiting for this. This album is a movie in music form. You have to listen to the entire tracks though, I noticed you didn’t listen to the end of ‘Bitch, don’t kill my vibe.’ Or if you did you didn’t have it in the video. Almost all the songs end with a ‘skit’ that sets up the next song and helps tell the story. The one at the end of ‘Bitch, don’t kill my vibe’ is Kendrick’s friend telling him to get in the car so they can roll out, and that he has a CD with beats on it so they can freestyle over, leading to ‘Backstreet freestyle,’ which then leads to ‘The Art of Peer Pressure.’
Not sure if you plan on doing Untitled Unmastered but if not, Untitled 01 as an individual reaction is worth doing at least. One of Kendrick's strongest tracks imo, the entire track is one verse with revelations as a theme.
Poetic Justice essentially serves as kendrick meeting up with Sherane. It's a love song with an R&B throwback sample from Janet Jackson to set the mood. Kendrick is talking about love, self-love, trust, among other things. Drake, being the "sensitive" rapper in the game fits perfect as a feature to add to the whole romantic storyline of the track. Picture sherane and kendrick being together finally and the track will make sense. It can even be seen as a daydream in k-dot's mind while he's driving to Sherane's. At the end of the track, we get snapped out of the dream, and kendrick gets confronted by dudes in hoodies, which leads into "good kid".
rulzzzzzz I _kinda_ get where you’re coming from. Its story is a lot tighter, but I think TPAB is way more layered and complicated. Gkmc is more consistent in track quality overall, but TPAB has higher highs and lower lows (though not by much).
qzfqzfqz fqzfzq Compton would be the only filler since it's like a "roll out the credits" track. TPAB IS better but cmon 6 fillers? I'm interested to know what those 6 are.
Man I remember when Kendrick dropped this album. Freshman year of college for me in Florida. A lot of weed was smoked and fifa played to this album lol good times
This album is soo deep with lyrics and themes but TPAB is a whole other level of music genius. It’d be cool if we get a first reaction and then an update after hearing the album a couple of times so you understand everything better. Great reaction and can’t wait for the next
be ready for TPAB. Like many artists have already said, its arguarbly one of the greatest albums ever made, in any genre. No musical flaw, everything about this album is pure perfection. It makes gkmc sound like a mixtape
I made it! Great reaction. I'm worried that To Pimp A Butterfly might melt your brain lol. It's NOT a fun album. Be prepared for something very dense and very very heavy, music and content.
Man people are really overhyping TPAB in this comment section. The lyrical content is profound and some of the best, but it’s more cryptic than heavy or soul crushing or anything, and isn’t even that cryptic. At the end of the day it’s still music, and phenomenal music at that which can be very easy to enjoy depending on your tastes. Maybe I don’t get it because I was into jazz and funk and Flying Lotus and Thundercat and all that shit as well as Kendrick when it came out, but I really don’t think it’s as inaccessible as people are purporting it to be.
@@weaselsdawg heavy content and "unconventional" music choices do make it less accessible, but I don't think it's over-hyped at all. I think it's a masterpiece, just not an easy listen
@@weaselsdawg It gets better over time and the first listen is arguably the worst one (certainly was for me). You can still pull things out of it a dozen listens in.
@@hw29472 Bro I've listened to every track at least 80 times no exaggeration. Mortal Man is my least played at 81. I fucking love the album and I do also agree that it does nothing but improve with more time to consider what's being said. All of that said, I think the characterization of TPAB as a cryptic album that isn't fun is incorrect. It's slightly niche sonically, and the messages are universal, but there's nothing incredibly jarring. At worst, it gets weird to some people. My first listen was also my worst since it only improves with time, but that doesn't mean that I wasn't incredibly happy that there was an album being made by one of my favorite artists working with some of my other favorite artists (Fly Lo, Thundercat, Terrace Martin, Snoop, George Clinton, Ronald Isley, the little taste of Pete Rock, etc.) and genres to say something worth saying on my first listen as well.
Kendrick's best album imo. Love TPAB and Section 80 nearly as much, but this deffo has the most replay value without sacrificing high density bars and musical beats
Hope it's not to late for this, but another UA-camr, the Manic Pineapple, did an excellent analysis of the song "Money Trees." He concluded that Money Trees has a subtle detail about Kendrick (KDOT) getting an STD from Sherane (Hence the 'Usher Raymond had Let it Burn come on").
the story behind this album is absolutely crazy. you arent gonna understand it at first as it took me till only recently so if you really want to try to understand whats going on you could look it up
I really enjoyed what you said about Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe because its perfectly ironic that the song with that subject matter was also one of the most radio played songs of kendrick. Back in 2013-14 you would hear it all the time on any hip hop station where I was from anyways
Great reaction, Jon! I have a few tips for when you listen to TPAB: As brilliant and well crafted as GKMC is, for me, TPAB is somehow even more brilliant. But it won't be as easy to follow as GKMC. It helps to know that it picks up basically right after GKMC when Kendrick gets his record deal and details his experience with fame, the music industry and life as a star in general. Don't be afraid to read the summary of a song on Genius if you don't get its connection to the overall album. TPAB is one of those albums where the more effort you put into understanding it, the more you will get out of it.
