Fr bro the first time I heard that gunshot I got so startled, the background music behind him talking getting more intense and then it abruptly ending is so beautiful and terrifying at the same time.
"the world is endin im done pretendin"... lines like that hit even harder today than when it came out. Turning The Tables just reacted to this album as well and both said, in regard to FEEL, "THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT". Love seeing greatness recognized
I've joked previously about how introspective you are about the seemingly mundane, but your ability to really reflect on your true self, is really moving man. It takes a lot to do so and just really appreciate it enough to comment. Keep crushing it brother.
yeah, especially from 13:07 onwards, it takes guts and a lot of introspection to poke out of your bubble and confront yourself with the possibility that what you thought all your life might be wrong. deep respect!
I was introduced to Kendrick Lamar in the 10th grade to "DNA.", my creative writing teacher played it and used it to explain Iambic Pentameter. Which, is how each line is 10 syllables alternating from stressed and unstressed. Which is also how Shakespeare wrote some of his plays.
Damn you had a cool teacher. I just had to read a bunch of Shakespeare when I learned about Iambic Pentameter in school. The Bard is great don't get me wrong, but I would've preferred Kendrick.
Not sure if anyone mentioned this, but that second verse on DNA was recorded a capella and mike will built the beat around the verse which is crazy to think about!
The way Duckworth shows the audience how blessed we can all be by just being here, the amount of coincidences it took just to be born… this paired with BLOOD. And it’s ability to convey the coming of death/ fleeting of life on a metaphoric and realistic level is so flabbergasting. The duality between these 2 songs is the best I’ve ever heard
@@ImxPhreme Mike Will Made It said it in an interview He said, ‘I just want to see if you can put some drums around this.’ I said, ‘Man, hell yeah.’ But he was going so hard; that man was rapping so crazy. Just imagine him a cappella rapping the second half of ‘DNA.’ and I had to build a beat around that. I didn’t want the beat to just sound like a regular boom-clap, boom-clap. I wanted that s-t to sound just as crazy. I wanted it to sound like he’s battling the beat.
I'm pretty late but I have a feeling a couple of songs in damn were made like that, its much easier for producers to make a beat match vibes with lyrics rather than to make the beats match vibes off of what the rapper tells you the song will be about
To fully grasp how great this project is, is to listen to it from the perspective of what was going on when it was released. Kendrick released TPAB in early 2015. Critics loved it, it was nominated for 11 Grammys etc. but what it didn’t have is the full respect from the streets and rap fans. Coming off of GKMC, the pressure was on, and in time, we’d all understand the masterpiece TPAB was, but we didn’t at first (a lot of us). And so between 2015-2017 (when DAMN. was eventually released) Drake had rose to new levels of fame and had released 3 projects in that time. Everyone called him the GOAT, it was all eyes on Drake. Kendrick being who he is, kept his mouth shut, while everyone said well Kendrick can write but he’s boring, while Drake makes music that can be played anywhere, anytime. So when Kendrick released a single, The Heart PT. 4 (not included on the album) with lines like “My fans can't wait for me to son ya punk ass and crush your whole lil shit. I'll Big Pun ya punk ass, you a scared little bitch Tiptoein' around my name, ya lame And when I get at you, homie, don't you just tell me you was just playin'” over a trap beat… people really got hyped. And everyone knew exactly who it was directed at. But would the album reflect that sound?! Kendrick was fed up with the criticism, and basically set out to make all the generic sounding radio music that’s played everywhere, but with the idea that it would be the best radio music you’ve heard, period. And speaking from 2017, it absolutely was. Tracks like DNA. , Element, Loyalty, Humble, Love, and especially GOD. , are all radio hits. And most of them ironically became radio hits when the idea was to mimic the industry. I could go on for a while about why it’s directed at Drake, I’m sure any of you could just Google them! But DAMN.‘s replay value is what makes it truly special as well.
XXX. is my favorite song on the album. The irony of him going to a speak at a convention to kids about gun control after rapping about shooting someone, going as far as to kill the person leaving church service, and feeling no remorse is beautiful.
It's really potent too with how aggressively he's rapping about it. You can hear/feel the conviction which makes the bit about speaking at the convention against violence drip with hypocrisy
Thank you for talking about off-base misconceptions you held a year ago as a result of media distortion. We need more people on platforms to speak openly about changing minds and opinions, particularly from exposure to new ideas/art.
One of my favorite lines in Humble is “Watch my soul speak, you let the meds talk” it’s a great diss to rappers that reference and rely on drug use to get their point across whereas Kendrick is portraying real shit that weighs on him. So good!!
I love this album and in relistening along with this video, I found my new favorite line of the album. In the chorus for 'LUST.' Kendrick says 'Too close TO comfort.' Not for comfort but to comfort, implying he's surrounded by many things that give him joy and comfort but are not actually good for him.
13:00 Takes a lot to be honest about that Bob cause not a lot of ppl are. It's not about the person you were a year ago and the fact that your perspective has changed shows so much about how much you put into these reactions, you as a person, and the reason thousands watch.
In my personal opinion this is Kendrick’s most personal and complex album to date. The concept is so intresting to me and the album sort of gives me an end of the world type vibe when I listened to it. Even the cover alone just evokes that feeling. It’s my favorite Kendrick album and the one I’ve listened to the most (next to GKMC). Also crazy how you and Turning the Tables reacted to this on the same day lol.
This album has a HUGE theme of duality it’s most noticeable on pride to Humble On a lot of the tracks he’s just speaking his mind and that’s why I think it’s called DAMN like he himself is like “DAMN”
Easily my favorite reaction of yours. I've listened to this album so much over the last few years, and you just gave me an entirely new perspective on it & made me realize many things about the lyrics that I'd never picked up on before. Thank you for all your insights and all the work you put into these reactions Bob!
THANK YOU for speaking on the song ‘PRIDE’. your commentary on the song is something i’ve dealt with heavily in my past. constantly beating myself to make sure i remained humble honestly made my self esteem worse. i felt like i wasn’t worthy enough to proud of any of my accomplishments. not to disrespect anyones religion but when i was a self identified christian, just like kendrick said ‘we ain’t shit, but he’s been perfect’, i never allowed myself to feel happy and self deprecate a lot. it was really just a bi product, idk how to explain it better. but yes i agree. you SHOULDNT be hard on yourself for doing your best, you’re not perfect but all we can do is try.
My moms always put it perfectly to get it in my head which she always said "enough people in this world will talk bad about you don't be one of them!" That is what made it stick for me
This album is Kendrick moving in a slightly abstract/ experimental direction while also leaning into mainstream sounds more than ever. The best thing about this album in my opinion is it’s mystique. The 2 albums before it were pretty straightforward (concept wise) but this one of is very much open ended and makes you put the pieces together. Sorta like a watered down “Tetsuo& Youth” (album by Lupe Fiasco). Regardless, the music and lyrics are still as strong as ever and Kendrick delivers some of his most popular songs to date. Also the “HUMBLE.” music video is a MUST. Stop reading this comment and watch it now lol.
