Understanding Kendrick Lamar: The Crown Prince of Compton 

Sometimes just seeing the cover of To Pimp a Butterfly gives me chills

He's not a crown prince. He's king kunta.

Good kid mAAd city was so good, people dont even think Section 80 as his first studio album

TPAB should’ve won the Pulitzer Award instead of DAMN.

Kendrick is a great storyteller and social commentator but “Warriors and Conans hope euphoria can slow dance with society the driver seat the first one to get killed” even dusts Nas at his peak. When Genius writes 6 pages for one verse on “These Walls” you know he created something so deep that even the OG’s need to sit and learn. Maybe it’s not something to bump in the background but no GOAT makes Muzak, GOATs demands you to “sit down, shut up and listen”.

I feel like you didn't research DAMN enough because that album is thematically heavy as hell. It tells two different stories depending on what order you play it. It won a Pultizer prize for a reason. The rest of the video was pretty solid except for skipping Overly Dedicated, which is widely respected.

3:11 Hold on now. The Kendrick Lamar EP and Overly Dedicated might not be on par with Kendrick’s latest work, but I disagree with the thought of them being “not that good”. These are still really dope projects.

In the past 30 minutes or so, I've gone through and watched 3 of your videos. They are truly amazing and in-depth analyses of topics that have real meaning to me. The production of the video's is exquisite. Everything from the background music to the accompanying visuals makes it really easy to watch and listen whilst not becoming bored. What you are doing is just perfect and I wish that there was more thoughtful commentary on RU-vid like this. If I could I would support you on Patreon but I can't so I hope that my words and more sub is enough. Keep making these amazing videos!

As soon as you said the moment you realised Kendrick is a genius I knew it would be the Art of Peer Pressure. Not his best song but it seems to be the one that just clicks that switch for so many people.

*“HUMBLE”-Being Prideful* *”PRIDE”-Being Pride-less*

When "untitled unmastered." came out I replayed it so much.

Ive never listened to any Full Album in my life but when i listened to all of TPAB this really changed my Outlook on life with songs like theses walls, how much a dollar costs, institutionalized, and mortal man these songs especially changed how i think

Bruhhh the disrespect to Overly Dedicated & Kendrick Lamar LP is outrageous!! He got some of his best songs & bars on there

My opinion: Kendrick Lamar is the best rapper period

I've always had a bit of trouble getting into hip hop, because, I'll be honest, I'm pretty damn white. But on my first listen to To Pimp a Butterfly, I immediately enjoyed it, which I think helps show his skill.

Okay,but Overly Dedicated is VERY good

"one classic, right back, another classic came right" 💯

This is excellently made...you deserve many more views than you've earned here. Keep up the great work and don't let the lack of exposure discourage you.

Kendrick is the one who got me into rap when I was 18/19. His art is purely magnificent. It’s hard to describe in words how powerful, eclectic and meaningful his rap is. We just know by listening ❤️

It's cool that you mentioned the no self-awareness and the immaturity on the mixtape he created at 16 because there are many artists who never shake their lack of self-awareness or the immaturity. Kendrick found the tools to and I think that's dope.

The C4 song you’re playing at 3:50 is Kendrick trying to sound like Lil Wayne. The whole album has a clear Wayne influence

kinda late to the party but i wished you gave a deeper look into sing about me, thats my favorite kendrick song and favorite song of all time, the storytelling is unparalleled and the way he portrays the multiple characters is astounding

Every time I finish listening to GKMC and TPAB, I feel like I just watched a movie.❤️🤷🏻‍♀️

i love how he referenced fantano

We are lucky to live in the time of such a talented artist. Can’t wait to see what he does next

The "blind lady" is "justice"

Well said, well said.

King Kendrick🤴🏾

subscribed; brilliant content, I'm shook!

Overly dedicated was good tho

TPaB is in my mind the greatest album of our decade, it is to the 2010s what MBDTF was to the 2000s and Illmatic was to the 90s.

