It's ok.
TDE are fools for not releasing this at the beginning of summer; this sounds like it would have been on rotation all summer. I guess it doesn't matter, it'll be on rotation regardless (Interscope, Clear Channel, etc) but still...
My impressions...not bad, not great. It's a pop rap single, moreso than Poetic Justice. In the mold of recent tracks with a retro, throwback sound (Blurred Lines, Happy, Rolling In The Deep, etc). It's not a coincidence that all those tracks were massive hits, and I'd imagine this will be too.
I actually prefer the beat breakdown during the bridge and third verse, which is a more interesting take on the sample and helps the track avoid a Diddy-esque laziness. I'm probably being hypocritical but that's just how I feel about popular samples: looping them in an obvious manner feels like cheating and is lazy. That breakdown is VINTAGE Aquemini though, love it.
Complaining about the theme strikes me as corny. I'm not opposed to positive anthems, I'm opposed to corny positive anthems (like Happy). Honestly this isn't corny to me. It sounds like a continuation of GKMC thematically. The song fits the theme of the last voicemail on Real.
"If I don't hear from you by tomorrow, I hope you come back and learn from your mistakes. Come back a man, tell your story to these black and brown kids in Compton. Let 'em know you was just like them, but you still rose from that dark place of violence, becoming a positive person. But when you do make it, give back with your words of encouragement, and that's the best way to give back. To your city... And I love you Kendrick, if I don't hear you knocking on the door you know where I usually leave the key. Alright? Talk to you later, bye."