Not sure how i came across this channel but i love watching reactions especially to people outside the “rap world” this guy seriously takes time and breaks down the lyrics! Greatest videos i’ve found in weeks keep it up 👍🏾
It’s really fuckin cool to hear you say how much your perspective about hip hop has changed since you started this channel, like what you mention on 13:20, keep up man i don’t skip a single video
Hey man I truly appreciate you going on this journey. I’m a big advocate of not worrying about the lyrics so much on first listen. Just vibe and catch what you can by yourself. Lyrics are important but not any more important than the rappers voice/cadence/flow or the beat. The feel of the song is what’s most important. Understanding the lyrics is a treat with multiple listens imo.
I can't help it. My brain cannot ignore lyrics no matter how hard I try, so I tackle that first and then come back for the music. Just how I'm wired 🤷♂️
@@bobthepoppop I respect that. Maybe attempt an album listen without the lyrics up? Or would that stress you out lol. Again, I appreciate your journey brother, keep it up.
That first time hearing that last verse on DUCKWORTH is a one of a kind experience, such an insane story told in such a brilliant way. Kendrick's story telling is second to none
I think there’s this weird thing with Kendrick where it’s like we expect every song to have the answers to the universe in it. LOVE. may just be a love song, but it’s so endearing and I think it’s a shame that we can’t idk just appreciate that that’s all it really is
This album changed my POV on life literally I was in a dark place and was deeply depressed and this album became the soundtrack of that time of my life and it will always be my favorite rap album
1:48:06 is the exact reaction I had the first time I heard this. Kendrick is such a master of storytelling its no wonder people say he is the greatest of all time.
The part in FEAR. when Kendrick is saying stuff backwards, symbolizes going back in time to revisit the biggest fears of his 7 year old self and then his 17 year old self and finally his 27 year old self Whoever is reading this, have a good one
26:24 yes and I think that when he goes on about them praying for him it refers back to the ending on sing about me (I’m dying of thirst,) where this elder is the one who points the boys into a different direction with the lord and into religion.
The picture of him on the album cover fits the feeling of the album so well. It's jaded cynisism, and self loathing, I think DAMN. hit me so much because when it dropped I was in that mindspace, and then he went on hiatus, I got better through therapy and love from people around me, and then Mr. Morale dropped. And once again he reflected my mindspace perfectly. K. will always be on my top 3.
On ELEMENT, all my grandmothers are dead is simply no one is praying for him. Usually, the Grandmas in the hood are the most religious and pray for your safety. He doesn't have one so he's going to go extra hard to stay alive.
LUST. The part when he says smth about shitting smoking is like a routine of you always do your lasting for smth that you always do it all over again and again
your explanation after dna is probably the realest thing i have heard from any person on youtube. your reviews are amazing. I was a rockhead from age 3-15, then rap 15-30(cuurent). love both, but i love rap. so good. and i love your open minded perspective and analysis
I personally didn’t mind the deep dive into lyrics. Loved this album when it came out five years ago and currently do. Glad to see you enjoyed it. My favorite tracks would probably be FEEL, DUCKWORTH, and XXX
It was a bit different and shocking when Kendrick followed up the really detailed, jazzy production on TPAB with the really stripped back boom-bap production on Damn. Some people thought he took a step back quality wise, but I really think it was an intelligent artistic choice. It fits so much with the message of what he's trying to say on these songs. Also, the reaction you had on the beat change on DNA was shared by almost everyone who heard it. It is probably one of the most exciting developments in any song he's ever done, and it would not have fit in on TPAB.
So I'm just going to do a quick analysis of this album based on my feelings about the themes, after seeing your reaction. So on the tracks FEAR and GOD you have, in my view, kind of perfectly encapsulated the conclusions drawn in this album if and only if you listen to it in its originally released order. Kendrick would later release a "Collector's Edition" of DAMN. that was identical to this version, except for the fact that the track order was reversed and the cover was changed. Taken together with the many reversed portions of this album, this is a clue that the album is meant to be understood both forwards and backwards, and in my opinion, both versions of the album ask the same question and then answer it in different ways. The question is articulated near the beginning of both versions in the phrase "wickedness or weakness?" And throughout the album, Kendrick explores both sides of this dichotomy. We can sort of describe what he means by "wickedness" as the anger and violence present in his Compton upbringing, but also the relentless pursuit of success, fame, and pleasure that he describes in "Humble" and "Lust." Meanwhile, "weakness" could be described as faith, but also fear: of losing success or being judged by God. It's apparent to me, based on the fact that Kendrick has never asserted which version of the album is definitive, that he doesn't intend for this question to have a definitive answer, and instead is inviting the listener to consider both versions of the album to come to their own conclusions about this dichotomy -- will you choose wickedness or weakness? Is there some third, better way to synthesize the two? Let's quickly break down the story of the album, in both the original and reverse order, to see what's going on. In the original version, the "weakness version," we hear Kendrick get shot and killed at the beginning of the album. Then, in a flashback, Kendrick recalls the choices that led him to this point: choices that are encapsulated in song titles. BLOOD is contrasted with DNA -- in BLOOD, Kendrick chooses to help a blind woman, perhaps a representation of the justice system, which could be seen as an act of weakness, whereas in DNA, Kendrick blasts his critics and engages in self-aggrandizement. Likewise, PRIDE is contrasted with HUMBLE, LOVE with LUST, and maybe even YAH with GOD, although the connection between the two is dubious in my view. XXX also contains an internal debate between two halves: Kendrick's violent tendencies in the first and his conscious messaging in the second. We can sort of see which side of the debate Kendrick falls on in each version of the album by seeing which track comes second. For example, in the original order of listening, Kendrick experiences selfish feelings of LUST, before asking "Love or Lust?" and rejecting LUST in favor of selfless LOVE -- perhaps a weak decision, but an admirable one. In the original arc of the album, Kendrick goes from choosing the self-actualization of DNA and the pride expressed in HUMBLE to choosing LOVE over LUST, FEAR-ing God, and, in XXX, experiencing tendencies of violence, but rejecting them in favor of social consciousness. He reflects on how his career as a rapper came from coincidence, and then, the flashback ends and he is shot and killed by the woman. The other version of the album essentially follows the opposite arc; Kendrick begins by reflecting on how his career as a rapper only came from coincidence, and fears that GOD might take it away from him, spurred on by the apocalyptic messaging of his cousin Carl on FEAR. He lives his life according to this, at first; expressing socially conscious messaging despite his thoughts of violence on XXX, but eventually, gives in to selfish living and chooses LUST over LOVE. However, this leads to him having a bit of a breakdown in the track FEEL. His insecurities return, and he can't entirely commit to the path of "wickedness," leading him to get shot by the blind woman when he selflessly tries to help her. This is a bit of a wall of text now, but it's important to ask what conclusions can be drawn from all of this. In both versions of the album, Kendrick dies in the end, as a result primarily of weakness. If the blind woman is representative of the justice system -- we often think of Justice as being blind, so that's what I fell she's meant to represent -- Kendrick's attempting to help her could be seen as a betrayal of his political ideology, an instance of him kowtowing to or attempting to appease authority. But likewise, in both versions of the album, Kendrick is crippled by guilt or the fear of God -- in the songs FEEL and FEAR, which are parallels to each other in a lot of ways. It seems that Kendrick might be trying to express the idea that whatever he chooses, wickedness or weakness, the outcome is negative: he will struggle with depression and eventually, perhaps, get killed. This, in my eyes, is why the album is called DAMN: it's a Damned if you do, Damned if you don't situation for Kendrick, whose celebrity has essentially trapped him between a rock -- God -- and a hard place -- the relational and internal consequences of living selfishly. What, then, is he meant to do? And for that matter, what is the listener supposed to do, if we experience this same pressure on a smaller scale? Kendrick doesn't offer any answers. This is a very postmodern album in that sense; unlike GKMC or TPAB, which tell more straightforward narratives with clear frames and even clear answers in many cases, DAMN invites you to consider its central questions and draw your own conclusions, which is why I personally like it so much.