Section 80= book Good kid= movie Damn= magazine/think piece article

Untitled Unmastered deserves far more credit than that wow

*Love it*

Kanye West next? 😊

This was dope, the way you talked about gkmc gave me chills. I definitely relate to how it felt listening to it for the first time

I have listened to all of the album damn and the black panther soundtrack and a couple songs in good kid maad city and I think that Kendrick is a really good and inspiring artist his flow is really good and so are his lyrics they have a meaning and have a impact on everyday life and are truthful and I think he will be one of the most well known respected hip hop artists and just music artists in general.

a few weeks after i first heard it i was thinking of this scene of a news crew covering a story about a black kid being shot and trying to remember what movie it was from, i remembered SEEING it so vividly then i realized later it was from gkmc. i feel like the term masterful storytelling is over used but kendrick is a master at storytelling

My dude, you did Overly Dedicated a real nasty disservice

Overly Dedicated is good tho. . .

This is nice. I love hearing what I know but in a different manner

Sing about me, im dying of thirst is the best Kendrick songs. Dont @ me

This analysis took me back to when I used an iTunes gift card to buy Good Kid Maad City as the first new album I'd bought in maybe, 3 years at that time. I swear to all that is holy, I sat in my room and listened to the whole thing and tentatively texted my girlfriend "I think this album might be the best album I'd ever heard". I swear I said "This is like a movie more than an album." It changed my life, not even kidding. I don't listen to alot of music I don't already know well. I'm white, was studying art, and hearing the artwork Kendrick made changed what I understood I could do with art. That album is when I see myself making the change from art to activism and politics. Since then, I still walk up to the U.S. Capitol listening to Kendrick to work for, and I swear this is true, Senator DUCKWORTH. My birthday is June 17th, same as Kendricks. I'm by no means a stan or crazy fan of anyone's, but I'd be lying if I didn't attribute Kendrick Lamar's music to turning me onto the thing's I care about most now. He did in an indirect way turn me onto James Baldwin, actually reading MLK instead of just taking the day off work and remembering he had a dream, and confronting my own white privilege in a way that doesn't feel antagonistic, but feels like I'm truly working on making myself a better person while understanding with no doubts that my voice is far less important than those with real, lived, experiences.

This video literally changed my life....

Kendrick will be remembered as one of the greatest to do it! Props to King Kunta 🙌🏾❤️

Radiohead’s Ok Computer was number 1 of all time? And Kid A 4? Damn right. Do a vid on Kid A please, I’d love that

Mate, DAMN. isnt simple at all. It's up there with TPAB, its more intimate and tells the story of his whole career while echoing the story of the prophet Jonah. It is deeply rooted in Christian, themes and imagery and religion and you should give it another go. But still 10/10 good job

The Art of Peer Pressure was like a movie playing in my head. His best song with Sing About Me on GKMC.

It's now the 13'th best album of all time.

Good video. Kendrick is one of the most talented writers out there right now. A lot of credit should go to his parents for raising him so well. Moving to Compton to escape gang violence, working jobs, instilling Christian values, maintaining a family unit: all of these things contribute to what makes Kendrick such a talent.

Watching this exactly two weeks before his next album release "Mr Morale & The Big Steppers" on May 13, 2022. I only recently discovered how great Kendrick was a year or so ago from writing this, yet he has quickly become my favorite artist to date. Typically, my reaction to new albums dropping is "oh, cool," and days after the album had come out. It is not a coincidence to me that I am aware ahead of time of his newest album, and it is also not a coincidence that I cannot wait. However, that is not to say that I don't feel a little guilty about putting so much pressure on Kendrick. The whole world of music is watching him closely and expecting great things. Naturally, I am as well, however, I hope he knows that I mostly look forward to hearing his voice on a fresh set of tracks.

This needs more views

Overly dedicated wasn’t the best, but most definitely had some legendary songs on it

the art of peer pressure is literally my favorite song by him. love his lyricism

This shit deadass brings tears to my eyes.

GKMC is literally the FRIDAY of music !!

Dude I just discovered this channel and got to say your videos are top notch man. Great editing, great voice and great content ! Keep it up, I hope you blow up sometime soon.

Beautiful... absolutely beautiful

Kendrick is insanely better than tupac. Change my mind

This is most excellent. Your dedication and passion for music and art bleeds obvious through the depth of your analysis and portrayal. A most excellent dedication to one of the greatest artists/musicians of our time...

Do Joey badass, I really do think he is the east coast rapper that is comparable to Kendricks level. May be 2nd of this generation.

