It's out.

I just wanted to be first.

Nice of kendrick to rejoin us in the present rather than living in dust land.

UU remains s my favorite work by him but Damn has about 6 or 7 joints that are going in the rotation.

But by listen 3 (where I'm at now), it's come together for me much better.
Not sold on Love or God at this point.
But I wasn't feeling the Rihanna song on first listen, but I came around pretty quickly on that one.
DNA, Lust, and Duckworth are favorites to this point.
Really like Yah.
Really like Fear.

Man, this dude is committed to growing and changing with each album.

Love the vocal production on this...so fucking ill

"...I'll take all of the religions and put them in one service, just to tell Him we aint shit and He's been perfect"

He came with it.

Dammit

So I was able to get a solid week and a half (with the Joey leak) of listening in. I really dig that album.

Yeah I only fucked with a few but he's still pretty much overrated by heads to me

>Yeah I only fucked with a few but he's still pretty much
>overrated by heads to me

Production is good enough, lyrics are fine, a few good songs, the others are shrugs.

Listened 3 times and just wasn't cutting it.

is he cashing out?

that felt like a bad attempt at crossing over

But I can see how the sound is pointing that way

lol.

nah, i mean it's clearly a good album but man, the production is really lacking to me...and I'm not a Humble hater - I'd have been fine w/ some turned up 808 shit throughout. that is to say it's not up to the level of his last two.

I'm not ready to make any hotter takes about how it compares to other Kendrick albums... but I've heard 15-something rap albums this year and this is heads and shoulders above.

There's quite a few current rappers who excel at making sonically cohesive albums/projects (Kanye, Earl, Danny, Q, Chance...) but Kendrick feels lightyears aheads of them even.

Anything he does, I'm a supporter.

Other times I felt like I was listening to a guy trying to make a Drake album... this is one listen through...

.

Got DAMN.

It's like Mayweather in his prime. That beat switch after the Foxnews drop in DNA?

https://media.giphy.com/media/L4caiF7GTkgJa/giphy.gif

Really no denying it.

Who else has this many strong releases in a row, from his start until now?

Each album is different, each album knocks in its own way.

This man honestly has no bad albums.

or in the whip.

makes me wanna throw a chair at somebody

Lupe is a better pure emcee, but Kendrick has far more nuances and far more overall artistry.

Whew!

https://www.reddit.com/r/KendrickLamar/comments/659sj8/second_album_coming_on_easter_this_is_actually/

Not sure if this is true or far fetched as hell. I tell you what though if it is true this will be some next level greatness shit.

Nobody fucking with him right now.

Bless your soul whoever you are, shit makes me chuckle each time they pop out in a song.

"Get ready....for your blessing....."

.

the rest is headphone music imo... where I gotta pay attn and it's too early lol

Just said the same thing about it being headphone music at this time of day. LOL

It's okay. Just nothing I care to listen to.

This so far is the easiest album of his for me to listen to. There are some tracks on here I'm not sure will grab me due to him tweaking the pitch of his voice, which is something he's done in the past if memory serves me right.

"it doesnt resonate with me/it's not for me" is logical, we cant all be expected to love the same things

the people that say "this is trash" when the overwhelming consensus is something isnt, they need to have a seat

I respect the skill and the heart, but not a fan.

Then I shrug and say some shit like, "I'm happy this generation cares a little bit about lyrics."

Then go about my business.

>RE: I be wanting to see the hype too. Just like J. Cole.
>Then I shrug and say some shit like, "I'm happy this
>generation cares a little bit about lyrics."
>
>Then go about my business.

He has placed himself in my top 5/10.

I caught references in a few different places. The end of FEAR. sort of strengthened the thought. Searched Google for any other clues. Come across the following which is nothing definitive or sated by Kendrick. Interesting though...

https://youtu.be/rvjyPFyrMbY

so there's that too. lol...

interesting

"Get ready....for your blessing....."

In the age of social media, it's just amazing to me that this sort of conversion, by a major artist, wouldn't have been all over the Innawebs. So to hear the references throughout the album has me kinda like: "WOW."

like we had with the NOI and NGE before, I'm going to die laughing.

it makes perfect sense for this super black and weirdly Christian moment that rap is having tho.

>it makes perfect sense for this super black and weirdly
>Christian moment that rap is having tho.

so there are other rappers that are 'biting' Chance The Rapper's lane that he took with Coloring Book? Although I am a non-believer, I guess I can't be too mad since in theory going the religious route will result in more positive music. I am bothered since this means folks are just following Chance since they are brainless sheep.

I had to put biting in quotation marks because I don't even know what's called biting these days will all the ways rappers violate in terms of just copying the next rapper's style, but I suppose that's a whole other post to itself.

of Believer Rappers, but I feel like there's a lot more Jesus in rap now than ever beyond them.

I'm not sure why it is. Maybe it is just a trend.

It was always obvious to me he was a believer.

it's a God heavy album for sure

He did say to not call him Black anymore because he's an Israelite. I know Israelites who share that same sentiment. It's no knock against him. It would just provide more insight or context to his evolution as a man and artist.

He still kicked ass on this joint!

Verse two says you only have I known of all the families of the earth, therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities. So until we come back to these commandments, until you come back to these commandments, we're gonna be in this place, we're gonna be under this curse. Because he said he's gonna punish us, the so-called Blacks, Hispanics, and Native American Indians, are the true children of Israel. We are the Israelites according to the Bible. The children of Israel, he's gonna punish us for our iniquities. For our disobedience because we chose to follow other gods that aren't his son, so the Lord thy God chasten you. So just like your children, your own son, he's gonna chastise you because he loves you. So that's why we get chastised, that's why we're in the position we're in. Until we come back to these laws, statutes and commandments, and do what the Lord said, these curses are gonna be upon us. We're gonna be at a lower state in this life that we live here in today, in the United States of America. I love you, son, and I pray for you. God bless you, shalom

https://www.instagram.com/p/BS4LJldl6S2/

...One and a half listens in, and yeah WOW....so different, each project. The growth's incredible. Melodically waaay different than TPAB. It took me a while to head nod to TPAB (so engrossed in the message). This one, I was rockin' out immediately, and now on the second listen, I'm more keen on catching the subject matter. At 4-5 more listens, I'll be more adept at giving a formal opinion.

