Rap lore has it that to release Kendrick Lamar’s latest, surprise-released album, “untitled unmastered,” saving some of the rawest tracks we’ve heard in years from the cutting room floor. If that’s true, we owe him big time.
The songs are listed with only dates, presumably of their recording. There’s a strong cohesion in the laconic horns, jazz infused melodies and soulful rap lyrics. All signs point to Kendrick’s music via Compton, California.
Equal parts improv and high-concept, “untitled unmastered” is a rapper-to-listener mind meld from one of the most important voices in rap. It’s not that these songs are better than those that ultimately made the cut on “To Pimp a Butterfly” — itap that Kendrick Lamar wrote and recorded them years ago. Even so, these untitled gems are light years ahead of anything else we’re hearing.
The “untitled 06; 06.30.2014’ features Cee-Lo and while itap a brilliant display of both MCs mellifluous flows, it feels more like practice and warm-up than an actual song. “untitled 07, 2014-2016” is produced by Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz’ son Egypt, and lasts for a roller-coaster eight minutes. Kendrick Lamar is at times hilarious and so naturally genius in his music prowess that itap shocking, even for him.
No, “untitled unmastered” isn’t a classic; there’s a few too many obvious modern funk references that artists like Dam Funk have already captured and the interludes are a bit too hefty. What we do get with this project is better than an artist simply decoding their own songs. We get a glimpse into the mind of rap’s modern day savior.