When I first heard this album, my favorite songs were BDKMV, Backseat Freestyle and M.A.A.D City. Now that it's been almost 8 years, songs like Money Trees and Sing About Me are not only my favorite on the album, but arguably 2 of Kendrick's top songs to this day. The way he paints a vivid picture while still being a flow and lyrical monster is just unmatched. Nobody has ever or will ever do it as well as Kendrick does.
I feel like GKMC is one of those albums that either takes several listens or some one to explain it to you to understand it for example lots of people don’t understand that backseat freestyle is written through the perspective of a 16 year old k dot free styling with his homies and the way the song switch from a cocky young Kendrick and the switch’s to almost like his inner thoughts best example is the art of peer pressure to money trees or even the obvious one like good kid to mad city
This album brings back so many memories. It’s also the album that introduced me to Kendrick. No doubt that you’ll find so much replay value out of this one John 👌🏼
Your amazement gives me joy, I enjoy the art-the music, the simply flow and the architect of words-that is kendrick lamar. Through you, I understand his album better. Came out of the 44 minute experience as a smarter man. Keep it on
TIMESTAMPS
Sherane - 1:07
Bitch, don’t kill my vibe - 3:33
Backseat Freestyle - 6:30
The Art of Peer Pressure - 9:31
Money Trees - 13:26
Poetic Justice(feat. Drake) - 17:02
Good Kid - 20:22
m.A.A.d city(feat. MC Eiht) 24:40
Swimming Pools - 28:12
Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst - 30:15
Real(feat. Anna Wise) - 39:15
Compton(feat. Dr. Dre) - 41:19
Thanks!!
There are some gems on CD2 which close of the album better on the Deluxe release. These being The Recipe, Now or Never and BlackBoy Fly
Hlumelo Booi I hope he listens to those bonus tracks especially The Recipe.
Money Trees features Jay Rock, how could you forget to mention that legendary feature?? :/ 😂
*Master Splinter’s Daughter
The fact that most people think this album is his second best, speaks to how legendary his discography already is.
Agreed. In my opinion he’s already cemented his spot as the best rapper of all time. And his discography more than backs it up
@@Socrateet yooo, relax fam! nigga nice an all but he aint the best of all time, thats crazy to say right now
@@thatomon123 tell me one better than him? Who has better albums than him?
grande 48 I’m waiting for you to tell US who better ?
I have a hard time calling anyone the best of all time, because it's hard to compare Kendrick to Wayne, ghostface, and em in terms of style. But Kendrick might win the arguement based on consistency if he stays sharp.
And just think...this album lost to Macklemore. 🤨
Grammy's are a popularity contest, no actual evaluation of artistic value or creativity
Lex Cooper it’s far worse than that; it’s that they’re racist.
I’d much rather they be a popularity contest than what they truly are. It’s truly unfortunate
@@sofun101 you truly are a fucking idiot, do you really think that Kendrick lost because he is black? No, he lost because Macklemore is more mainstream. Don't speak on shit that you have no idea about.
@@joshwilson2402 inb4 you're one of those "no one is racist in the 21st Century" people lol. Rip Lil Nas X
@@traplover6357 it has nothing to do with noone is racist in 21st century. Hes saying they get 0 benefit for being racist, its just like Horserace media. Fuck off with your conspiracies when its a clear result due to a clear misconception.
It’s great to see Macklemore himself listening to the album he beat at the grammys
underrated comment
I was just watching an interview about this lmfaooo
“I thought i was gay cuz i could draw” lmaooo
Grammy is corrupted . Mc had the 2nd this year . Kendrick was the best album but hey . Grammys is owned by white people so they are not really impartial .
who
Art of peer pressure is one of his best songs ever
Take the “one of” out and ur right!
Andre Leclerc you think that’s better than Fear?
allen henderson I think Fear is his 6th best song ever. I got Feel, AOPP, U, How much a dollar cost, and maad city all over it
It really is, and it`s made by a danish producer-team, taburecz.
As well as Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst. 2 all time greats
I love how good rap gives everyone that universal "stank face"
Lmao especially at Back seat freestyle
1:40 that gasface had me dying
GOOD RAP resonates with ANYONE.
