The city of Compton is known for creating one of hip hop’s most influential groups, N.W.A., and it’ll always be important to hip hop culture for that reason.
Due to the success of the group’s rebellious music, record labels spent years searching South-Central L.A. for the next gangsta rap act, often over-looking talented artists who had a different story to tell.
Fast forward to 2010 and we see L.A. embracing a new sound, while putting a lot of hometown support behind artists such as U-N-I, Shawn Chrystopher, Pac Div, Diz Gibran, Tiron, and Kendrick Lamar. One thing that sets newcomer, Kendrick Lamar, apart from these artists is his hometown of Compton, CA.
Last fall, when Jay-z was killing radio waves everywhere, Kendrick Lamar decided to put his own twist on the NYC anthem with “Compton State of Mind.”
The video created a lot of online buzz and gives a good look at present-day Compton – something hip hop fans don’t get too see very often.
About a month before that video dropped, Kendrick decided to separate himself from other talented rappers by giving fans a serious glance into who he was as a person. This included changing his stage name from K.Dot to his birth name, and writing about his personal views and experiences in the 17-track, self titled EP.
Here’s Kendrick’s most recent video for “She Needs Me/I Am.”
The video starts off with the smooth “She Needs Me,” where Kendrick describes the perfect woman:
“She go to work, she go to school,
Her body’s smooth, no tattoos,
Type a girl that’ll make your mother feel comfortable,
My pops love her too, she’s compatible,
She’s independent, she handle her business,
She believe in God and no other religions…
So sweet, every flavor,
Just a conversation with her doing you a favor,
Look at her hips, I want to be a pager…
The beauty of her, a blind man can see,
A true queen and she needs me.”
Sounds like a Five Star Chick to me.
The end of that video features the EP’s interlude, “I Am,” where Kendrick spits an impressive spoken word freestyle about himself.
Here’s an excerpt:
“Stare into the eyes of Mozart and tell’em I’m the genius,
Do the Dougie and grab my penis,
Cause I means this,
With all my soul,
and you can’t control,
Greatness unless you hatin’,
With the heart of Satan,
And even that can’t stop it,
Nigga get out my wallet,
And put passion in your logic,
Passion in your life,
The Passion of my Christ is in me,
And if you say it ain’t you may offend me,
Damn that boy good,
Bright as Thomas Edison but Gucci Mane hood.”
I like that line about being as bright as Edison while Gucci Mane hood, BURRR!
Kendrick Lamar – “P&P” (Featuring Ab Soul)
On my favorite track of the EP, Kendrick Lamar and Ab Soul discuss their favorite escape from hard times; pussy and patron.
Ab Soul gives a shout out to J.Cole with:
“I feel like death’s around the corner,
Like the quickest wide receiver,
So I took another shot,
Tequila hit me like a nina,
My sky is grey, my bitch is brighter,
Always saying lights please, J.Cole’s her ghost writer.”
If you didn’t get the J.Cole reference, give this a listen.
Kendrick Lamar – “Faith” (Featuring BJ The Chicago Kid)
Alongside the extremely talented BJ The Chicago Kid on the hook, Kendrick uses “Faith” to showcase his storytelling ability. The track follows three people in their quest to find God, with the last verse having Kendrick profess his faith in Christ.
Here’s an excerpt from Kendrick’s verse about his own struggle:
“I found myself loosing focus at a Sunday service,
Embarrassed so I started questioning, God what is my purpose?
He say to live the way he did, that’s all he want from me,
Spread the word and witness he rose on the first Sunday,
I said alright.
Enthused that my Lord gave a listen,
I opened my Bible and searched to be a better Christian,
And this from a person that never believed in religion,
But shit my life was so fucked up man, I can’t help but give in,
I’m giving testimonies to strangers I never met,
Hopped on the pulpit and told them how I was truly blessed,
Felt like I’m free from all my sins when the service was over,
Walk out the church then got a call that my homie was murdered,
Then lost my faith again.”
Another track that Kendrick uses to showcase his storytelling skills is “Jason Keaton & Uncle Bobby,” a song about loved ones in jail.
The West Coast emcee recently made a trip out to New York where, among many things, he joined Jay Rock and Freddie Gibbs in spiting a freestyle for DJ Kay Slay. Keep an eye out for Kendrick in 2010!
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King Blue
