DAMN.
by Kendrick Lamar
User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 3346 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,962 out of 3346
  2. Mixed: 111 out of 3346
  3. Negative: 273 out of 3346
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  1. DanielDeFalbe
    Apr 15, 2017
    10
    Kendrick Lamar's ability to manipulate his style of music with the times has reinstated his immaculate, critically acclaimed status in the rapping community. Arguably the only way he could attempt to surpass the sheer brilliance shown in 'To Pimp A Butterfly', was to experiment with his approach, and that was done to perfection in 'DAMN.'.

    From the first song in 'BLOOD.' to the last in    Kendrick Lamar's ability to manipulate his style of music with the times has reinstated his immaculate, critically acclaimed status in the rapping community. Arguably the only way he could attempt to surpass the sheer brilliance shown in 'To Pimp A Butterfly', was to experiment with his approach, and that was done to perfection in 'DAMN.'.

    From the first song in 'BLOOD.' to the last in 'DUCKWORTH.', K Dot shows off his extraordinary talent for storytelling. He explores a range of tones from the energetic 'DNA.' to the almost hypnotizing tempo of 'YAH.' in the next track. With only a few features, this LP seemed more personal than its predecessors, which only further demonstrates his incredible individual talent. This being said, Rihanna's contribution to 'LOYALTY.' was carefully integrated, into what is likely to be one of the more commercial songs on the 'DAMN.'. Meanwhile Zacari's vocals on 'LOVE.' provided Kendrick with the ideal substrate to lay his lyrics upon.

    Kung Fu Kenny is unwilling to sacrifice the legacy he's creating to necessarily 'top the charts' and this only adds fuel to the fire of music critics and his widespread fan base. This is an artist brimming with confidence and excitement to continue to impress the world, 'DAMN.' is simply another example of what he's in many ways already proven.    … Expand
  2. lordnarco
    Apr 15, 2017
    10
    masterpiece, if the other album comes out it will probably be better than to pimp a butterfly.

    songs like FEAR where he raps in different perspectives is where you can see his genius. overall the features don't feel forced and mesh very well with the songs. the concept of the album is pretty great lyrically you can tell it comes from the heart on songs like DUCKWORTH where he reveals    masterpiece, if the other album comes out it will probably be better than to pimp a butterfly.

    songs like FEAR where he raps in different perspectives is where you can see his genius. overall the features don't feel forced and mesh very well with the songs. the concept of the album is pretty great lyrically you can tell it comes from the heart on songs like DUCKWORTH where he reveals the story with Top dawg and ducky and how it could've ended differently for him.

