Good Kid (song)

"Good Kid" (stylized in all lowercase) is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, from his major-label debut studio album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012). The song features vocals from American record producer Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo.

Background
Lamar told Complex on October 23, 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.'" Punch explains that in Miami, Pharrell made the beat from scratch, continuing to finish it in Los Angeles. "That song started in Miami, working with Pharrell. It was a chill, relaxed atmosphere. Pharrell is a good dude. The vibe was cool up there. Pharrell just sat there, made the whole beat from scratch, and we took it back to L.A. I think Chad might have added some more stuff. I’m not sure."

Lyrics
In the song, Kendrick describes the psychological struggle that a "good kid" has when they are forced to live in the trenches of gang-banging. He talks about almost being killed the previous day – "I recognize that I’m easy prey / I got ate alive yesterday" – and reflects on the gang color war that’s threatening Compton – "what am I supposed to do when the topic is red or blue?"

Reception
The song received generally positive reviews from music critics. In a review of Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone praises the song for its production, saying "The plush production of tracks like the Neptunes-produced centerpiece 'good kid' hearkens back to Seventies blaxploitation soundtracks and Nineties gangsta-rap blaxploitation revivals, and good kid warrants a place in that storied lineage".