the production is perfect if you actually listen to rap in the last 5 years by people who just aren't on that boom bap. It slaps, but is minimal with splashed of experimentation. The only dud production wise is "Love" imo, but it was growing on me today...

rap wise there is some wonderful shit on here. It's his most insular record. Most of the songs are Kendrick wrestling with his trauma of growing up Black and poor, juxtapose his current fame and riches. He still struggles to imagine women beyond sex object or hoes, and unfortunately he def seems to be on that not-Black Israelite tip, but his honesty redeems those qualities. Yet, Kendrick feels and knows he's the best rapper alive, so he becomes ridiculously cocky in certain sections and the subs and bravado, like the second half of "DNA," are some of the most enjoyable parts of the album. Furthermore, his narrative ability to paint broad strokes of evocative drama, "Fear" and "Duckworth" are why he's my favorite rapper. Stylistically in terms of his patterns, flows, and delivery it's his most self-assured, even when he's the weakest part of the song "XXX".

It was the correct move away from the Black centered art-house social protest music of TPAB, but this album is still Black as fuck (even though K Dot, not longer "Black"), and the cover, Kid Capri drops, and lyrical content all still point to how well thought out this record is.