Reminiscent of "Ha."

and it's become more of a trend in recent years to pay homage to that song. I can't pull any off top but I hear rappers referencing it far more frequently than you'd have ever expected back when it dropped.


~~~~~~~~~
"This is the streets, and I am the trap." � Jay Bilas
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/archive/contributor/517
Hip Hop Handbook: http://tinyurl.com/ll4kzz

whole lotta people need to hold this L

i'm wishing for a 3,000 verse......

"Get ready....for your blessing....."

i'll have to play em side by side...
either way, I ain't mad.

"Get ready....for your blessing....."

and I love how it turned out.
That's my early favorite of the album

https://youtu.be/qFbyVgJMWN8

.

I can't judge this whole thing after one sitting


We are getting a lot of good music this 1st quarter

DNA, YAH and ELEMENT is a motherfucker of a three song run. I like LOVE and I really like LUST. The beat switches on XXX are dope as hell. GOD is a great riding song... sounds good as shit in the car. DUCKWORTH had me with a big as smile on my face. Only track on the album I can do without is LOYALTY. I don't hate it, but I'm cool on it. Very satisfied, overall. This kid did it again.

Still doesn't match the effortless bravado, flow, punchlines and one-liners of a Jay.

Still doesn't match the flow, storytelling or natural instincts for the craft of a Nas.

Still can't match the regal stature and overall knowledge of the game/hustle/street knowledge of a Big.

Still comes up short in the eccentricity and creativity of a 3000, although he obviously tries.

But still the greatest we have of the current roster of today's most active. His best album is still GKMC.

he is the best out now but he isn't as good as all these other people.

OK.

>he is the best out now but he isn't as good as all these
>other people.
>
>OK.

Weird because it's not your thoughts?

I wonder if people ever compared Kobe to Jordan? Nah

kind of hard for one dude to embody all of that

>kind of hard for one dude to embody all of that

That would be an impossible feat to achieve. I should have caveated by stating I never want any rapper to strive to be just like, or embody all the characteristics of the greats.

I'm saying I can't put my finger on one thing Kendrick does exceptionally well like the aforementioned.

His flow is above-average, storytelling is above-average and songs are above-average. That's about it.

All of those other artists I mentioned are exceptional in some way, form or fashion. I don't get that with Kendrick. His influences speak to more than he does, if that makes any sense.

>I'm saying I can't put my finger on one thing Kendrick does
>exceptionally well like the aforementioned.


I say his conceptualizing and literary
insight.

He's not Nas, Jay, or Big...
Why fault him for not having their strengths when he has plenty of his own?

>Still doesn't match the effortless bravado, flow, punchlines
>and one-liners of a Jay.
>
>Still doesn't match the flow, storytelling or natural
>instincts for the craft of a Nas.
>
>Still can't match the regal stature and overall knowledge of
>the game/hustle/street knowledge of a Big.
>
>Still comes up short in the eccentricity and creativity of a
>3000, although he obviously tries.


meanwhile his catalog is now up for debate against any of the all time greats

>>Still doesn't match the effortless bravado, flow,
>punchlines
>>and one-liners of a Jay.
>>
>>Still doesn't match the flow, storytelling or natural
>>instincts for the craft of a Nas.
>>
>>Still can't match the regal stature and overall knowledge of
>>the game/hustle/street knowledge of a Big.
>>
>>Still comes up short in the eccentricity and creativity of a
>>3000, although he obviously tries.
>
>
>meanwhile his catalog is now up for debate against any of the
>all time greats

His catalogue imho, doesn't touch a Jay, Nas, Big or Kast (we all know Andre was the catalyst behind their major success)

As a matter of fact, song for song, Kendrick ain't in the same league as those guys. And I love him for who he is. But his music is not beyond reproach. I can't name one song of his I can place above those other artists' greatest songs in their prime.

but you're not about to feasibly argue a man who had two albums or a man who has Nastradamus, Hip Hop Is Dead, I Am and Untitled in his catalog have better bodies of work than a kid who's been killing almost everything he touches since 2010 for 5 albums now (I dont count untitled unmastered, I definitely count O.D)

>but you're not about to feasibly argue a man who had two
>albums or a man who has Nastradamus, Hip Hop Is Dead, I Am and
>Untitled in his catalog have better bodies of work than a kid
>who's been killing almost everything he touches since 2010 for
>5 albums now (I dont count untitled unmastered, I definitely
>count O.D)

Look, I agree. However, I did NOT like TPAB. So to me, that's the man's weakest. You may love that album, but "We Gon' be Alright" was so lackluster I couldn't believe he made a cold video promoting it.

But I agree, everything else is heat, mostly. I'm just saying if you wanna go song for song, lyric for lyric, he ain't touching a Nas.

Nas' first album is still better than 99% of hip hop today. But that's not really the point. The point is who sounds better on the mic, who has the better flow, who has the better songs. I don't like every song on any of the man's albums but his talent is undeniable. As are the talents of the others I mentioned.

lol.

>lol.

And that shit sounded corny every time I saw a gang of white liberals screaming that shit at the top of their lungs on CNN.

It was timely and he was the perfect artist for the time. If he had made a song called "We some Desperadoes" you would've heard that shit too.

For comparison sake, go back and listen to "Fight the Power" and tell me lyrically what was more impactful.

That song just hit at the right moment in a sea of mediocrity.

Also, you probably should have gone to the marches. They didn't go down the way you think they did.

>
>
>Also, you probably should have gone to the marches. They
>didn't go down the way you think they did.

Dude, I was being halfway cheeky. But in an age where niggas march for social media statuses and take selfies while protesting, I can only imagine the impact.

Still, that song is no protest anthem. "Fuck the Police" is a protest anthem. That shit was made in the early 90's and you heard it right alongside that other bs.

the fuck are you talking about?

>the fuck are you talking about?

Ok, it's a corny protest anthem. Wth lol

what

>what

Meaning a lot of it seems gimmicky, even if it's who he truly is. The 5 different voice changes, the super Twista flow without saying much, the "deep" references that only mean something to those who weren't around during the Kast, Goodie or BlackStar eras, etc etc.

Like I said, GKMC didn't contain as much of the extras. It was mostly straight flow over nice ass beats. He wasn't trying as hard and that shit came off as more natural.

That was 20 years ago... and anyone with respect for the craft understand Kendrick isn't trying to trick anyone into thinking he is fake deep.

You are showing how intimidated you are by Kendrick. He isn't going to erase the greats from the past.

>That was 20 years ago... and anyone with respect for the
>craft understand Kendrick isn't trying to trick anyone into
>thinking he is fake deep.
>
>You are showing how intimidated you are by Kendrick. He isn't
>going to erase the greats from the past.
>
>

I'm always for change, bro. I love the new artists. I personally think Chance (if he doesn't go full retard or Gospel) has a chance, no pun, to be great. Possibly greater than Kanye.

And speaking of 'Ye. Do you think Kendrick's catalogue holds a candle to Ye's? Kanye has 3 non-debatable classics. And MDTF comes up just short. Sure, that niggas in the sunken place now, but that in no way negates his past work.

Hell, if we talking classics even Wayne has 2 if you include Dedication.

So don't lump me in with the old timers. Hip hop has always been forward thinking and about change. Kendrick is good, really good... but to say he's great.. meh

because from what I've seen EVERYONE has a different Kanye heirarchy...

Something tells me you're gonna say CDxLRxG...
which is incredibly debatable

>because from what I've seen EVERYONE has a different Kanye
>heirarchy...
>
>Something tells me you're gonna say CDxLRxG...
>which is incredibly debatable

The fact that it's debatable should tell you so much more than what I could.

>>because from what I've seen EVERYONE has a different Kanye
>>heirarchy...
>>
>>Something tells me you're gonna say CDxLRxG...
>>which is incredibly debatable
>
>The fact that it's debatable should tell you so much more than
>what I could.
>

damn, you gave up quick fast on that one.

