Eagerly anticipated, hyped up to the max, and with the buzz of a thousand hornets, good kid m.A.A.d. city is the major label debut album from Compton’s own Kendrick Lamar. Without doubt the most discussed project of recent years, hip-hop aficionados, frat boys, and industry insiders have set the internet ablaze the past few months discussing the TDE/Aftermath/Interscope Records release. The question is, does it justify the hype?
With Compton emcee Kendrick Lamar’s new album, good kid m.A.A.d city, due for release shortly there’s absolutely no question that all eyes are on Top Dawg Entertainment. Currently without doubt one of the hottest cliques in hip-hop - alongside the likes of MMG, G.O.O.D. Music, and Roc Nation - TDE are a powerhouse full of talent. Reminiscent of early G-Unit, when 50 Cent steered a small team - Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo, and Young Buck - to the top of the charts, Top Dawg have their own small but incredibly deadly unit.
There's an old saying that goes, "two heads are better than one." This philosophy has translated pretty well in Hip-Hop over the years with multiple emcees and/or producers banding together - in what I have always liked to picture as some kick-ass Power Rangers-like ritual - in the quest to create some fine quality music.
Through time, the forces of Run-D.M.C., A Tribe Called Quest and the Wu-Tang Clan have wielded their mighty microphones in the mission to keep rap music on its trajectory towards good taste. Now, decades later, it would appear that the collective dynamic has made its return and just may be planting the seeds for Hip-Hop's future.
Tyrese takes time out from acting, creating comics and penning books to return to his musical roots and provide his first studio in album in five years -Open Invitation. Released through his own music label Voltron Recordz (distributed by EMI), the comeback project serves as a welcome reminder of the solid R&B the California hailing star first made his name with.