Ya’ll bear in mind again in 2012 when Kendrick Lamar dropped good child, m.A.A.d metropolis? It wasn’t simply an album—it was a cinematic journey. And when that first verse of “m.A.A.d Metropolis” hit? It shook the whole recreation. Kendrick laid all of it out: the cruel realities of his Compton upbringing, the violence, the trauma, the survival. The storytelling was on one other degree.
This verse is iconic. From the second Kendrick mentioned, “Brace your self, I’ll take you on a visit down reminiscence lane,” you knew you had been in for one thing deep. He paints a vivid image of his childhood, the chaos, the hazard. It wasn’t simply in regards to the avenue life; it was in regards to the emotional weight it carried. This verse had all of it—the rawness, the ache, the lyricism.
And let’s discuss in regards to the circulation. Kendrick’s supply on this observe is simple. He shifts between storytelling and rapid-fire bars with ease, making a rhythm that’s inconceivable to disregard.
Take a look at Kendrick’s first verse under:
Brace your self, I’ll take you on a visit down reminiscence lane
This isn’t a rap on how I’m slingin’ crack or transfer cocaine
That is cul-de-sac and many Cognac and main ache
Not the drill sergeant, however the stress that weighin’ in your mind
It was me, L Boog, and Yan Yan, YG Fortunate experience down Rosecrans
It received ugly, wavin’ yo’ hand out the window — test your self
Uh, Warriors and Conans, hope euphoria can sluggish dance
With society, the driving force seat, the primary one to get killed
Seen a light-skinned nigga together with his brains blown out
On the similar burger stand the place **** hang around
Now this isn’t a tape recorder sayin’ that he did it
However ever since that day, I used to be lookin’ at him completely different
That was again once I was 9, Joey packed the 9
Pakistan on each porch is ok, we adapt to crime
Pack a van with 4 weapons at a time
With the sliding door, fuck is up?
Fuck you shootin’ for if you happen to ain’t walkin’ up, you fuckin’ punk?
Pickin’ up the fuckin’ pump, pickin’ off you suckers
Suck a dick or die or sucker punch
A wall of bullets comin’ from AK’s, AR’s, “Ayy, y’all—duck”
That’s what mama mentioned after we was eatin’ that free lunch
Aw man, goddamn, all hell broke unfastened
You killed my cousin again in ’94, fuck yo’ truce
Now crawl your head in that noose
You wind up useless on the information
Ain’t no peace treaty, simply piecin’ BGs as much as pre-approve
Our bodies on high of our bodies, IVs on high of IVs
Clearly the coroner between the sheets just like the Isleys
While you hop on that trolley, ensure that your shade’s right
Ensure you’re company, or they’ll be callin’ your mom acquire
They are saying the governor acquire all of our taxes, besides
Once we in visitors and tragic occurs, that shit ain’t no menace
You movin’ backwards if you happen to recommend that you just sleep with a TEC
Go purchase a chopper and have a physician on pace dial, I assume
m.A.A.d. metropolis