It's when the bass is hella strong I think. I do it all the time when the bass drop is so fuckin good
@@Teimo Nah sometimes its just the lyrics flow and delivery man
Just a quick summary of the album...
Backseat Freestyle is Kendrick rapping in the backseat of a car with his “friends”, that’s why the lyrics are gangster like and vulgar (he’s trying to fit in) but the next track -The Art of Peer Pressure is an internal dialogue that Kendrick has with himself telling himself that he’s not being him self. After they rob the house at the end of TAOPP, Kendrick suddenly feels like he’s a part of the crew and gets confidence to start rapping about money and in the next song girls. But when he gets stopped by other thugs who rep a different color than his he remembers that that’s not him and he once again has a dialogue with himself about being a good kid, and the next song Maad City symbolizes the craziness. After this revelation he gets stressed and drinks until he’s drunk to drown his sorrows so we get Swimming Pool. But in I’m real he realizes that he is Real meaning that he doesn’t need to be a gangster to be Real he can just be himself-a good kid in a mad city.
There are also other elements to the story but that’s a brief summary. Great reaction btw👍🏿
he started drinking because Sherane betrayed him
Northside Baller 10/10 summary my g
Good summary, but in my opinion the story can be interpreted in so many different ways and has so many little nooks and crannies that the original (the version that you summarised) becomes something completely different.
I like the transition of him bout to get with Sherane but he gets a call to come home, which totally killed his vibe.
@@birthdaydinosaur he said to drown his sorrows so that would fit under that category
sing about me, i’m dying of thirst is easily my favorite kendrick song
Same here, this and Keisha's song
@@kionnakelly2918 keisha's song both a vibe and very important lyrically
Mortal Man is mine
Easily
Same, that and How much a Dollar Cost are tied for my favorites.
Man I can't wait for TPAB.... Funny thing about the album is at the end of Compton he's getting back in his moms van so u can basically loop the album and it still flows and also symbolizing that this is just a day in the life but everyday can be equally as crazy
JamSessionSound S thats dope, even if it is just a concept
@@Seven.teen17 pretty sure he has said it was meant to be this way somwhere
I think his 3 main albums flow into each other perfectly, too. I've listened to GKMC, TPAB, DAMN. in order dozens of times. DAMN even goes back into GKMC pretty well if you keep it on repeat.
Alexis Hernandez Every time I listen to TPAB and I get to the end of “Mortal Man” I just let it go right into “BLOOD.” and it’s perfect.
I had another theory along with this - throughout the album, in the background, we always hear a sound that sounds a bit like a bicycle wheel turning, during the phone calls and the skits. Others say that it sounds like a movie reel. Either way, both of those show how much of a real cycle this entire album is for people growing up in such neighbourhoods as Compton, and i think it’s a small yet still beautiful touch to the album. What do you think?
UMG is going to claim the song 'i' from 'To Pimp A Butterfly so make sure to put that part on mute... it happened to BigQuint and the Mallory Bros. as far as I know.
Um this is gkmc?
Señor Everything he’s saying that as a heads up for when he reacts to TPAB
Appreciate the heads-up - UMG claimed every single song on this reaction! And basically every single video we do on RR or I do on here. The robots have got better (or worse, depending on your POV). It's a nightmare tbh but I ain't giving up!
@@morenocarlos9928 ohhhh I'm a stupid lil dummy sorry lol
Jon Denton Start a patreon
Pumped to be able to put this video out. What a journey this is already!
Did you listen to the dialogue between tracks?
Oof nvm of course you did
@@TwoLsAndAJay Of course!
TPAB is gonna blow your mind 😂
It's hilarious and very relatable to see your reactions at some points in the songs. Nasty face to blown away face to yep... That's 🔥 face, lol
tpab is my favorite but gkmc has more replay value
How you here too???🧐😢
Dat hi Dat
You coming up man. I'm proud of you, no cap!
Nice fake replies
@@lewismcshane9346 Nice fake news
Sing about me, I'm dying of thirst is the greatest fucking song I've ever heard in my life. Goosebumps every time. When the gunshots abruptly stop him in the middle of his sentence, and towards the end where the voice just fades out after repeatedly saying I'll never fade away... just fucking incredible.
been listening it since 2014 and it never gets old fam
this is true
Unpopular opinion but Dying Of Thirst is the better part in this song. Both are incredible but they should have been seperate songs imo. Love this album!
@@thewildhealer541100% agree. The impact of the mood the beat creates in dying of thirst cannot be understated
My favorite album of all time, hyped to finally see a reaction to it
🔥🔥🔥
Great reaction from John tbh... But the OG Bigquint reacted to that shit first on UA-cam. Check it out!
