The Art of Peer Pressure

Album: Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This track finds Lamar telling the story of a break into a neighbor's house as he confesses how his character would change when he was around his homies. "It's about being a teenager from L.A. and being influenced by your peers and who you're hanging out with," he told Complex magazine.
    "[I overcame peer pressure in my life because] I had a father in my life," continued Lamar. That's a big part of my life. I had respect for him. He wasn't right there, he couldn't be there all the time, and he wasn't no perfect person. But at the same time, he had much love for me. He made sure I had a better life. He made sure I found that life through music."
  • Tabu's smooth to sinister production samples the Danish Hip-Hop group Suspekt's 2011 track, "Helt Alene."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & Tears

David Clayton-Thomas of Blood, Sweat & TearsSongwriter Interviews

The longtime BS&T frontman tells the "Spinning Wheel" story, including the line he got from Joni Mitchell.

Ramones

RamonesFact or Fiction

A band so baffling, even their names were contrived. Check your score in the Ramones version of Fact or Fiction.

Bill Withers

Bill WithersSongwriter Interviews

Soul music legend Bill Withers on how life experience and the company you keep leads to classic songs like "Lean On Me."

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Christopher Cross

Christopher CrossSongwriter Interviews

The man who created Yacht Rock with "Sailing" wrote one of his biggest hits while on acid.

Devo

DevoSongwriter Interviews

Devo founders Mark Mothersbaugh and Jerry Casale take us into their world of subversive performance art. They may be right about the De-Evoloution thing.