Kendrick Lamar & Dr. Dre Take You To “Compton”: Listen

Compton’s rap savior Kendrick Lamar has premiered “Compton,” a love letter to his hometown featuring mentor Dr. Dre. Produced by Just Blaze, the song is one of two tracks off K-Dot’s album good kid, m.A.A.d city (out October 22) featuring Dre. Even without the Compton love in the lyrics, the song’s horn-based beat, funky keys and soulful hook ooze West Coast hip-hop. There’s even a synth talk-box coda reminiscent of 2Pac and Dre’s “California Love.”

Lamar starts off calling himself “King Kendrick,” and soon defers to the first king of gangsta rap, who gets in a line about his Beats headphones, as is tradition. But while some of Dre’s recent guest spots have been less than inspiring, here he has us hankering for Detox, talking about visiting “2pac and Left Eye / Eazy and Aaliyah when I see ya we gon’ test drive / Lambo in heaven but for now I’m on a red eye.” After the jump, hear the song and check out the LP’s tracklist (where’s that promised Lady Gaga collabo?!).

Kendrick Lamar — good kid, mAAd city

1. Sherane a.k.a Master Splinter’s Daughter 2. Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe 3. Backseat Freestyle 4. The Art of Peer Pressure 5. Money Trees featuring Jay Rock 6. Poetic Justice featuring Drake 7. good kid 8. m.A.A.d city featuring MC Eiht 9. Swimming Pools (Drank) [extended] 10. Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst 11. Real featuring Anna Wise 12. Compton featuring Dr. Dre

Deluxe:

13. The Recipe featuring Dr. Dre 14. Black Boy Fly 15. Now or Never featuring Mary J. Blige 16. Collect Calls 17. Swimming Pools (Drank)

What do you think of the West Coast anthem? Let us know in the comments, or on Facebook and Twitter!