1-Listen Review
Kendrick Lamar has undeniably been the the King of Rap for quite some time now. I’d put the time stamp of his reign’s beginning on October 22nd, 2012. This is the date that Kendrick released his second studio album, “good kid, m.A.A.d City”— the hip-hop world was shook. In fact, the hip-hop world was shook with such intensity that a kingdom arose, one that could only have a single supreme leader, King Kendrick.
Cornrow Kenny, one of the many name variations Kendrick goes by, has proven again and again that he is the best rapper alive. This title arose unheralded, unlike the martian who wore it before him who proclaimed it aloud before earning it. Kendrick has consistently rapped better than any other rapper for years but is only now proclaiming himself to be the true heir to the thrown. I’m as sure that Kendrick Lamar is the greatest rapper alive as I am that he also can count to five,.. positive.
This upcoming Album, DAMN., is my most anticipated of Kendrick's projects. Mr. Lamar has always put on for his team over at Top Dawg Entertainment. There he has all of his knights sitting around his table, all signed by the label TDE, but they are not beneath him. He wants all of their voices to also be heard, so, he has a tendency to disappear as the royalty around him run rampant (Sidenote: I’d REALLY like to see ScHoolBoy Q in knights armor on a horse). Since Kendrick’s last studio album, “To Pimp a Butterfly”, which was a jazzy sounding, political album that was astounding in its own right, he has done nothing other than some oddly placed features.
Consider 12AM on April 14th, 2017 the return of the king. Kendrick is hip-hop’s Aragorn and much like all of Mordor, we needed the king to return. He is back and firing shots at Sauron and the army of rappers claiming to be on top.
“HUMBLE” is the lead single off of this album and was released with an accompanying video. The song has gritty new sound, a sound that only a man fed up with people stepping over their bounds could sound like. The cinematography of the video is incredible and only adds hype to the fantastic song that it is depicting. Come proper when you approach Kendrick or he just might have to humble you and sit your bitch ass down.
With only one single and a very private group working on the album, not much is known of what is to come. I will keep my mind open and expectations high as I attempt to narrate my view of the return of the king in Kendrick Lamar’s 4th studio album, DAMN.
Lets get it.
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- “Blood”
Techy sounding autotune voice starts us off only to have Kendrick talking, explaining a story. A frustrated blind women is struggling and Kendrick decides to give a helping hand. Some dialogue ensues, gun shots, goosebumps — dear god.
2. “DNA”
We have ousrelves our first banger folks. Beat slaps with some funk in it aswell. Proclaiming he does everything he does, like “kill this shit”, because it’s in his DNA. He’s taking shots at his enemies now, their faults are their DNA. This one is going so hard I can’t keep up. An offensive minded K-dot is not one other rappers should want around; be afraid.
3. “Yah”
A slower boom-bap beat while Kendrick harmonically raps a few lines. Speaks of influence from the women in his life. Buzzinnnnnn’ yah yah. Diversity in the effects he uses over his voices are so captivating and unique to him. People close to him are being brought up including his niece and his cousin Carl. Very laid back song to follow such a high paced one in “DNA”. Buzzinnnnnn’ yah yah.
4. “Element”
KUNGFU KENNY does not give a fuck. Kendrick has no doubt been through some shit, being Compton’s poster boy of making it out. He lays it all out here. He claims the only option is faking his death and moving to Cuba, would he be recognized? More shots at unnamed people, “most of yall”; I hope he doesn’t mean me.
5. “Feel”
Echoing alternating voices between Kendrick and that of a female. This is the most old-timey Kendrick I’ve heard yet. Meaningful bars that keep on chugging like a locomotive. Continuous proclamation of his greatness compared to his peers — snatching the crown. He feels like pac did. Wow he sounded very angry for a few bars, a Control moment. If I listened to an entire song of Control Kenny firing off like that It might just end with someone dead. It seems as though he is trying to stay calm even though he is filled with feelings that are about to burst.
