This is quite contrary to his fans and admirers who believe he can’t do any wrong. Since he came out, everyone has been telling me “I need to check him out.” That comment and many more like it have only increased with the release of his new album “Damn.” The new material has been putting everyone in frenzy. However when I heard and saw the video for his single “Humble,” I wasn’t impressed. It was just okay if you ask me. Despite my opinions, I still had folks telling me that I had to listen to the album. So I decided to listen to the album, and it was great. In fact, it was of the best albums I have heard in a long time.
The first song DNA was good but when the second song Yah came on, I got perked up. He used a different style that was captivating. In addition to that, he was spitting knowledge and mentioning Black people are Israelites. Good shit from my point of view. The third song Element goes hard. He once again used a different style and pay homage to Juvenile by using his flow.
On Feel he went through a lyrical exercise. Loyalty featuring Rihanna is a hit. I found myself bouncing to the song while it was playing. Pride sounds like an Outkast song. His lead single Humble sounds better in album format but still was the worst song I heard on the album. On the ninth track Lust was bumping hard. Up to this point, the diversity of the beats and flows makes the album a good listening experience. Every song I heard has been outstanding but Love might be the best I heard so far. The bottom line is just a hit song. XXX featuring U2 is another example of Kendrick manipulating his flow.
Fear was the first track that made me rewind just to hear the lyrics. I haven’t done that in a long time but it was dope when he said “What is an advisor someone who is holding my checks? Just to fuck me over and put my finances in debt. I read a case about Rihanna’s accountant and I wonder. How did the bad girl feel when she looked at the numbers.” Safe to say Fear is a great song. God was the second worst song I heard on the album. But that doesn’t mean it was a bad song; It just means I didn’t like it better than the other songs. On the other hand, by the end of the song, I was bobbing my head. In fact, the song was needed to complement the sonic brilliance of the album. By the time the song ends and blends into the last track; you get a chance to see why it was necessary. And when the last song comes on and Kendrick captivates you with a story; you realize why there is so much hype surrounding this young man.
From my perspective, he did something that is rarely done in this age of Hip Hop. He dropped a complete album with no features. An album that you can listen to from top to bottom with no interruptions. I wouldn’t call it a classic yet, because I feel like a classic is proven after time elapses and it proves its worth. However, I feel like, over time, Kendrick Lamar’s Damn album will be proven. But for now, he just will have to settle with having the best album I have heard over the last two years. I guess now you can call me a believer.