WOW same as me man sing about me is my fav song and this is my fav album of all time!!!
@@tikitaryan hahah yeah true, think i've seen that reaction a long time aho
@@barehands9614 yeah it just transports you
I wish I could re-listen to this album for the first time
Ugh! Same!
SAMEEE🥺🥺
Literally
Same
Show someone this album and explain to them the store telling and the true meaning of this album. Deep dive into every song and watch their eyes light up. You’ll get that same feeling.
Good kid is one of the most underrated Kendrick songs I swear
I KNOWOWWW NOBODY TALKS ABOUT IT ITS SO DAMN GOOD
@@goodguysystem9324 you a bit late, but so am i. And you are right Good kid has been one of my favourites from this Album and kendrick in general since the Album was released.
@@handohall3406 let’s goo
I SWEAR TO FUCKING GOD....
JUST PERFECT
Real is underrated imo. The way I interpreted it is what the different definitions of being "real" are for people. Whether it be being able to take your anger out on your enemies, loving your family or dedicating yourself to something completely (work or other things).
Sing About Me, I'm Dying Of Thirst is easily his best song to me
One that beat and melody also like smooth & sad at the same time.
@@bp2000k tbh to me that beat and flow remind me of logics song under pressure
@@cmichael2623 kendricks came first, so technically logics sounds like kendrick. and they both use the same drum sample from bill withers
Watching you react to 'Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst' with context made me feel so warm inside, I could see it all being put together in your head and there's genuinely not much more satisfying than seeing that unfold.. or maybe I'm just weird.
Agreed it makes sense to me. You can see that their original reaction of the song didn't fully appreciate the vibe.
My favorite Kenny album by far. This is the epitome of a 10/10 for me. The Art of Peer Pressure might just be the best song he's ever made.
With the only possible exception being Sing About Me/Dying of Thirst...
I love how "Compton" feels like the song that plays in the end credits as the movie closes.
Joe da Stick-Man the whole album feels like the structure of a film, I feel like Sherane is like those opening scenes in films that show a later part in the film out of context (like pulp fiction), bitch don’t kill my vibe is the opening credits, and backseat freestyle is where the film REALLY starts
The story behind this album is incredible.
Sherane aka master splinters daughter acts as an intro chapter to the story the circle back later on in Poetic justice (the same eery beat plays to signify this)
His momma tell his him to bring back her van so we know it's missing. The rest of the album relives the event of that day and why the van went missing.
It follows the day of Kendrick, he is caught up in the streets as a 16 year old. Gangbanging and getting picked up by his friends with some weed and freestyle beats (backseat freestyle) into trouble with his friends (the art of peer pressure) robbing homes (money trees) which leads to one of the members of his crew being shot dead (Kendrick raps about this from the victims brothers perspective, as well as tammys sister from section 80, and finally himself in Sing about me, I'm dying of thirst) after being peer pressured into smoking a joint he realises he gets laced with heroin, making him un easy meaning he needs to go home. All his friends know he had previous plans to meet sherane tonight.
Whilst contemplating his surroundings in his high state, Good kid represents him and his attitude to this dangerous life, whilst maad city acts as the opposite to sort of tease Kendrick into believing this life of danger is for him.
Poetic justice tells the story of him trying to meet and get to know sherane, with audio clips showing that he was jumped while alone by sherane and her cousin and brother (which is the closing line of sherane)
Bitch don't kill my vibe told the prequel type story of Kendrick and him not wanting to get into a life of crime and succumbing to the vices of the street which as we now know, happened anyway
The album circles back to real, where Kendrick realises what has happened and that he is built for more than this, wasting his life robbing houses and seeing his loved one die shouldn't be happening to a talent 16 year old, so he decides it needs to change, the audio excerpts from his momma and father explain that they have learnt of his friends death, in the hope it hasn't affected him in the wrong way and that they love him and hope he finds the right path
Compton then starts the with the lyrics "now everybody serenade the new faith off Kendrick Lamar" symbolism his change from small time gangbanging troublemaker to a rapper with a desire and passion to make it in life. What's so good about this song Compton is it acts as a closer and well as a prelude - play it before the album and summarises the destination he's arrived at/ play it at the ends and it shows the journey taken to get to that destination, both metaphorically and literally, as the song ends with Kendrick leaving the voicemail for his momma saying he's gonna borrow her van, the very topic that ended the first song.
Incredible album. Incredible concept. Perfect story telling.
Your art of peer pressure reaction is actually beautifull. Thank you.
This is his second best to me after TPAB but I’m sure this will be your favourite of his.
I'm half and half. I'm from NOLA so I'm already a jazzy ass nigga so TPAB IS A CLASSC. But Good kid mad city can be denied.