Really enjoyed your interpretation of the album! Especially the part where you noted FEEL and FEAR are sort of parallels to each other, both dealing with his insecurities, and weakness, and end up leading to the same outcome of him getting killed. I can really buy into this considering how deliberate Kendrick is, and there are many complex themes and interpretations of this album that I agree make it less straightforward hand TPAB AND GKMC. I really question why the album artworks aren’t flipped, as the original cover seems to represent Kendrick as wicked, with the M in “DAMN.” kind of representing horns and him having a sort of wicked look and demeanor. Anyways again I really appreciated your comment.
@@Arentings You raise a good point about the cover art. My interpretation has always been that on the original cover art, he looks kind of stressed and helpless. The devil horns might, then, represent Kendrick's vision of himself on the album: the perceived wickedness and inability to do right that is a major driving force on the original version. By contrast, on the collector's edition, Kendrick appears to be shouting something -- that kind of vigorous self-expression is a bit more in line with the "wickedness" angle, imo -- but his eyes are also a little lidded and glazed, like he's half asleep or maybe high -- and thus, perhaps, ignorant to the realities of the spiritual world. I could be talking out my ass here because visual art criticism isn't really my field but that's my perspective.
It’s refreshing to see people experience things you like for the first time. Especially when that person has an appreciation for not only the sound but what is being said as well
Lust for sum reason is one of the songs that really get to me. I’ve been in that cycle of wake up, watch sum shit, go to work, sex, drugs, alcohol , complain about people, go back to sleep, repeat. I think he talks about people just wanting to live in comfort, do the same shit that gives them a lil dopamine seratonin boost and just going thru life instead of really experiencing what life is. It’s like sedation and short term treatment of the real issues in life. Instead of really facing those issues and trynna fix em, you put them aside and do little things that bring you quick comfort or joy. It’s complacency. Because wanting sex and money and drugs are things we all experience, and they can be pretty simple fixes that we know how to get. It gives us that feeling that we’re doing things for ourselves, but we’re really not. We’re just feeding into our lust and greed. It’s a false feeling of satisfaction and joy. Kendrick wants people to realize that this cycle of behaviors doesn’t do shit for our soul n spirit, or help us grow. N it’s honestly a sick cycle to be in and it’s hard to get out of because it’s so comfortable. But at the end of the day, u still gonna have these issues in ur life u gotta deal with.
The big meta meme with this album is to listen in reverse. I won't say how legit/bullshit I think it actually is, but its an officially endorsed and encouraged thing to do if you want to try that at all.
Doing it now :) So far, I'm enjoying it more in reverse order? I don't know. It definitely has a different feel, and I'm excited to hear it close out with DNA's crushing verse at the end and the story of the blind lady killing Kendrick.
Favorite reaction to Duckworth, I’ve watched multiple reactions to DAMN and some are like “oh that’s cool” or just don’t even react to how awesome it is, love these reactions man always look forward to them. Plus diving into the lyrics personally made this video better because it feels like you’re actually invested in the album/artist compared to sitting through it and being like “what was the album even about?”
Great to see you take this in and process it openly as well as how it may relate to you or what you are aware of. As far as ELEMENT. to hear DJ Clue bring in a track was a nostalgic moment. That similar intro has been all over some iconic hip hop pieces. Tam's i s a burger/diner chain out here in Southern Cali. They even featured it in as a part of the Super Bowl half time show stage. There is a different story to the 10 freeway receipt topic but I'm not going to speak on that. lol
In FEAR , its playing BACKwards in the beginning, because kendrick started his verse with "I'll beat yo ass keep talking BACK" implying the the backwards audio is kendrick talking back
Be sure to listen to the deluxe edition of this album. It’s the same tracks but in exact opposite order, which Kendrick said was intentional. Listened to the regular way presents the story in one light, but played in reverse gives the story a different setup. Kinda a cool idea for a “deluxe” version That’s also why there’s all the reversal stuff at the end and the line from Kid Capri’s intro on Duckworth about doing it all in reverse. The sequencing in reverse changes how the story of the album comes across
I posted this in the discord but decided to repost it here for those wondering about the significance of the cover art: Thanks for the shoutout Bob! Here’s my interpretation on the cover and how it relates to the album, since I think DAMN has a really underappreciated and brilliant album art I thought I would highlight it for you, because I do think it adds to the overall experience. First of all, the font choice on the title is the same font as TIME magazine uses, and it is a common pop culture imagery to have the “M” of TIME be the devil’s horns on the head of whoever is on the cover. Kendrick awkwardly bending into the position for that, plus the album title “DAMN” indicates an overall theme and imagery of sins and suffering, as reflected in many of the song titles across the back side of the album. It is of my opinion that Kendrick forcing himself into the position of the devil on the cover is indicative of what he has done to himself over his life and career, he is the celebrity on the cover, Kendrick has BECOME Lucy, and he did it to himself. “It was always me vs the world Until I found it's me vs me” Obviously there are lots of themes across the album, and this is more of a visual analysis than a musical one, but I think that artists sometimes put a lot of effort into their covers, and its worth talking about such great art so that we might keep getting great iconic album covers in the future! You may or may not have seen at the time, but there were tons of memes and variations of the DAMN covers going around when the album came out, they were super funny. The same thing happened with the PABLO cover, and this kind of thing happens a lot when albums have well thought out, and fitting cover art. Anyways, amazing video, this was definitely one of your best videos to date, right up there for me with the noname reaction. Your literary analysis skills are getting better and better, especially as you learn more and more about the culture, and I’m glad your REALLY starting to appreciate the sound choices and production style of hip hop! Lastly, you said some super real shit on this video, that couldn’t have been easy stuff to admit. Respect, and this is why we love hip hop in the first place, it helps wake people the fuck up, and makes the world a better place.
41:18 Ayo reading this comment and him saying this me think that you were right about him being Lucy. I feel like Kendrick is trying to tempt someone with this. I could be trippin but this shit got my mind blown
My comment got deleted but all I’m gonna say is. This is way deeper than deep. Ones you start researching what secretive society’s they have to be part of In order to see that fame… it’s wicked to the bone… I literally cannot say anything for context or it gets deleted…. Truely astonishingly the brainwashing.
