Albums Kendrick Lamar - DAMN. (Discussion Thread)

[Hood Critic]

 

[Aba_juggin]

If you're tryna hear Mozzy at his rawest check out Yellow Tape Activities, production is handled entirely by JuneOnnaBeat and there's no filler songs. He was also lyrically at his most focused on that album imo.

Would you rather listen to Mozzy's three albums mentioned or Damn

 

[Dominic Brehetto]

already deleted this album

Good you can finally leave the thread.

 

[Rain]

Man I just really dug into XXX after reading the last page or two. I can appreciate it a lot more

I'll say this

These tracks stand out on their own better than the tracks on TPAB. I don't know if that makes it a better album. It's so sonically different that it's hard to compare. But I can appreciate that the tracks focus on their own theme rather than building to some ongoing story. I think that's why it makes this easier to digest than TPAB.

 

[ThisWorldAintRight]

Just bought the CD. God damn this sounds so good in the car.


The more I listen to this I'm thinking this could be his strongest album, just hate he got a couple weak tracks on here holding it back.

 

[Tetris v2.0]

I knew eventually Kendrick would have to make a more conventional album like this. There's still a concept but it's less pronounced and this is more of a spotlight on Kendrick himself. You see some of his weaknesses and limitations here, but this is still a damn fine piece of work. Easy 8.5/10

Element is wack and if it's not some tongue in cheek Drake diss, than it's garbage cause it's a direct bite. The low energy bits pull this album down cause when it connects, it's his best material to date

 

[onelastdeath]

Album is so easy to get thru.

So much depth packed into less than an hour

Feels like not a second was wasted on anything

Loyalty got me

 

[doublenegative]

Still living with the album but what I can say is that it's very strong. It's not the single heavy album I thought it would be after Humble dropped but there are definitely radio singles here to last through the summer. But this is a very chaotic, DARK album. There are spots of brightness and fun like Loyalty but overall it feels like the creative work of someone who is battling demons and remains depressed. There was a message of perseverance on TPAB, of overcoming. "We gon be alright." But the view here is far more dim, and apocalyptic. Not only is it not going to be alright, we're damned. But the least we can do is make the most of our time on earth.

Four albums in and it's clear Kendrick has a knack not just for cohesive well thought out albums but also standout, seminal tracks. Keisha's Song, Sing About Me, Alright, and How Much A Dollar Cost come to mind. You can add Fear and Duckworth to that list. I knew Alchemist and 9th would bring it but I didn't expect THIS. Fear is hypnotic and terrifying. Duckworth is another master class from Kendrick on how to tell a story.

I'm not going to compare this album to others. It hasn't even been out for a weekend yet. But I feel that this might be his strongest album lyrically, and perhaps the most concise. The abstract lyricism is still there but it's going to be hard to hurl "he's not saying anything" troll criticisms at this project.

Production wise he once again picks the perfect tracks. The trap beats don't feel out of place, and the more experimental shyt compliments his vision. And he's got bangers again. Loyalty is going to be everywhere soon. DNA is blowing up. Love blows my mind.

Excellent analysis. There is no redemption. This is definitely his darkest work.

 

[Trey0'5Blue2Gz]

Earth is no more, won't You burn this muthaphucka

 

[Kaypain]

this nikka @b_low_brown bout to get negged to oblivion

 

[Mowgli]

I knew eventually Kendrick would have to make a more conventional album like this. There's still a concept but it's less pronounced and this is more of a spotlight on Kendrick himself. You see some of his weaknesses and limitations here, but this is still a damn fine piece of work. Easy 8.5/10

Element is wack and if it's not some tongue in cheek Drake diss, than it's garbage cause it's a direct bite. The low energy bits pull this album down cause when it connects, it's his best material to date

Nah the entire album is good-great

 

[FruitOfTheVale]

Would you rather listen to Mozzy's three albums mentioned or Damn

I didn't like Fake Famous or Mandatory Check like that.

Yellow Tape Activities been in constant rotation since it dropped two years ago, as far as gangsta rap albums go it's top 3 of the 2010s IMO. If I had to pick between that and Damn for a deserted island I'd take YTA for sure, I like the Kendrick CD though.

 

[Aba_juggin]

I didn't like Fake Famous or Mandatory Check like that.

Yellow Tape Activities been in constant rotation since it dropped two years ago, as far as gangsta rap albums go it's top 3 of the 2010s IMO. If I had to pick between that and Damn for a deserted island I'd take YTA for sure, I like the Kendrick CD though.

I'm gonna listen to it rn then.

 

[Poitier]

Vince Staples on Versace Rap captures the REAL reality of gangbanging unlike Kendrick's hollow attempts at doing it.
Trigga Wit A Heart is a better commentary on Black folks and America too.

I think Vince fell off but he was better than Kendrick for a lil minute too.

 

[Poitier]

YG's "When I Was Gone" > Loyalty