~~~~~~~~~
"This is the streets, and I am the trap." � Jay Bilas
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/archive/contributor/517
Hip Hop Handbook: http://tinyurl.com/ll4kzz

SMDH

His albums are on the same sonic tier as Amerikkka's Most Wanted and Death Certificate and his portrayal of young niggas in the hood is just as nuanced and poignant.

But Kendrick is also a world class technician and stylist, which Cube never was.

He doesn't have all of Jay's humor and swag, and he doesn't have Biggie's presence and rhythmic control, but he does have most of Dre's specificity and most of Nas' observation. He's about as complete a rap artist as there ever has been. He's not Jordan, and maybe he ain't LeBron, but he's at the very least Magic Johnson.

He's
>not Jordan, and maybe he ain't LeBron, but he's at the very
>least Magic Johnson.

I'm not the biggest Cube fan, but one of his best attributes when he was in his prime is that within the snap of a finger, I could visualize his raps when he did his story telling rhymes. I don't get that with Kendrick, but that could just be me because Kendrick throws me off when he does the pitch shifting effects with his voice.

So while he doesn't paint settings and construct scenes the way Cube used to (almost nobody has), he does match the fidelity of Cube's character portraiture. The first two verses of "Sing About Me" come to mind. His authorial voice is probably more dynamic than the goofy sounding voices he does.

since you are a left coast native, so you opinion on both rappers holds much more weight than mine.

Cube came out of NWA and Wrote classic songs

Cube turned that into a Solo Career and the stakes were 3 times higher. its not fair to compare other generations to said acts because the stakes were different plus Cube had to fight to get played beyond the west, Kendrick in a more accessible era.

Cube had Commerical appeal while maintain street appeal and yet he turned into it a film career and had a heck of a multi thing going.

Kendrick if he was a Basketball player right now would be Kwaii Leonard the Claw you see as maybe being Great for a long time, however still early to tell.

i dig Kendrick however Cube carried a whole lot more weight, get back to me if Kendrick still got songs that people care about 10-20 years from now.

i still say Jerri Curl era Cube was Unfadeable.

>His albums are on the same sonic tier as Amerikkka's Most
>Wanted and Death Certificate and his portrayal of young niggas
>in the hood is just as nuanced and poignant.
>
>But Kendrick is also a world class technician and stylist,
>which Cube never was.
>
>He doesn't have all of Jay's humor and swag, and he doesn't
>have Biggie's presence and rhythmic control, but he does have
>most of Dre's specificity and most of Nas' observation. He's
>about as complete a rap artist as there ever has been. He's
>not Jordan, and maybe he ain't LeBron, but he's at the very
>least Magic Johnson.


I agree....

Was just thinking this today.

>Still doesn't match the effortless bravado, flow, punchlines
>and one-liners of a Jay.
>
>Still doesn't match the flow, storytelling or natural
>instincts for the craft of a Nas.
>
>Still can't match the regal stature and overall knowledge of
>the game/hustle/street knowledge of a Big.
>
>Still comes up short in the eccentricity and creativity of a
>3000, although he obviously tries.
>
>But still the greatest we have of the current roster of
>today's most active. His best album is still GKMC.

That fact doesn't take anything away from those other guys... So what's your point?

every single release

he's 7/7 in my book

subliminal shots but shots all the same. I will be shocked if anyone in the mainstream drops a better LP this year

It's my favorite.

.

I would go

GKMC
DAMN
TPAB
SECTION 80 (this is interchangeable with TPAB for me as it has more replay value)
OVERLY DEDICATED
UNTITLED

This is a summer time album. Shit knocks.

