Few cities treasure their history quite like Compton. It’s the pride that comes from a small city disproportionately producing some of the world’s greatest rappers. Even the most ratchet Compton rappers are aware that they’re part of a deeper lineage that extends back to Eazy E and Dre (or Toddy Tee if you really want to get technical). This year’s star pupil from the Compton School District might be Y.G, but the kid from Spruce Street has been running all lands South of the 10 Freeway since 2009. Even Kendrick once admitted that his teenaged sister’s favorite rapper was young Keenon Jackson, who paid the compliment back by cribbing conceptual tips from good kid, m.A.A.d city (and requesting a K. Dot cameo).
The rules are always the same. When a star blows up nationally, there’s inevitably someone ready to replace him at the street level. Over the last year, AV LMKR has waved the flag as the next in Compton’s line. His “Run Me My Money” was a hood favorite on the same level as “I’m Good.” A remix appears on last month’s Compton mixtape, complete with guest verses from Game and Too Short — no stranger to the rags having grown up in South Central until the age of 14. You don’t really need a description of the content on the record; the wall of fame album cover and “California Love” flip on the first track handles that for me. If you liked My Krazy Life, this is probably for you. There are no Mustard beats, but the good thing about Mustard beats is that they’re as easily counterfeited as monopoly money. All you need is a sinister piano line and a rapper who rhymes like he’s mastered the art of armed robbery. And AV LMKR does his hometown proud.
