Kendrick Lamar - GOOD KID M.A.A.D CITY - FIRST EVER LISTEN 

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

And just think...this album lost to Macklemore. 🤨

The fact that most people think this album is his second best, speaks to how legendary his discography already is.

It’s great to see Macklemore himself listening to the album he beat at the grammys

I love how good rap gives everyone that universal "stank face"

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👍🏿

Art of peer pressure is one of his best songs ever

sing about me, i’m dying of thirst is easily my favorite kendrick song

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

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.

tpab is my favorite but gkmc has more replay value

I wish I could re-listen to this album for the first time

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.

Pumped to be able to put this video out. What a journey this is already!

Good kid is one of the most underrated Kendrick songs I swear

My favorite album of all time, hyped to finally see a reaction to it

I love how "Compton" feels like the song that plays in the end credits as the movie closes.

Sing About Me, I'm Dying Of Thirst is easily his best song to me

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.

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.

10:20 That man just had his life changed.

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.

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).

This is his second best to me after TPAB but I’m sure this will be your favourite of his.

Your art of peer pressure reaction is actually beautifull. Thank you.

This and TPAB are proof that Kendrick Lamar is the greatest of all time

"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.

From Money Trees to Sing About Me might possibly be the best consecutive stretch of songs on a hip hop album in rap history

ONE OF THE GREATEST ALBUMS OF ALL TIME

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

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

There is a chronological story to the album you have to piece it together through audio clips references and what the songs are about

Kendrick’s mom talking to him at the end of “Real” rips me apart emotionally.

Money Trees is timeless, definitely his best song of all time for me.

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.

Your reaction to peer pressure beat was amazing

I get goosebumps everytime I listen to this album fr it helped me through some hard times. Def my fav Kendrick album

React to Madvilliany by Madvillian (MF DOOM), the best abstract hip hop album of all time.

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 always felt like "Compton" is the song playing as the credits roll

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.

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".

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

BTW every time you hear the ooohh ahhh in the beginning of the song - it involves sherane

The only 12 minute song I never skip

Ohhh just you wait until you get to TPAB. It’s truly something else

That gunshot skit hits me so hard every time

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.’

I genuinely love the "nod" Jon gives us at 30:15 like saying "Yea I'm not going to pause it" 😂

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.

DUDE YES I’ve always thought the art of peer pressure beat was underrated.

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!

Ayyyy was looking forward to this brutha

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

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.

9:26 Shout out to bigquint 😂😂

should of heard the 2nd CD as well, it has awesome songs like Black Boy Fly, The Recipe and Now Or Never

Bro you have to listen to collect calls, it’s a bonus track from the deluxe version

The story of G.K.M.C is so great that this album will end up as an Amazon Audible audio book

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

Good kid is the most underrated track on here

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

Jon you're a legend 🙌

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

Love the content Jon! Hopefully we get to Joey bada$$ season after Kendrick:)

watch the mallory bros video on this they explain it perfectly

Been patiently waiting all week THANK YOU!!

Can't wait to watch this! Been waiting all week

Been waiting for the rereaction to sing about me, definitely my favourite song of his

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.

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

You have to listen to the bonus tracks, especially Collect Calls. It's such an underrated song

Art of Peer Pressure might be one of Kendrick's greatest songs, it's in my top 3

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

Your reaction to this album is so genuine. It’s amazing to watch bro thank you.

Good Kid and Art of Peer Pressure are the best songs on the album to me. The depth of these songs is crazy.

Great stuff bruv. Would love to see your reaction to 'blank face lp' by ScHoolboy Q

The wait is over! Recommended this since your sing about me review on rock reacts! Love you Jon thanks for the review!

This was great! Can’t wait to check out more of your content. Keep it up man fr you’re doing great

The first half of Art of Peer Pressure should’ve been it’s own song man. Smh. Never wanted that to end

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

Oh man! YES! I love that you guys are doing full album dives now!

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.

Honestly this album showcases Kendrick's versatility the most out of all his projects. Going from 'bitch don't kill My vibe' to 'backstreet freestyle'. The moment asked "is that still him?" Is a perfect example

My best birthday present is Jon Denton reacting to one of my favourite albums of all time

Finally you uploaded it and I'm happy with you reaction to it 😊

I’m glad that you find Kendricks music is brilliant. I’ve subcribed to your channel. 🥰

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

Swimming Pools outro into Sing About Me might be one of the greatest transitions I've ever heard

Jon you're fkn sick and i love your reactions, thoughts and especially the discussion about each track, meaning, everything. Keep it up

i'm new to your channel but love this way of reacting. I appreciate how you have the lyrics open so you can actually follow the stories specially when it comes to Kdot. If you didn't noticed this whole album was about 1 day which was amazing.

OMGG BigQuint breaking his chair was one of the funniest things ever thank you for reminding me & greeaat video 👍🏼

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.

Very very ready for that breakdown/ranking video after Kendrick season is over. Kendrick albums have this magical property of getting even better with time, I'm excited to hear your thoughts after letting them rest. Great video as always Jon, thank you :)

needed this reaction🙌🏻🔥💯 best album/story/movie of all time

Nothing was the same u never got into drake's old stuff like thiss!!!

Nice seeing you come full circle with sing about me/dying of thirst. Mick jenkins - the waters next? Or some joey bada$$ :3

I'm really excited for TPAB. Keep up the amazing content!

Made it all the way, this album is one of my very very favorites and in my mind it's my favorite Kendrick album; really looking forward to your reaction and feelings on TPAB, since I think that's Kendrick's masterpiece.