This is the experience I'm having. I was not blown away at first. Now, several listens in, it's definitely growing. I'm singing along to PRIDE, nodding with YAH, enjoying the sound in GOD, so on.
I really like the way you break down every track, and your knowledge of Kendrick’s catalogue plus your own insight makes the feedback really interesting. You gained a subscriber lol
DAMN. Is probably my favorite rap album of all time personally. Any time I listen to it or think about it, it always leads my mind down a rabbit hole of what is all being said and what it means. I always come away with new meanings and messages each time I revisit it.
He completely misunderstood his mom.A lot of black parents use fear as a tool to deter bad behavior. Be so afraid of the consequences of your actions that you don’t misbehave because as a black child those real world consequences could be prison or death. She was saying be good in school, do your homework, eat your food and don’t be wasteful, stand up for your self. Teaching us to be afraid because living as a black person in America can be scary. If your not afraid your reckless. Maybe this is something as a white man he can’t really relate to.
Something about the "we'll never be tied, just look at their laces" line that is so brilliant is, right before it, he says "I got em by a landslide, we talking bout races". Races being a double entendre for racing somebody, and ethnicity, while "we'll never be tied just look at they laces" being a double entendre for shoe laces, and DNA strands, or "laces" in reference to racial differences. Absolutely fucking brilliant, and I never noticed that until I watched this.
I just found you, and this is my second video (just watched you and your wife react to Lemonade. You should totally watch the visual too!). The introspection and self-reflection you had at the end of DNA regarding your own biases and misconceptions made me immediately appreciate and respect you. ❤ Instant subscribe and I look forward to watching more!
This album is a biblical reference in itself. I know you said you’re not a super religious person, but if I’m not mistaken(there’s a lot of characters in the Bible) Judas or Jonah. The oremice of the story is god is calling him and he keeps rejecting the call even though he wants to answer, but it’s not in his dna (money, bitches, etc is though). Specifically on yah where he says “radar just buzzin” is him ignoring the call. There’s mad details I left out but it’s a lot to type fr 😂
Also the part where he’s talking about being diagnosed with real N conditions are those sex money murder traits. Another thing that’s just my opinion, feel is where he’s in the belly of the beast. The reason he got swallowed in the story of the Bible was because he ignored the call, and tried to flea and was thrown overboard. So to me yah is him ignoring the call, and feel is him being in the belly, just venting to himself. It just sounds so watery and I could imagine being in the belly of a beast you’d wonder if anyone was praying for you
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Can’t come down for dinner mom, bob posted
eat dinner while watching bob is a good way to go that i recommend!
@@syachipeanut✊🏾💯
@@syachipeanut as someone who just came across his channel, can confirm!
i still get chills every time BLOOD. finishes and goes right into DNA.
Hey Nick! I completely agree and BLOOD also has such an impactfull ending as well listening to the album in the "reverse" format
damn he watch bob the poppop he just like me fr
@nickisnotgreen i did not think you watched him too,love your content
UHHH LAMAR STATED HIS VIEWS-LAMAR STATED HIS VIEWS-LAMAR STATED HIS VIEWS-
Fr bro the first time I heard that gunshot I got so startled, the background music behind him talking getting more intense and then it abruptly ending is so beautiful and terrifying at the same time.
The punchline to DUCKWORTH gets me EVERY time. It's even crazier that Kendrick saved that story for so long.
The 3 verses on FEAR are about his fears through his life
1st verse: Fears at age 7
2nd verse: Fears at age 17
3rd verse: Fears at age 27
One of the best hidden bars on the album in the first line of the first verse
@@brianattyberry talking back :)
Bruh I’ve been listening to this song for the last 6 years and I didn’t realize that lol
@@daltonvillani8341how lmao
He was talking about humping keisha at 7?
in the black community there’s a dynamic where usually the grandmother is the “prayer warrior” in the family, hence “ain’t nobody praying for me”
Could you explain what the term “prayer warrior” means? Sorry, uneducated white guy here
Facts, and older mothers
Mexicans too bro
@@nathane9406 had no idea, makes sense
White people too (well at least in my experience)
Turning tables and now Bob, perfect timing
I literally got the noti for this as soon as I finished the turning the tables reaction 💀💀💀
Fr tho
Literally just said "no way" out loud when I saw the thumbnail haha
literally said, Damn.
The world was in perfect balance even if fleeting
duckworth is seriously the best song ive ever heard! A master class in story telling!
FEEL. is one of Kendrick’s most underrated songs
FEAR.
can’t stop listening to feel lately
"the world is endin im done pretendin"... lines like that hit even harder today than when it came out. Turning The Tables just reacted to this album as well and both said, in regard to FEEL, "THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT". Love seeing greatness recognized
yeah its the best song on the album
Easily one of the best songs on the album
I've joked previously about how introspective you are about the seemingly mundane, but your ability to really reflect on your true self, is really moving man. It takes a lot to do so and just really appreciate it enough to comment. Keep crushing it brother.
Well said
yeah, especially from 13:07 onwards, it takes guts and a lot of introspection to poke out of your bubble and confront yourself with the possibility that what you thought all your life might be wrong. deep respect!
I was introduced to Kendrick Lamar in the 10th grade to "DNA.", my creative writing teacher played it and used it to explain Iambic Pentameter. Which, is how each line is 10 syllables alternating from stressed and unstressed. Which is also how Shakespeare wrote some of his plays.
Damn you had a cool teacher. I just had to read a bunch of Shakespeare when I learned about Iambic Pentameter in school. The Bard is great don't get me wrong, but I would've preferred Kendrick.
which lines in dna are 10 syllables?
He meant 15 syllables. 😊
@@jwbartel6 look at the other reply
@@jacewilliams6478 thanks 🙏
The Beat switch on DNA is still the hardest I've ever heard and Kendrick's aggressive flow just takes it to whole another level.
Only one i can think of that comes close to that level of aggressiveness is his second verse on kings dead, (and control of course )
@@gareth1420 yep even on black Friday remix on cole's beat. He murdered that
MAAd city??
Yes I agree. That Rick James sample is awesome. Give me some ganja.
@@gareth1420 and backseat freestyle
Not sure if anyone mentioned this, but that second verse on DNA was recorded a capella and mike will built the beat around the verse which is crazy to think about!
That's wild. That closing section is incredible. To think he did it without the beat existing first is pretty mind blowing.
@@bobthepoppop yep. Kendrick said he told mike will he wanted it to sound like he was wrestling the beat
The way Duckworth shows the audience how blessed we can all be by just being here, the amount of coincidences it took just to be born… this paired with BLOOD. And it’s ability to convey the coming of death/ fleeting of life on a metaphoric and realistic level is so flabbergasting. The duality between these 2 songs is the best I’ve ever heard
"I'll prolly die 'cause that's what you do when you're 17" is such a powerful and sad line, always gets me
Kendrick actually rapped the 2nd verse of DNA to just a metronome and the beat was made around his voice.
I always thought that was pretty cool...
That’s crazy where you hear that?