This voice made me not realize it was 17 minutes long

13:00 I just recently bought this album: "Untitled Unmastered." Can't wait to listen to it.

loved this big time

This video just got recommended. great video and man Kendrick is the king !!! this comment section is as matured as his masterpiece

I Was one of the singers that opened for him on the show you see him doing at 10:04

Sir, like and sub to you. I had same feeling when listening to The Art of Peer Pressure or Sing About Me I'm Dying of Thirst. The moment I realised something. Thank You for making this video, I enjoyed every part of it!

the Art of Peer Pressure is a beyond amazing song, it's perfect

C4 was amazing lol. One of my fav mixtapes ever.

this was a brilliant essay. thank you.

3:10 lemme stop you right there chief, the Kendrick Lamar EP and OD were great albums

Thank you for this! Thank you for taking the time!

One of the greatest video essays I've had the pleasure of listening and watching. I am definitely watching every video you release from now

THIS IS MAGIC, IT'S UP TO HIM!

GOD A GOOD VID. checks Volksgeist's subs, WHAT 75K WHAT

Kendrick is like Tupac reborn.First album they come out woke and full of talent but not yet matured.Second album they show growth in art and poetry with captivating story telling.Third album they reveal deep emotions,educate,and strive for humility.Fourth album they break barriers and combine all the qualities they have in one project.

I blame C4 solely on Wayne haha

Your content just keeps getting better and better, to, eventually, go through the roof! An amazing watch, keep it up!

The track "Ignorance is Bliss" from Overly Dedicated is what made Dr. Dre interested in Kendrick Lamar.

Your channel is the best thing that RU-vid has ever recommended to me God bless you

Reminds me of the Anime Berzerk where the main character literally goes through hell trying to maintain his humanity and be a good person despite temptation

You should’ve talked about overly dedicated. It’s a great ass album that really shows his transition from K-dot to Kendrick Lamar

section 80 so underrated

Vince Staples next?

Excellent video, I appreciate your take on DAMN. It's still a very good album but I would cast it at times because it wasn't TPAB. But Kendrick isnt trying to outdo his magnum opus right now. I can look at his album differently for the better now, thanks.

Great video, i only had one problem with it. Saying that J. Cole and Joyner Lucas is too outspoken and philosophical, to ever get a mainstream appeal, is ridiculous. Well to be fair I don’t know Joyner Lucas well enough to commentate on his music. But I can certainly say that J. Coles music is not philosophical, yes he does tackle complicated and relevant issues in morderen day society, but ever time he does so, he describes the situation and solution with so little nuance. Like on KOD his main moral on a lot of his tracks are, don’t do drug drugs are bad, and I completely agree, but he don’t mention anything about why these people take drugs in the first place, or anything like that. He’s is basically making it seem as these problems have a definitive answer, and lack a great amount of nuance when setting up these dilemmas.

That moment when you said Joyner Lucas and J.Cole are philosophical gave me a pretty good laugh

Section.80 will always remain my favorite

You have a new subscriber as soon as you started describing the art of peer pressure I knew what it was before and that's the time why I noticed that there was something special

Hey, I know this is old and you probably don’t have necessarily the same opinions anymore, but DAMN. is actually incredibly dense and substantive- and the fact that you can overlook that is what makes it so great. It’s his most complex narrative yet (I can talk about what that is and how it’s delivered for hours) but is packaged in a way that makes it just as enjoyable to listen to without it, as if it was just another group of great unrelated songs.

Your videos are amazing. This is the second video of yours that I have come across. The editing is smooth, what your saying is detailed and observant and I really appreciate what you’re doing. I love music and I dream to be a producer or an artist one day. These videos really help me learn and realize what I’m trying to do. Thank you for this 🙌🏾❤️

Good and informative. Inspiring too thanks mahhn ✅🔥❤

i just found your channel... it's so hard to find a thoughtful popular culture commentary on youtube, and i can't imagine the effort you put into your work. i'm predicting it now, you'll be viral in a year. (and do an episode on frank ocean!)

Bro , this was awesome . Keep working hard man you are bound to blow up

Dude.. 1:03. That's such an awesome photo. His mom looks so god damn cute and happy, and so does he. I woke up feeling down for no damn reason but this makes everything seem alright just by itself. I feel like you could put it on a satellite and shoot it out of the galaxy as a representation of who we are /were just by itself.

Overly dedicated is better than most albums today big man, put some respeck on his name

Kendrick Is DA G.O.A.T

This was nice. I swear, watched to the end and I must say it's nice

THE UNDISPUTED KING OF HIP HOP.