Rap Radar

Top Dawg Entertainment invaded the Observatory on New Year’s Eve and above is the official highlights of their festivities. Be on the look out for another successful year from the camp.

Kendrick Lamar’s story was untold until the release of good kid, m.A.A.d city. Opening with a prayer, his tale unravels with a series of events. From getting double crossed by a local hood rat (“Sherane a.k.a. Master Splinters Daughter”) to nearly arrested (“The Art Of Peer Pressure”) Kendrick geniusly chronicles life growing up in California (“Compton”). Still the meat and potatoes of good kid, m.A.A.d city lies within the album’s sub-plots. There’s alcoholism (“Swimming Pools”), hustler ambition (“Money Trees”) and community (“good kid”, “m.a.a.d city”). Kendrick turned his ghetto story into a compelling narrative that couldn’t be ignored. The good kid won, ya bish.

Previously: #10 Slaughterhouse welcome to:Our House l #9 MMG Self Made 2 l #8 2 Chainz Based On A T.R.U. Story l #7 Meek Mill Dreams & Nightmares l #6 G.O.O.D. Music Cruel Summer l #5 Big Boi Vicious Lies & Dangerous Rumors l  #4 Rick Ross God Forgives, I Don’t l #3 T.I. Trouble Man: Heavy Is The Head l #2 Nas Life Is Good 

We see pops is still looking for his muthafuckin dominoes and Sherane got a big ‘ol phat ass. From the CPT to Paris, K-Dot checks in with the latest visual off good kid, m.A.A.d city. Directed by himself, Jerome D and Dave Free.

Kendrick raps from the perspective of others on GKMC‘s 10th track. Today, the man himself breaks down the lyrics for Life+Times’ Decoded series.

Over on the Westside, Kendrick bid farewell to 2012 at the Observatory in Santa Ana, CA. Above, he runs through “m.A.A.d city” and countdowns to the new year after the jump. What a year for K-Dot.

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In his chat with GQ, Kendrick Lamar discusses his relationship with Dr. Dre, how he improves his rapping, adapting to the success of good kid, m.A.A.d city and the skits on the album.

GQ: Were those real scenarios?
Kendrick Lamar: All of those were real scenarios. The fact that I took my mother’s car, that was real life. Being in a situation where you’re young and a teenager and you don’t really have respect for authority. You respect them as your mother and father, but sometimes when they lay some rules down, you break them. And that was one of those situations. Taking that car got me in a whole lot of different situations as a teen, that I tell in the stories. That’s what that concept really represents: abusing the authority of losing his Domino’s, losing his jewelry, anything else that he possessed that I felt like taking at the time.

K-Dot also shared his cast preference for the upcoming short-film that will accompany the album.

GQ: Are you going to act in it, star in it, direct it? 
Kendrick Lamar: Directing for sure. I haven’t really thought about starring in it… I can, because it is me and my life.

GQ: Let’s say you weren’t going to star in it and you could have anyone in the world, who would you have play yourself?
Kendrick Lamar: Anyone in the world? It would have to be somebody… there’s one kid on The Wire, Tristan Wilds [who played Mike Lee].

GQ: Who would you have play your mom?
Kendrick Lamar: I probably get Taraji Henson.

GQ: Okay, okay. Sharane?
Kendrick Lamar: I would love to see Rihanna in my movie [laughs]. Looking at this cover right here, man.

I would love to see Rihanna star in my self-directed film too. Ha!

It’s official: The good kid, did good. Kendrick’s debut, Good Kid, m.A.A.D City has crossed the 500,00 mark. Congratulations to the entire TDE camp. Support the platinum cause and grab the album here.

After his aggressive explanation on his diss track “Addresses” with Sway, T.I. premiered this new record, which isn’t featured on tomorrow’s release of Trouble Man. Reminiscing sure ounds so good.

UPDATE: CDQ

Last night in LA, Power 106 held their annual Cali Christmas concert. The hometown hero was the headliner and here he brings out Wayne to perform “No Worries”. Below J. Cole stops through to perform “Nobody’s Perfect” and E-40 & Problem come out to perform “Function”.

Power106

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You might remember Dido from her appearance on Eminem’s “Stan” last century. But now, she’s getting back into the swing of things with a new project and single featuring Kendrick Lamar. Speaking of Mr. Lamar, check out his chat with Power 106′s Fuzz after the jump.

npr

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