April 14, 2017 · Kendrick Lamar built DAMN. around stark titles and uneasy reversals.
2017 – Kendrick Lamar releases DAMN.
“DNA.” turns a beat switch into a sudden change of pressure. “FEAR.” gives Lamar space to revisit fear at different ages, and “DUCKWORTH.” ends with a story about choices that preceded his career.
The final track sends the listener back toward the opening. That circular structure complicates a record whose singles can feel immediate on their own. It rewards a second listen for the way a short phrase or sound can acquire a different meaning later.
“LOVE.” and “HUMBLE.” also show how widely the record can vary its point of view and sound. Their positions in the sequence make intimacy and self-assertion sound like neighboring states, each subject to revision.
Release details and listening preview on Apple Music.
1992 – Spice 1 releases his self-titled debut
Spice 1’s debut brought his East Bay perspective to a national audience. Songs such as “187 Proof” used character and detail to give the record its distinctive street narratives. Twenty-five years before DAMN., the album marked a different chapter in how California rappers built stories around place.
Read next · Browse Today in Rap History or explore Raptology documentaries.
Natalia is a Rap and Hip Hop enthusiast. After graduating from The New School of New York’s Public Relations Program and taking a course in Journalism at Michigan State University, she decided to dedicate her life to the music publishing business and to the discovery of new talent. She helps new artists gain exposure to the masses via online marketing and publications.
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