SONG REVIEW: Kendrick Lamar (Feat. Gucci Mane)- Vanity Slaves Part 2

Kendrick Lamar, also known as K. Dot, is an up and coming rapper out of Compton, California. He's had a buzz ever since the release of his Kendrick Lamar EP in 2009, and it has only been growing ever since then. After another stellar mixtape drop, Overly Dedicated, in 2010, people are really starting to catch onto how talented he really is. Right now I'd say he's one of my top 3 to 5 favorite rappers. I like how versatile he is, he can rap about issues in the environment that he grew up in, things going on in society, or he can completely switch it up and give us a fun song to vibe to. I always appreciate how he stays in his lane, he doesn't smoke so we don't see any of the all too common marijuana anthems on any of his compilations. I think he's literally the only Compton artist who has ever been relevant without claiming a gang and I really respect that about him. Individualism is something that's been lost in modern times so it's always good to see an up and coming rapper being himself and not Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, or any other popular artist. On his EP from 2009 one of the stand out songs was entitled "Vanity Slaves" in which he rapped about how we're too obsessed with material and name brands when money could be going elsewhere. I loved the first one, so I was excited to see how the second on would go.

Songs like this hit home, because you know it's about you. While he's not preaching or telling people to stop what they're doing, he definitely gets his point across. Kendrick uses himself as a personal example throughout the song. As an up and coming rapper who is quickly gaining attention, the money is starting to come in as well. From cars, to clothes, to sneakers, he's invested a little change to them all. He makes subtle jokes throughout the song about how we NEED these material items just to maintain in society. Whether it's to remain relevant in the media, or things like pursuing women....a name brand and a nice ride is going to definitely help you along the journey. I liked how he used Gucci Mane on the chorus to aid the song without necessarily knocking him. As a rapper who ONLY raps about vanity, Gucci added a little comic relief to an already serious, but funny song.

The things people do to seem cool in society these days are damn near ridiculous, and we're all guilty. It's like a natural instinct to purchase nice and expensive things when you first run into money. But look at the popular brands these days. Gucci, Polo, Lacoste, Levi, etc. etc. Are we helping ourselves by buying into those brands? The owners have been rich forever, why not pocket the money and advance as individuals? Naaahh, that makes too much sense. As the younger generation in society, we may be the worst. It's like all citizens of our country are free, but we make ourselves controllable with how we buy into what they want us to buy. In all honesty, I don't plan on changing my clothing brands or my spending habits anytime soon, but you have to sit back and think about the reckless spending that we do just to be seen as "fresh".

Check out a stream of the track, or even download it here at 2dopeboyz. If you haven't check K. Dot out yet, it's never too late to get on GOOD hip hop music. Do yourself a favor and check LiveMixtapes for a few offerings from him. Expect more posts centered around him in the future, with his debut album Good Kid in a Mad City set to drop this year.

SPINS: 4/5