    the albums great worth the repeated listens.    … Expand
  3. Samyukta
    Apr 15, 2017
    10
    Kendrick does it again, he proves us wrong. He made us think he would go wrong once he takes the commercial route but nah. Kendrick really cant do us wrong. If he releases something, its either a classic or a AOTY.
  4. Miguelballard
    Apr 15, 2017
    10
    Another classic by the greatest rapper of all time, Kendrick Lamar. Very unique sound, and very different from his previous works, but still amazing. All the different sounds make an awesome album when they come together!
  5. keinkiffer
    Apr 15, 2017
    10
    IMO this is the best album kendrick has ever dropped, as a matter of fact this is the best album anyone has ever dropped. The beats are varying and the lyrics are deep. I love it.
  6. KungFuKenny
    Apr 15, 2017
    10
    Phenomenal and innovative beats. Instead of staying in the same vein as TPAB and GKMC Kendrick branches out and explores religion and death in this amazing album.
  7. the_real_case
    Apr 15, 2017
    10
    This album is something special really, changing his sound. Not finding a bad song in this album and there's alot of bangers on this record , i recommend buying good earphones to listen to this This is easily a 10/10 record and Kendrick has arguably cemeted himself as one of the best hip hop artists of all time
  8. hgerstner11
    Apr 15, 2017
    10
    This album is an impressive blend of the commercial flavor from good kid maad city, and the experimental TPAB. The result is a beautiful, conceptual, creative, banging record. Kendrick did it again!!!
  9. eddpassos
    Apr 15, 2017
    10
    O rapper consegue navegar em qualquer estilo de rima e fica muito bom . Álbum solido , provando a todos que é o GOAT. Melhores musicas LOVE. HUMBLE. PRIDE. LUST . FEAR.
  10. amauriknx
    Apr 15, 2017
    10
    Kendrick just nailed it so much, i cannot stop listening to DAMN. I mean it just acomplishes so much it is a classic from beginning to end, I'm amazed
  11. microvolt52
    Apr 15, 2017
    10
    An absolute masterpiece. It's surreal, haunting, but energetic vibe will surely make this a modern rap classic. Kendrick Lamar has proved, once again, what he is capable of, truly one of the best rappers currently alive.
  12. Spinsir
    Apr 15, 2017
    10
    Not a bad song on the entire album. Kendrick Lamar is on the Mount Rushmore of rap after this one. He is able to tell an amazing story and make it sound good at the same time.
  13. emanuel_ruiz
    Apr 15, 2017
    10
    After a plethora of listens, I can confidently say that "DAMN." is Kendrick's most simple and simultaneously complex project to date. With each new listen, I discovered additional hidden meanings and devices of potent symbolism densely compacted in the lyrics. The instrumentation is bold and boisterous, with lingering jazz influences and dreamy production from To Pimp A Butterfly. TheAfter a plethora of listens, I can confidently say that "DAMN." is Kendrick's most simple and simultaneously complex project to date. With each new listen, I discovered additional hidden meanings and devices of potent symbolism densely compacted in the lyrics. The instrumentation is bold and boisterous, with lingering jazz influences and dreamy production from To Pimp A Butterfly. The beats on this album are very much in-your-face, almost as if Kendrick is grabbing you by the shoulders and shaking you around, demanding that you absorb the message. And there are many a message to absorb. From the demonization of the black community at the hands of the media, to contemplating his mortality and what he'll leave behind, to pondering where he would be had Top Dawg not had a chance encounter with his father, Kendrick once again showcases his flawless capability to craft compelling narratives with complex rhymes and immense replay appeal. I'm still not sold on whether or not it tops TPAB, but I can confidently say it's a very close second, and definitely worth 55 minutes of your time.… Expand
  14. RapidKnivez
    Apr 15, 2017
    10
    Very different approach for Kendrick Lamar. On his last 2 albums they were more jazz rap and slower paced. On DAMN., the beats are more "main stream" and fast. He performs amazingly on both styles of rap. In my opinion this is Kendrick's best album yet. Every song was a banger and they don't get annoying after listing to them over and over.
    Best Songs: DNA. YAH. ELEMENT. FEEL. LOYALTY.    Very different approach for Kendrick Lamar. On his last 2 albums they were more jazz rap and slower paced. On DAMN., the beats are more "main stream" and fast. He performs amazingly on both styles of rap. In my opinion this is Kendrick's best album yet. Every song was a banger and they don't get annoying after listing to them over and over.
    Best Songs: DNA. YAH. ELEMENT. FEEL. LOYALTY. FEAT. RIHANNA. PRIDE. HUMBLE. LOVE. FEAT. ZACARI. XXX. FEAT. U2. FEAR. GOD. DUCKWORTH.    … Expand
  15. FwaiOh
    Apr 15, 2017
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I feel like this going to be a classic, I feel like this album has the most replay value out of all albums by Kenny, I feel like this album has the best hooks and lyrics. Honestly this was like 7.5 on first listen but after a few it feels like 10. It's pretty good.… Expand
  16. MyOpinionMatter
    Apr 17, 2017
    10
    Another Kendrick album that sounds better with every listen.
    As with GKMC and TPAB I was surprised by the style of music featured on this album. Mostly because I loved the previous album so much that I wanted more. (in this case TPAB), but after my first listen my expectations went away and I fell in love with DAMN. on the second. In fact, this album seems to be an expert at slapping your    Another Kendrick album that sounds better with every listen.
    As with GKMC and TPAB I was surprised by the style of music featured on this album. Mostly because I loved the previous album so much that I wanted more. (in this case TPAB), but after my first listen my expectations went away and I fell in love with DAMN. on the second. In fact, this album seems to be an expert at slapping your expectations in the face. Almost every intro is completely different than the actual song, a track may strike you as a basic trap banger, but after a few listens you realize how unconventional it is. It's a rollercoaster ride, to say the least. One that I was hesitant to get on but now enjoy riding multiple times throughout the day. Kendrick experiments with effects, transitions, and styles in a way he never has before and it seems that the messages in this album require a little more digging than usual. The album is one of Kendrick more disjointed, but Kid Kapri, the multiple uses of reverse audio, the one worded themes, and the harmonies singing that you hear at the very beginning of the album link the tracks together.
    The low points of the album to me are LOYALTY. and GOD. The themes are pretty simple and Kendrick doesn't seem to say anything interesting about them. And LOYALTY. sounds terrible. From the thin mix to the obnoxious vocal sample to the generic autotune guy to Kendrick's annoying sleepy vocal delivery... I'm not sure about that one.
    I give this a 9. But I'm putting a 10 to counteract the Drake fans that give this a low score.    … Expand
  17. tommy1607
    Apr 17, 2017
    10
    Kendrick delivers another classic album, this time bearing his insecurities and questioning his morality. Somehow he matches the quality of his last two albums, possibly even surpassing them. From the chilling intro track, right the way through to the stunning 'Duckworth' closer, this album is consistent throughout in quality. Tracks like 'XXX' and 'DNA' are heavy hitting, passion filledKendrick delivers another classic album, this time bearing his insecurities and questioning his morality. Somehow he matches the quality of his last two albums, possibly even surpassing them. From the chilling intro track, right the way through to the stunning 'Duckworth' closer, this album is consistent throughout in quality. Tracks like 'XXX' and 'DNA' are heavy hitting, passion filled songs that will answer critics of 'To Pimp a Butterfly's jazzy, laid back approach, whilst there are also smooth cuts like 'Element' and 'Love'. 'Fear' is perhaps the most thought provoking track, detailing the different forms that fear takes throughout Kendrick's life and tying in nicely with the theme of 'Wickedness or Weakness?' that Kendrick discusses on the album. My only criticism is that 'Loyalty' is a little too heavily auto tuned and stands out as the weakest song on the project.… Expand
  18. ps77
    Apr 16, 2017
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. this album is everything king kendrick really did it another time with a different album. this damn thing keeping the rap alive and also show everyone that kendrick can blow up the world with his music...… Expand
  19. Neroled
    Apr 16, 2017
    10
    Kendrick Lamar always brings something different. This time he did it again with an album, which is more compelling to the masses than his previous albums. Damn is another great Album by Kendrick Lamar!!
  20. alejandro15
    Apr 16, 2017
    10
    I had very high expectations for this album. It kinda made me nervous but after the first listen I knew this was one of the best album of the year. Best songs : ELEMENT, BLOOD, GOD, PRIDE, DNA.
  21. wfcchris
    Apr 16, 2017
    10
    Kendrick Lamar se confirmou como melhor rapper da história, esse álbum nos introduz a uma nova maneira de fazer hip hop, um novo conceito, algo nunca visto antes
  22. TheDiceMan
    Apr 16, 2017
    10
    Kendrick has evolved since TPAB to give us this introspective masterpiece. Each track bursts with originality, with some excellent beats which are complimented by superb lyrics and wonderful production. There is not one weak track on this 14 song opus, Kendrick has followed a classic with another classic. Truly amazing!
  23. Krocanius
    Apr 16, 2017
    10
    Kendrick done it again. Different than his previous albums and againg it is amazing experience from start to end. I can't name a single weak track, even the intro is so good that I don't skip it.
  24. SwankyDontay
    Apr 16, 2017
    10
    Kendrick brought a diverse sounds of his own flows and voice, he continues to prove how much of a great lyricist he can be, and deliver with such eloquence. After every verse there is something to keep on discovering. A wonderful hearing from BLOOD. to DUCKWORTH.

