Obviously, that’s easier said than done, as Kendrick delves into the negative effects of gang-culture and being racially profiled by police, who prove to be no help; K.Dot’s trials in the first two verses are reminiscent of Tre’s in the 1991 film Boyz n the Hood, who was harassed by gangsters for being a good kid and police officers for being black. Kendrick notes that while he did not affiliate with either gang, he was wrongly assumed to be involved in Compton gang culture by both sides and the police alike.
This is one half of the album’s title tracks, followed by “m.A.A.d city,” which continues this song’s narrative.
Also, “good kid” is notable for its absence of profanity. It is one of the only tracks on good kid, m.A.A.d. city with this designation (with the exception of Real and Now or Never on the deluxe edition of the album). Kendrick’s deliberate avoidance of profanity in this song subtly further drives home the story of a good kid who is simply guilty by association.
Lamar told Complex in October 2012:
"'That represents the space I was in. Knowing that you’re doing wrong things, but at the same time, you’re a good kid at heart. I knew what I was doing and what I was getting myself into and the people I’m hanging with. [Getting in the studio with Pharrell] was insane. We did about five records together. He bangs out beats so quick, it’s amazing. So we was just cutting records. When he played that beat, I knew instantly that was the one I wanted for the title track. Just because of how dramatic it sounds.'"
good kid
Kendrick Lamar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ill education baby
Want to reconnect with your elations?
This is your station baby
Look inside these walls and you see them having withdrawals
Of a prisoner on his way
Trapped inside your desire
Track attire just tell you I'm tired and ran away
I should ask a choir, "What do you require
To sing a song that acquire me to have faith?"
As the record spin I should pray
For the record I recognize that I'm easily prey
I got ate alive yesterday
I got animosity building
It's probably big as a building
Me jumping off of the roof
Is just me playing it safe
But what am I supposed to do?
When the topic is red or blue
And you understand that I ain't
But know I'm accustomed to
Just a couple that look for trouble
And live in the street with rank
No better picture to paint than me walking from bible study
And called his homies because he had said he noticed my face
From a function that tooken place
They was wondering if I bang
Step on my neck and get blood on your Nike checks
I don't mind because one day you'll respect
The good kid, m.A.A.d. city
Mass hallucination baby
Ill education baby
Want to reconnect with your elations?
This is your station baby
All I see is strobe lights
Blinding me in my hindsight
Finding me by myself
Promise me you can help
In all honesty I got time to be copacetic until
You had finally made decision to hold me against my will
It was like a head-on collision that folded me standing still
I can never pick out the difference
And grade a cop on the bill
Every time you clock in the morning
I feel you just want to kill
All my innocence while ignoring my purpose
To persevere as a better person
I know you heard this and probably in fear
But what am I supposed to do?
When the blinking of red and blue
Flash from the top of your roof
And your dog has to say woof
And you ask, "Lift up your shirt"
'Cause you wonder if a tattoo
Of affiliation can make it a pleasure to put me through
Gang files, but that don't matter because the matter is racial profile
I heard them chatter, "He's probably young but I know that he's down"
Step on his neck as hard as your bullet proof vest
He don't mind, he know he'll never respect
The good kid, m.A.A.d. city
Mass hallucination baby
Ill education baby
Want to reconnect with your elations?
This is your station baby
All I see in this room
Twenty Xannies and these 'shrooms
Grown-up candy for pain
Can we live in a sane society?
It's entirely stressful upon my brain
You hired me as a victim
I quietly hope for change
When violence is the rhythm
Inspired me to obtain
The silence in this room
With twenty Xannies and 'shrooms
Some grown-up candy I lost it
I feel it's nothing to lose
The streets sure to release the worst side of my best
Don't mind, 'cause now you ever in debt
To good kid, m.A.A.d. city
Mass hallucination baby
Ill education baby
Want to reconnect with your elations?
This is your station baby
Kendrick Lamar's "good kid" is a song exploring tough themes like social injustice, bigotry, and violence. It speaks to the psychological pressure that young black people endure in America. Lamar is introspective in his lyrics, and he reflects on his experiences, including being wrongly profiled by police or being in the middle of gang violence. The opening verse mentions "mass hallucination" and "ill education," which could be a reference to the American Dream, a concept that has caused many people to believe in something that doesn't exist. The chorus "want to reconnect with your elations? This is your station, baby" could be a hopeful message for listeners, inviting them to look within themselves and reclaim their sense of joy and peace.
The first verse of the song describes the prison-like environment in which many black people live, where they are trapped in their desires to fire bullets that stray. Lamar recognizes that he is easily prey, and he has animosity building up inside him. He speaks to the difficulty that young black people face in choosing between red and blue, or affiliating with different gangs. In the second verse, Lamar paints a picture of flashing red and blue lights, and a cop who wants to kill him despite his innocence. He again speaks about racial profiling and the idea that young black men are more likely to be thought of as criminals. The third and final verse details the dark reality of drug addiction that many young black people face.
In summary, "good kid" is a harrowing song about life as a young black person in America. It explores themes of social injustice, racial profiling, and drug addiction. However, amidst the darkness, there is a sense of hope that listeners can reclaim their sense of joy and peace by looking within themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Mass hallucination baby
Reality is distorted and people are disillusioned
Ill education baby
Lack of quality education contributes to societal problems
Want to reconnect with your elations?
