After a what-seemed-like-forever long break from the spotlight, Kendrick Lamar has returned with an album that is beyond the realm of modern rap music. The album was significantly released on Good Friday (14 April 2017), to tell the story of Kendrick Lamar. He tells his story through the album release date and several components of the songs on this multi-layered and deeply emotional album. Kendrick reveals how his faith in God has played a part in the development of his character. The main theme throughout the album is Kendrick’s battle between wickedness and weakness — good versus evil. The album is creatively designed — when you listen from the first song, ‘BLOOD.’, to the last song, ‘DUCKWORTH.’, the first half of the songs represent wickedness with a transition into weakness. If you listen to the album from the last song to the first song the theme develops from weakness into wickedness. Either way, ‘HUMBLE.’, is the center of the track set representing the transition. Additionally, ‘HUMBLE.’ was also the album’s teaser track, being the first title released at nearly three weeks prior to the entire album’s release.

At the time of its release, the album was immediately a chart topper. The week it was released, DAMN. was already considered the most critically acclaimed hip-hop album of the year and held a 97/100 rating on Metacritic. This is no surprise based on Kendrick’s impeccable storytelling abilities. The first track immediately draws the listener’s attention and sets the mood for the entire album with a narrative by Lamar of his interaction with a blind woman who, at the end of the track, shoots Lamar. This woman represents fate and is the consequence of damnation resulting from succumbing to wickedness. This idea does not truly reveal itself until you’ve made it all the way through the album and reach the final song, ‘DUCKWORTH.’, that ties all the tracks together.

The final song is a story that highlights the possibilities of what Lamar’s life could have been like. The first half of the album tells of Kendrick’s life that involves dealing drugs and gang affiliation. Lamar frequently references his opinion of the importance of loyalty, which reflects his pride in his origins. Lamar also reflects throughout the second portion of the album his gratitude to God and the fate he has had along with success. In the final song, Kendrick tells an unbelievable story of coincidence involving Anthony, a boy that grew up surrounded by drugs and gang life. Anthony planned to rob a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant when he met Ducky at the drive-thru window. The two became friends and the robbery never happened thus, Ducky’s life was spared. Kendrick claims this decision changed both of their lives and continues the story to 20 years later. Kendrick says that Ducky and Anthony met again under coincidental circumstances when Anthony owned a label company and had signed Ducky’s son unknowingly. Lamar then shocks the listener stating, “Whoever thought the greatest rapper would be from coincidence? Because if Anthony killed Ducky, Top Dawg could be servin' life, while I grew up without a father and die in a gunfight.” This phrase ties together the entire album followed by the firing of a gun, and the rewind of the album plays a part in the seamless transition back to the beginning of the story and in turn to the first song, ‘Blood.’

DAMN is truly a work of art, and Kendrick has blown away many with this very intimate and inspirational story of his life and journey of success. As blessed as Kendrick feels to be where he is, to have been touched by fate in the ways that he has, I can attest to the fact that his fans are feeling much more fortunate that Kendrick Lamar’s coincidental life worked out the way it did. His story, in all its inspirational glory, will serve forever as a reminder that we do not have to be products of our environments, but by taking our fate and running with it can get the most out of our lives. Thank you, Kendrick, for sharing your story and reminding us there is hope.