It has been a little over a week since Kendrick dropped DAMN. to critical acclaim from critics and fans alike.
Kendrick’s reflective album is a hit on college campuses as well.
The release of the DAMN. also inspired students to pick up their pens, and write down their thoughts about the album.
According to the The Daily Orange’s Christine Chung, Kendrick’s DAMN. offers much more than some today’s most popular rappers, including Future and Drake.
“DAMN. seems to be overshadowing Drake’s ‘More Life’ with all of the media attention and high praise from fans and the music industry,” wrote Christine Chung. “Lamar’s unapologetic lyrics and ability to beautifully articulate daunting issues this country faces is not a talent that many artists in the industry have. Sure, he might not have trap beats like Future or trendy quotes like Drake, but he is fearless and full of heart.”
Henry Graney of The Cornell Daily Sun, offered a different take with some criticism, stating that Kendrick’s DAMN. lacked the consistency of his previous efforts like Good Kid, M.A.A.D City and To Pimp a Butterfly.
“Though the album lacks the consistency of earlier concept releases, its purpose is to show the versatility of his storytelling, unbound by a single narration and style,” Graney wrote.
Chris Duncan of The Daily Texan also noted the lack of a concept in DAMN., but that was OK for the student, who gave the album 9 out of 10 stars.
“DAMN. is Lamar’s first album that doesn’t revolve around a general concept, but this album steps up to the challenge and knocks it out of the park with an intense listen and consistently intriguing production,” Duncan observed.
In the end, Collin Schmidt’s summary of Kendrick’s album DAMN. for The Badger Herald, might best describe the overall reaction damn.
“[Kendrick] Lamar’s appeal as a writer and a performer comes from his optimism, although much of his recent works have a more pessimistic and dark nature to them,” Collin Schmidt noted. “DAMN. is a back-and-forth war between Lamar himself, as a human and as a rapper, as he adopts the role of storyteller and songwriter.”