I understand everyone has their opinion, but good kid was a damn near flawless album. From storytelling, flow switches, song transitions, rhyme schemes, call backs. There’s so much about that album that will make it last as long as music does. I’m just saying
Ryan Evanson This album is a masterpiece, but TPAB is flawless in my eyes.
@@MiniMuni69 I think that tpab has one or two tracks that aren't that special, the lows are lower than on good kid which is more consistent in my eyes.
G K That’s exactly what I think about certain tracks on GKMC lol. I see what what you mean
I always say kendrick is at his best when he's telling stories of his past. Even though he's great at every aspect of rap. That's why I love good kid so much. My favourite album
Deanz Beber cole is a better storyteller. So pretty much cole better than k-dot?
@@erwanntowa7832 he's not
Erwann Towa pahahahaha next joke please
gunner 04 I loooove Cole he’s one of my favorites but better? Idk
10:20 That man just had his life changed.
Daaamn i was waiting for peer pressure to come on to see his reaction. That song changed me...
This and TPAB are proof that Kendrick Lamar is the greatest of all time
@I’m Right, You’re Wrong So don’t R/woosh me "Ye" what a masterpiece lmao Kendrick hasnt a single bad project
You have spongebob as your profile pic, and have a rap opinion? Get outta here cupcake
@I’m Right, You’re Wrong So don’t R/woosh me ye is nowhere near as good as overly dedicated, ur a madone
Depends on how you calculate “goat” if it’s off albums than obv nas Kendrick and Kanye but you have to implement skill/ and ability
@I’m Right, You’re Wrong So don’t R/woosh me Well how does Jay Z, Andre 3000 rank in your goat rankings?
ONE OF THE GREATEST ALBUMS OF ALL TIME
Made itttt. Go into TPAB with as open as mind possible, first listen is tough for anyone.. musically, lyrically, just everything about it really so just absorb it and try not to understand it too much on first listen, just vibe on it.
I'd watch a video of his first and second reactions, they'll probably be super different!!
Yep my first listen back in 2016 I definitely wasn't feeling it only a few songs caught my attention like For Free, These Walls, U, Mortal Man, but the rest was meh. And fast forward to now, the TPAB album's my favorite album of all time.
Flyhr me and you both brother, masterful
Josh Biggs How is tpab a tough listen musically for anyone? If you just listen to charts then sure but if you listen to multiple genres and less mainstream music literally nothing sonically is crazy in it. Amazing album but not groundbreaking sonically.
ronald bangtidy if people listen to it and love it at first listen, I guarantee they come in very few numbers. TPAB sounds like nothing we have ever heard. To go from the pure Hop-Hop in GKMC where it’s straight story telling and rhymes to the jazzy pianos and orchestra. For someone as big as Kendrick, it’ll be looked back on as one of the most 180’d albums ever. Mainstream has nothing to do with it, the album is in a category on its own.
Your reaction to peer pressure beat was amazing
React to Madvilliany by Madvillian (MF DOOM), the best abstract hip hop album of all time.
Fr, he’s the best MC with no chain I’ve ever heard!
Matt Lesner overrated
kev in sure he’s overrated if you think the best rhymer of all time doesn’t deserve any attention.
This
It will be interesting. Him and Simon reacted to accordion before which was a big mistake. Imo Madvillainy is an album I wouldn't recommend to a first time DOOM listener. I would probably go with Operation Doomsday or Vaudeville Villain first.
I get goosebumps everytime I listen to this album fr it helped me through some hard times. Def my fav Kendrick album
I don't think I would have got through college without Kendrick's albums. From Section.80 to DAMN. A span of seven years! Shit got me through as well.
From Money Trees to Sing About Me might possibly be the best consecutive stretch of songs on a hip hop album in rap history
Sherane to Compton bro wdym
@@patrickgracias5782Real is a divisive song in the community while those stretch of songs are universally great
Sherman’s to Compton be like 😮
@@rithvikbonam8507Imp real is better than Compton sherane bdkmv
REALLY COOL DETAIL that most people won’t realize: in maad city the first half is Kendrick actually tripping on the cocaine laced blunt that he hits and the end of the art of peer pressure, and he is experiencing paranoia in the verses. This is why you hear the distorted voices in the beginning saying “where you from n****, fuck who you know where you from, where you grandmas stay...”. That is the voices two men who jumped him. This is why the beat/sample sound so psychedelic in the first part. Then when the beat changes somebody wakes him up from his trip when he hears “Wake yo punk ass up”... then in the second part of the song he says, “projects torn up, gang signs get thrown up, cocaine laced in marijuana”- relating to the blunt that he hit
Kendrick is a goddamn genius
"And I'm not sure why I'm infatuated with death
My imagination is surely an aggravation of threats"
I think this is my favorite line by Kendrick.
yeah definetly one of his best lines ever. Thats i think where you can really say that Kendrick is one of the best lyricists ever, even though its a different form of lyricism. Its not the usual punchline with insane wordplay, but its a line that hits really hard. Thats the case with most of Kendricks lines. His lines have such a big impact on the listener, simply because of the way he phrases it.
