“Pimp Pimp, Hooray!” Boozy and quivering, “untitled 02 | 06.23.2014” comes headlong into life on Kendrick’s eight-track bundle of songs lovingly titled untitled unmastered. “Get God on the phone!” It almost feels like Dot is playfully talking to himself, transformed as he has into rap’s modern prophet, his prime stretching out over music, threatening to drown other artists plying their trade on the radio, in strip clubs, on SoundCloud, in your headphones. There is now a cavern between what Kendrick does and what everyone else does. His lane, his sound, is a roaring train with only he and his team as passengers.
And that’s what he would tell you. That Terrace Martin helped create the soundscape along with Sounwave, Taz Arnold, Flying Lotus, Cardo, Yung Exclusive, Swizz Beatz and so many more. That jazzman Kamasi Washington and alt-bluesman Thundercat hollowed out the bow of his ship laced with acid jazz and masterful bass as Kendrick decorated with heapings of rhymes and flows. That the murder of collaborators, producers, and singers add even more nuance than his multiplicative lyrics, each one layering humanity into a binder already bursting at the seams. He would tell you South Africa provided the tabula rasa, blanking his slate of preconceived notions of blackness and newness. That we, the very salt of this earth, will not have to wander forever. But it’s the word wonder that defines Kendrick right now.
These skeletons of songs left off of To Pimp a Butterfly came at the behest of, surprisingly, LeBron James. After Lamar performed snippets of the songs at the Grammy Awards (part of “untitled 05 | 09.21.2014”) James immediately tweeted Top Dawg CEO Anthony Tiffith to beg for a project releasing “those untitled tracks.” An Instagram followed after, with Kendrick’s name scribbled in red sharpie next to “Get Top on the phone.” Then Spotify upped the ante, as a grayed out version of the project mysteriously appeared on the Swedish streaming service well before its scheduled arrival. But the album dropped that midnight. And the Internet’s verdict was uproarious and immediate.
The name has meaning too, beyond the stylized lowercase lettering a la e.e. cummings. Andres Tardio writing for Billboard pulled this from TDE’s Punch, “As far as Untitled, Me and Kendrick always talked about doing a sort of Black Album, like how Prince did back in the day,” said the TDE exec. “There’s more than one meaning behind that.” He’d go on to illuminate that the title is a kind of declaration of independence for Dot. That although these sessions may not have made any project, it serves as Kendrick declaring that he can do anything, that he and TDE have no masters. The shift is iconic, if not unintentional.
And even more importantly, these sessions formed the nucleus that would become To Pimp a Butterfly. They are the early waxing and waning of a meticulous and devoted team at work. “untitled 03 | 05.28.2013” you may remember from one of the final episodes of The Colbert Report. Kendrick’s hair twisted into Method Man styled zonk. On Jimmy Fallon’s The Tonight Show, he gave you a cross section of “untitled 8 | 09.26.2014” and the last verse on the previously performed “untitled 02 | 05.28.2013.” “untitled 06 | 06.30.2014” featuring CeeLo Green sounds eerily like parts of “For Sale?” playing with the voice of his own youth, albeit as more rigid, than what would eventually become “Institutionalized.” Of course, there’s the three-part jam session recorded over three years “untitled 07 | 2014 – 2016” with one part produced by Swizz Beatz’ five-year-old son, Egypt.
But what strikes you most is the sheer joy present in the sessions, imperfections galore. The free-flowing yet concentrated totality of Kendrick’s method. Despite a subject matter spanning from police brutality to getting head, the lyrics collide into mitosis, replicating again and again into a nebula of ideas, phrases, and dreams. He screams to get that nigga on the drums on “untitled 02 | 06.23.2014” and you are in the room with him, the players knocking wood and taut string into excellence. The laughter is present throughout. From the 70s hood-shtick of the opening to the jubilance of one-liners like “Get God on the phone!” and, variably, “Head is the answer” or “(A)head is the answer,” whichever your heart desires.
So untitled unmastered yanks you into the light-adorned world of Kendrick Lamar. Lyrics, sharp as a razor’s tip (they are almost too many gems to name) as drums, horn, and string drink in the innumerable variations of these present moments. Then it is all the more intense when he tells you on “untitled 05 | 09.21.2014” that the difference between insanity is “father time.” And it is awe-inspiring when the last line on “untitled 07 | 2014-2016” speaks To Pimp a Butterfly’s manic virtuosity into existence. “Forecasted my future, this is the future / The mastermind until my next album more power to you.”
The jimmy fallon performance had the last verse of Untitled 2 not Untitled 3
I like this review. I agree with the rating too. Just got a couple of questions: 1. Since the album is not rated a perfect score, what are some imperfections/flaws (besides the fact that these are unfinished pieces of work)? 2. You wrote. “Lyrics, sharp as a razor’s tip…” can you list some examples of those lyrics? 3. How did the album impact you? Did it move you? 4. What are some personal favorites?