@@ImxPhreme Mike Will Made It said it in an interview
He said, ‘I just want to see if you can put some drums around this.’ I said, ‘Man, hell yeah.’ But he was going so hard; that man was rapping so crazy. Just imagine him a cappella rapping the second half of ‘DNA.’ and I had to build a beat around that. I didn’t want the beat to just sound like a regular boom-clap, boom-clap. I wanted that s-t to sound just as crazy. I wanted it to sound like he’s battling the beat.
@@Bullitthiphop “battling the beat” is such a sick description that changes the whole experience now it’s like a capcom game lol
😮Kendrick raps so shlimmony🔥🔥💕
I'm pretty late but I have a feeling a couple of songs in damn were made like that, its much easier for producers to make a beat match vibes with lyrics rather than to make the beats match vibes off of what the rapper tells you the song will be about
To fully grasp how great this project is, is to listen to it from the perspective of what was going on when it was released. Kendrick released TPAB in early 2015. Critics loved it, it was nominated for 11 Grammys etc. but what it didn’t have is the full respect from the streets and rap fans. Coming off of GKMC, the pressure was on, and in time, we’d all understand the masterpiece TPAB was, but we didn’t at first (a lot of us). And so between 2015-2017 (when DAMN. was eventually released) Drake had rose to new levels of fame and had released 3 projects in that time. Everyone called him the GOAT, it was all eyes on Drake. Kendrick being who he is, kept his mouth shut, while everyone said well Kendrick can write but he’s boring, while Drake makes music that can be played anywhere, anytime. So when Kendrick released a single, The Heart PT. 4 (not included on the album) with lines like “My fans can't wait for me to son ya punk ass and crush your whole lil shit. I'll Big Pun ya punk ass, you a scared little bitch
Tiptoein' around my name, ya lame
And when I get at you, homie, don't you just tell me you was just playin'” over a trap beat… people really got hyped. And everyone knew exactly who it was directed at. But would the album reflect that sound?! Kendrick was fed up with the criticism, and basically set out to make all the generic sounding radio music that’s played everywhere, but with the idea that it would be the best radio music you’ve heard, period. And speaking from 2017, it absolutely was. Tracks like DNA. , Element, Loyalty, Humble, Love, and especially GOD. , are all radio hits. And most of them ironically became radio hits when the idea was to mimic the industry. I could go on for a while about why it’s directed at Drake, I’m sure any of you could just Google them! But DAMN.‘s replay value is what makes it truly special as well.
This deserves more likes and explains the album very well. I hope Bob gets to see this
How you gonna talk about radio hits but not include Humble lmao that was the biggest one
You making it way too much about drake lol
TPAB was released 2015
Kendrick stans need to chill
XXX. is my favorite song on the album. The irony of him going to a speak at a convention to kids about gun control after rapping about shooting someone, going as far as to kill the person leaving church service, and feeling no remorse is beautiful.
It's really potent too with how aggressively he's rapping about it. You can hear/feel the conviction which makes the bit about speaking at the convention against violence drip with hypocrisy
captured that west coast feel perfectly for the time period we in
Kung Fu Kenny is a reference to a character Don Cheadle played in Rush Hour movie. It’s the reason Don Cheadle is in the DNA music video.
Thank you for talking about off-base misconceptions you held a year ago as a result of media distortion. We need more people on platforms to speak openly about changing minds and opinions, particularly from exposure to new ideas/art.
Agreed. It takes balls to admit you were wrong
made me happy, he is very honest
The greatest rapper came from coincidence. That story always blows my mind.
Duckworth blew my mind lol
I still believe DUCKWORTH is the greatest hip-hop track of all time and I've listened to well over 1,000 albums
Hot take. I appreciate someone who appreciates duckworth (no glaze)
PRIDE is such a beautiful song
Drop the album bro
you real af for that speech about changing your perspective during DNA. You're a dope dude Bob, and I'm glad I found your channel.
For FEAR , his actual first bar was , "I beat yo ass , keep talking back" which came after the backwards segment , such creativity
smoking a bowl and watching this whole video twice
That's a hell of a bowl 😂
luh you scout
Omg same wth that was my plan too 💀
FINALLY! XXX, FEAR, and DUCKWORTH are such good tracks and some of my favorites. hope you enjoy this record Bob!
XXX is seriously underrated. I'm glad it's getting some praise!
I hate XXX the beat sounds like a Lebron James type beat...
@@baraobam8416 You hate the beat on XXX?! Which one?
@@baraobam8416 Nah more of a Karl Malone type beat with the amount of sirens
@@brawler5785 The one before the outro
One of my favorite lines in Humble is “Watch my soul speak, you let the meds talk” it’s a great diss to rappers that reference and rely on drug use to get their point across whereas Kendrick is portraying real shit that weighs on him. So good!!
13:15 honestly I appreciate this authenticity
LUST. is amazingly eerie
I love this album and in relistening along with this video, I found my new favorite line of the album.
In the chorus for 'LUST.' Kendrick says 'Too close TO comfort.' Not for comfort but to comfort, implying he's surrounded by many things that give him joy and comfort but are not actually good for him.
in my opinion your "rants" aren't pointless. they are my favorite parts of the vids 😃
13:00 Takes a lot to be honest about that Bob cause not a lot of ppl are. It's not about the person you were a year ago and the fact that your perspective has changed shows so much about how much you put into these reactions, you as a person, and the reason thousands watch.
you shouldn't worry about being entertaining, we love your videos for your genuine reactions!
In my personal opinion this is Kendrick’s most personal and complex album to date. The concept is so intresting to me and the album sort of gives me an end of the world type vibe when I listened to it. Even the cover alone just evokes that feeling.
It’s my favorite Kendrick album and the one I’ve listened to the most (next to GKMC). Also crazy how you and Turning the Tables reacted to this on the same day lol.
This album has a HUGE theme of duality it’s most noticeable on pride to Humble
On a lot of the tracks he’s just speaking his mind and that’s why I think it’s called DAMN like he himself is like “DAMN”
Also DAMN. as in “damned”.
@angelwing that too, this is how I saw the album but seeing these comments and his POV my opinion is kinda shifting
Easily my favorite reaction of yours. I've listened to this album so much over the last few years, and you just gave me an entirely new perspective on it & made me realize many things about the lyrics that I'd never picked up on before. Thank you for all your insights and all the work you put into these reactions Bob!
This chanel has grown so fast its crazy congrats mr bob
THANK YOU for speaking on the song ‘PRIDE’. your commentary on the song is something i’ve dealt with heavily in my past. constantly beating myself to make sure i remained humble honestly made my self esteem worse. i felt like i wasn’t worthy enough to proud of any of my accomplishments. not to disrespect anyones religion but when i was a self identified christian, just like kendrick said ‘we ain’t shit, but he’s been perfect’, i never allowed myself to feel happy and self deprecate a lot. it was really just a bi product, idk how to explain it better. but yes i agree. you SHOULDNT be hard on yourself for doing your best, you’re not perfect but all we can do is try.
My moms always put it perfectly to get it in my head which she always said "enough people in this world will talk bad about you don't be one of them!" That is what made it stick for me
We’re all here to see your reaction to the drop on DNAs second verse. I would do anything to hear that again for the first time.