I mean, I had it turned up in the whip this morning on the way to work.

A LOT of quiet moments.

As I said in my earlier post: I'm not one of those people that doesn't like Humble. I would have been happy if all the production was throwback, 808 drum, NWA shit.

This doesn't feel like a summertime album at all. GKMC was a summertime album that dropped in the fall of 2012 that was still banging in Summer of 2013.

it's a good album. i'm not really sure a rapper/artist of Kendrick's ability could make a "bad" album. i'm just saying it's just not THAT good to me.

ironically enough, Humble also sounds horribly recorded/mixed in comparison to all of the other songs, at least on the digital version that Spotify has.

edit: i don't know if we're ever going to see the sun again at the rate we've been going this fall/winter.

in any way shape fashion or form

Its def a great album go bump while riding arond but nothing about this album or its singles scream summer

I dont think u know what people mean when they say summer anthem or when someone owned that summer...its never with an album lol

yah definitely has a summer feel to it

I think it will be the most heard album in whips this summer.

Cookouts, late night excursions, etc...

lol

After less than 24 hours, with Damn, I'll say:

TPAB
GKMC
UU
DAMN (may move into 3rd)
SXN80
OD

let the hype die down for a min so i can really HEAR it

..and backed up his claim.

he's not makin' music for you, me, us, or them. he's making music for himself. he's making music for people that feel him and his direction. he's creating art for people with the patience, potential, and ability to push past the obvious, searching for more.

its up to the rest of the field to decide where they choose to stand in this new era of modern music. as for kendrick, the lines are pretty clear:

he's on a journey and only he knows the true destination. get on board or get the fuck outta the way.


*skatin' the rings of saturn*


..and miles to go before i sleep...

After being able to give it a thorough listen,
I have to say this guy is making Hip Hop the
way I like for it to be made... thoughtfully
and insightfully. This time around he just
made it sound more "current" than the last
album. Meaningful and enjoyable. Here's my
track-by-track review.

1)Blood
Interesting opening... definitely has
that 70s R&B breakdown feel.
That Fox ending with them talking
about "Alright" was cool.

2)DNA
Found myself wondering if he was baiting
Fox to overreact and invite him on so he
could discuss epigenetics... far-fetched
I know, but it's fun to imagine lol.
As for the sound, it's a hard contemporary
beat with a sick flow... even a nice
beat switch and intensity increase at the end.

3)Yah
Funny he starts the verse talking about Fox.
Very laid-back feel. If I had to describe
this to someone who hadn't heard it, I'd say
it's more 2017 Domino or Arrested Development
sing-songy than straight ahead rap.
Probably only 1 of the 2 songs on here without
some layer of meaning.

4)Element
First thing I noticed was the "hmmmmm" every
4 bars characteristic of vintage Wu-Tang era
yet very contemporary at the same time.
Chorus on this song is hilarious and catchy.
Definitely caught the "last LP I tried to lift
black artists" line. I think the meaning that
he continues to infuse in his music and his
commitment to uplifting despite ppl taking
shots at him is a testament to his dedication
to not be taken "out of his element."

5)Feel
Very contemplative song here... moment of
vulnerability with a backdrop that sounds like
it could have just as easily been produced by
Soulquarians. The "feeling" here is definitely
one of not being truly cared about beyond
his entertainment value.

6)Loyalty
From the time the beat drops you understand
why Rihanna's featured on it. This is the
type of joint you raise glasses to. I found
it kinda funny how her voice is deeper than
the "funny voice" he raps in. Beyond the
cosmetics, this is the other song without
a layer of meaning... just questioning what
you're loyal to and whether or not that loyalty
is unconditional.

7)Pride
Has that drunk, lazy light rock feel initially
with the sparse guitars. The thoughtfulness of
the lyrics are the star of the show here imo,
especially the last verse where he talks about
a utopia of sorts after the first verse where
he touches on alotta things caused by pride...
things ppl don't usually mention in connection
with pride. It's an insightful song.

8)Humble
Just as I suspected, this song plays perfectly
within the mix of the album... sounds great
after Pride. We've discussed this one tho.
No review necessary.

9)Lust
Immediate Outkast/Dungeon Family/Sa-Ra vibes with
the chorus and music here. Funny how he turns this
into social commentary about how our desires keep
us mentally disconnected from important issues
affecting our lives.

10)Love
Man this song is beautiful. Something that's gonna
work for a late night cruise or just a straight up
slow dance lol. This is pretty straight-forward
trust song. I say trust song, because he repeatedly
says "rather you trust me than to love me."

11)XXX
I'm sure people were expecting something sexual
here with the title, but it's made very clear
that this is a commentary on violence within
the black community committed both by cops and
other victims of racism. Pt.1 is spoken in
first person. The transition to pt. 2 of the
song is extra smooth... and it works. Pt.2 is
spoken as a witness/critic.
Oh, and the beat change at 1:22 is VERY N.W.A.

12)Fear
I like that a song entitled Fear starts with
talking about beating a child for damn near
everything a child does, then goes into a 17
yr old being fearful of everything that happens
in his environment. Then a 27 yr old rap star
being afraid of everything about fame.
Brilliant concept and brilliant execution.

13)God
Very catchy chorus. Song is just sonically
beautiful imo, but what I like most about the
song is that he took very practical examples
that his generation can relate to and said
"That's what God feel like" over a very
contemporary beat instead of making this another
overly-sappy or preachy song about God.

14)Duckworth
I had pretty high hopes for this song, considering
it's his last name. He definitely delivers,
making this a run-down as to how the lives of
relatives were part of the universe's plan to
create his own "fortune" accented by some really
nice throwback-flavored beat switches.

>3)Yah
>Funny he starts the verse talking about Fox.
>Very laid-back feel. If I had to describe
>this to someone who hadn't heard it, I'd say
>it's more 2017 Domino or Arrested Development
>sing-songy than straight ahead rap.
>Probably only 1 of the 2 songs on here without
>some layer of meaning.

