BRASSTRACKS | “Good Kid, Brass City” | STREAM NOW

Jazz musicians-turned-hip-hop producers Ivan Jackson and Conor Rayne bring their attention to detail, boisterous arrangements, and penchant for live instrumentation to each and every song they drop. To celebrate the sixth birthday of Kendrick Lamar’s seminal ‘Good Kid, M.A.A.D City,’ the duo present “Good Kid, Brass City,” an instrumental cover of some of the record’s most notable motifs.

“Good Kid, Brass City” uses classic moments from Lamar’s album as a base for an eight-minute, seven-track jazzy and brass-filled romp through Compton. The medley is a rewarding listen, unfolding in two phases. First, you recognize which songs and melodies being covered, and then you slip into the fantastic and colorful details Brasstracks bring to the table. “Good Kid, Brass City” challenges you to reimagine the classic album for the better. A coming of age story just sounds so much more exciting with layers of horns and live percussion