 Lyrically, the album chronicles Lamar's experiences in his native Compton and its harsh realities, in a nonlinear narrative.The songs address issues such as economic disenfranchisement, retributive gang violence and downtrodden women, while analyzing their residual effects on individuals and families.Lamar introduces various characters and internal conflicts, including the contrast of his homesickness and love for Compton with the city's plagued condition.