"Yah" is short for Yahweh (or God). It's, IMO, a song about his awakening or understanding that he is an Israelite and the internal conflict resulting from shit that plagues his existence as a star. He's looking to separate himself from that which comes as a result of his popularity by calling out for God.

I had really mixed feeling my first listen. But I typed em out. And they changed my second listen. And changed more my third listen.

But I kinda like having a record of how my feelings changed on the album...

I've even starting to not hate God and Love at this point...

SHIT.

That hook is horrible, but hella sounds like some shit would do or has done...

.

Like the only logical Drake response would be him doing his best attempt at a Kendrick track now.

.

he's done the same theme 5 different ways now with new experiences to discuss each time out

but it's not like ranking Jay Z albums where you're mostly ranking beats (because Jay was pretty consistent lyrically from 1996-2003), every Kendrick album sounds so different from the last that it's difficult to come to consensus (i.e. Reasonable Doubt, Blueprint, Black Album are the best Jay albums)

Damn is his fifth consecutive win though

>Damn is his fifth consecutive win though

No one has a 7 album run this consistent...

but yeah the other 5 are golden. he averages 1 weak song an album if that

That's what introduced me to him...OD is what sold me on him...

there were even minor slip ups on O.D. (I dont think Alien Girl and Ab-Soul's verse on P&P 1.5 would be recorded now) but that's where he started hitting shit out the park

>there were even minor slip ups on O.D. (I dont think Alien
>Girl and Ab-Soul's verse on P&P 1.5 would be recorded now) but
>that's where he started hitting shit out the park


Saw Kendrick after OD came out... Ab-Soul was there and they did P&P 1.5... I don't think there was a verse that the (younger) crowd went more crazy for than Ab-Soul's verse... I was really surprised... And I felt very old... haha

>>Damn is his fifth consecutive win though
>
>No one has a 7 album run this consistent...

pretty much since "Cut You Off" i knew he was great
not sure who has put out 7 "very good to classic" projects in a row

This is an album that really needs to be listened to in order.

I have no idea where this album will ultimately land with me, but so far it's hella solid.

His orthodox jewish (payot) looking braids make so much more sense now

I keep going back to "Love" because
it's just stuck in my head right now,
but then I end up listening to the
whole album from there until Love is
playing again.
The only other recent rap album I liked
this much in it's entirety was J.Cole's
For Your Eyez Only. The difference with
DAMN is that most of it is stand-out cuts
whereas FYEO only worked as a whole for me.
After listening to this many times, it's
rare to have this much killer on an album.
I think people will realize it in time,
but he raises the bar so high, because most
artists would get just as many props for
having ONE "XXX", one "Feel", one "Element"
one "Duckworth", one "DNA", one "Loyalty"
but he gives you all that and then some on
one album and people STILL say it's his
weakest album lol. It's beyond outstanding
to have a catalog so good that an album with
this much good music can be considered your
weakest effort by anyone. Even if you hate
dude, you gotta salute him after this.

>The only other recent rap album I liked
>this much in it's entirety was J.Cole's
>For Your Eyez Only.

He's got joints on here that old heads still rock with...but I feel like the younger generation is gonna love the shit out of this album...

I don't see it.
Nothing "experimental" about this album
or anything out of the norm from what
considered hot.
Just a bunch of bangers that connect.

If you mean a somewhat unexpected kind
of album in that it's a break from HIS
norm, I guess I could see that.

I thought Yeezus was completely out of
the Hip Hop norm tho... plus I thought
it wasn't very good lol.

Old heads feeling some joints, but the younger generation loving the shit out of it... The kids loved Yeezus...

But also something about the music that just reminded me of Yeezus... The overall sound and I feel he stepped further out of his "norm" or "comfort zone"... Not sure what to call his "norm" because every album sounds different...

>Old heads feeling some joints, but the younger generation
>loving the shit out of it... The kids loved Yeezus...


I think this is just a regular part of
Kendrick's presentation... possibly due
to being raised by "old heads" from
the street. Imo, usually seems to
mostly be making music for them with
sprinkles of "current" thrown in to
appeal to his own generation.
This time it seems to be the other
way around, which is what I think
lends to the breaking of the "norm"
and "comfort zone" you're talking
about here:

>But also something about the music that just reminded me of
>Yeezus... The overall sound and I feel he stepped further out
>of his "norm" or "comfort zone"... Not sure what to call his
>"norm" because every album sounds different...

I can't argue with the music reminding you
of Yeezus. Those are your feelings lol.

>He's got joints on here that old heads still rock with...but
>I feel like the younger generation is gonna love the shit out
>of this album...

I hear this as his Makaveli but it's of course much more 'thought out'. Who knows if Pac had truly finished that one tho. I remember him commenting before that it was 12 songs but who knows if those were the 12...

I'm guessing the idea for DAMN was to make 'loaded bangers'. Loaded with subtext that is. Maybe he knew that some would listen for the subtext and others would see mike will made it and assume there was nothing going on. Then he tried to bind it all together on FEAR (the best song on the whole thing to me). The one-word all caps titles. The meantioning of those words throughout other songs. Fear. The first song being spent to tell that story and the last spent on telling THAT story. We live in a world where cats are still judging albums based on production credits and hot takes from folks who haven't listened to the album with any other intention besides slagging it to make the tried and true 'point' of 'yawl like this but it's not that great to me'.

Or maybe he pulled a Marvin Gaye Loveman into In Our Lifetime(?)...like he started off with something simple but couldn't let himself do that and only that. There's no telling even if he tells us at some point. Crank Lucas could prolly give us a great explanation..haha.

Whatever it is, I feel VERY good about DAMN so far. I keep coming back to it every chance I get. I've probably listened to it 5-ish times. The first 3 were full on listens.

Reminds me of a song and it's killing me cause I can't think of it

feeling the production

This is weak for Kendrick.

Big Sean Album was weak.

Drake been dropping weak albums for a few years now.

