By Jaynene Moreno |Staff Writer|
Kendrick Lamar gives us a peek into his visionary world, with his new album, “Untitled Unmastered.”
Lamar has outdone himself with this one, generously releasing the leftover demos of his last critically acclaimed album, “To Pimp A Butterfly.”
At only 35 minutes in length, it includes eight unpolished tracks, each of them telling their own thoughtful story that lets the listener into the rapper’s mind.
It’s definitely a daring move for the artist to let out an album that is completely untouched because auto tune and other various editing software are now offered to make songs completely flawless.
Lamar has proven again and again, that when it comes to lyrics, he’s a genius.
Although this album is completely unedited, uncut, and unfinished, it’s nothing less of perfection.
The lyrics actually say something and their “rawness” gives the performance correctness and meaning.
Not many emcees can start spitting out words with a message from the top of their heads, but that seems to be easy for Lamar. The lyrical genius brings us his ideas about love, dedication, and politics.
The song names accompany the unedited theme in the album, as they are also untitled. Instead, they are dated with the recording date, ranging from early 2013 to 2016.
“Untitled 08 | 09.06.2014.,” is electronically upbeat, giving off an old school hip hop vibe. It’s something that can be danced to at a house party with close friends.
Despite the uplifting beat, the lyrics are about having “blue faces…” because of money loss.
In the interlude, Lamar states, “In today’s day and age we practice the self pity of taking the easy way out/ You wait on them, him and her/ But when a blessing takes too long, that’s when you go wrong,” sending a motivational message, to get things done ourselves, and not to depend on others to do them for us, because by the time they do, it’ll be too late.
He brings the listener into the recording studio.
Throughout the album, the rapper is heard talking to his production team, telling them to add drums or to start the song from the top. The team themselves are heard talking to Lamar, adding to the raw aspect of the recordings.
Also uncensored, “Untitled 07 | 2014-2016.,” includes a produced beat by 5-year-old Egypt Dean, son of Alisha Keys and Swizz Beatz.
Producer Beatz excitedly stated on his Instagram page, “This is the best Dad moment everrrrr!!! Congrats to my son Egypt for producing his 1st track on this amazing Kendrick Album. He’s only 5yrs old.”
The album as a whole is a motivational work of art. The messages are strong and worth listening to.
As he stated in “Untitled 07 | 2014 – 2016.,” he has been and continues to be inspirational to upcoming emcees everywhere.
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