Why listen to Kendrick Lamar?

For his story? His skill? Maybe because he writes like he’s always got something to say? Or maybe it’s just that his voice seems inescapable. Whatever the reason, it’s undeniable that Kendrick Lamar’s an artist who can’t and won’t be ignored. The Pulitzer Prize and Grammy Award winning artist has been on a tear in the two years since returning from a five-year hiatus. He’s dropped two albums and headlined LIX, using his highly publicized beef with Drake as the backdrop to what’s been an unstoppable wave of music production. His latest album, GNX, released to the surprise and acclaim of fans–old & new–and has fueled the massive surge of popularity Kendrick’s received as an already established artist with over a decade in the game. 

The lights are shining brighter than ever before, and Kendrick keeps rising to the challenge with ease. So, the question now for new fans who are flocking to his catalog is, “what makes him so special?” The answer: Do what Kendrick’s been doing his whole career, and let the music speak for itself. That’s where this playlist comes in…

An Introduction to Kendrick Lamar–Playlist

1. "DNA" (DAMN)

2. "Squabble Up" (GNX)

3. "Money Trees" (good kid, m.A.A.d city)

4. "These Walls" (To Pimp a Butterfly)

5. "DUCKWORTH" (DAMN)

6. "m.A.A.d" city (good kid, m.A.A.d city)

7. "A.D.H.D" (Section.80)

8. "Wesley’s Theory" (To Pimp a Butterfly)

9. "untitled 02" (untitled unmastered.)

10. "FEAR" (DAMN)

11. "Swimming Pools (Drank)" (good kid, m.A.A.d city)

12. "Count Me Out" (Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers)

13. "i" (To Pimp a Butterfly)

14. "man at the garden" (GNX)

15. "Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst" (good kid, m.A.A.d city)

Honorable Mentions: “The Heart Pt.2” & “Alright”

This playlist is my best attempt at summarizing Kendrick Lamar, meant to showcase: his sound, rapping style, and primary subject matter. The list came from a pool of 28 songs from across Kendrick’s discography, combining hits and deep tracks that paired well. The goal is to provide an overall sense of Kendrick’s music. The playlist highlights his aggressiveness and clever storytelling, coupled with his love for sampling oldies and meshing them with classic West Coast sounds. Each song illustrates the depth of his artistry, showcasing the magic that comes from Kendrick’s album first approach. Ultimately, you should walk away with a solid understanding of who Kendrick Lamar is after you're done listening.

Album I’d Recommend to New Listeners: good kid, m.A.A.d city

This is the ideal first album for any new fan. An hour long masterclass set under the guise of just another day in Compton. The album's a coming of age story. Kendrick illustrates the difficulties he faced growing up, narrating the effects ever present violence and loss had on his upbringing. At its core, the project argues for a desire to provide hope to the often hopeless; a good kid showing the gifts that can come from a mad city. good kid, m.A.A.d city’s enjoyability comes from how well balanced it is. It’s got the radio appeal of his more commercial projects, like DAMN and GNX, while providing ambitious songwriting in a more digestible manner, say compared to his opus: To Pimp a Butterfly. 

Notable Songs: “m.A.A.d city,” “Swimming Pools,” “Backseat Freestyle,” & “Bitch, Don’t Kill My vibe”

You never know what to expect from Kendrick Lamar. For an artist who has long since produced his greatest work, he keeps pushing and innovating in every way imaginable. It’s unclear what’s next for him, but his new label (PgLang) seems to be part of the process. Whatever it is that he does next, Kendrick won’t stop working. He keeps making music like he’s running out of time, which means something exciting is on the way.