10 Best Hip-Hop Albums Of 2017 (So Far)

Kendrick Lamar has solidified himself as a phenomenon, his music transcends the vinyl and .m4a files that the world is listening to. As he did with good kid, m.A.A.d city in 2012, he conveys the plights of a misunderstood generation. This is far from just a hood classic, it is an engaging piece of art that lures the listener into an intricately produced landscape of charm, wit, and truth all mixed into a powerful message that is told through every track, providing a journey for anyone pressing play.

This was hotly anticipated as K-Dot's exit from his experimental phase and his return to his hip-hop roots. The drum kit beats, hits, stabs, slaps and crashes blend further with the engineering mixes that break apart the arrangements and allow Kendrick to show his psychedelic side without straying far from the piece’s core values. It falls softly upon the ears of hardcore hip-hop fans and indie-art-house hipsters alike. This is a change from To Pimp a Butterfly, which took liberties of musical expression to almost gratuitous levels to suffice his hunger to make music reflective of his thoughts.

The crafty use of sampling and rapid-fire delivery on the switch-up during “DNA” was spectacularly performed, and bonus points for having Don Cheadle in the music video as well as throwing a jab at presumptuous reporters. The lower pitched voice on “Fear” is counter-balanced with the retro sample that portrays the struggle of coming to terms with self-depreciation, and “Duckworth” is in contention for song of the year for its charismatic use of personal storytelling to overlay the warm instrumental mix of organic-sounding samples.

This is what puts Damn above all other hip-hop projects this year, now time will tell if the music’s impact shall match the echoes of the response and cap off another part of Lamar's legacy.