In the wake of the landmark 2015 release “To Pimp a Butterfly”, Kendrick Lamar has quickly become one of the most prominent and respected figures in contemporary music. From his widely acclaimed series of albums, his iconic performance at the 2016 Grammy Awards, and the adoption of his hit “Alright” as the unofficial Black Lives Matter protest anthem, Lamar has set high expectations for his follow-up album “DAMN.”. not only succeeds at living up to the anticipation, it presents a deep, unflinching look into Kendrick’s restless, conflicted mind.

Musically, “DAMN.” distances itself from Lamar’s previous works, as if clearly defining a new chapter in Kendrick’s life. Gone are the lush, jazz-fusion orchestrations present on “To Pimp a Butterfly”; in their place are sparse, synth-heavy beats assembled by a team of over 20 producers, the likes of which include Mike Will Made It, Sounwave, and Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith.  This drastic change in genre is smoothly executed, as the album’s production is consistently excellent, creating distinct atmospheres to complement and highlight Kendrick’s lyrics. Drawing from a diverse range of sources and sounds, the instrumentals give all of the songs distinguishable identities, and maintain an impressive balance of sounding both radio-friendly and eclectic. Never overbearing or intrusive, the production on “DAMN.” tastefully augments Kendrick’s rapping and gives life to the songs.  

Lyrically and thematically, Lamar shifts away from the fiery socio-political commentary present in “Butterfly” and “Good Kid, M.A.A.D City”, instead opting to focus on analyses of personal values and inner conflict. While Lamar’s previous albums were defined by songs such as “Alright” and “Money Trees”, which respectively discussed topics such as police brutality and economic disenfranchisement, almost none of the tracks on “DAMN.” are overtly political, with Lamar primarily looking inwards at himself throughout the album. “DNA.”, the album’s second track, typifies the thematic and musical changes that characterizes “DAMN.” Backed by an ominous trap beat, Lamar’s lyrics juxtapose ideas of confidence and braggadocio with acknowledgements of his shortcomings and flaws. Lines such as “I got millions, I got riches buildin’ in my DNA/I got dark, I got evil, that rot inside my DNA” highlight the focus on Kendrick’s contradictory behavior, and introduces his struggle to balance his efforts to preserve his moral compass with the trappings of his celebrity lifestyle. The idea of temptation discussed in “DNA.” is the catalyst that starts Lamar’s journey to regain his righteousness and spirituality, which is the driving theme of the album.

Like Kendrick’s past work, “DAMN.” consistently showcases his gift for vividly communicating his mindset to listeners. Throughout “DAMN.,” Kendrick puts his storytelling talents to use, presenting the listener with a tale of redemption and growth. The first half of the album concentrates on Kendrick’s recognition of his failures to exhibit his personal values, as well as his perceived disconnect from religion. On the slow-burning “FEEL.”, he veers wildly between despondent and frantic, presenting his emotional and spiritual isolation in a jarring yet hypnotic manner.  “PRIDE.” highlights and laments the contrast between Lamar’s ideals and behavior, while the eerie “LUST.” paints a bleak portrait of the emptiness of hedonism and celebrity culture. These songs in particular exemplify Kendrick’s remarkable ability to manipulate his delivery and rapping style to amplify the meaning of his lyrics.  Kendrick’s exhausted description of the “new worldly possessions” of fame as “spirit-breaking” in “PRIDE.” communicate the hollowness of his role as a celebrity, while the monotonous, apathetic repetition of “Wake up in the mornin’/Thinkin’ bout money, kick your feet up” in “LUST.” portray his excessive lifestyle as numbing and depressing. Kendrick’s lyrics and delivery create a sympathetic depiction of a man desperately trying to find a higher meaning while avoiding the temptations of wealth and fame.

Contrary to the pessimistic tone of the first half of “DAMN.”, the album’s second half of showcases Lamar’s spiritual redemption and rise.  Here Kendrick starts making efforts to better himself, as seen in his desire to reinforce bonds with loved ones in “LOVE.”, and his reevaluation of his moral perspectives. “XXX.”, the album’s only politically-centered song, serves as a showcase for Lamar’s potent criticisms of society.  Anchored by a darkly ironic chorus sung by U2’s Bono, “XXX.” indicts America of promoting violence and racism against African Americans, and calls for change in both the moral character of himself and the nation.  “GOD.” and “DUCKWORTH.” see Lamar regain his faith and find balance between his role as a celebrity and his spirituality and heritage.  Through his eloquence and emotional intensity, he manages to make his personal narratives resonate deeply with his listeners.

The turning point and climax of the album is “FEAR.”, one of the most ambitious pieces Lamar has released yet.  “FEAR.” is the culmination of the key themes of the album: identity, disillusionment, religion, conflict, and hope.  Kendrick’s lyrics and delivery portray him at his most vulnerable, and give his pleas of leaving a positive impact on the world and finding religious guidance intense gravitas.  Through Kendrick’s raw and profound depictions of his desire to regain his sense of spirituality, “FEAR.” is clearly the highlight of DAMN. and a standout in his career.

“DAMN.” reads less like an album and more like a visceral parable in which Lamar evaluates his personal values and religion.  While “DAMN.” may not quite be as groundbreaking or impactful as “To Pimp a Butterfly”, it still stands on its own — Kendrick’s study of contrasts and meditative soul-searching is enthralling.  With “DAMN.”, Lamar provides listeners with an intimate look into his psyche, allowing his audience to truly understand his strengths, fears, weaknesses, doubts, and dreams.
“DAMN.” (Top Dawg Entertainment) is currently available for streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal.  It is also available for purchase on iTunes.