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Poetic, chaotic, and ironic the newest album from artist Kendrick Lamar is just that. The album is a work of art that features a beautiful combination of jazz, funk and spoken word poetry. It has received rave reviews from critics receiving a 9.3 from Pitchfork and has reached number one on the billboard top 200. Lamar spent three years working on the album that plays out almost like a dramatic film.
The first song off the album “Wesley’s Theory” is a homage to former movie star Wesley Snipes and his rise and fall from fame. The song is a metaphor for how the entertainment industry exploits successful black artists. In essence the artist in nothing more than a pawn used to create revenue and when things begin to head south, the artist is left broke, uneducated, and alone.
The album transitions with an interlude “For Free?”, in which a woman berates and belittles the rapper as upbeat jazz plays in the background. The increasing tempo and volume lead up to a moment when Lamar snaps. He then proceeds to defends his actions and spin a tale of his desire for fame. It’s a well done transition that leads seamlessly into the next song.
The greatest song on the album is perhaps “King Kunta”, where Kendrick Lamar describes the rise from poverty to power. The title for the song was inspired by the rebellious slave Kunta Kinte. The song references the brutal treatment that Kunta went through including his foot being removed with lines such as “everybody want to cut the legs off him, King Kunta”. Although Lamar was never a slave, it is more about his journey from oppression to stardom. The funk vibes mesh well with the empowering lyrics to create a fantastic piece of work.
This album is lyrical genius. Not only has Lamar written quality lyrics, but has implemented world class jazz and funk into hip hop. It is a breath of fresh air from rap now a days that have seemed to drag on about the same topics. Instead it sheds light on poverty, racism, and exploitation in the world. It may take some getting used to, however, it looks like Kendrick Lamar has struck gold.
Alex Vogel | A&E Editor
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