April 14, 2017 Kendrick Lamar released what many consider to be a masterpiece. I mean, it did win the Pulitzer Prize for music in 2018. Pulitzer describes DAMN. as “a virtuosic song collection unified by its vernacular authenticity and rhythmic dynamism that offers affecting vignettes capturing the complexity of modern African-American life.”

I remember being so fascinated by DAMN. at the time it came out. I even went out and bought the vinyl to play on my record player. In my opinion, it is one of the best Hip-Hop albums ever. I actually think that about all of Lamar’s work. In my personal opinion, K-Dot does not miss. His lyrics paint a picture / he’s a painter, they tell a story / he is a storyteller, he is a poet and a wordsmith. Lamar’s music is the kind of music that makes you think and feel. That is exactly what DAMN. does. Each of the 14 tracks are part of a story. The first song, “BLOOD.” describes what the story is about as well as the last song “DUCKWORTH.”, which both of these songs can be reversed as being first and last. This is what makes DAMN. the masterpiece and Pulitzer Prize winner that it is. If you play the album from the beginning it tells a different story from when you play it from the end. That’s why Lamar dropped a second version of DAMN. entitled DAMN. COLLECTORS EDITION., the reversed version, making it begin with “DUCKWORTH.” and end with “BLOOD.”.

Kendrick Lamar took home 11 awards for DAMN. in 2018. It won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album, Billboard Music Award for Top Rap Album, iHeartRadio Music Award for Hip-Hop Album of the Year, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Album to name a few. 4 years later it’s still a fan favorite. Let us know in the comment section what your favorite song on DAMN. is.