    ELEMENT is my favorite track.
  25. Dwade2finals
    Apr 16, 2017
    10
    Its Kendrick doing Kendrick, he takes us on a trip inside his mind, brings us closer to feeling like we know him. This album leaves the jazz rap of TPAB and gives the listener a more GKMC feel. Great album, is a must listen.
  26. MrHappyFace
    Apr 16, 2017
    10
    I have no idea how Kendrick Lamar manages to make each song so different in style and yet weave them together so well. Lamar is the genius that Yeezus touts himself as, make no mistake.
  27. Bilal99
    Apr 16, 2017
    10
    I was nervous about the release of this album. I wondered: how could he follow up the brilliant TPAB? Good lawd! Kendrick's genius overflows on this piercing record. DNA is one of the most viscious rap songs in recent memory. YAH simmers like my grandma's grits in Mississippi. ELEMENT is straight fire.

    "Ain't nobody praying for me" is recurring refrain throughout the album. Like a lead    I was nervous about the release of this album. I wondered: how could he follow up the brilliant TPAB? Good lawd! Kendrick's genius overflows on this piercing record. DNA is one of the most viscious rap songs in recent memory. YAH simmers like my grandma's grits in Mississippi. ELEMENT is straight fire.

    "Ain't nobody praying for me" is recurring refrain throughout the album. Like a lead Eminem single, I didn't judge the entire project based on HUMBLE because I knew that the song would tie into the overall story of the album. Honestly, after hearing HUMBLE I didn't even notice when he says nobody prays for him in the beginning until the album came out.