That shit was so great
1:49:52 “At first Billie Eilish, now fill out the work” 🔥🔥🔥🗣️🗣️🗣️
This album is Kendrick moving in a slightly abstract/ experimental direction while also leaning into mainstream sounds more than ever. The best thing about this album in my opinion is it’s mystique. The 2 albums before it were pretty straightforward (concept wise) but this one of is very much open ended and makes you put the pieces together. Sorta like a watered down “Tetsuo& Youth” (album by Lupe Fiasco). Regardless, the music and lyrics are still as strong as ever and Kendrick delivers some of his most popular songs to date. Also the “HUMBLE.” music video is a MUST. Stop reading this comment and watch it now lol.
genuinely interested, in what way is TPAB conceptually straightforward?
There’s is a poem that drives the narrative forward. The ideas discussed are complex but the story itself is fairly easy to follow.
@@boi4460 it's not, and damn is conceptually simpler in my opinion
@@dffgffffffdddddddddd i agree
DAMN is far easier to follow and understand for me than TPAB personally.
Not sure how i came across this channel but i love watching reactions especially to people outside the “rap world” this guy seriously takes time and breaks down the lyrics! Greatest videos i’ve found in weeks keep it up 👍🏾
Thanks for watching :)
It’s really fuckin cool to hear you say how much your perspective about hip hop has changed since you started this channel, like what you mention on 13:20, keep up man i don’t skip a single video
Hey man I truly appreciate you going on this journey. I’m a big advocate of not worrying about the lyrics so much on first listen. Just vibe and catch what you can by yourself. Lyrics are important but not any more important than the rappers voice/cadence/flow or the beat. The feel of the song is what’s most important. Understanding the lyrics is a treat with multiple listens imo.
I can't help it. My brain cannot ignore lyrics no matter how hard I try, so I tackle that first and then come back for the music. Just how I'm wired 🤷♂️
@@bobthepoppop I respect that. Maybe attempt an album listen without the lyrics up? Or would that stress you out lol. Again, I appreciate your journey brother, keep it up.
@@bobthepoppop My man im the same, lyrics matter so much to me 🥴
The black panther soundtrack is absolutely worth reacting to as well. It is basically his most recent album
His reaction to future's verse would be hilarious
Was about to say this
That first time hearing that last verse on DUCKWORTH is a one of a kind experience, such an insane story told in such a brilliant way. Kendrick's story telling is second to none
I think there’s this weird thing with Kendrick where it’s like we expect every song to have the answers to the universe in it. LOVE. may just be a love song, but it’s so endearing and I think it’s a shame that we can’t idk just appreciate that that’s all it really is
Fr I hate Kendrick for making us overthink shit man lol 😂 nah that’s my guy tho
Always love your reactions Bob. Can't wait for your reaction to XXX by Danny Brown.
LETS GOOO SO HYPED TO WATCH THIS MAN. u know you’re doing well when you’ve got fans that really look forward to watching your videos. Keep it up Bob 🔥
This is one of my favorites from your channel. I really love how you dove in and got so into it.
I love how much care you have with your reactions. You dissect it and feel it and your responses are thoughtful. Thank you!
This album changed my POV on life literally I was in a dark place and was deeply depressed and this album became the soundtrack of that time of my life and it will always be my favorite rap album
Im loving the honesty in your ramblings man really something that most would probably not talk about. Keep up the great work man!
1:48:06 is the exact reaction I had the first time I heard this. Kendrick is such a master of storytelling its no wonder people say he is the greatest of all time.
Loved your take on Geraldo's quote in DNA & the media in general
The part in FEAR. when Kendrick is saying stuff backwards, symbolizes going back in time to revisit the biggest fears of his 7 year old self and then his 17 year old self and finally his 27 year old self
Whoever is reading this, have a good one
Your greatest reaction to date in my opinion. Loved your analysis throughout.
26:24 yes and I think that when he goes on about them praying for him it refers back to the ending on sing about me (I’m dying of thirst,) where this elder is the one who points the boys into a different direction with the lord and into religion.
5:26 the laugh synced with dna intro perfectly
The picture of him on the album cover fits the feeling of the album so well. It's jaded cynisism, and self loathing, I think DAMN. hit me so much because when it dropped I was in that mindspace, and then he went on hiatus, I got better through therapy and love from people around me, and then Mr. Morale dropped. And once again he reflected my mindspace perfectly. K. will always be on my top 3.
On ELEMENT, all my grandmothers are dead is simply no one is praying for him. Usually, the Grandmas in the hood are the most religious and pray for your safety. He doesn't have one so he's going to go extra hard to stay alive.
LUST. The part when he says smth about shitting smoking is like a routine of you always do your lasting for smth that you always do it all over again and again
The Spotify dissect podcast really does a crazy job about breaking down all of the biblical metaphors in the album. My favorite kendrick album by far
your explanation after dna is probably the realest thing i have heard from any person on youtube. your reviews are amazing. I was a rockhead from age 3-15, then rap 15-30(cuurent). love both, but i love rap. so good. and i love your open minded perspective and analysis
"Feel" hits your soul
props to you for being honest man, such a genuine dude and watching you analyze these lyrics makes my night
I personally didn’t mind the deep dive into lyrics. Loved this album when it came out five years ago and currently do. Glad to see you enjoyed it. My favorite tracks would probably be FEEL, DUCKWORTH, and XXX
It was a bit different and shocking when Kendrick followed up the really detailed, jazzy production on TPAB with the really stripped back boom-bap production on Damn. Some people thought he took a step back quality wise, but I really think it was an intelligent artistic choice. It fits so much with the message of what he's trying to say on these songs.
Also, the reaction you had on the beat change on DNA was shared by almost everyone who heard it. It is probably one of the most exciting developments in any song he's ever done, and it would not have fit in on TPAB.
So I'm just going to do a quick analysis of this album based on my feelings about the themes, after seeing your reaction. So on the tracks FEAR and GOD you have, in my view, kind of perfectly encapsulated the conclusions drawn in this album if and only if you listen to it in its originally released order. Kendrick would later release a "Collector's Edition" of DAMN. that was identical to this version, except for the fact that the track order was reversed and the cover was changed. Taken together with the many reversed portions of this album, this is a clue that the album is meant to be understood both forwards and backwards, and in my opinion, both versions of the album ask the same question and then answer it in different ways. The question is articulated near the beginning of both versions in the phrase "wickedness or weakness?" And throughout the album, Kendrick explores both sides of this dichotomy.
We can sort of describe what he means by "wickedness" as the anger and violence present in his Compton upbringing, but also the relentless pursuit of success, fame, and pleasure that he describes in "Humble" and "Lust." Meanwhile, "weakness" could be described as faith, but also fear: of losing success or being judged by God. It's apparent to me, based on the fact that Kendrick has never asserted which version of the album is definitive, that he doesn't intend for this question to have a definitive answer, and instead is inviting the listener to consider both versions of the album to come to their own conclusions about this dichotomy -- will you choose wickedness or weakness? Is there some third, better way to synthesize the two?
