This album is truly incredible. Its narrative is straightforward (falls for a girl, gets jumped, attempts to get revenge, loses a loved one, and matures), but the storytelling is very well written, and weaves character development with meticulously crafted tracks. But the story isn't why I return to this album so much. THE TRACKLIST IS JUST SO GOOD! Every song has been designed to sound as incredible as possible in my brain. This is Kendrick's most enjoyable album by far. TPAB is still better, ... read more
AOTY so far
Such a solid tracklist. The blend of RnB singing and rap is truly incredible and has been pulled off at this level very few times. This is an ambitious album, but it stays concise and vivid with its storytelling. JID's flow has always operated at the highest level, but after this, he might have proved that he has the best of all time. He's like a better Eminem: he has speedy syllables and punchlines but lacks the annoying staccato flows and angry tone.
The silky smooth vocals ... read more
After 5 years, Family Ties, Range Brothers, and The Heart Part 5 got me really excited for this record. I've heard a lot of people talk about how this album grew on them. That wasn't the case for me. From first listen, I was infatuated with the personal pain put into Mr. Morale and The Big Steppers. This album hit the spot as someone with a lot of childhood trauma. The stories of therapy, idols, crucifixion and parental relationships are told through a really solid tracklist. There is some mid ... read more