Flash Piece: Good Kid in a Grammy City

The 56th Annual Grammy Awards air tonight and here’s a quick piece on why Kendrick Lamar’s “good kid, m.A.A.d city” should win one of the highest awards in music.

A decade ago, Outkast’s “Speakerboxxx/The Love Below” was the last Hip-Hop LP to win a Grammy for “Album of the Year,” but all odds are pointing towards Kendrick Lamar’s “good kid, m.A.A.d city” to snag the most sought after award on music’s biggest night, which airs tonight at 8pm ET/PT.

Deemed as “Hip-Hop’s Savior,” Lamar, nominated for 7 awards, has had a hell of a year. This platinum album took the world by storm and revived the soul of Hip-Hop music, rendering it an instant classic. With an old school vibe and a realistic vision of growing up on the streets of Compton, CA, Lamar delivers witty wordplay, mind-blowing storylines, heavy production, hilarious yet insightful skits (which every great rap album has) and a bar of lyricism that is here for the long term. All the while, managing to earn the respect of Hip-Hop heavyweights like Jay-Z and Eminem.

“GKMC” quickly became commercially successful and admired outside of the industry’s masses, expanding what many became accustomed to expect from a rapper. Capturing attention outside of the Hip-Hop audience, it became a relatable experience that naturally could play from beginning to end. With honest tracks like “Real” and “Black Boy Fly,” catchy hooks like “Money Trees” and “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe,” Kendrick Lamar brought the variety and passion that this back burner genre has unfortunately lacked. “GKMC” has something to offer to everyone besides just a hit record.