Ever since NWA came Straight Outta Compton wearing dark sunglasses and even darker scowls, the city is known as the "CPT" has been seen as an exporter of all things violent, poor, and well, ruthless. Even though he was born one year before that album and right in the middle of the Compton chaos, Top Dawg Entertainment/Aftermath Entertainment/Interscope Records recording artist Kendrick Lamar knows that he was "in it," but he didn't become "of it." After releasing several popular singles in 2009 Lamar became a lot of people's favorite rapper almost overnight.

]Over the next year, Kendrick's profile would continue to rise as he performed in cities and festivals all over the country. He would also receive co-signs from Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg and a coveted spot on XXL's 2011 Freshmen cover. By the time he released his highly anticipated debut album Section.80 in July 2011, he was already being crowned as the voice of a new generation 24 years after NWA planted the Compton flag in Hip Hop, it's only right that another native son comes along and adjust the 'attitude' they left behind.