Kendrick Lamar – Damn (Ltd Edn Forest Green Vinyl 2LP)

Kendrick Lamar has always told stories through his music, creating a bridge between spoken-word and visual narratives. With 2017’s DAMN., however, the rapper challenged his audiences to glean understanding through disciplined listening. Released in April 2017, DAMN. emerged from a tense political climate in which simmering tension gave way to a cathartic and masterful release. Throughout the album, Lamar instills the need for restraint, self-reflection, and the preservation of ideals that enable people to fight for themselves during crushing times.

DAMN. was never intended to be overtly political, but more of a continuation of Lamar’s growth and response to the world around him. He brings his sharp-edged narrative skills to the album, employing a different method of storytelling in which the listener is encouraged to engage with the tracks repeatedly in order to uncover the balance and execution behind each verse. A very economical album, DAMN. finds Lamar succinctly balancing his novel wordplay, embedding every verse with a clear intent. There’s no spoon-feeding here, either, as K-Dot consistently delivers skillful, categorically “conscious hip-hop” that is worthy of careful dissection.

The album opens with a choir on “Blood,” with Kendrick employing his cutting narrative flow, telling the story of an old blind woman who shoots him when he attempts to help her. From here, DAMN. jumps and runs into “DNA.,” a booming track that takes to task America’s oppressive views on people of colour while reasserting Lamar’s own black pride. The album continues with Kendrick bobbing and weaving on tracks like “Element,” an unforgiving battle-rap on which he insists he’s willing to “die for this shit” over a James Blake-provided piano loop.

Many of the tracks on DAMN. allude to the seven deadly sins. While each individual song stands on its own, they come together to create a scripture-inspired collection that fits tightly together. This philosophical concept gives way on “Loyalty,” one of the few radio-ready tracks on the album, featuring Rihanna. DAMN. is noticeably light on guest features, but Rihanna’s appearance (with a rare instance of her rapping) adds extra star power to the album.

1. Blood
2. DNA
3. Yah
4. Element
5. Feel
6. Loyalty feat. Rihanna
7. Pride
8. Humble
9. Lust
10. Love feat. Zacari
11. XXX feat. U2
12. Fear
13. God
14. Duckworth