I’m a long time music fan and rap fan, but I never gave Lamar a chance. Not because I thought anything bad, but I just didn’t get invested yk? But I have! And here’s my ratings of his records (ones I’ve listened too!) from the perspective of a new fan with no nostalgia or personal bias. (I also can greatly relate to Lamar’s lyrics and storylines so I’ve greatly enjoyed every record. If I say one is low rated that’s in comparison to his other work!)

Section 80- 8/10: I mean cmon now. For a first big record this is all time stuff. Amazing vocals, writing, and production. It does feel a tad lower in quality and innovation compared to his later records however, especially in the styles of rapping and production.

Good kid M.A.A.D city- 10/10: easily my favorite record from Kendrick. Some of the best hip hop production, storytelling, composition, and rapping skill I’ve ever been blessed to hear. Truthfully a record so amazing I can rant, but I won’t. I find the story so real and so well presented, and the features are amazing as well. Thunder cat KILLED that ish man. Not just his best record, but one of the best hip hop/rap records EVER. And has been growing on me even more.

To pimp a butterfly: 9/10: this is to many “THE” Kendrick record. I see why. Amazing production like always, amazing verses, just amazing everything. Only reason it’s not a 10 is because I find GKMC has better produced tracks and a more consistent and superior storyline imo told in a far more profound way. But DAMN is it good. Deserving as one of the best records in the genre. Speaking of damn..

DAMN: 7/10: okay, this may be the “hot take”. I enjoy DAMN, and the narrative is also very very great, I especially love the “reverse story” twists Kendrick does as well. So creative and so mind blowing once it hits you at the end. But in all honesty I just don’t enjoy some tracks on this record. I find the production to be good, or just alright, and it isn’t as engaging or immersive as his other records. And some of the hooks and individual tracks just don’t work for me (maybe a hot take but “DNA” just didn’t hit for me at all… same with “alright” but that’s not off this record) all in all, very solid and has amazing writing and narrative elements, but as a music project I find the music aspect wasn’t up to par.

GNX: 6.5/10: OKAY this may be the hot take lol. I don’t love this record. Haven’t listened to it a ton so maybe that’s a reason, but I find the production on some songs (for example the title track “GNX”) to just be genuinely not very good and not engaging or interesting at all. And Kendrick takes a step down lyrically and vocally imo, his hooks and moments just don’t hit as hard and aren’t as well presented or sonically satisfying. There’s some great tracks, like Luther and “the heart part 6”, but I feel this album coming off of the huge Drake win and diss made ppl look at it differently. It’s good, but compared to his other work is a far cry in almost every department. Honestly it feels like a demo tape of unreleased tracks… if “bitch I’m in the club” was in this record it wouldn’t even stand out to much truthfully lol.

Okay! There’s my takes! Did I cook? Or did I burn down the kitchen lmk