Joey Bad is cool but not up to par yet.

J Cole is average at best and his last album was weak.

I've been listening to Kendrick for years big supporter.

I like maybe 3-4 songs the last two being the strongest in my opinion.

The production seemed lacking

lyrics are great in spots but overall lacking

.

so even their sub-par efforts will usu be better than the rest of the field

big sean / drake / joey / j. cole / kendrick

The Black Opera is my group right now,
I been bigging them up on here for a
minute, and nobody seems to know them,
yet when I big up Kendrick and Cole I'm
told I'm ignoring everything that's not
mainstream. Turn us on to what you fuckin
with. Maybe we've heard it, maybe we haven't,
but ain't no sense us attacking each other for
what we like and don't like.

Kendrick is far from "fast food" tho.
Cole's last album either, alotta people
didn't even catch the theme of it.
Anyway tho, whatchu got?

I mess with Black Opera too

Other than that it's slim pickings for the elite class.

Top Dawg overall are sick not many if any mainstream groups messing with them.

To me right now the best lyricist is Royce by far.

i'll check out Black Opera

Top 5
Black Woman Is God
Pardon
King Tut
Numb
Wake
Sleep Tight

Their latest album "African America" is
their most conceptual. A lot of the
song-crafting on there is just as (if
not more) thoughtful than anything
Kendrick's ever done (songs like 'Black
Woman Is God' and 'Numb', for instance).
The only thing that holds some of their
other songs back is the beats.

Not a fan of the second....Will check out this Africa America joint

Overture (2011)
Entermission (2011)
Libretto: Of King Legend (2012)
The Great Year (2014)
African America (2016)

African America being the most focused,
I just found out CNN featured their
video for "Beautiful City"
http://www.theblackopera.com/2017/02/14/new-video-demonstration-the-black-opera-beautiful-city-directed-by-keemo-cnn-premier/

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.

But I found enough drums that knock here to satisfy my boom bap needs. I can't remember the last time I've WANTED to listen to an album several times like this. It's been legit years for me.

It's not perfect. I can skip PRIDE. and I don't fuck with LOVE. at all, but 12 out of 14 is more than I'd ever expect in 2017.

is it the production or his sing-rapping or both?

It's def one of the weaker songs IMO, but I don't skip it like I do "Love" or "Humble"

you also reminded be I need to listen to Roc's new lp

without the pimp lyrics.

.

album?
Really tight with no pimp lyrics lol...
actually mad thoughtful and uplifting.
He finally polished his sound and his
songwriting for a full project.
And he's still funky!

this was the only thing that made me take a break from it.

.

It's current production that knocks hence the God track. I hear the content its no debating he has content and depth. The lyrics are lacking in to convey that in memorable lines and feeling on several songs.

I mean TF

One of my absolute faves on the album

.

and i mean that with absolute respect. it's a sweet song.

.

one of my favorite joints on the album as well.

ODDLY one of my favs on the LP
werd.

.

Damn thing sounds like "Overtime" which sounds like "Studio" which...you get the point.


Instant skip on my listens.

Loyalty yall

i'm on my Think Positive vibe these days.



"Get ready....for your blessing....."

.

maybe I'm listening to it wrong.

I don't think it's a dark album, but I don't think it's fair to say it's not dark "at all." Some of the subject mater is dark in places.

At least 6 or 7 songs on this contain reversed sampled elements. The musical theme seems to be reversed samples. And the theme at the intro and outro is death. Death in reverse is life (or re-birth)... There's some yin and yanny stuff going on here for sure. I think there's a second album. Left stroke just went viral, right stroke put a baby in a spiral! Kid Kapri says: just to remind you what happens on earth stays on earth, we gonna put this in reverse. Then 9th's sample kicks in (sounds reversed) and another sample repeats the word GOD like 7 times... That's the clue.

Then that Time magazine with the M on Trump's head making it look like devil horns. Same with the Kendrick album. But if there was a second album called GOD, the O would be on Kendricks head, making it a Halo.

oooooh

stays on earth / and I cant take these feelings with me so hopefully they disperse / within 14 tracks / carried out over wax / searching for resolutions until somebody get back"

There's a second album!!

so I can f$%K the world for 72 hours

shit fie doe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQZnOmDq_e8

So it's the soundtrack to the chick-fil-a drive thru line

"colored section" comment back in the day.

LUST

I love this nigga ...

IMHO

that second verse...bruh

so good.

where he's like "I feel like it's just me, look...I feel like I can't breathe, look...I feel like I can't sleep, look". I have to rewind that like 5 or 6 times.

...comprised of the vinyl of Good Kid,Maad City.

https://youtu.be/C0LlBoP-C0Q

I think the tracklist is intentionally backwards. I think the album is (or at least can be listented to) from Duckworth to Blood. Get a different appreciation listening that way, and explains the reversed samples (Rihanna even leads into the Humble track on this method).

Just an observation. This album is amazing and right on time though. So many songs are exaclty what I need right now.

How does Rihanna lead into Humble in reverse when Humble would come before Loyalty?

She actually led into Pride and Pride led into Humble.

At first my only *critique* of the album was I would have swapped Loyalty and Pride just for the groove. Then I started this idea about sequencing the album in reverse. I got the tracklisting double backwards and sideways @ Rihanna lead in. At first Apple Music was wack with the album release and it have every song except Humble on it. I spent the first couple days placing it in that order but that was my B..

Its not a lead in, its a response. Same as Capri on Element with the "aint nobody praying for me" which in reverse would be after Feel. I like it either way though, but it has a different cohesion in reverse.

The first half of the album was pretty boring to me... especially beatswise, but the last 3 or 4 tracks salvaged a lot.

That's the one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLZRYQMLDW4

.

Cool to see Don performing the track.

But I do like this one, it's really good in spots. Kinda weak in other spots. To me, this is Kendrick's most unfocused project since OD. Maybe he needed a less-focused project at this point. It's still one of the best rap records of the year, but it's not seeing TPAB.

nah mang, at this point in the game Kendrick supposed to hit us with the piece de resistance to let the public know he's THE ONE.

