Kendrick Lamar Announces New Album 'DAMN.' Featuring Rihanna & U2
DAMN. Just days before unleashing his third major label studio album, Kendrick Lamar unveils the title, cover art, and tracklisting.
The 14-track set features two superstar guests, Rihanna (“LOYALTY.”) and U2 (“XXX.”). It also includes the effort’s lead single “HUMBLE.” and an homage to Lamar’s last name (“DUCKWORTH.”).
A weary K-Dot appears on the cover, which is backed by red bricks and accentuated by red lettering. The back cover finds Kendrick’s eyebrows lowered in concentration or fury. It features a black-and-white wall with green lettering.
Prior to the big reveal, Kendrick alluded to the album’s direction. “I think now, how wayward things have gone within the past few months, my focus is ultimately going back to my community and the other communities around the world where they’re doing the groundwork,” he told T Magazine. “To Pimp a Butterfly was addressing the problem. I’m in a space now where I’m not addressing the problem anymore. We’re in a time where we exclude one major component out of this whole thing called life: God. Nobody speaks on it because it’s almost in conflict with what’s going on in the world when you talk about politics and government and the system.”
According to the liner notes, production comes courtesy of Mike WiLL Made-It, BADBADNOTGOOD, DJ Dahi, Sounwave, 9th Wonder, The Alchemist, and James Blake.
Fans won’t have to wait long for the highly-anticipated follow-up to 2015’s To Pimp a Butterfly. The album is due Friday (April 14), just days before Kendrick is slated to headline the first weekend of Coachella on Easter Sunday.
DAMN. Tracklisting
1. “BLOOD.”
2. “DNA.”
3. “YAH.”
4. “ELEMENT.
5. “FEEL.”
6. “LOYALTY.” feat. Rihanna
7. “PRIDE.”
8. “HUMBLE.”
9. “LUST.”
10. “LOVE.”
11. “XXX.” feat. U2
12. “FEAR.”
13. “GOD.”
14. “DUCKWORTH.”