    Kendrick bares his soul on FEEL. LOYALTY is a great duet with Rihanna...This album is equal to rather briilliant GKMC and TPAB but different from both. I highly recommend listening to this album. Glad i was alive to hear 2pac, BIG, Nas and now Kendrick.    … Expand
  28. HumbleReviewer
    Dec 25, 2017
    10
    After more than a month of listening to DAMN, Kendrick Lamar gives us a reason to believe that Hip Hop is alive and breathing. "DAMN" takes the listener through a story of K-DOT's rise to fame coupled with addressing social justice issues and religious sentiment. In my opinion, notable tracks within this album are DNA, YAH, ELEMENT, LOVE, PRIDE, GOD, and DUCKWORTH. Regardless if you are aAfter more than a month of listening to DAMN, Kendrick Lamar gives us a reason to believe that Hip Hop is alive and breathing. "DAMN" takes the listener through a story of K-DOT's rise to fame coupled with addressing social justice issues and religious sentiment. In my opinion, notable tracks within this album are DNA, YAH, ELEMENT, LOVE, PRIDE, GOD, and DUCKWORTH. Regardless if you are a heavy consumer of Hip-Hop/Rap, this album is worthy of a listen.… Expand
  29. ghostwk
    Apr 17, 2017
    10
    With an ever evolving genre, it can be hard to change without imitation or remaining true to yourself. Kendrick Lamar yet again proves why he will go down in history with this project. The rhymes have never been questioned, but they may be at their best on DAMN. I will just let the music speak for itself.
  30. DPDesigneer
    Apr 17, 2017
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. After the release To Pimp A Butterfly, Kendrick was crowned hip-hop’s king and savior. TPAB was not only acclaimed as a great piece of music but a work of immense social importance. It was not just praised by those in the music world (David Bowie cited TPAB as the inspiration to utilize discordant saxophone on last year’s Blackstar) but also by the outgoing POTUS. “Alright” has also become a protest anthem for Black Lives Matter. Carrying this voice-of-a-generation label has Kendrick feeling conflicted—understandably so. How many of us would feel comfortable being compared to Ghandi? DAMN is Kendrick reckoning with this label while still trying to maintain his relationship with God, society, and his family.

    The album starts off with Kendrick introducing the two main forces that influence his life: wickedness and weakness. Then we are shown a scene of Kendrick attempting to do a good deed, helping a struggling blind woman, only to discover that she turns and shoots him dead (the “weak” turning out to be “wicked”). The songs that follow are explorations of the conflicting aspects of Kendrick’s personality and existence. The song titles are very explicit with this intention. By the end of the album, Kendrick is no closer to finding answers to his questions, but he has reckoned with the fact that perfection is unobtainable. Human’s are inherently sinful creatures. We can only do our best to be good to each other while not being totally consumed by our vices.

    All of this self-examination is soundtracked by music that on the surface is far more commercial sounding. However, Kendrick has found ways to elevate the sounds of modern pop rap to new heights. Many of these songs straight up bang (DNA, ELEMENT, HUMBLE), while in between the fire we still get moments of subtle disquiet (YAH, FEEL, PRIDE). The production is crisp the music opens up on a great pair of headphones.

    What elevates Kendrick’s music for me is the artistic purposefulness combined with his unmatched rap skills (I’m really conflicted if I can call Biggie the best rapper anymore after this album). He can switch up tempo and flow, dip in and out of melody, change his vocal delivery all the while spitting bars on bars where every syllable counts. He creates enthralling narratives, emotional pop-RnB songs (K-dot is really gunning to dethrone Drake with this album), and still manages to squeeze in little non-sequiturs that make rap so quotable.

    All that being said, I can understand how someone not super familiar with rap music won’t see past the surface on this record. There’s a lot of lyrics to follow and a ton of slang and references to decode. With most rappers there isn’t much more than a worship of empty obsessions. DAMN is refreshingly free of that materialism. There’s not many mentions of designer brands and no demeaning statements towards women. This is an album in which a sensitive and complicated poet is asking himself and, by extension, the listener, serious questions about how much responsibility we all hold for the imperfect world we live in. This is a work of, in my opinion, an all-time great artist at the top of his game.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best Album of 2017
5
#5 Most Discussed Album of 2017
1
#1 Most Shared Album of 2017

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
95

Universal acclaim - based on 39 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 38 out of 39
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 39
  3. Negative: 0 out of 39
  1. The Wire
    Aug 8, 2017
    90
    A less deranged response to celebrity than Kanye West’s Yeezus, more imaginative than Eminem’s The Marshall Mathers LP or Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter III, it shares with the former an economy of form, and with the latter two the giddy energy of an artist coming into perfect sync with their audience. It’s also a sumptuous sounding pop record, polite streamlined mass market psychedelia. [Jun 2017, p.64]
  2. The Skinny
    Jul 5, 2017
    80
    The beats are heavy, spare, and hard. Lamar demonstrates the versatility of his flow.
    Read full review
  3. Record Collector
    May 25, 2017
    100
    DAMN. sees the rapper make a 180 degree turn from the sprawling jazz/funk/hip-hop odyssey of TPAB to deliver 14 taut, tough and wise cutting-edge examples of what’s possible in hip-hop today. ... Essential stuff.
    Read full review
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