And this is just an excellent, if not GREAT, follow-up to that piece de resistance.

I fux with it heavily. Took a few days away from it just to let what I'd already heard breathe between my ears.

The cat is THE ONE and can't really be touched.

HITTING MY GOTDAMN "SOUL" muhfucker...this shit is literally coloring they way I'm perceiving reality...THE SHIT IS DRUGS, my man.

this new shit, not so much if at all.

very underwhelming, this album is, at best.

If you can do so, then we only have to appreciate DAMN. for what it is which again is a very damned nice piece of work.

The cat is spitting...
The beats are dope AF...
And the songs are, at the very worst, nice...

Still and all, he's THE ONE.

Ain't nobody coming his way to challenge that anytime soon.

just to appeal to the select few that want him to "get at niggas necks" just bcuz...

he's way pass that at this junction.

muhfucker is literally a legitimate ARTIST. He needs to be making loooong standing statements right about now, the likes of Stevie, Bob, James, Marvin and 'em. None of this "imma spit it so niggaz know I still got it" type shit. Even if you mixing in esoteric shit to balance it out.

just so nobody else thinks about trying you. He did that here with DAMN.

Dudes gotta go back to the drawing board to test him at this stage.

No need to keep him in a box. I'm sure TPAB type albums are draining as hell.

if Loyalty hits the radio this summer this could be one of the biggest albums of the year
but Lust is also a sleeper that could grow on people

I've tried in spurts but its not grabbing me


and the thing is...i can feel the effort, I can feel how this should hit hard, but its not hitting me in the gut.

its kind of like Black Messiah, it took a good 6 months before that one sunk in.

>I've tried in spurts but its not grabbing me
>
>
>and the thing is...i can feel the effort, I can feel how this
>should hit hard, but its not hitting me in the gut.
>

^^^I'm with you on this one.. I played it 3 times there is just not a lot there for me....

And the U2 appearance seemed like a wasted opportunity....

you lost the path.

.

.

that shit....my god.

Top just tweeted about it. I copped the autographed vinyl plus grey shirt for $51 shipped. Won't ship until July tho (wtf). But oh well, nice to add to my collection, since I've got the last 4 albums signed too.

I was under the impression that there wasn't.

But there is a Section 80 Vinyl. Mine looks official. I got Kendrick to sign it at a show he did in Cleveland.

I know)

to now just listening to it as a very solid, listenable, honest and refreshing album

Unless you are listening in optimal conditions the beats are too subtle at times and the little shifts in mood get lost, let's say... if you're in commute or something

I would definitely cop this on Vinyl though, but I'm not fucking with that wait time

I got that feeling

It was unjustified but I was like wow this shit got me feeling that old feeling

Mind you I haven't been fucking with new rap too tough at all

not at all.

But I think it's more OD, Section 80 which I'm a fan of.

It's no-nonsense, but it also ain't generic.

And it's very high quality.

It ain't a classic like Illmatic, but it definitely has the same profile.

An album containing Loyalty, Humble, Love, and God isn't generic and makes y'all feel like it's Illmatic?

Smh

(I actually like Loyalty. and God., but they are among the weakest tracks on the album)

Keep Humble. It's a banger. What you got left is:

1. Blood
2. DNA
3. Yah
4. Element
5. Feel
6. Humble
7. Lust
8. XXX
9. Fear
10. Duckworth

Compare that to:

1. The Genesis
2. N.Y. State of Mind
3. Life's a Bitch
4. The World is Yours
5. Halftime
6. Memory Lane
7. One Love
8. One Time 4 Your Mind
9. Represent
10. It Ain't Hard to Tell

1 intro. 9 jams. Illmatic is the better album, no matter how you pare down DAMN, but it's not a reach to say DAMN is in the park with it.

.

Listened thrice to this point. Has definitely grown on me each listen. Top tracks:

DNA.
YAH.
LOVE.
FEAR.
DUCKWORTH.

finally getting through the album. i don't take back what I said before, this was a hard album to get into but once you're in, you're in.

I think I was expecting the same high energy vibe from TBAP but this is as if they took the vibe from "Momma" and mapped a whole album to that lo-fi sludgy aesthetic.

Its getting better with each listen

but I was simply listing the giant standouts at the moment

I've listened eight-to-ten times. I don't find any tracks skippable.

I find it unlikely that we'll hear a better rap album this year. If we do, then goooooood damn.

I've listened to this album so much since its release and its still just as good if not gets better with each spin.

People seem to not like Love
I get why they may not
I don't have a problem with it at all tho.

This dude has mastered the art of making albums.

but even that song seems to get a lot of love from other people. I think a lot of people have a track or two they aren't into, but there is not one universally accepted "bad" track, which says a lot.

but honestly, this is an easy listen and it's been playing nonstop since it dropped.

I don't skip any tracks

my wife isn't feeling lust but thats because she doesn't want to sing "let me put the HEEEAD IN"

...

It ain't perfect and it ain't groundbreaking, but it's dope beats and raps for almost an hour and that's all I need in life.

This album is Cornbread. Straight up cornbread.

Great Song....be vibin' OUT!!!

Highest sales for a first week this year

it wont be my #1 album of the year, right now Im pretty sure Goldlink holds that spot

but it speaks volumes that an imperfect Kendrick album has him out rapping the rest of the world

>it wont be my #1 album of the year, right now Im pretty sure
>Goldlink holds that spot
>
>but it speaks volumes that an imperfect Kendrick album has him
>out rapping the rest of the world*



*Not named Lupe.
Just had to fix that for you good sir.

he can rap, but so what if it's boring

Biggest first week this year in both categories.

Duckworth is supposed to be first. Blood last.

Entirely different experience. I rank it 2nd to TPAB. And a very close 2nd.

