Overly Dedicated

This is the mixtape where the Compton wordsmith’s talents began to bloom. The speed and hairpin turns of Kendrick's flow were already in place, along with early appearances of his penchant for manipulated and pitched-down vocals on “P&P 1.5.” But Lamar also wore his influences on his sleeve more plainly at 23, and it’s a kick to hear him channel Lil Wayne on “Michael Jordan” and JAŸ-Z on “Average Joe.”