

But Kendrick was never that to begin with. It wasn’t going to be your traditional 808-laden, two-club-hits-and-a-love-song hip-hop album. We knew Kendrick was going with a new concept for this album. Kendrick Lamar isn't conventional in the least Rappers rapping about their upbringing will never end, but Kendrick Lamar isn’t conventional in the least. It worked once, and Kendrick is talented enough to make use of it again. He could have used the same blueprint for his second album. It was brilliant and clever, a concept album that still told Kendrick’s "how I got here" story.

Good kid, m.A.A.d city, was an autobiographical masterpiece that vocalized the struggle of growing up in dire circumstances in Compton and how it affected Kendrick’s perception of the world. The last two artists who debuted with albums that redefined the genre were Kanye West ( The College Dropout) and Jay Z ( Reasonable Doubt). His first major label album, good kid, m.A.A.d city is one of the greatest rap albums of all time. To Pimp a Butterfly isn’t just another album, and Kendrick Lamar isn’t just another rapper. Kendrick Lamar could be the greatest rapper of all time. It would be foolish to even discuss it publicly. Like a pitcher throwing a perfect game, it’s never spoken aloud. When I talk about Kendrick Lamar with people who follow hip-hop, there’s always a hushed exchange that takes place.
