Kendrick Lamar’s debut LP is the gift that keeps giving. Already the inspiration for a short-film, K. Dot’s good kid m.A.A.d city will now lay the foundation for an upcoming college English course. Georgia Regents University Professor Adam Diehl will use the album to navigate societal influences within its narrative.

“Taking its name from Kendrick Lamar’s 2012 album, this course will examine the role of urban living on the development of young people. In Kendrick’s case, “the streets sure to release the worst side of my best” (Lamar 58),” the course description reads. “By studying and analyzing various literature, films, and K. Dot’s album, we will consider what effects our characters’ surroundings have on who they become as adults. The cities we will be visiting, in our imaginations, are Dublin, New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Assignments will include a substantial research paper, stemming from the topics inherent in our texts; students should also expect other writing assignments, such as short papers and online discussion posts.”

Diehl’s course will also dive into the works of James Baldwin, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Spike Lee among others.