Cut Song: "Cartoon & Cereal"

A shining example of a musical cult classic, Kendrick Lamar's unreleased "Cartoon & Cereal" has become legendary despite not being an official part of the rapper's discography.

Intended to be the kick-off on his major label debut, the song was ultimately pulled before the release either because of clearance issues -- it samples from hip-hop duo TiRon and Ayomari -- or because the song was leaked too early, depending on who you ask.

"Cartoon & Cereal" contains some of the most vivid, heartbreaking depictions of growing up in a violent community ever put into verse. Lamar has always been great at delivering gripping contrasts in his lyrics, and here he fleshes out the dichotomy of innocence and violence with a disturbing casualness. Of course, that's the point.

Good Kid, M.A.A.D City was an instant classic, topping year-end lists by the handful, so it's not as if the album needed "Cartoon & Cereal" to boost its quality levels. Still, it should speak to Lamar's songwriting abilities that perhaps the greatest album of 2012 doesn't even contain the greatest song he'd written to that point.