The release of Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN. in 2017 is one that stays fresh in my mind. First single ‘HUMBLE.’ had been out for a few weeks and the hype was huge. Got to number one in the States and a top 10 position in the UK. This was his first true effort since To Pimp a Butterfly so expectations were high. I was in my final year of university, pretty much the last month of it, and when the album came out I had taken some time to go home and really get to work on my dissertation during the Easter holidays. But it could wait because the new Kendrick album was out. People really thought that there was going to be a follow-up album out the week after, but that’s another story.

‘LUST.’ is the ninth track on DAMN., and I remember being slightly turned off by it. Not because of what was being said, but the strange reversed kick drum beat, the chord changes and that really British sample that randomly appears here and there… all made things just a bit disorienting. Just got a weird vibe from it. But the track is certainly one that takes a few listens to properly get into. I think the atmospherics are more or less meant to mirror the stress that the narrator is feeling. And how is Kendrick feeling on this track? Well, he’s thirsty, though not for water as he repeatedly states in the lyrics. It took me a while to understand what Kendrick was saying, and I don’t know why because it’s really obvious. He’s horny and wants to have sex with someone. At least, that’s just what’s in the choruses. The verses see him describe the things he might do after waking up in the morning; it also gives a glimpse into his feelings on the then somewhat recent election as Donald Trump became president. We also see him struggle with his general feelings of lust, not just for sex but for money, fame and all the other luxuries that come with being a famous rapper. It’s another track on here that captures that inner conflict that runs throughout the entire album.

And three years and a few months on, there’s still no sign of a new Kendrick LP. Doesn’t look like there will be one soon with everything that’s going on. DAMN. is still a good album, but I don’t think it’s dated as well as his others. ‘ELEMENT.’ is a banger though. There’s one more track on there that I’ll write about in the future.