If you have that many questions, how much did you like the review?
I liked it. I guess I just wanna further the conversation about the album.
Damn you people are on this mans dick so hard. That shit wasnt even that good and your praising that shit like its the second coming of the bible. Funny how the music was never really discussed just some dude talking about how much of a fan boy he is fuck this wacksite
Another Instant Classic! A Nice Follow Up To TPAB. This Is Why Lamar The Future Of HipHop; He An Artist And Very Creative. Lyrics On Point, Timing And All. A Artist That Doesn’t Rely On The Pop Craft.
Wack 1/1
that would make it highly rated than if 1 is the highest, you must be 12
really boring album, i imagine depressed people love listening to this guy.
not depressed one bit and I love it. weird, right?
I’ve loved hip since I was 10 I’m 30 this year I like most hip hop artists and even can appreciate the ones I don’t like but this album is shit the beats are shit the lyrics are shit it sounds like cee-lo green and Andre 3000 mixed together rapping over elevator music maybe it’s just me thou
Perfect. I usually write alot of stuff on reviews, but this time ima just say a few things. First of all, Its what none of us expected to come out at this time, while many other rappers right now are trying their luck by releasing well promoted albums, kendrick just went in too fullfill the wish of Lebron James to release some untitled tracks, and he fucking hit the spot! I waited patiently for years to hear his 2nd album(i was 15 when GKMC came out), all the more a 3rd, less a year after his sophomore, and more than that, Its the sound i always appreciated from kendrick. I love how he just says what he has to say with his wise voice and expresses everything every time he touches the mic! those songs were written years ago apparently but some apply to whats happening in the world today-
” we all came in a boat looking for hope” there’s definetely a double meaning on that, ima let you guess the rest.
Great EP. @PeopleWhoThinkKendrickIsOverrated: what do you listen to?
The musicality alone on this is incredible. Continues where TPAB left off but it also has more rapping than to TPAB for those that wanted to hear more BARS from Kendrick. Plus it has a couple more conventional trap-like tracks untitled 2 aka “Get Top on the Phone” and untitled 7 aka “Levitate” that could get bumped on the radio.
And it’s not fair to compare, but yes, it’s better than TLOP.
I refuse to stream albums…refuse…quality is ass…where is my physical copy?
Tidal has the best audio… Try it……
people still think this is Kendrick’s 4th studio album… funny sad world we live in.
What’s sad about people thinking his 4th commercial release is his 4th album?
i can imagine only fanboys and dickriders who know nothing about hiphop liking this shit, it’s pretty much unlistenable, weird beats, weird voice, weird flow… kendrick really did fell off. for fuck’s sake there’s a reason this shit was kept in the vault for so long! that 4.4 score only got one reason, right now its really “cool” and “intelligent” to like kendrick, just like its cool to hate on Wayne, etc… its just a hard phase rap is going thru, this finna end in a couple of years when people stop persuading themselves to like this hipster music. you know you hate this, you just make yourself like it because its from Kendrick Lamar! not even hating on the dude, GKMC is the best release of the last 5 years or so… but the rest of his catalogue is really garbage specially the recent work, its just mad overrated, simple as that. Rock, Q and Soul all make better music but they’re barely even mentioned smh.
You’re buggin’. This EP is the closest thing to 90’s hip hop in today’s music.
I don’t understand why people are knocking the jazz beats. They’re almost reminiscent of 90’s hip hop and Kendrick’s lyrics are what is so special about this music. You must be some 2000’s kid or something who grew up listening to G-Unit and Lil Wayne.
Lol, this comment is exactly why I can’t stand the average hip hop fan. Closed mindedness permeates the culture and if someone doesn’t agree with your opinion they get insulted. Seriously STFU with your bullshit, you’re just as bad as the people who say that if you don’t like this type of music then you’re an idiot. I grew up on Jazz, Neo Soul, R&B and all types of other “weird” shit that you don’t like so Kendrick’s music is fucking amazing to me. Yes, better than GKMC in my eyes. Don’t hate on the rest of us just cause you can’t understand it. Fucking tool.
getting mad about people liking something is the funniest thing ever. opinions my n1gg@ we all have been blessed with them. sorry we don’t see eye to eye. too much energy being mad about something that’s not for you anyway lmfao
How did Kendrick fall off by putting out unfinished songs that the people were clamoring for?… Give it a few more spins it’ll grow on you……
You’re mad the dummy era in hip hop is ending?
Dope
Fuck what you thought! Kendrick makes/creates the best Hip Hop music of my generation, and if you believe his music is somehow weird or unlistenable, eat a dick you bish!
