The music that shaped a good kid in a mad city.
This feature is a part of Complex's "good kid, m.A.A.d city" Week.
Kendrick Lamar is a rapper with a wide range of listening habits—traces of which can be heard throughout his debut album, good kid, m.A.A.d city. Having grown up in the city of Compton, he has an understandable preference for West Coast rap, but his taste in hip-hop transcends geographical boundaries.
His favorite LP selections—presented here in chronological order of release—reveal a mixture of music from and about his hometown and records that show a particular sort of musical curiosity. Read on to find out which albums defined Kendrick Lamar's coming of age in hip-hop, and which artist was on such heavy rotation in his childhood home that he can't remember which songs were from which album.
As told to David Drake (@somanyshrimp)
RELATED: The Making of Kendrick Lamar's good kid, m.A.A.d city
RELATED: Kendrick Lamar in the Studio (Video)
RELATED: Kendrick Lamar: Talkin' 'Bout My Generation (2012 Online Cover Story)
RELATED: Kendrick Lamar Breaks Down His Favorite Cartoons and Cereals (Video)
RELATED: Kendrick Lamar Covers Complex's "good kid, m.A.A.d city" Week!