Let's quickly break down the story of the album, in both the original and reverse order, to see what's going on. In the original version, the "weakness version," we hear Kendrick get shot and killed at the beginning of the album. Then, in a flashback, Kendrick recalls the choices that led him to this point: choices that are encapsulated in song titles. BLOOD is contrasted with DNA -- in BLOOD, Kendrick chooses to help a blind woman, perhaps a representation of the justice system, which could be seen as an act of weakness, whereas in DNA, Kendrick blasts his critics and engages in self-aggrandizement. Likewise, PRIDE is contrasted with HUMBLE, LOVE with LUST, and maybe even YAH with GOD, although the connection between the two is dubious in my view. XXX also contains an internal debate between two halves: Kendrick's violent tendencies in the first and his conscious messaging in the second. We can sort of see which side of the debate Kendrick falls on in each version of the album by seeing which track comes second. For example, in the original order of listening, Kendrick experiences selfish feelings of LUST, before asking "Love or Lust?" and rejecting LUST in favor of selfless LOVE -- perhaps a weak decision, but an admirable one. In the original arc of the album, Kendrick goes from choosing the self-actualization of DNA and the pride expressed in HUMBLE to choosing LOVE over LUST, FEAR-ing God, and, in XXX, experiencing tendencies of violence, but rejecting them in favor of social consciousness. He reflects on how his career as a rapper came from coincidence, and then, the flashback ends and he is shot and killed by the woman.
The other version of the album essentially follows the opposite arc; Kendrick begins by reflecting on how his career as a rapper only came from coincidence, and fears that GOD might take it away from him, spurred on by the apocalyptic messaging of his cousin Carl on FEAR. He lives his life according to this, at first; expressing socially conscious messaging despite his thoughts of violence on XXX, but eventually, gives in to selfish living and chooses LUST over LOVE. However, this leads to him having a bit of a breakdown in the track FEEL. His insecurities return, and he can't entirely commit to the path of "wickedness," leading him to get shot by the blind woman when he selflessly tries to help her.
This is a bit of a wall of text now, but it's important to ask what conclusions can be drawn from all of this. In both versions of the album, Kendrick dies in the end, as a result primarily of weakness. If the blind woman is representative of the justice system -- we often think of Justice as being blind, so that's what I fell she's meant to represent -- Kendrick's attempting to help her could be seen as a betrayal of his political ideology, an instance of him kowtowing to or attempting to appease authority. But likewise, in both versions of the album, Kendrick is crippled by guilt or the fear of God -- in the songs FEEL and FEAR, which are parallels to each other in a lot of ways. It seems that Kendrick might be trying to express the idea that whatever he chooses, wickedness or weakness, the outcome is negative: he will struggle with depression and eventually, perhaps, get killed. This, in my eyes, is why the album is called DAMN: it's a Damned if you do, Damned if you don't situation for Kendrick, whose celebrity has essentially trapped him between a rock -- God -- and a hard place -- the relational and internal consequences of living selfishly. What, then, is he meant to do? And for that matter, what is the listener supposed to do, if we experience this same pressure on a smaller scale? Kendrick doesn't offer any answers. This is a very postmodern album in that sense; unlike GKMC or TPAB, which tell more straightforward narratives with clear frames and even clear answers in many cases, DAMN invites you to consider its central questions and draw your own conclusions, which is why I personally like it so much.
Really enjoyed your interpretation of the album! Especially the part where you noted FEEL and FEAR are sort of parallels to each other, both dealing with his insecurities, and weakness, and end up leading to the same outcome of him getting killed. I can really buy into this considering how deliberate Kendrick is, and there are many complex themes and interpretations of this album that I agree make it less straightforward hand TPAB AND GKMC. I really question why the album artworks aren’t flipped, as the original cover seems to represent Kendrick as wicked, with the M in “DAMN.” kind of representing horns and him having a sort of wicked look and demeanor. Anyways again I really appreciated your comment.
Beautifully said, thank you
@@Arentings You raise a good point about the cover art. My interpretation has always been that on the original cover art, he looks kind of stressed and helpless. The devil horns might, then, represent Kendrick's vision of himself on the album: the perceived wickedness and inability to do right that is a major driving force on the original version. By contrast, on the collector's edition, Kendrick appears to be shouting something -- that kind of vigorous self-expression is a bit more in line with the "wickedness" angle, imo -- but his eyes are also a little lidded and glazed, like he's half asleep or maybe high -- and thus, perhaps, ignorant to the realities of the spiritual world. I could be talking out my ass here because visual art criticism isn't really my field but that's my perspective.
DAMN.
Where's the quick analysis? You might as well of put it in MLA format and added references hahaha. Very well put together and thanks for sharing
It’s refreshing to see people experience things you like for the first time. Especially when that person has an appreciation for not only the sound but what is being said as well
Lust for sum reason is one of the songs that really get to me. I’ve been in that cycle of wake up, watch sum shit, go to work, sex, drugs, alcohol , complain about people, go back to sleep, repeat. I think he talks about people just wanting to live in comfort, do the same shit that gives them a lil dopamine seratonin boost and just going thru life instead of really experiencing what life is. It’s like sedation and short term treatment of the real issues in life. Instead of really facing those issues and trynna fix em, you put them aside and do little things that bring you quick comfort or joy. It’s complacency. Because wanting sex and money and drugs are things we all experience, and they can be pretty simple fixes that we know how to get. It gives us that feeling that we’re doing things for ourselves, but we’re really not. We’re just feeding into our lust and greed. It’s a false feeling of satisfaction and joy. Kendrick wants people to realize that this cycle of behaviors doesn’t do shit for our soul n spirit, or help us grow. N it’s honestly a sick cycle to be in and it’s hard to get out of because it’s so comfortable. But at the end of the day, u still gonna have these issues in ur life u gotta deal with.
41:02 "what you want you a house? you a car? 40 acres and a mule? a piano? a guitar?
The big meta meme with this album is to listen in reverse. I won't say how legit/bullshit I think it actually is, but its an officially endorsed and encouraged thing to do if you want to try that at all.
Doing it now :)
So far, I'm enjoying it more in reverse order? I don't know. It definitely has a different feel, and I'm excited to hear it close out with DNA's crushing verse at the end and the story of the blind lady killing Kendrick.
The collectors edition of the album has the reverse tracklist
It’s jokes cuz when you play it back the entire album is like a response to the News reporter guy at the very end
You’re SUPPOSED to listen to it in reverse. Get the Collector’s edition.
@@bobthepoppop damned if you do, damned if you dont
Favorite reaction to Duckworth, I’ve watched multiple reactions to DAMN and some are like “oh that’s cool” or just don’t even react to how awesome it is, love these reactions man always look forward to them. Plus diving into the lyrics personally made this video better because it feels like you’re actually invested in the album/artist compared to sitting through it and being like “what was the album even about?”
Love the way you dig into the lyrics, keep it up man!
BEST DAMN REACTION !! (I’ve seen emm all this is best)
You and turning the tables both dropped reactions to this album same day. W
I really recommend “The Infamous” by Mobb Deep, one of the best old school albums
He has it on his list already
@@malik2363 nice
When listening to GOD. I picture lasagna being made in slow motion.
