4. Kendrick Lamar, 'good kid, m.A.A.d city'

With his Aftermath debut, the 25-year-old Compton rapper surpassed considerable commercial and critical expectations, while refusing to stray from the formula which initially earned him his indie fan base. Kendrick's chief success on good kid, m.A.A.d city, however, lies in his execution of extended narrative, spanning from the interludes to the subject matter of each song deftly. From introspective tracks like "Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe" and "Money Trees," to the dark bombast of single "Swimming Pools (Drank)" and vivid imagery of "The Art of Peer Pressure," K-Dot has established himself as one of rap's most talented and ambitious new voices. -- Theo Bark