My titties bounce on the cadence of his tingling keys
Josh 😂😂
RezHD // TV & Movie Edits holy shit I read that quote as he said it at like 35 min in what are the odds.
“I suffer a lot and every day that glass mirror get tougher to watch I tie my stomach in knots, and I’m not sure why I’m infatuated with death my imagination is surely an aggravation of threats that could come about, cause the tongue is mighty powerful”
There is a chronological story to the album you have to piece it together through audio clips references and what the songs are about
Yes, that's what the video I made is
@@JonDenton stop burning your fans lmao
You know Kendrick's your favorite rapper when your favorite songs and albums from him change from time to time. Money Trees used to be bar none my favorite track, Sing About Me and Art of Peer Pressure also fluctuated near the top. I don't even know what my favorite track from TPAB is. Shit I thought DAMN sucked when it first came out, bumped it a week later and loved it, then my views changed again cuz I played the shit out of it lol. Right now, I can't decide if it's Section.80 or TPAB as my favorite album. One things definitive for me though, and it's that Kendrick will likely go down as the best rapper of all time if he continues this amazing feat of consistency.
Kendrick’s mom talking to him at the end of “Real” rips me apart emotionally.
Ayyyy was looking forward to this brutha
I can't listen to Sing About Me without being on the verge of tears man. It's so fucking good. I'm a working class White guy in England, who has never experienced gang culture, or violence really, but Kendrick is such an excellent story teller you can completely empathise and understand exactly what he's putting across. That song is truly beautiful and heartbreaking.
I was never a big hip-hop fan, and was always a metal head. I thought hip-hop was just about promoting drug dealing, gang culture, objectifying women, and how rich rappers are. I was frequently chilling out with my friend at the time of this album coming out though, and him playing it slowly got me listening to it, and accepting it, and then being blown away by it. This album got me into hip-hop and that's why for me Kendrick will always be my number one rapper and this album will always be my number one album. TPAB is an excellent album, but didn't transport me into Kendricks mind and eyes like GKMC.
Money Trees is timeless, definitely his best song of all time for me.
Money Trees got me into Beach House which then got me into Dream Pop and Shoegaze. Sampling is awesome isn’t it
@@0v3rgr0wn That Silver Soul sample is unbelievable!
Jon you're a legend 🙌
Appreciate it!!
most of the beats on this album are insane but the beat on Good Kid always makes me make a face... like it’s so mysterious and upbeat at the same time it’s wild
The only 12 minute song I never skip
Great reaction, it's worth noting that the bonus tracks on this album are worth checking out too, particularly 'The Recipe' with dre which should have easily been on the main release.
Black Boy Fly is my favorite bonus too
As someone raised in Compton my whole life, I hold this album in the highest regards because in a sense.. he speaks for all of us “good kids” that grew up in this mad city that is Compton.. kendrick speaks on a lot of relatable topics that resonate with a bunch of us that went through similar things here & for that I praise the man. This album Forever #1 on my list!
We’ve all been waiting for this. This album is a movie in music form. You have to listen to the entire tracks though, I noticed you didn’t listen to the end of ‘Bitch, don’t kill my vibe.’ Or if you did you didn’t have it in the video. Almost all the songs end with a ‘skit’ that sets up the next song and helps tell the story. The one at the end of ‘Bitch, don’t kill my vibe’ is Kendrick’s friend telling him to get in the car so they can roll out, and that he has a CD with beats on it so they can freestyle over, leading to ‘Backstreet freestyle,’ which then leads to ‘The Art of Peer Pressure.’
Not sure if you plan on doing Untitled Unmastered but if not, Untitled 01 as an individual reaction is worth doing at least. One of Kendrick's strongest tracks imo, the entire track is one verse with revelations as a theme.
I love that song so much but the first minute and a half is UNBEARABLE
should of heard the 2nd CD as well, it has awesome songs like Black Boy Fly, The Recipe and Now Or Never
Poetic Justice essentially serves as kendrick meeting up with Sherane. It's a love song with an R&B throwback sample from Janet Jackson to set the mood. Kendrick is talking about love, self-love, trust, among other things. Drake, being the "sensitive" rapper in the game fits perfect as a feature to add to the whole romantic storyline of the track. Picture sherane and kendrick being together finally and the track will make sense. It can even be seen as a daydream in k-dot's mind while he's driving to Sherane's. At the end of the track, we get snapped out of the dream, and kendrick gets confronted by dudes in hoodies, which leads into "good kid".
