Kendrick Lamar is arguably one of the best rap artists in the industry today and he cemented his status as one of the best rappers in history after his release of his fourth studio album, DAMN. Kendrick or Kung Fu Kenny that he is referred to numerous times on his new album shocked the world when he released “The Heart Part IV” prior to the release of his newest studio album. the song he dropped and broke his silence before DAMN actually arrived: “Y’all got ’til April the 7th to get your shit together.” Although it took some more fine tuning for DAMN to be released, Lamar finally dropped DAMN much to the delight of all of his fans many of which who starving for his flow to return to that on his previous albums Good Kid, M.A.A.D City and section.80.

The album starts with the a very descriptive and cryptic story being told by Lamar that very strong political connotation. Lamar then follows with one of the strongest songs on the album, “DNA.” The Mike WiLL Made-It produced track is a very eccentric and up-tempo song that allows Lamar to boast about his rap prowess while still maintaining the political connotation. The song features a snippet from a news broadcast, “This is why I say that hip-hop has done more damage/To young African-Americans than racism in recent years”. Lamar’s chorus is an ode to his African American heritage and his views on how views his heritage, “I got loyalty, got royalty/Inside my DNA/This is my heritage,all I’m inheriting/Money and power, the maker of marriages.” Lamar gives his listener an uplifting message while being boastful and giving them a glimpse into his glamorous life.

Lamar then proceeds to slow it down on his next track, “YAH,” which has very strong ties to his family life and how his family has influenced him during the making of his album. “Today is the day I folllow my intuitions/Keep the family close..My mama told me/That I’ma work myself to death”. Lamar also proceeds to pinpoint to the motivation that is attributed to this album which is his niece, “My lastest muse is my niece, she worth living/Seen me on the TV screen, that’s Uncle Kendrick.”

Kendrick then proceeds to speed the tempo back up again with his next song, “ELEMENT.” To many listeners this track and many others on, DAMN, are shots directed to former collaborator, Big Sean, who seemed to throw shots at Lamar by leaving off arguably one of the best verses of all time on their track, “Control,” which Sean chose to leave off his album. Sean proceeded to then send shots Lamar’s way on his song with DJ Khaled and on his newest single, “No More Interviews”. The track is directed towards an individual that Lamar is not too fond of, “If I gotta slap a p****y a** n****, I’ma make it look sexy.” Another song that can be directed towards Big Sean is Lamar’s biggest hit off the album, “HUMBLE.” The song produced by Mike WiLL Made-It is another bass boosting song that delivers a subtle verse in reaction towards “No More Interviews,” “Who that nigga thinkin’ that he frontin’ on?/Man, man/Get the f*** off my stage.”

Despite the amount of ferocity delivered on most of the tracks on DAMN, Lamar proceeds to take a left turn and sample a pop hit “24k Magic” by Bruno Mars, which Lamar does with ease. Lamar links up with Rihanna to execute one of the smoothest tracks on the album where he and Rihanna exchange bars and RiRi surprisingly holds her own with Lamar. The next track, “PRIDE,” is eerily similar and is a collaboration between Steve Lacy, of the Internet, and Lamar and also delivers the smooth bars and accompanied by Lamar doubling up on the chorus vocals also. “PRIDE” delivers a strong message regarding love and is not surprising especially when dealing how the track has been slowed down, “Love’s gonna get you killed/But pride’s gonna be the death of you and you and me.”

The album finally concludes with one of the most challenging beats to rap over which Lamar does while giving his listeners an autobiographical account from Lamar about his father and TDE founder Anthony “Top-Dawg” Tiffith, whose lives seemed to be interconnected in peculiar ways which molded Lamar to be the supreme lyricist he is today. The track is true fan’s favorite due to the story-telling verses Lamar lays on the track while the interchanging of beats doesn’t seem to phase Lamar.

DAMN is an inside look into the enigmatic mind of Lamar. The album cements Lamar’s legacy as one of rap’s supreme story-tellers, lyricist,and vocalist. It is easily understandable to see how Lamar can sit back and not release an album for a couple of years and still remain relevant in the rap game. DAMN, is an album that most rappers can release and hang their hat on for the remainder of their careers which speaks wonders about Lamar’s prowess as a rapper and more importantly a lyricist.