"Good Kid" (stylized in all lowercase) is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, from his major-label debut studio album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012).[1] The song features vocals from American record producer Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo.
| "Good Kid" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Promotional single by Kendrick Lamar | |
| from the album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City | |
| Released | October 22, 2012 |
| Recorded | 2012 |
| Studio |
|
| Genre | Conscious hip hop |
| Length | 3:34 |
| Label | |
| Songwriter(s) | |
| Producer(s) | |
| Audio video | |
| "Good Kid" on YouTube | |
Background
editLamar told Complex on October 23, 2012:
"That represents the space I was in. Knowing that you’re doing wrong things, but at the same time, you’re a good kid at heart. I knew what I was doing and what I was getting myself into and the people I’m hanging with. [Getting in the studio with Pharrell] was insane. We did about five records together. He bangs out beats so quick, it’s amazing. So we was just cutting records. When he played that beat, I knew instantly that was the one I wanted for the title track. Just because of how dramatic it sounds."[2]
Punch explains that in Miami, Pharrell made the beat from scratch, continuing to finish it in Los Angeles. "That song started in Miami, working with Pharrell. It was a chill, relaxed atmosphere. Pharrell is a good dude. The vibe was cool up there. Pharrell just sat there, made the whole beat from scratch, and we took it back to L.A. I think Chad might have added some more stuff. I’m not sure."[2]
Lyrics
editIn the song, Kendrick describes the psychological struggle that a "good kid" has when they are forced to live in the trenches of gang-banging. He talks about almost being killed the previous day – "I recognize that I’m easy prey / I got ate alive yesterday" – and reflects on the gang color war that’s threatening Compton – "what am I supposed to do when the topic is red or blue?"[3][4][5]
Reception
editThe song received generally positive reviews from music critics. In a review of Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone praises the song for its production, saying "The plush production of tracks like the Neptunes-produced centerpiece 'good kid' hearkens back to Seventies blaxploitation soundtracks and Nineties gangsta-rap blaxploitation revivals, and good kid warrants a place in that storied lineage".[6]
Charts
edit| Chart (2012) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[7] | 44 |
References
edit- ^ Meara, Paul (October 14, 2012). Kendrick Lamar Reveals Tracklist & Production Credits for "good kid, m.A.A.d. city". Complex. Archived from the original on February 25, 2024. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ^ a b Ahmed, Insanul (October 23, 2012). The Making of Kendrick Lamar's 'good kid, m.A.A.d city'. Complex. Archived from the original on January 31, 2024. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ^ Kendrick Lamar, 'good kid, m.A.A.d city': Track-By-Track Review. Billboard. October 22, 2012. Archived from the original on February 25, 2024. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ^ Bassil, Ryan (April 17, 2013). The Narrative Guide To Kendrick Lamar's 'good kid, m.A.A.d city'. Vice Media. Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ^ Kendrick Lamar, Good Kid, M.A.A.D City. XXL. October 23, 2012. Archived from the original on September 30, 2023. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ^ Rosen, Jody (October 22, 2012). good kid, m.A.A.d city. Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 28, 2022. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
- ^ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 25, 2024.