Ohhh just you wait until you get to TPAB.
It’s truly something else
GKMC is so much better than TPAB imo.
rulzzzzzz I _kinda_ get where you’re coming from.
Its story is a lot tighter, but I think TPAB is way more layered and complicated.
Gkmc is more consistent in track quality overall, but TPAB has higher highs and lower lows (though not by much).
@@rulzzzzzz AHAHAHAH. Tpab is MUCH MUCH better than gkmc, OBJECTIVELY SPEAKING.
@@rulzzzzzz when you have musical knowledge, you realize tpab is 10/10...and gkmc has like 6 fillers
qzfqzfqz fqzfzq Compton would be the only filler since it's like a "roll out the credits" track. TPAB IS better but cmon 6 fillers? I'm interested to know what those 6 are.
Love the content Jon! Hopefully we get to Joey bada$$ season after Kendrick:)
BiggieWallace1 for real, Joey is just insane with his lyricism
Seriously! Especially with the beast coast tour, can’t wait to see him and Flatbush zombies in August!
BTW every time you hear the ooohh ahhh in the beginning of the song - it involves sherane
Man I remember when Kendrick dropped this album. Freshman year of college for me in Florida. A lot of weed was smoked and fifa played to this album lol good times
You really need to listen to the BDKMV remix with Jay Z both him and Kendrick kill it
That gunshot skit hits me so hard every time
Classic album the day this came out!
This album is soo deep with lyrics and themes but TPAB is a whole other level of music genius. It’d be cool if we get a first reaction and then an update after hearing the album a couple of times so you understand everything better. Great reaction and can’t wait for the next
I genuinely love the "nod" Jon gives us at 30:15 like saying "Yea I'm not going to pause it" 😂
be ready for TPAB. Like many artists have already said, its arguarbly one of the greatest albums ever made, in any genre. No musical flaw, everything about this album is pure perfection. It makes gkmc sound like a mixtape
Can't wait to watch this! Been waiting all week
🔥🔥
My favourite Kendrick album, but not his best imo :)
Whats his best?
nah i think it’s his best
TPAB is his best imo due to subject matter and production alone but GKMC is my favorite. I literally got the cover tattooed on me lol
DAMN. is his best in my favorite
@@travisaust1n I agree. All incredible work, but To Pimp A Butterfly reigns Supreme, w/out question.
watch the mallory bros video on this
they explain it perfectly
Oliver that video blew my mind
You have to listen to the bonus tracks, especially Collect Calls. It's such an underrated song
DUDE YES I’ve always thought the art of peer pressure beat was underrated.
9:26 Shout out to bigquint 😂😂
The story of G.K.M.C is so great that this album will end up as an Amazon Audible audio book
I made it! Great reaction. I'm worried that To Pimp A Butterfly might melt your brain lol. It's NOT a fun album. Be prepared for something very dense and very very heavy, music and content.
Man people are really overhyping TPAB in this comment section. The lyrical content is profound and some of the best, but it’s more cryptic than heavy or soul crushing or anything, and isn’t even that cryptic. At the end of the day it’s still music, and phenomenal music at that which can be very easy to enjoy depending on your tastes. Maybe I don’t get it because I was into jazz and funk and Flying Lotus and Thundercat and all that shit as well as Kendrick when it came out, but I really don’t think it’s as inaccessible as people are purporting it to be.
@@weaselsdawg heavy content and "unconventional" music choices do make it less accessible, but I don't think it's over-hyped at all. I think it's a masterpiece, just not an easy listen
@@3COI Oh yeah it's a masterpiece for sure, I meant exaggerating the degree to which it's inaccessible when I said overhype.
@@weaselsdawg It gets better over time and the first listen is arguably the worst one (certainly was for me). You can still pull things out of it a dozen listens in.
@@hw29472 Bro I've listened to every track at least 80 times no exaggeration. Mortal Man is my least played at 81. I fucking love the album and I do also agree that it does nothing but improve with more time to consider what's being said. All of that said, I think the characterization of TPAB as a cryptic album that isn't fun is incorrect. It's slightly niche sonically, and the messages are universal, but there's nothing incredibly jarring. At worst, it gets weird to some people. My first listen was also my worst since it only improves with time, but that doesn't mean that I wasn't incredibly happy that there was an album being made by one of my favorite artists working with some of my other favorite artists (Fly Lo, Thundercat, Terrace Martin, Snoop, George Clinton, Ronald Isley, the little taste of Pete Rock, etc.) and genres to say something worth saying on my first listen as well.
