The World of Kendrick Lamar: good kid, m.A.A.d city

One of the best feelings for me is being transported into the world of an album. I felt that with Ice Cube's Death Certificate and many others. I heard a lot of buzz about Kendrick Lamar's album good kid, m.A.A.d city and decided - as I always do - to read a review of it, measure the content, sample the music and make a decision to buy, wait, or not buy. I chose buy. And what I chose was a voyage into Kendrick's world -  complete with dramedic (dramatic and comedic) skits with an emotional arc and arguable conclusion; the musings of a young man navigating the hard streets of Compton; and a young man commenting on the devastation of alcohol on a people and a community. Kendrick's lyrics are engrossing, and clever - his sound a mixture of west coast and south (to which a combo many of us, who are from the west and have southern roots, can relate.) His sensibilities are modern. I love the notion that Kendrick created commentary about family life, life on the streets, street life leading to death by murder, murder disconnected young people hope to avoid - and the hope we all have that we'll make it home safely.