This is trash.
This is what hip hop is about. those who are looking for more of the same, i am high and i got *itches stay away. this is for people who are looking for someone to push the envelope and create a new space. this is a masterful look into Kendrick’s creative process and the sad thing is it is better than most hip hop out there unfinished. i mean track 2,3,7,8 by themselves are the reasons why no one is touching K. Dot on this hip hop game.
I would say it’s better than TPAB
Kendrick could drop three song album n it would still be fire ! Straight Up !
Beautiful unmastered music !
This was a great album another classic from K-dot
I rated it 4.5 trying to go with the review but lol. Either way this was way better then TPAB, in my opinion atleast, i loved every other album but that last album was weird to me, i still got it though, eventually i’ll be able to listen to it. The whole EP i could listen to without any problem, but the strongest songs are 2 and 7.
Awesome shit.
Lives up to TPAB, and then some. Some rappers would dream of having this on their ALBUM, not as a throwaway.
Great collection. HHDX should fix the comment thing though, I was gonna say more but it wouldn’t let me for who knows why. Didn’t have any profanity or what not kept saying “you kiss your mother with that mouth” smh
kendrick is rap game erykah badu
DOpe
short but sweet, greatest 30 minute project ever! loved each untitled track and glad they put those live performances on the album too! Kendrick is the greatest to ever do this shit!
I will be purchasing this asap. Kdot is the definition of a true artist he makes entertaining music with soul an feeling an understands his duty to reflect the times we live in… Be Healthy y’all
This shit was pure garbage. You dick riders are getting ridiculous. This jazz shit is unlistenable. Get out of the 90s and move the fk on you hipsters. Thats why society looks down on stuck in the 90s losers like yall.
niggas like you need to just die.
drake needs to end this little trolls carreer allready
drake can’t end multi-cultural artist like kendrick’s career when he can literally rap circles around him. they’re not even in the same genre. kendrick is hip hop. drake is ghostwritten rap/pop
4.4 is a good rating
untitled 1 ..this guys gross voice at the start for a minute 10 ………….then some fire bars 4/5
untitled 2 not a fan of kendrick singing but after 2 cringe worthy minutes he starts rapping and yeah its amazing 4/5
untitled 3 this ones great coulda been on the album 5/5
untitled 4 this is a skit or interlude i couldnt be less interested it blends into the next song nicely 3/5
untitled 5 starts off nice roots sounding ………then the improvised jazz comes in ….this girl singings not bad tho i could skip it to just kendricks rapping nice jay rock i like 4.5/5
untitled 6 cee lo is dope on this one kendricks dope on this beats nice chill 5/5
untitled 7 banger bars skip the end 4/5
untitled 8 best song on the album g funk dam funk sounding keytar 5/5
This is a 3 out of 5. Sounds like these tracks didnt make the last album
Damn Kendrick is getting Kanye’d…everybody was on his dick until he blew up, now they just hate cuz everybody else hopped on. Another reason why hiphop been dead. No genre hates on it’s best artists like hiphop. Kendrick hasn’t even changed his style, and all of a sudden people calling him wack
agree with your point, but not as it pertains to Kanye. Kanye’s music hasn’t been as good as it once was. But to the point about Kendrick I totally agree that people are just hating because he has become a huge artist. To me he’s still that same underground cat from the EP / OD days…quality of music hasn’t gotten worse or watered down at all. I actually think TPaB supplanted Section.80, as much as I’ve loved 80 for years…his growth as an artist has never been more evident than it was on To Pimp a Butterfly. I’m interested to see just how long Kendrick is gonna be able to continue dropping great / near-masterful albums like this, because honestly it’s insane. The dude is amazing.
Kdot! Track 2 goes hard
Wow, this “album” is terrible, just awful, not sure what the fuck some of you are hearing
Shut up and go simp on a bitch with Drake. Lionel Richie mfs
Drake is a flaming Homosexual, just because I don’t like this garbage doesn’t mean I’m a queer Drake fan, actually fuck them both
Greatness hides in plain sight
Not sure why this was reviewed but it was still a good listen. Kendrick makes great music, so no surprise the throw away tracks are good as well.
There’s like two maybe three good songs on this. The rest doesn’t even deserve a second listen. Dudes music is so overhyped.
Excellent
nga iss goat
Once again Kemdrick never dissapointed
Kendrick is an amazing rapper, even his 2nd tire work is straight up fire
Just downloaded Kendrick Lamar: untitled unmastered Album from here:
http://tiny.cc/UntitledUnmastered
http://tiny.cc/UntitledUnmastered
Not feeling it. Dude has the mindshare but this music is trash.
You ain’t lying its like niggas music get dry after a classic album (good kid maad city)
Sounds like tracks that didnt make TPAB cut
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