Throughout the 885 Greatest Songs Of The 2st Century countdown, we’ll take you on deeper dives into select songs that pop up each day.
When someone thinks of the most prolific, influential and inspirational rappers of the 21st century, Kendrick Lamar is undoubtedly a name that pops up in every fan’s mind. From his impressive discography of albums, EPs and singles, to mind-blowing diss tracks that become massive hits (this year’s “Not Like Us”) and his boundary-pushing production, Lamar has climbed the ladder as of one of the greatest of all time. However, we’re not here to talk solely about his career — we’re focusing on a specific moment.
On April 14th, 2017, Kendrick released the album D.A.M.N. This album set his discography’s tone — it’s an encapsulation of everything he’d done up to that point, and it gave us a window into where he was going in the future — and more specifically set the bar for mid-2010’s rap. The 14-track album begins with the well-recognized songs “BLOOD.” and ends with “DUCKWORTH.” The album’s stylistic variety reaches out to various audiences, but more importantly touches on several themes and real-world issues: police brutality, racism, violence, and more. Throughout his tracks, he calls out those who have spoken against him, preaches his beliefs and viewpoints, and backs up his interests in his lyrics.
One of his best examples is the song “DNA.” where he raps with incredible speed and fluidity. Without missing a beat, Kendrick gets multiple messages across about his experience as an African-American man in the United States. He describes the power that every Black person has and the struggles that Black communities encounter. His word choice and lyrical flow are uncanny, and his delivery is as close to perfect as possible. “I got power, poison, pain, and joy inside my DNA. I got hustle, though, ambition flow inside my DNA.”
“DNA.” unleashes an entirely new level of talent, not only being the second track of DAMN. but also being one of his most compelling songs that he has ever released. “DNA.” has a surplus of power in Kendrick’s voice, and his lyrical skills are on full display, as well as his usage of imagery in the song’s music video.
Lamar casts the actor Don Cheadle, who plays “Kung Fu Kenny” in the blockbuster 2001 movie Rush Hour 2, in his music video. In an interview with Pitchfork, Cheadle explains how the look of his character inspired Kendrick, who went on to use “Kung Fu Kenny” as a recurring persona on the record.
By exploring his heritage and culture in “DNA.” — and on DAMN. overall — Lamar opens up to create even more personal music than he had in the past. The song, which was produced by Mike WiLL Made-It, has exploded musically and culturally in the eight years since its release. It is one of Kendrick’s best, it is one of the rap industry’s best, it is one of music’s best.