An Excellent Change of Pace

25 November 2024

Like many, I wasn't expecting Kendrick to release this year or that quickly after the rap beef. However, once it dropped I did expect it to be another concept album like what Kendrick is known for and to be honest, coming down from the high of Tyler, the Creators "Chromakopia", I was initially disappointed to learn that it was not. My initial impression was a bit of let down, many songs sound similar to “Not Like Us” which was frankly overplayed this year. But then I couldn’t stop listening to it. The mixture of catchy surface level enjoyable music with deceptively deep lyrics / motifs / themes, a tight run time and lack of skits and interludes makes this album incredibly infectious. Kendrick displays his ability to not only create master piece thought provoking concept albums but also tight concise albums made just to listen to. While tracks like “gnx” and “gloria” personally prevent this album from being perfect, resulting in some other 2024 releases rating higher, this album is still a contender for me as my personal favorite. Maybe I’m just a stan, but this album further solidifies his discography as one of the greatest.

He's done it again because of course he has

25 November 2024

After about 5 or so listens of gnx by Mr Lamar I've come to the conclusion that if I had expected kendrick to drop an album this year (I didn't). This would've been exactly what I wanted. After multiple listens I love all the songs on this thing. Kendrick has always been one of my favorite rappers and I believe his ability to write a narrative on his own experiences and still make so many people worldwide who grew up in completely different environments feel him. That's a power only certain rappers get (Pac for example)

But I digress. So this new album. Its pretty damn amazing. Amazing balance of Kendricks more introspective writing and west coast party anthems. I liked all the LA artists I've never heard of that he's included on here feels connected with the culture more than alot of his other records. Especially his last. Kendrick done it again man he cemented himself top 3 with this one.

STREAM NOW 10/10

Kung Fu Kenny VI: Reincarnated

25 November 2024

KENDRICK. LAMAR. DUCKWORTH. i'm sorry, but the duckworth part will never not be funny to me. known to many, nay, everybody as the greatest rapper of our generation. to pimp a butterfly, hailed as the greatest album of all-time. good kid, m.a.a.d city? just as good (no pun intended.) damn, he's amazing (THAT pun fully intended.) it's no secret he's well-respected and loved. i was busy wrapping up my relistens in preparation for my 2024 album of the year list, listening to the new angmodnes, specifically. and then... it happened. a new kendrick lamar album. no warning.

By all accounts, GNX is a victory lap. kendrick has nothing more to prove by this point, and he knows this. he doesn't need to be as forward-thinking as albums past, and he isn't... but he still is, via tracks like reincarnated. but overall, it's his most fun record to date. and it can also be seen as a passing-of-the-torch album, as all but two of the 10 artists who have features on this are underground rappers from the greater los angeles area. even in the part of his career where he's unwinding, he's still putting the future of the hip-hop scene first. this also ties back to the ever-so-famous beef he had with... him... , where kendrick was accused of not helping the culture.