Nationally famous Kendrick Lamar wasn't all that he is today. Once upon a time, Kendrick was just a young thug from Compton, yet he still spit mad flow on the mic like no other. Kendrick, then known by the stage name "K-Dot" didn't use the autotune and digital instruments that he has available today but instead used tracks like Lil Wayne's 'Go DJ' to spit over with his pure talent. At that age, Kendrick didn't have any limitations on his lyricism, which has since matured into complicated rhymes and witty wordplay. But instead, he focuses on talking about the Compton lifestyle, smoking blunts, shooting semi's and getting bitches. Nothing screams thug like those three things.
This track starts off with a fairly hardcore beat in which Kendrick proceeds to spit over with a menacing vibe, showing off his intense Compton side. Frequently through this track he refers to people being shot dead and gives intimidating lyrics towards opposing gang members. When you're in that deep thought/ hardcore vibe, turn this up and enjoy.
After the intensity of his first track 'What the Deal', Kendrick starts rapping about the Compton life and the misconceptions that can come with such a well known area. He talks about the good and the bad, about how much fun a young playa can have in the hood, but then again how much violence and crime happens. This six minute masterpiece is sure to listen too and bump on a casual car ride.
Kendrick's next track is a remix of Weezy's Go DJ which K-Dot takes up a notch with steady lyricism and his natural flow. Rippin a couple of lines off the original, Kendrick uses the beat perfectly to display his talent, for at the time he was working on becoming big as he talks a lot about in Section.80. If you're a Weezy fan and don't mind a short verse from DJ Dave(?) then turn this track up!
Listening to this dope track, I was immideatly struck by the uptempo beat that hooked me before Kendrick started spitting. Then came the eargasm as K-Dot began rapping about money in this cash fueled jammer. It's all about taking nice things and puttin it on somethin'. Something Kendrick is apparantly very used to. Also, one of K-Dot's later verses reminds me of Hopsin's 'Baby's Daddy'. A very solid track.
Not entirely Kendrick's track, it sounds like a couple of unknown artists, just like Kendrick, jump in to make a pretty good track about the hustler's in Kendrick's neighborhood. When K-Dot hops in, all hell breaks loose lyrically and he uses a good mix of internal and external rhyme to keep the listener interested. Keep it real Kendrick!
Using another mainstream ill beat, Kendrick changes the chorus a little and then makes the mic drop tears as it hears the angelic rapping voice of a 17 year old Kendrick. Kendrick's cockiness that is the best part of Section.80 comes out in this song, especially in the chorus where he spits, "for my niggas that know right, K dot is hot, K dot is hot."
Kendrick's only skit of the mixtape is a conversation with a Wisconsin rapper (shoutout!!) and a producer from Maine. Pretty basic stuff.
I consider this the most infectious beat on the mixtape, which is saying a lot with the other killer beats on the tape. Kendrick finishes off this fine album with classic young kid lyrics about smoking weed and rolling around the streets. But where K dot excels is in his ability to turn kid to thug in a second and his background is what makes his music interesting. Turn that dial up and respect the last song on a mad album.
