Does anyone even look at it as a classic though? It's been damn near five years and no one was really making that claim since the first few weeks when it dropped
that's sort of his point though. everyone called it a classic then once TPAB dropped (and even before it) that had already stopped. people keep putting these labels on things and rarely do they stand up
I'd defend GKMC as being pretty classic to me, but if it helps I think Kendrick has stated that he doesn't even think of GKMC as a classic.
Idk if you were around for the years on AP between GKMC and TPAB but yeah, absolutely. It was being called a "classic" from the time it dropped up until TPAB came out, then people scurried along to the next thing. I posted a lot during that time about how harmful and problematic it was for people, mostly ones who were not interested or invested in the genre, crowding around something and calling it a classic while not spending the time to look around at all the other great shit coming out
Yeah and it wasn't just on AP either. Kendrick really blew up that year and tons of publications were heralding it as a classic.
Isn't TPAB more gfunk than GKMC? Regardless, both are great. I don't doubt he'll be remembered as one of the greats of this era.
I was and you and I have had convos about it too lol. I remember people calling it a classic for the first couple months after it came out, before the consensus settling on "excellent album" and leaving it at that. I'm still not sure if I buy the idea that there's a limit to how much attention can be given to new releases, but I can certainly see how it can be frustrating seeing people latch onto one thing and one thing only, esp. as a fan
Good Kid got overshadowed by how crazy good and relevant TPAB is. Still a 9/10 album and has some absolute bangers.
My favorite Kendrick album is usually the one that I listened to the most recently This includes Section 80
Listened to GKMC today and was blown away. I think people tend to forget how politically thoughtful that one is as well, just not as heavy-handed as TPAB (though I find a lot of TPAB to be superfluous and distracting, especially those terrible spoken word interludes--whereas good kid maad city's lyrics thrive on concision and sincere personal narrative) I think TPAB is probably the better album but theyre just both SO different that they could be from different artists, and though Kendrick is guilty of it himself, I don't think they are meant to be measured aside one another
TPAB is a more impressive piece of work - it's just such a larger scope musically and lyrically and about 90% of it swings for the fences and connects head on - but GKMC is excellent as well. I'd have no problem calling both among the very best albums of the decade. GKMC is almost an underdog here given the aforementioned ambition of its followup as well as its more hit oriented songwriting but its an achievement in itself. I don't think I'd really fault anyone who prefers it even if I don't myself. (Tbh I rate them comparatively with a slight edge to TPAB.) Section.80 is a nice record as well but I only come back to about 4 songs often. There is some incredible stuff on there for being his proper debut but its spotty.
It took a long time for TPAB to connect with me but once it did I listened absolutely non-stop. I think it edges GKMC but both albums are excellent. Agree it's a little early to be calling either of them classics but if I were to bet on it, I definitely see TPAB being remembered for a very long time especially with the artwork. Can Kendrick do it again on April 7th? I do not doubt him one bit.