Kendrick Lamar’s impact on the hip-hop scene is unmatched. With his poetic lyricism, musical storytelling, and unreserved societal critique, Lamar has redefined hip-hop music. His distinctive style and unabashed exploration of self and of sociopolitical themes through his songs have propelled him into unprecedented success; which is astronomical on both critical and commercial fronts.
Lamar’s entire discography is a masterclass in creation, conceptualization, and execution. His sonically innovative albums distinguish him from his peers. With his decade-spanning discography, Lamar has established himself as one of the most influential voices in the contemporary hip-hop scene. It is strenuous to pick and rank a streamflow of brilliance, but this article attempts to do just that.
5. Section.80 (2011)
Section.80, is the album that laid groundwork for the superstar Kendrick Lamar went on to become. The album is one the gems that are criminally underrated. As his debut album, Section.80 marked Lamar’s departure from his mixtape era to albums. This album, in particular, introduced the world to his finally fully developed artistic vision. It focused on the struggles and the predicament of the millennial generation, as they dealt with addiction, societal norms, and systemic oppression.
The album showcased Lamar’s ability to interpolate complex themes. From systemic issues to majestic hip-hop, Lamar did not fail to deliver. Sonically, the album carried a raw energy. The blend of hip-hop and experiment with jazz somehow enhanced the effect of the gritty reality that Lamar rapped about.
Tracks like A.D.H.D, Hiipower, and Hol’ Up have risen to the status of hip-hop classics and are some of Lamar’s best works. Another track off the album is Ronald Reagan Era. One of Lamar’s more poignant works is a commentary on the lasting effects of the War on Drugs on the Black Community.
Section.80 was a solid album to debut with.
4. Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers (2022)
Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers sees Lamar venture into a vulnerable territory. The idea, and the lyrics stand alone in the sonically unique album. The album is surprisingly more seamless than his previous works and feels like a culmination of Lamar’s growth and learnings as an artist.
In the album, Lamar talks about the lesser discussed topics in rap music like generational trauma, inner conflicts, toxic masculinity, and the reflections of becoming a parent. It paints a poignant picture of the challenges of parenthood and family life.
Tracks like Father Time and Mother I Sober are deep reflections and brave confessions of Lamar’s troubled relationship with his father and dealing with generational trauma.
The album is Lamar’s most polarizing work, but its emotional depth is significant.
3. DAMN. (2017)
Even though third on this list DAMN. is pretty high up on Lamar’s list of achievements, it won the rapper a Pulitzer Prize in music. The album is a cultural phenomenon, one of Lamar’s more streamlined and radio-friendly projects. But at the same time DAMN. is no less of an artistic masterpiece than Lamar’s other projects.
The album’s impeccable execution of its concept leads to a place where the meaning becomes a question of perception. The album is structured to be interpreted in multiple ways; for instance, listening to the album in reverse will give a different narrative. It is an album about duality and choices, where the listener chooses what words to focus on and what story to listen to.
The album gave the world HUMBLE., which is Lamar’s biggest song of his career. And it also gave tracks like FEEL., DNA., and XXX. which explore different, rather dual aspects of morality, spirituality, and identity.
DAMN. is an artistically daring album that performed exceedingly well on the commercial front as well.
2. good kid, m.A.A.d city (2012)
good kid, m.A.A.d city marked Lamar’s major-label debut and is often dubbed as a short film due to its cinematic flow. It takes the listener to the time where Lamar experienced his life the most, his adolescence in his hometown of Compton, California. The tracks paint a vivid image of the circumstances and environment in which Lamar grew up. The album was called a classic almost immediately after its release.
Tracks are educational. Like Swimming Pools (Drank) is a song that cautions the listener about the problems with alcohol but this knowledge is packed in a party bop song. Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst: the 12-minute epic that showcases Lamar’s prowess as a lyrical narrator.
Furthermore, the album’s storytelling is enhanced by star producers including Dr. Dre and Pharrell Williams.
1. To Pimp A Butterfly (2015)
A genre-defying sonic delicacy with jazz and funk influences, To Pimp A Butterfly is the greatest studio album Kendrick Lamar has ever produced. It is his magnum opus. Many have dubbed the album as one of the most important projects of the 21st century.
The film has a butterfly and caterpillar as the central metaphor which represents transformation and evolution. The album chronicles a journey of self-actualization, through brilliant conceptualization. Lamar has always been applauded for the immaculate execution of concepts in his works but To Pimp A Butterfly has the most impressive concept of all Lamar’s albums.
Not only is the album top tier lyrically but its groundbreaking production by greats like Thundercat, Flying Lotus, Robert Glasper, Kamasi Washington, and Terrace Martin has helped effectively convey various emotions. The album essentially is a long intertwined poem that ends with a conversation with Tupac Shakur. The eloquently written and skillfully directed concept of the album has caused many fans to believe that this is the album that should have won a Pulitzer instead.
Lamar is one of the artists with the most challenging discography to rank. Each album on his catalog is its own entity with its varied perceptions of ideas; and takes a solid stand. And yet with the subject matters evolving with each album, the messages remain universal. One of the lyrical geniuses of this generation, Lamar’s work will definitely be studied in literature classes
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