10 Greatest Albums Of 2016

Untitled Unmastered is proof of Kendrick Lamar's genius. Not that any proof was really needed: you've only to look at the man's stellar discography to see it. What it really is is further proof. The record is a compilation album, consisting of previously unreleased demos that originated during the recording of To Pimp A Butterfly. Yet even Kendrick's demos are better than the vast majority of other hip hop artists studio releases.

Everything about the record screams "lower your expectations", from the blank green cover art to the self-explanatory title: these tracks have no titles and they have not been properly mastered. Yet from the opening track Untitled 01, it's clear there isn't going to be a drop in quality, as Kendrick dexterously raps about a coming apocalypse.

None of the complexity of Lamar's music is lost during Untitled Unmastered, as he continues to rap about issues like identity, self-worth, race and racism, injecting enormous topics for personality and empathy.