Do you want to rediscover your happiness?
This is your station baby
This is your opportunity to make a change
Look inside these walls and you see them having withdrawals
People are struggling and suffering due to their circumstances
Of a prisoner on his way
They feel trapped and unable to escape their situation
Trapped inside your desire
Desires and impulses can be controlling and limiting
To fire bullets that stray
Acting impulsively can have unintended and damaging consequences
Track attire just tell you I'm tired and ran away
His clothing signifies exhaustion and the desire to escape
I should ask a choir, "What do you require
Looking for guidance and hope in a place of worship
To sing a song that acquire me to have faith?"
Seeking something to restore his faith and give him hope
As the record spin I should pray
Finding solace and guidance in music and prayer
For the record I recognize that I'm easily prey
Acknowledging his vulnerability and susceptibility to danger
I got ate alive yesterday
He was overwhelmed and defeated in a recent conflict or experience
I got animosity building
Anger is building inside of him
It's probably big as a building
His anger is consuming and overwhelming him
Me jumping off of the roof
Ideas of suicide and self-harm are present
Is just me playing it safe
He is avoiding the dangers of the street by staying in his room
But what am I supposed to do?
He is struggling to find a way out of his situation
When the topic is red or blue
He is caught in the middle of a divisive political debate
And you understand that I ain't
He feels misunderstood and out of place in this situation
But know I'm accustomed to
He is familiar with conflict and violence in his community
Just a couple that look for trouble
There are people in his neighborhood who actively seek out conflict
And live in the street with rank
The streets are a dangerous and violent place to live
No better picture to paint than me walking from bible study
He is seen as an easy target due to his perceived vulnerability and religious activities
And called his homies because he had said he noticed my face
His appearance is recognized by gang members and they see him as a threat
From a function that tooken place
He was at a gathering or event that caught the attention of gang members
They was wondering if I bang
They were curious if he had a gang affiliation
Step on my neck and get blood on your Nike checks
The violence and brutality is senseless and destructive
I don't mind because one day you'll respect
He is resigned to the violence and the lack of respect he receives
All I see is strobe lights
He is overwhelmed and disoriented
Blinding me in my hindsight
He is struggling to see the bigger picture and learn from past mistakes
Finding me by myself
He is isolated and alone in his struggles
Promise me you can help
He is seeking help and support from others
In all honesty I got time to be copacetic
He is taking time to work through his problems and achieve inner peace
Until you had finally made decision to hold me against my will
He is afraid of being trapped or imprisoned against his wishes
Every time you clock in the morning
Police officers are always present, causing anxiety and fear
I feel you just want to kill
He perceives police officers as violent and dangerous
All my innocence while ignoring my purpose
He is being judged and discriminated against based on his appearance, rather than his intentions
To persevere as a better person
He is striving to improve himself and overcome his struggles
I know you heard this and probably in fear
His words may provoke fear and animosity from those who perceive him as a threat
But what am I supposed to do?
He is seeking guidance and solutions to his problems
When the blinking of red and blue
The police are always present and causing anxiety
Flash from the top of your roof
Police lights are flashing and causing chaos
And your dog has to say woof
Police dogs are also present and causing fear
And you ask, "Lift up your shirt"
Police officers are searching and investigating for any signs of possible danger
'Cause you wonder if a tattoo
They are looking for gang affiliations as a potential threat
Of affiliation can make it a pleasure to put me through
He is frustrated and angry that his appearance is being used against him
Gang files, but that don't matter because the matter is racial profile
He is being judged and discriminated against based on stereotypes and assumptions
I heard them chatter, "He's probably young but I know that he's down"
People are making assumptions about him based on his appearance and reputation
Step on his neck as hard as your bullet proof vest
The violence and brutality is excessive and unnecessary
He don't mind, he know he'll never respect
He is resigned to the fact that he will never receive respect or fair treatment
All I see in this room
He is in a room or situation that is overwhelming and stressful
Twenty Xannies and these 'shrooms
He is using drugs to cope and escape from his problems
Grown-up candy for pain
Drugs are being used as a form of self-medication to numb pain and trauma
Can we live in a sane society?
He is questioning whether it's even possible to live in a society free of violence and suffering
It's entirely stressful upon my brain
His experiences and struggles have taken a significant toll on his mental health
You hired me as a victim
He feels powerless and helpless in his situation, and that society has failed him
I quietly hope for change
Despite his struggles, he still holds onto hope for a better future
When violence is the rhythm
Violence is an ever-present part of his life and environment
Inspired me to obtain
He is using his struggles as motivation to improve and overcome his challenges
The silence in this room
Peace and quiet are rare and valuable commodities in his life
With twenty Xannies and 'shrooms
He is using drugs to escape from his problems and find temporary relief
Some grown-up candy I lost it
He is struggling with addiction and the consequences of his drug use
I feel it's nothing to lose
He is resigned to the fact that his life has been difficult and that he has little to lose
The streets sure to release the worst side of my best
The streets bring out the worst in him, even when he is trying his best to be a good person
Don't mind, 'cause now you ever in debt
He is willing to accept violence and suffering as a part of his life, because he knows that others will never really understand his struggles
To good kid, m.A.A.d. city
This is an album that tells the story of his struggles and experiences growing up in Compton, Los Angeles
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Pharrell Williams, Kendrick Lamar
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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