Kendrick Lamar has released his fourth major album with Damn. It’s as innovative as it is an aggressive and change of style for Lamar, whose last album To Pimp a Butterfly was critically acclaimed and loved as one of the best rap albums of the 21st century. So how does this one follow up? Well, it’s good news to say that this album is a tremendous effort that ultimately succeeds in Kendrick’s beautifully lyrical approach to faith, violence, identity, and all human emotions associated in an unforgiving and funny world. Let’s take a look at the least to most favorable track on this stellar album.
#14 : Pride
Despite a hypnotic intro to the song that speaks on how provide prevents humanity from reaching world peace, it feels different from the rest of the album tonally and it fails to deliver a memorable niche. While certaintly not forgettable, it has little replay value.
#13 : God
Kendrick’s God is like the Waves song from Kanye’s The Life of Pablo. It’s tone and almost positive and lighter musical ambiance is catchy but doesn’t have a true message or meaning that Lamar is striving for in the album. It could easily be a throway track.
#12 : Loyalty ft. Rihanna
While being probably the most radio friendly song, there is a lack of depth compared to other songs. While very catchy with great production value and a surprisingly good rapping performance from Rihanna, it doesn’t hold up on a second listen other than the addictive hook.
#11 : Lust
The beat is haunting and the melody is smooth and memorable as Kendrick raps about his own sexual desires and the conflict to control his urges.
#10 : Fear
Kendrick creates a beautifully lyricized account of what fear was to him as a child, teenager, and adult. From being beaten as a child to the fear of inner being as judged by the realm of a hateful two-faced society.
#9 : Yah
A smooth follow up to the banger hit DNA, Yah is a subtle, not so subtle criticism of fox news and their antics to accuse rap as being more dangerous to the youth than gang violence.
# 8 : Blood
The intro to Lamar’s album sets the tone for the visceral anguish and array of emotion Kendrick feels towards the justice system and its treatment towards young black men. Although there are no lyrics to this intro, it is an important beginning to the mindset of Kendrick’s inner feelings and anger about crime and violence in the United States.
# 7 : Feel
“Ain’t nobody prayin for me” is constantly preached by Kendrick throughout in this powerful ballad filled with a smooth heated flow.
# 6 : Element
A sweet, smooth hook that spits fire for 4 minutes.
#5 : Duckworth
An amazing storytelling display by Lamar on faith, coincidence, souls, good-will, and life-changing decisions.
#4 : DNA
One of the best bass drops in rap filled with lyrically empowering commentary on what makes up or DNA.
#3 : XXX
Gun violence, personal matters of loss, and the hypocrisy of violence reaction leads to a powerful and beat changing ballad.
#2 : Humble
#1 : Love