good kid, m.A.A.d city is the second studio album by American hip-hop recording artist Kendrick Lamar. The album was released on October 22, 2012, by Top Dawg Entertainment, Aftermath Entertainment, and distributed by Interscope Records. The album serves as Lamar's major label debut, after his signing to Aftermath and Interscope in early 2012. It was preceded by the release of Kendrick's first studio album Section.80, released exclusively through iTunes independently.