>Duckworth is supposed to be first. Blood last.
>
>Entirely different experience. I rank it 2nd to TPAB. And a
>very close 2nd.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/playlist/nmad/idpl.53488fa1a4574d50aaf7e66c7d29438f

Seriously.

Just put it in reverse to see what the fuss is about...

in reverse. Listen to the transitions. They make sense when played backwards. And I don't think it a gimmick. I think it is a case study of what happens based on people's interpretation of something (hint: religion, etc).

At this point I dont care, I am only listening to this album in reverse. It makes so much sense, smooth transition: from his success to doubt/fear to ultimately reaching his potential (and the message can be completely missed, like the Fox News snippet in Blood.....though I think this is an intro to the next album)

I can' see ending with DNA then Blood and a quote from Fox about the last album being the last song before the Blood outro being a better fit.

I think folks are trying too hard to make this album deeper than it needs to be.

>I think folks are trying too hard to make this album deeper
>than it needs to be.


it's still kinda intriguing. i'd like to hear the transitions he's talking about.

I didn't hear it. In fact, there were some awkward silences that didn't seem to fit the transitions he's talking about.

Like I said though,...

FRONT, BACK, and SIDE-TO-SIDE!

>I think folks are trying too hard to make this album deeper
>than it needs to be.

I don't even understand why ? Like what purpose would that serve ? Such a weird thing.

listening to it in reverse or just saying you don't see it?

the album is littered with evidence to suggest it should be in reverse.

- Capri saying on Duckworth "we gonna put it in reverse"
- the interludes make more sense in reverse
- lyrical cues that refer to previously played songs when in reverse
- Kung Fu Kenny/Yin Yang perspective
- all of the reversed samples and vocal tracks on nearly EVERY song
- physical copies apparently don't have numbers on the tracklisting, essentially leaving it up to interpretation
- Kendrick has had a theme on EVERY release, but some people chalk the as given sequencing to him just releasing music because.

I think at the very least the album can be played in BOTH directions for a narrative, but the better narrative is in reverse, imho.

>RE: I almost reversed the order but then I realized that was doing too much

or just listen to the one Main Man posted above.

WHAT HAPPENS ON EARF STAYS ON EARF

still playing this non-stop. this is how white niggas must have felt when Bowie was in his classic period. i'm all in

I don't care what order you play it in.

Y'all tripping on 'Love' and 'God' while they're bangin'!

Old boy is killing it.


YAH! YAH! YAH!

and they remastered and fixed sound issues on the first album.

a lot more layers now.

Loyalty is #14, with every other song somewhere in the top 63.

those presale tickets go on sale at 10am.

baby drops in June.

All of them.

Such horseshit.

amex card. but i don't. you have an amex card?

and if so, the album takes on a different meaning...maybe not different, but it atleast makes me think, ok now the onion layer's peeling back, after such an "accessible" listen.

FYI--TPAB is one of my top 5 of all time...maybe even 3

it only works in the context of the album in reverse.

Not the first time I've paid $300 for a Kendrick show, and he's worth it. Gonna cop tix to Vegas too....maybe Phoenix, Toronto, or Vancouver as well (tho I'm gonna look for $100 tix for those shows).

I mean, good for him, it's clearly a personal problem but it makes me really happy that I saw Kunta's Groove Session. I missed the pre-GKMC tour when he came here due to issues with the girlfriend at the time...
But I just don't really like arena shows very much. That being said, I'm heavily considering going to Oakland to catch him.

For missing Kunta's Groove Sessions. Gonna take a gamble on him doing another similar thing

I've been overseas to see The Roots, and also the Lakers. Granted it's not overseas, but I'm seriously thinking about also going to either the Toronto or Vancouver show to add international to my list of Kendrick shows.

So, Staples on August 6th and 8th.

Just so I can burn a copy to break weed up on it

Damn
____________

Dallas Cavericks LETS GO!!

And my shop is kinda bougie so that's saying something to me.

http://ambrosiaforheads.com/2017/04/kendrick-lamar-damn-nation-new-album/

**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"

when u reverse the playlist order, u get a different experience

**********
"Everyone has a plan until you punch them in the face. Then they don't have a plan anymore." (c) Mike Tyson

"what's a leader if he isn't reluctant"

https://youtu.be/9RxU-64P4cw

some shallow deep shit.


"Get ready....for your blessing....."

How you listened to the album, do all this analyzing but then go making references to an uncle Carl that was clearly stated to be a cousin (twice by kendrick and once by Carl HIMSELF) g?

hate it. and i didn't even finish it.
I hate it because it gives so much credence to the "theories" about a second album. I was watching those "theories" unfold in real time and they were flimsy as fuck. A bunch of conjecture based on almost nothing. And Kendrick didn't "fuel the flames" by changing his spotify image, that was one of the first things that sparked the fire.

.

candence...

yall muhfuckers kill me with Kendrick nuthugging, and this is coming from a staunch Kendrick fan.

It's blatant he's been jocking 3Stacks since forever.

And it's dope as fuck, so.....

All over this album.

It was throwback 'OD' era Kenny

Chance, 3K, Drake, Travis Scott, J Cole all got vibes on this.

How dare he.

that it sounded like Quik "Poppin"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EpesKA3lMw

>It's out.
It gets better and better. kung fu

Nothing on here that i even remotely want to skip.

...the voicemails were deleted on the first version I've heard.

Censorship much?

the first voicemail isn't too long, but the second one feels long and preachy.

If so, does it blow your mind?

and yup.

https://www.google.com/amp/www.thefader.com/2017/05/15/kendrick-lamar-damn-tour-new-dates/amp#ampshare=http://www.thefader.com/2017/05/15/kendrick-lamar-damn-tour-new-dates

maybe my favorite song on the album https://www.vevo.com/watch/kendrick-lamar/element/USUV71701699

.

https://twitter.com/hasitleaked/status/1046168107067355136

#agenda

there are no links anywhere.

also 15+ more Kendrick, Schoolboy and SZA songs got out

https://we.tl/t-EJn28Yuhgx