"This what Garfield like"
Amazing 😭
It's a plus when you check your own prejudices on a regular basis and challenge them to see if they hold up to scrutiny.
Great to see you take this in and process it openly as well as how it may relate to you or what you are aware of.
As far as ELEMENT. to hear DJ Clue bring in a track was a nostalgic moment. That similar intro has been all over some iconic hip hop pieces.
Tam's i s a burger/diner chain out here in Southern Cali. They even featured it in as a part of the Super Bowl half time show stage.
There is a different story to the 10 freeway receipt topic but I'm not going to speak on that. lol
In FEAR , its playing BACKwards in the beginning, because kendrick started his verse with "I'll beat yo ass keep talking BACK" implying the the backwards audio is kendrick talking back
Be sure to listen to the deluxe edition of this album. It’s the same tracks but in exact opposite order, which Kendrick said was intentional. Listened to the regular way presents the story in one light, but played in reverse gives the story a different setup. Kinda a cool idea for a “deluxe” version
That’s also why there’s all the reversal stuff at the end and the line from Kid Capri’s intro on Duckworth about doing it all in reverse. The sequencing in reverse changes how the story of the album comes across
The first verse of fear says ill beat yo ass keep talking back. Thats why the lyrics were backwards lol
I posted this in the discord but decided to repost it here for those wondering about the significance of the cover art:
Thanks for the shoutout Bob! Here’s my interpretation on the cover and how it relates to the album, since I think DAMN has a really underappreciated and brilliant album art I thought I would highlight it for you, because I do think it adds to the overall experience. First of all, the font choice on the title is the same font as TIME magazine uses, and it is a common pop culture imagery to have the “M” of TIME be the devil’s horns on the head of whoever is on the cover. Kendrick awkwardly bending into the position for that, plus the album title “DAMN” indicates an overall theme and imagery of sins and suffering, as reflected in many of the song titles across the back side of the album.
It is of my opinion that Kendrick forcing himself into the position of the devil on the cover is indicative of what he has done to himself over his life and career, he is the celebrity on the cover, Kendrick has BECOME Lucy, and he did it to himself.
“It was always me vs the world
Until I found it's me vs me”
Obviously there are lots of themes across the album, and this is more of a visual analysis than a musical one, but I think that artists sometimes put a lot of effort into their covers, and its worth talking about such great art so that we might keep getting great iconic album covers in the future! You may or may not have seen at the time, but there were tons of memes and variations of the DAMN covers going around when the album came out, they were super funny. The same thing happened with the PABLO cover, and this kind of thing happens a lot when albums have well thought out, and fitting cover art.
Anyways, amazing video, this was definitely one of your best videos to date, right up there for me with the noname reaction. Your literary analysis skills are getting better and better, especially as you learn more and more about the culture, and I’m glad your REALLY starting to appreciate the sound choices and production style of hip hop! Lastly, you said some super real shit on this video, that couldn’t have been easy stuff to admit. Respect, and this is why we love hip hop in the first place, it helps wake people the fuck up, and makes the world a better place.
41:18 Ayo reading this comment and him saying this me think that you were right about him being Lucy. I feel like Kendrick is trying to tempt someone with this. I could be trippin but this shit got my mind blown
My comment got deleted but all I’m gonna say is. This is way deeper than deep. Ones you start researching what secretive society’s they have to be part of
In order to see that fame… it’s wicked to the bone… I literally cannot say anything for context or it gets deleted…. Truely astonishingly the brainwashing.
Thank you Bob the Poppop formaking these videos.
This album is an absolute grower. Infectious at times when I originally didn’t even like it.
What?! I feel like Damn sucks you right in and opens you up for the rest of the album.
Damn ain’t all that lmao
@@MadMaxTopShotta L
This is the experience I'm having. I was not blown away at first. Now, several listens in, it's definitely growing. I'm singing along to PRIDE, nodding with YAH, enjoying the sound in GOD, so on.
Love your reaction to DNA when the second verse hits! It’s great to see you appreciate when Kendrick changes his flow
FEEL is up there for me as easily one of Kendricks best written songs.
I really like the way you break down every track, and your knowledge of Kendrick’s catalogue plus your own insight makes the feedback really interesting. You gained a subscriber lol
Fun fact. If you listen to the album from start to finish it tells a completely different story then if you listen to it from end to beginning
so glad u finally heard this album!
Don’t really think it’s boring when you make a long video really tearing into the lyrics. Helps me to better understand from a new perspective🤷🏻♂️
I appreciate it. Seeing lots of comments like this and it's putting a big ol' smile on my face this morning 😊
@@bobthepoppop we appreciate you Bob! Seriously man.
@@bobthepoppophow tf can you keep a blank face while playing DNA
DAMN. Is probably my favorite rap album of all time personally. Any time I listen to it or think about it, it always leads my mind down a rabbit hole of what is all being said and what it means. I always come away with new meanings and messages each time I revisit it.
What I got from “Fear” is that his mother over-disciplined him out of fear of losing her son to the streets, jail, and/ or an early death.
He completely misunderstood his mom.A lot of black parents use fear as a tool to deter bad behavior. Be so afraid of the consequences of your actions that you don’t misbehave because as a black child those real world consequences could be prison or death. She was saying be good in school, do your homework, eat your food and don’t be wasteful, stand up for your self. Teaching us to be afraid because living as a black person in America can be scary. If your not afraid your reckless. Maybe this is something as a white man he can’t really relate to.
I love your videos because I always “hear” an album first and then you help me dive deeper into the lyrics
Something about the "we'll never be tied, just look at their laces" line that is so brilliant is, right before it, he says "I got em by a landslide, we talking bout races". Races being a double entendre for racing somebody, and ethnicity, while "we'll never be tied just look at they laces" being a double entendre for shoe laces, and DNA strands, or "laces" in reference to racial differences. Absolutely fucking brilliant, and I never noticed that until I watched this.
I just found you, and this is my second video (just watched you and your wife react to Lemonade. You should totally watch the visual too!). The introspection and self-reflection you had at the end of DNA regarding your own biases and misconceptions made me immediately appreciate and respect you. ❤ Instant subscribe and I look forward to watching more!
This album is a biblical reference in itself. I know you said you’re not a super religious person, but if I’m not mistaken(there’s a lot of characters in the Bible) Judas or Jonah. The oremice of the story is god is calling him and he keeps rejecting the call even though he wants to answer, but it’s not in his dna (money, bitches, etc is though). Specifically on yah where he says “radar just buzzin” is him ignoring the call. There’s mad details I left out but it’s a lot to type fr 😂
Also the part where he’s talking about being diagnosed with real N conditions are those sex money murder traits. Another thing that’s just my opinion, feel is where he’s in the belly of the beast. The reason he got swallowed in the story of the Bible was because he ignored the call, and tried to flea and was thrown overboard. So to me yah is him ignoring the call, and feel is him being in the belly, just venting to himself. It just sounds so watery and I could imagine being in the belly of a beast you’d wonder if anyone was praying for you
The transition from BLOOD. to DNA. is one of the hardest things I've ever heard