By Rue Blenkinsop
Release date: 22nd November, 2024
Unknown to us at the time, in 1987 music lovers received Kendrick Lamar and car lovers got the Buick GNX, surprise – just like this album! A car reimagined, beating the Ferrari in speed; the all black, fierce, powerhouse can be seen on the album cover, with Kendrick leaning against it – a perfect symbol of strength.
The first track, Wacced Out Murals, kicks off the album in an epic way. Heavy and forbidding, addressing ones commitment to authenticity and frustration with a world that is “mad because I decide not to pretend”. The tension created by the operatic, Spanish guitar, triangle and horn, above sections of string and bass, makes it a powerful opener.
Thankfully, lighter tones come in with Luther, the third track, where Kendrick is accompanied by the angelic SZA, a duo we love to hear. With Squabble Up, placed as the second track, it’s the perfect bridge between the juxtaposing ideas of frustration, set out at the start of the album and reincarnation – a reoccurring theme throughout. SZA’s harmonies echo this beautifully. And track 6, a tribute to the late rapper Tupac Shakur, is titled Reincarnated.
The album’s journey is one of self-assurance, with Man at the Garden encompassing confidence, security and self-inspiration. Mirrored by the fast crescendo, its message of self-belief doesn’t suggest vanity, with lyrics such as “Pray for those who prayed against me” and “I’m showing up as your friend”. However, the title draws upon a biblical image, showing Kendrick’s awareness of the fine line he treads.
Hey Now (feat. Dody6) and TV Off (feat. Lefty Gunplay) show Kendrick’s comradery with his collaborators. The iconic refrain “crazy, scary, spooky, hilarious” can also be heard in Dody6’s latest release, Walk Down – a more conventional rap take. By comparison, Kendrick’s Reincarnated draws influence from rhythm and blues, jazz (as heard in To Pimp a Butterfly) and of course the operatic motif. With themes including addiction, forgiveness, faith and family; the track is poignant and necessary, ultimately coming back to the importance of authenticity, set out at the start of the album.
Preferences aside, it’s undeniable that Kendrick is always authentic, he reminds us in Reincarnated, that his “instincts sent material straight to the charts”. Notably in 2017 he was also the first rapper to win a Pulitzer Prize for music, with Damn.
A real shift takes place at track 8, Dodger Blue feat. Walkie the Sensei, Siete7x & Roddy Ricch. Musically it’s very relaxing from the offset and has a groovy beat. From this point on, all the sounds are cool, calm and at times cheeky, even when the subject matter isn’t.
Peekaboo (feat. AzChike) is tongue in cheek. Just like the childish game, the tune is repetitive, fun and youthful, paving way for the final track Gloria which addresses the relationship between high school lovers. It’s safe to say that no one highlights relationship struggles like Kendrick. Gloria, a conversation in song, stands in contrast to We Cry Together on his last studio album, which was passionate and explosive. Although it is just as exposing and has an outburst, Gloria is softer, more compassionate and a reflection rather than a reaction.
What a welcome surprise, even if the GNX is out of reach for most of us.
