Kendrick Lamar
DAMN.
9/10
After 2 years since the release of the immaculate masterpiece that was "To Pimp a Butterfly" a album that took the hip-hop game by storm with its forward pushing sound and dense concept, Kendrick Lamar would more importantly prove on this record that he could drop another great album following the release of his 2012 debut "good kid, m.A.A.d city" a debut that is currently closing in on 5 years old, just enough for it to finally be given the label of classic. Fast forward to 2017, Kendrick Lamar returns with his 3rd commercial project "DAMN." a record that proves that the conscious can give his fans the same lyrical and dense material, but on a contemporary sound throughout with songs such as "DNA", "XXX", and the chart-topping hit "HUMBLE".
"Is it wickedness? Is it weakness? You decide" that is the opening line to DAMN. on the track "BLOOD". Here we find Kendrick Lamar wandering along the way until he comes across a blind woman who seems to have lost something. During this scene, the opening line mentioned above goes full circle as Kendrick begins to help the blind woman find whatever it is that she is missing. However, things take a darker turn as she proceeds to take his life. Now while there have been many theories to this song that present many variations to justify its meaning, mine are just one of many. To make things more cryptic, during an interview with Zane Lowe of Beats, Kendrick turns down the opportunity to fully explain the true meaning behind his most complicated yet plot twisting intro yet. Now back to the album, and as the intro comes to a close we get a short clip from FOX News a publication in the past that has criticized Kendrick for his 2015 performance of his popular hit record "Alright". This leads into "DNA" a song that is unapologetically boastful. However, while many rappers would choose to boast about their bevy of materialistic possessions Kendrick instead highlights what has made him who he is today. Throughout the lyrics he mentions where he comes from, his family tree, and his African heritage.This continues for the rest of the first half of the song until we get a shift in the beat and even more mean and abrasive Kendrick where he delivers full circle.
Going into the record many of the features had me skeptical. However, after multiple listens, they all come off well. "LOYALTY", which features Rihanna, was the song that I was scared of because I hoped that Kendrick would not go the Eminem route and settle for a terrible single like "Monster" and "Love the Way You Lie". Fortunately, I was wrong as the song comes off well put together with good verses from both Kendrick and Rihanna who shows off her cute rapping skills. "XXX" featuring U2, a group that has been a shell of itself as of late, managed to also make the best out of what they had. On this song, Kendrick creates the hypocrisy of all many are willing to say what they will do in dire situations such as take the life of someone who hurt their own. However, these same individuals would try to enforce gun control to stop violence, brilliant on Kendrick's part to bring this up. "LOVE" brings up good vocals from Zacari, a TDE associate who was also featured on Isaiah Rashad's 2016 project "The Sun's Tirade".
While I am not going to cover "HUMBLE" a lot, I will say that the song does deliver on the promise that Kendrick Lamar revealed about what his album would cover earlier this year. During an interview, he stated that his new record (DAMN.) would take a more authoritative motive. This is just what "HUMBLE" does as it tells other rappers to take a seat and appreciate who Kendrick is and what he has done up until this point. "LUST" features a great beat from one of my favorite groups BADBADNOTGOOD. Here, Kendrick goes over the things that many young millennials lust over while even going as far as to rap from both the male and female perspective. Later in the song, he references the recent controversial 2016 election and how many will stress over the initial reactions regarding the outcomes. However, many would still continue to lust over the same vices that they had during the previous administrations. This song speaks the hypocrisy of many Americans today who talk the talk but are not willing to walk the walk.
Religious tones also find there way onto the project through songs such as "YAH", "FEEL", "FEAR", and "GOD". On "YAH", Kendrick finds himself falling victim to media outlets such as FOX News which is mentioned above. He goes on to talk about how is not trying to appeal to them, but rather to those around him such as his family and loved ones. Later he mentions that he is no longer see himself as black but in fact an Israelite. For those not familiar, Israelite is a name given to the original civilizations of Isreal and the birthplace of Yahweh hence the title of the track. "FEEL" shows off a dismantled Kendrick who feels depressed and looking for guidance as he feels that no one has his best interest, whether it is a hand in prayer or a just a simple act of looking out for him. "FEAR" makes the case as one of the best songs of Kendrick's career. Here the emcee covers different stages of his life from ages 7 where his biggest fear was the corporal punishment from his mother for showing bad conduct. At age 17, death becomes the next fear that Kendrick beings to channel as he covers all of the ways that a black teen growing up in the inner city can fall victim to. Finally at 27, Kendrick graduates to the fear of being financially stable and losing his creativity and talent as a rapper. This is very relatable to many because as we get older our fears tend to change based upon our circumstances. These fears are what changes the way we act and conduct ourselves in the eyes of others. The reason for this act is the attempt to refrain from experiencing the moments once again that gave us the fears from the start. As the song closes we get the notion that Kendrick leaves his fears behind, and comes to grips that the only thing he should fear is God himself and nothing else. The song's intro and outro feature a voicemail from Kendrick's cousin Carl Duckworth who he also mentions earlier on the song "YAH". During the voicemails, Carl mentions how he understands how Kendrick feels that no one has his best interest and that he truly prays for him. Carl also brings up that Kendrick along with other blacks, Native Americans, and Latinos are truly the real Israelites. He even goes as far to back up his claim through the book of Deuteronomy to justify the reason why Kendrick is feeling distraught and has these fears. He also mentions that blacks have been victim to the system due to their act of not following the laws, statutes, commandments that Yahweh has placed upon him and other Israelites. As a result, Kendrick is being punished directly by Yahweh himself. Now whether I agree with this or not it does make for a good plot within the album. "GOD" while one of my least favorite tracks on the album does offer some good points as Kendrick ask God for his forgiveness while also stating that growing up he wanted or did things that were not always holy, but that does not mean he should be judged.
The last track "DUCKWORTH" again makes the case for one of Kendrick's best due to its storytelling an attribute that has been part of his repertoire since day one. Here Kendrick tells a story of his mentor Anthony who many may know as Top Dawg along with his father and the irony of their interaction. This track also can tie back into the intro as the theory of "Is it wickedness? Is it weakness? You decide". While the earlier track "BLOOD" ends with a dark tone "DUCKWORTH" takes lighter route. We see a happy ending as Anthony spares the life of Kendrick's father who he at the time was plotting to rob but seemed to have a change of heart. Kendrick leaves us with a what if scenario as he mentions how sometimes the smallest decision can end up meaning a lot overtime. Think about it, if Anthony had taken the life of Kendrick's father then that would be another child growing up without a father. Anthony would most likely be sentenced to prison which results in him never establishing TDE. This means that a young Kendrick Lamar who at the time was dealing with his fears of the everyday struggle would never get discovered.
-Rewind-
In the end, "DAMN" is another great album that sharpens the blade of the Compton rapper's already brilliant discography. With 3 highly acclaimed records, it is time for many including myself to press the issue that while it is very that Kung-Fu Kenny is easily the best of his generation, however, when is it appropriate to finally mention him as one of hip-hop's greats I will save that for a later day.
