"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 |
"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.
Lamar 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]
In 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]
The 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]
Chart (2012) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard) [7] | 44 |
"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 |
"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.
Lamar 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]
In 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]
The 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]
Chart (2012) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard) [7] | 44 |