Kendrick Lamar Good Kid Analysis

Kendrick Lamar – “good kid”
Citation: “Kendrick Lamar – good Kid.” Genius.1 Oct 2012. Web. 10 Oct. 2015.
Subject: The subject of Lamar’s piece is his struggle to improve himself while subject to external pressures from gang violence and police brutality while living in Compton, California. He is quoted as stating “from a function that tooken place, they was wondering if I bang, step on my neck and get blood on your Nike checks” while in an altercation with gang affiliates. Furthermore, he is subject to unjust police brutality: "he’s probably young but I know that he's down, step on his neck as hard as your bulletproof vest.” Nevertheless, while “walking from Church” Lamar attempts to get in touch with God and improve his life several times in the piece. He concludes that he “don't mind” because despite these influences, he can remain in touch with himself. …show more content…
He states that “I don't mind cause one day you'll respect, the good kid, m.A.A.d. city” in response to being assaulted by the gang affiliates. In response to the altercation with the police officers, he acknowledges that he knows “[they]'ll never respect, the good kid, m.A.A.d. city.” Now that he has left the city, he has returned to gain the respect he has earned. This piece is Lamar reminiscing on these events and stating that they have no power over him. He is his own man, without their influence, and one day they may even grow to respect