Kendrick Lamar is one of the most famous rappers of all time (wrong). Kendrick isn’t a rapper but an artist and a lyrical genius. He has 6 albums. Section.80. Good Kid M.A.A.D City, To Pimp a Butterfly, DAMN, Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers. And GMX. He has 21 Grammys as of February 2nd, 2025. Most people consider Kendrick as part of the Big 3 with J. Cole and Drake. But as of the recent beef with Drake, Kendrick considers himself the only one with the crown: “Cole and Aubrey know I’m a selfish ****, the crown is heavy” (Euphoria). Many people have tried to beat Drake in a rap beef, but only a select few can say they won with confidence; Kendrick is one of those.
After not dropping an album in 2 years, many waited for his next album. Little did they know Kendrick was cooking up one of the best albums of all time. “DAMN” is Kendricks’s 4th album, released on April 14th, 2017. This album took the world by storm, becoming the number-one album in the U.S. and winning 5 Grammys. “DAMN” isn’t just a bunch of music but a collection of different thoughts and emotions turned into songs. The album tells the story of Kendrick is going through his life from start to finish, and finish to start. The track you start with determines what story you hear, whether it’s a sad story ending with his murder or a good ending ending with his happy death. “DAMN” is an album meant for the common enjoyer of music, and the sophisticated listener looking for something more. With songs slow and fast, there’s something for every hip-hop enthusiast.
DNA, the 2nd track for “DAMN,” is one of my top songs on the album. This is about Kendrick and his core values and his struggles. He tells the listeners that he values loyalty and that he’s royalty among artists: “I got Loyalty, got royalty inside my DNA.” There are exactly 23 things that he says are in his DNA, which is the exact number of pairs of chromosomes in the human body. DNA is a hype song that makes you hype and pumped. It makes you look inside your DNA and think about what you have been through, and that you could do anything. The song is extremely catchy with lyrics that will play in your head on repeat.
“They can’t take me out of my element” is the main hook from ELEMENT. During this song, Kendrick tells the listener that he doesn’t care what people say or do; they can’t take him out of his element. He also describes how he is willing to do anything for his rap career and that whatever he touches is gonna be gold (just like this album). The songs are slower than DNA, but still able to hype you up and get you hooked on the song. The beat of the song is basic, but it allows Kendrick’s voice to take control of the song. Some bars that stick out are “most of y’all throw rocks and try to hide your hand, just say his name, and I promise you’ll see Candyman.” He means that people talk hate all the time, but if you keep calling him out, Kendrick is gonna strike back, like he did with Drake.
A feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s achievements: this is the definition of PRIDE. PRIDE, one of the deadly sins, is the Title of the 7th track: “Love gonna get you killed, but pride gonna be the death of you and me,” a voice says slowly and calmly at the beginning of the song. Kendrick believes that being blind to love is gonna hurt you, but PRIDE will hurt everybody. Kendrick’s PRIDE will be the death of him, says the voice in the song.
In the song element, he expresses his pride and his love for being the best. In this song, he realizes that he needs to calm down and be more respectful. The song is slow but impactful. The beat contains a slow drum pattern and plenty of rest that makes you reflect on what he saying, giving his words more power. Eerie voices singing set the tone of the song early. PRIDE’s catchy, repeating lines will stick with you forever. Kendrick tries to fake being humble, but that is not who he is, and a lie. “A perfect world is never perfect, only filled with lies,” Kendrick says. He also says, “In another life, I surely was there,” reflecting that he probably grew into a better person if things had happened differently. This hints at the second story hidden inside the album. If things change, he could be more HUMBLE.
HUMBLE. It is the number-one song on the album, winning three Grammys. “Be Humble, sit down.” This bar from the song shows that he came to peace with his pride and that he’s ok with being himself, doubling down on how good he is and his achievements. In a sarcastic way, Kendrick tells everyone else to be humble because they are not the goat, Kendrick is. The song is very fast-paced, one of those songs you would hear before a basketball or football game, even to this day. The beat is funky, and he knows exactly when to change for the perfect combination of words and beat. The beat changes periodically throughout the song to match the vibe of the bar. Kendrick’s lyrical style of music is complemented perfectly by the beat choice. A creative bar, Kendrick uses a double entendre: “Pull up on your block, then break it down like Tetris.”
From Kendrick’s core values to his struggle with pride, we hear a lot about his life from his perspective. If you close your eyes and just listen, Kendrick’s music will take you away from this world and bring you on a trip you won’t forget. Kendrick’s music is simply unparalleled.
