DAMN.

Kendrick Lamar·55 min · 14 tracks

After two concept albums, Kendrick made his most direct record. The titles are single words: DNA., PRIDE., FEAR., LOVE., GOD. It opens with him being shot by a blind woman he stopped to help, and everything after plays like a life flashing in both directions. He has confirmed the album works played front to back or in reverse, and a later edition shipped with the tracklist flipped. It also has his hardest singles: HUMBLE. went to number one, and Rihanna and U2 show up without making it feel like a crossover grab.

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