Kendrick Lamar Secures Legendary Status with New Album, DAMN.

April 14 marked the release of Kendrick Lamar’s brand new album, DAMN. This album had great anticipation before its release. Lamar mentioned April 7 as a potential release date on “The Heart Part 4,” but only the pre-order was available that day instead of the actual album. He debuted a single from DAMN. March 30 entitled “HUMBLE,” with its music video receiving almost unanimous praise. He then released the cover art and tracklist of the album, both of which sparked controversy from the unusual nature of the album cover to the unexpected and unconventional features showed on the tracklist. After all the anticipation surrounding the album, anything else but a great album would be a disappointment. Greatness is not a word that should be associated with this album. Legendary is a much more suitable fit.

DAMN. hooks the listener from the very first track, “BLOOD.” Instead of opening the album with a rap, Lamar opens it with a narrative. The narrative tells a (fictional) story of Kendrick helping a woman who appears to have lost something, but Lamar is the one to have lost something when the woman pulls a gun on him. The narrative surprises and hooks the listener and makes the listener wanting to hear what’s next.

The rest of the album is a treasure chest of great songs, no matter a listener’s taste. DAMN. features songs applicable to multiple genres, and all are quality pieces of work.

“DNA.” is a song that would be easier to find someone who wouldn’t turn up while listening to it. The beat is heavy and Lamar demonstrates great energy in his lyrics. “YAH.” is a smooth, almost funky track that is great to just relax and chill to. “ELEMENT.” is a song that has rhymes for absolute days. “LOYALTY. FEAT. RIHANNA” has an easy-flow R&B sound. Meanwhile, “LOVE. FEAT. ZACARI” has a very distinct pop sound and is almost destined to hit the radio, while “XXX. FEAT. U2” is a song that features great production and rhyming switches that Lamar displayed on “The Heart Part 4.”

This album as a whole offers another example of how Lamar continuously chooses to reinvent and evolve his music while simultaneously remain true to who he is as an artist. This album features many different types of production that Lamar has barely utilized or not used period throughout his whole discography. But he somehow manages to tell valuable and important messages in his songs while simultaneously making songs legitimately fun to listen to.

Lamar’s references to controversial views of Donald Trump and Fox News’ Geraldo Rivera provide just a couple examples of his attempts to make listeners aware. However, far from preachy, his reference to Geraldo Rivera takes place on “DNA.,” the most entertaining and fun track on the whole project.

There is a lot of talk today about who is the best current rapper in the industry. Despite the lackluster 2016 The Life of Pablo project, many people argue for Kanye West. Likewise, 2016’s classic Atrocity Exhibition by Danny Brown inserted him in the conversation for many. Drake always has fans who argue for him and Eminem always has the spotlight whenever he releases new work.

However, DAMN. has made it evident that Kendrick Lamar deserves that title of Greatest Rapper Alive. Lamar has released three back-to-back albums that offer great messages and unique insight on the social issues as a whole. To Pimp a Butterfly is an inspiring and culturally significant album, good kid, m.A.A.d city is an album that illustrates street life in a way few have before it, and DAMN. though not on par with either, offers insight to Lamar at this point in his career and life, and it’s amazing to hear. Lamar has secured the status of greatest rapper today, and is one of the greatest of all time period, and this album has all but guaranteed that. DAMN. gets a nine out of 10.