6. “Loyalty” (feat. Rihanna)
First feature of the album so why not Rihanna. Very poppy sound for Rihanna to fit into; could’ve been a single. Kendrick spits a few then hands the mic to Rihanna. She is rapping more than she is singing then hands it right back. Their is an unaccredited voice that starts the hook and I’m very curious who is behind. Ill look into it. The theme of this is simply having loyalty, who would you die for? Enjoyable song, especially for the pop-ish appearance on a very grungy rap sounding album.
7. “Pride”
Pride will be the death of us. There has actually been quite the moral influenced theme throughout the first half's entirety. Lyrically Kendrick is unmatched, he slows it down and it becomes so apparent. “I can’t fake humble just ‘cause your ass is insecure.” The hook is some odd high pitch noises out of Kendrick, not sure of how I feel. Kendrick is difficult to dissect without multiple listen as is any real lyricist.
8. “Humble”
The only single and defining song. Picturing the video that goes along has got me sitting here cheesing, so impressive. “MY LEFT STROKE JUST WENT VIRAL”. Sometimes Kendrick says things that are a lot like anarchy, I don’t know what it means, but I like it. (Talladega Knights). All the layers of Kendricks voice makes my head want to spin. I believe that’s some real low notes on the piano in the background — not often done. For whatever reason I picture Kindled Kenny physically pushing Drake and Big Sean down into their seats.
9. “Lust”
Light Guitar playing, serenading me to get a little comfier. Then some 808's?! what. This is actually quite hilarious, I’m pretty sure Kinky Kenny is pleading his case on why he should be able to put the head in… explicit. Occasionally he states “I need some water”; he sounds thirsty.
10. “Love” (feat. Zacari)
Zacari starts with some singing, he has a very smooth voice. Production from song to song has been top-notch. This is chart topper right here. I loved this song, got caught up and forgot to type.. It’s been a long day.
11. “XXX” (feat U2)
U2 feature now, who would have thought. It started with U2 and dropped so hard. I’m shook. Kendrick's voice is deep and the beat follows. Now upbeat with a looped police siren while Kendrick just SPITS. This is a MikeWillMadeIt beat and its quite apparent. Then it all drops off into a boom-bap with Bono singing transitioning into Kendrick’s more gentle flow.
12. “Fear”
Three songs remain. A Tyler the Creator sounding voice repeats some questions, “Why God, Why God”. Kendrick’s first verse is him instilling fear into his child but I believe its from the perspective of his mother. Very soulful song. Kenny with that same gentle flow. The bass guitar and electric guitar usage throughout this album has been A1, this song included. Kendrick’s disappearances have left him with so much to say.
13.”God”
Something upbeat was needed here. He raps about what he once looked up to, being a gun man. I cannot catch what he is going for here. Good sound I just don’t have much to say without more listens.
14.”Duckworth”
Self-titled track, Duckworth being Kendrick’s actual last name. Bass guitar is flowing along while Kendrick surfs it. Kazoo Kenny is telling stories of multiple different men, childhood friends? Female choir-ish vocals resonate along with the bass and Kendrick’s voice. His story telling ability is actually quite good for something he rarely does within his music. This song ends with a rewinding sound that seems to take us back to the beginning of the album and slows down to let us here the same words he opened with in the first song, beginning the story of the frustrated blind women.
An Album that Kendrick Lamar has creative control over is one that is difficult to digest in one sitting. This is no kiddy pool; this project is an ocean of thoughts and sounds propagated by the best in the game. Me attempting to dive in and reach the bottom would surly be a futile one as it has seemed to be, but, I did get to pull a few things from this first listen.
This seems to be a more personal album with no true agenda like that of “To Pimp a Butterfly’s” political backing. Morals of human living and how we all go through our lives, correct or not, is the only reoccurring theme I find prominent.
Quality of the Album was fantastic. The creative ideas seem great, production and engineering is Top-notch, and there is an array of different sounds to enjoy. I cannot wait to swim around in this ocean some more and maybe find some treasures.
Notice in the tracklist that Killer Kenny puts Pride before being Humble, possibly an issue with society. He also places Lust before Love but also saves XXX for after Love, a not so common sequence. He also places Fear before God as maybe that is the same order he placed those things as a young person in Compton.
But at the end of the tracklist you read his last name, Duckworth.
As he puts all things before himself.
Thank you for this, King Kendrick.