You are one of my favorite people for doing all these reactions, especially to this one, my most favorite album of all time. Keep going brother
Good Kid and Art of Peer Pressure are the best songs on the album to me. The depth of these songs is crazy.
Kendrick's best album imo. Love TPAB and Section 80 nearly as much, but this deffo has the most replay value without sacrificing high density bars and musical beats
Hope it's not to late for this, but another UA-camr, the Manic Pineapple, did an excellent analysis of the song "Money Trees." He concluded that Money Trees has a subtle detail about Kendrick (KDOT) getting an STD from Sherane (Hence the 'Usher Raymond had Let it Burn come on").
the story behind this album is absolutely crazy. you arent gonna understand it at first as it took me till only recently so if you really want to try to understand whats going on you could look it up
This is honestly the best album of all time the story the hits the flow the lyrics the message
Been waiting for the rereaction to sing about me, definitely my favourite song of his
I always felt like "Compton" is the song playing as the credits roll
The first half of Art of Peer Pressure should’ve been it’s own song man. Smh. Never wanted that to end
Great stuff bruv. Would love to see your reaction to 'blank face lp' by ScHoolboy Q
div randev please 💯💯💯💯🔥
oxymoron too
Swimming Pools outro into Sing About Me might be one of the greatest transitions I've ever heard
this album gives me goosebumps
Nothing was the same u never got into drake's old stuff like thiss!!!
Plz
His best album imo
Please do this
nawwww
Probably cause none of drake's projects are on this level... hell you could argue Kendrick's worst album is better than Drakes best album.
I really enjoyed what you said about Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe because its perfectly ironic that the song with that subject matter was also one of the most radio played songs of kendrick. Back in 2013-14 you would hear it all the time on any hip hop station where I was from anyways
Great reaction, Jon!
I have a few tips for when you listen to TPAB:
As brilliant and well crafted as GKMC is, for me, TPAB is somehow even more brilliant. But it won't be as easy to follow as GKMC. It helps to know that it picks up basically right after GKMC when Kendrick gets his record deal and details his experience with fame, the music industry and life as a star in general.
Don't be afraid to read the summary of a song on Genius if you don't get its connection to the overall album. TPAB is one of those albums where the more effort you put into understanding it, the more you will get out of it.
When I first heard this album, my favorite songs were BDKMV, Backseat Freestyle and M.A.A.D City. Now that it's been almost 8 years, songs like Money Trees and Sing About Me are not only my favorite on the album, but arguably 2 of Kendrick's top songs to this day. The way he paints a vivid picture while still being a flow and lyrical monster is just unmatched. Nobody has ever or will ever do it as well as Kendrick does.
I feel like GKMC is one of those albums that either takes several listens or some one to explain it to you to understand it for example lots of people don’t understand that backseat freestyle is written through the perspective of a 16 year old k dot free styling with his homies and the way the song switch from a cocky young Kendrick and the switch’s to almost like his inner thoughts best example is the art of peer pressure to money trees or even the obvious one like good kid to mad city
Good kid is the most underrated track on here
This album brings back so many memories. It’s also the album that introduced me to Kendrick. No doubt that you’ll find so much replay value out of this one John 👌🏼
I'm sure!
Its deep rooted in the music of being young and dumb.
My best birthday present is Jon Denton reacting to one of my favourite albums of all time
Only person I've got notifications for
Ayyyy
OMGG BigQuint breaking his chair was one of the funniest things ever thank you for reminding me & greeaat video 👍🏼
Your amazement gives me joy, I enjoy the art-the music, the simply flow and the architect of words-that is kendrick lamar.
Through you, I understand his album better. Came out of the 44 minute experience as a smarter man.
Keep it on
Sherane is my personal favorite intro to an album ever "also my favorite song off the album"
Love how you didn't introduce Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst and just dived straight in from the skit. 100% how it should be listened to
Your silence throughout the song also speaks more than words can. Keep the videos going!
Art of Peer Pressure might be one of Kendrick's greatest songs, it's in my top 3
Do My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy next !!
Lol... This a reaction channel not a listen to your favourite album and act like it's the first time...
Ezra Przytyk ok?
@@resolve5318 ok?
ok?
Ok?
This Album is so good, it’s more replayable than TPAB but it actual holds a good debate for Kendricks best album
Money trees one of my fave Kdot tracks
Been patiently waiting all week THANK YOU!!
Nice seeing you come full circle with sing about me/dying of thirst. Mick jenkins - the waters next? Or some joey bada$$ :3
My favorite Kdot album. One of my favorite albums of all time