A journey from spiritual death toward destiny and redemption.
| # | Song | Key Details | |---|------|--------------| | 1 | | Aggressive opener addressing industry slights (Drake, Snoop Dogg, etc.). Title refers to a defaced Kendrick mural. | | 2 | squabble up | G-funk banger. Music video became a viral dance challenge. Metaphor for internal and external conflict. | | 3 | luther (feat. SZA) | Smooth, melodic. Samples Luther Vandross. Themes of romantic loyalty amid chaos. | | 4 | man at the garden | Minimal beat, introspective. “What would I do without my crown?” — meditation on humility vs. pride. | | 5 | hey now (feat. Deyra Barrera) | Ranchera intro gives way to hard trap beat. Duality of Mexican and Black LA culture. | | 6 | reincarnated | Concept track: Kendrick as a reincarnated jazz musician from the 1940s. Autobiographical yet mythical. | | 7 | tv off | Produced by Mustard. Catchy hook “Turn the TV off” — critique of media and distractions. | | 8 | dodger blue (feat. Sampha) | Ode to LA’s Dodger Stadium and blue gang culture. Sampha’s vocals add vulnerability. | | 9 | peakaboo (feat. Baby Keem) | Playful but menacing. Keem and Kendrick trade bars about hidden enemies. | | 10 | heart pt. 6 | Continuation of his “heart” series. Reflects on his relationship with TDE and the city of Compton. | | 11 | gnx (feat. Peysoh, Hitta J3, AzChike) | Title track. Raw, unmastered feel. Introduces new LA underground voices. | | 12 | gloria (feat. SZA) | Closer. Love song to his pen/rap career. SZA plays the personification of his artistry. | Damn Kendrick Lamar
Try: “reincarnated,” “heart pt. 6,” “gloria” (more introspective, storytelling) A journey from spiritual death toward destiny and redemption
Before DAMN. the album, there was just "Damn" the feeling. In 2013, Kendrick hopped on Big Sean’s track "Control." He name-dropped every major rapper—J. Cole, Drake, Mac Miller, Pusha T, Meek Mill, A$AP Rocky, Big K.R.I.T.—and declared: "I got love for you all, but I’m trying to murder you niggas / Trying to make sure your core fans never heard of you niggas." | | 2 | squabble up | G-funk banger