DAMN.

I've been on Kendrick catchup duty this week, listening to both untitled unmastered and DAMN. I gave the song of the day yesterday high marks, but find myself a bit disappointed by DAMN.

Not that Kendrick's newest record is a bad outing, by any stretch. It has several great tracks, including HUMBLE., LOYALTY., and my personal favorite DNA.

The one thing that separated To Pimp a Butterfly from the pack of rap records was not just that it was a trail blazing record, but that it was largely a trail that no one else could follow. Great records and artists always produce imitators, but no one could have mimicked Kendrick's approach on that record, similar to the earlier works of Kanye. It was just the perfect collection of Kendrick's vision and lyrical talents that made it 100% unique.

On DAMN., Kendrick seems to take an approach that is more firmly rooted in the sounds of the day. Much like Kanye's unfortunate detour into popular hip-hop and R&B on 808s and Heartbreak, DAMN. feels like a record that captures a man who has become more fully enthralled with the creative output of those around him, and is trying to fit in.

This is an awkward fit, and frequently plays badly on the record, particularly on tracks like YAH. Kendrick frequently sings in a style more like other popular rappers, which rarely works (he sang plenty on To Pimp a Butterfly, but with a uniquely "Kendrick" style). His varied flow on previous records has become more repetitive on some tracks on DAMN., frequently distracting the listerner from the ever present brilliance of his lyrics.

When Kendrick adheres more closer to his strengths and his genre bending creative vision, he's at his best. This outing doesn't feel like his consistent best, but it's still a solid record, and his rapping and the high quality beats on the record make it worth a listen. I'd give it an 8.2/10.

-TRO