But apparently Kendrick’s whispering here is meant to represent the government, so the creepiness works. I don’t need Voldemort whispering at me while I’m trying to sleep, thank you very much. Remind me not to listen to this when I’m in bed. Many of his songs deal with looking within himself, but I enjoy that he’s turning to other people and other cultures for guidance. We’re tellin Kendrick to be peaceful, meditate and “think of your health.” You’re welcome. How could he not be cool?Īsians are wise, y’all. What a Slick Rick (I’m trying to make that expression a thing) move - effortless and cooool. If this lyrical tension isn’t enough for you to sift through, Kendrick’s flow transition in the second verse might do the trick. Katt Williams has made a whole career from exploring the attitude and style of the “pimp,” but here Kendrick explores the illusions of “pimping and posing” and how the glamour and fame he’s come to know contrasts with the imagery of “pistol and poverty” from the place he comes from. His lyrics paint the unsettling picture of buildings plummeting and ground shaking, “swallowing young woman with a baby, daisies, and other flowers burning in destruction.” He has to answer to the big man upstairs: What has he done in the world to justify going to Heaven? Is “To Pimp a Butterfly” enough? Is anything he’s doing enough? Or is he just stuck, always “running in place trying to make it to church”? “Untitled unmastered” may not be as cohesive as TPAB (for a reason), but its strength lies in its sparse production, which lets Kendrick’s masterful lyricism do the talking and reminds us that this is an artist at the top of his game, who’s still always striving to be better.Īlthough the first track off the album feels apocalyptic, it’s purely from the power and urgency conveyed through Kendrick’s voice, as the production is relatively minimal. I liked the sparseness of “untitled 01 | ,” the joy of “untitled 06 | ” was a standout and the grooviness of “untitled 08 | ” was so infectious it got me to say words like “grooviness.” Since the tracks are those left over from TPAB recording sessions, they still explore many of the same themes - self-exploration, condemning the superficial, connecting to your roots - but the plea to other minority groups in “untitled 03 | ” and the minimal production were welcome differences from the last album. This referral to outside wisdom is one way “untitled unmastered” differs from Kendrick Lamar’s “To Pimp a Butterfly,” and also one reason why I enjoyed this album. When I heard, “What did the Asian say?,” I immediately looked up from the textbook I was “reading,” snapped my head up and wondered, “What did I have to say?”
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |