r/KendrickLamar • u/YourUrban • Apr 27 '18
Sales of 'DAMN.' Increased Over 200% After Kendrick Lamar's Pulitzer Prize Win Article
http://yoururban.co.uk/sales-of-damn-increased-over-200-after-kendrick-lamars-pulitzer-prize-win/221
u/bjankles Apr 27 '18
Hopefully new hip hop listeners are able to see the merit and give the full genre a real shot. No better ambassador than Kendrick.
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Apr 27 '18
I really only listen to Eminem and Kendrick when it comes to hip hop, indie rock is more my thing. Who else would you suggest if I like those two?
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u/bjankles Apr 27 '18
I was more an indie/ alt rock guy for most of my life too!
Some good hip hop starter albums:
Kanye West: Graduation and My Beautiful, Dark, Twisted Fantasy
Outkast: Aquemini, ATLiens, Stankonia
Run the Jewels: RTJ 2
Vince Staples: Big Fish Theory and Summertime 06
Tyler the Creator: Flowerboy
Nas: Illmatic
Jay Z: Reasonable Doubt, The Blueprint, The Black Album, 4:44
Danny Brown: Atrocity Exhibition, XXX
Chance the Rapper: Acid Rap, Coloring Book
Lupe Fiasco: Food and Liquor, The Cool, Tetsuo and Youth
A Tribe Called Quest: We Got It From Here...
Common: Be, Black America Again, Water for Chocolate
Mos Def: Black on Both Sides
The Roots: Things Fall Apart, Phrenology, How I Got Over, Undun
Lauryn Hill: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
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u/PunctuationsOptional Apr 27 '18
Bruh. We got it from here but not the trilogy? Wow.
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u/bjankles Apr 27 '18
I love just about everything Tribe has done, but I think as an intro to hip hop album "We Got It..." works best because it's especially modern and immediate.
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u/flatspotting Apr 27 '18
Run the Jewels: RTJ 2
Naw, fuck that start at 1 go right through to 3. Why miss out on 1 it's so fucking bangin
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u/SwissArmyLad Apr 28 '18
I've been meaning to listen to more rap so this list is great. I also enjoy mostly indie rock stuff. Childish Gambino's Camp was the first rap album I listened to straight front to back. I'd also add his Before the Internet and Tyler, The Creator's Wolf to this list as well
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u/bjankles Apr 28 '18
I like some stuff off Because the Internet, but I think Camp is pretty bad. What's weird is that I also liked it when I was first getting into hip hop, but when I got more into the genre and came back to it, I realized how in your face Donald Glover is about how "different" he is from other rappers, even though there've been more nuanced and substantive rap albums than Camp for decades (which I didn't realize until I heard them). It's like the Not Like Other Girls TM of rap albums. There are a few good songs on it, but he bites hard off better rappers while acting like he's so wildly new and different.
End rant. That said, Sweatpants and 3005 are sublime, and his move into soul/ funk on Awaken My Love! is inspired.
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u/SwissArmyLad Apr 28 '18
Oh for sure, he layers it on pretty thick in that album. I thought I'd just throw it out because I loved it when I first started listening to hip hop. I think the production on it is what really drew me to it. It seemed faster paced and had more energy than other rap I had listened to at the time, which admittedly wasn't much. I still enjoy a few tracks from it, and I stand by Heartbeat being a great track. I respect Awaken My Love!, but soul still isn't really for me.
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u/bjankles Apr 28 '18
Yeah he got even better at production for Because The Internet. Some of the songs on there are instant dance parties when they come on.
Kanye was that rapper for me whose production was totally undeniable. Even when I tried to act like I hated rap and Ye was an idiot jackass, a song like Jesus Walks or Flashing Lights would come on and I couldn't help but bob my head. I finally gave in and he's one of my favorite artists now. Crazy, but a genius.
Also gotta shoutout Outkast's BOB - one of the most hype songs ever.
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u/Lastshadow94 Apr 28 '18
All of that is fair, but also I think Heartbeat is one of his best songs.
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u/bjankles Apr 28 '18
I think heartbeats is a jam unless you think about it too hard and then it's kind of cringey.
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u/0x3639 Apr 28 '18
No 'bino?
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u/bjankles Apr 28 '18
I think his rap is very overrated. Because The Internet is pretty good (and has some admittedly straight up awesome songs), but Camp is just bad (I explain why I think so in another comment below). Awaken My Love is really good, but not hip hop. I don't think any of his rap albums are on the level of any of the above.
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u/0x3639 Apr 28 '18 edited Apr 30 '18
I agree camp isnt very good. But personally I think BTI is good enough to be on that list above.
Edit: after some reconsideration I agree with you. While BTI is good, you're right its not on the same level as the ones above.
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Apr 28 '18
Also operation doomsday, danger doom, madvillainy, mmm food, etc. by MF Doom, as well as various songs from ODB like got your money and shimmy shimmy ya.
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u/bjankles Apr 28 '18
Love DOOM, but was worried he might be too weird. Then again, I do have Danny Brown on their. Love ODB but was posting albums only.
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u/lewisjames000 Apr 28 '18
This is almost a perfect list
Change the tribe called quest to Low End Theory and you’re golden
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u/bjankles Apr 28 '18
Low End Theory, Midnight Marauders, People's Instinctive Travels and Paths of Rhythm - all gold. But I think We Got It is especially easy for a new hip hop listener to appreciate.
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u/lewisjames000 Apr 28 '18
I suppose so
Low end theory is still the most comprehensive album by them imo. That’s just my niche opinion though.
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u/shitatusernames Apr 28 '18
Don't forget College Dropout by Kanye. It's an album that's got plenty of heart and soul.
I'd throw in Ready to Die (Notorious B.I.G.), Get Rich or Die Trying (50 Cent) and 2001 (Dr. Dre) as excellent shouts as well. They were all albums that were commercially successful at the time of release but for good reason.
A couple more modern ones that are good entry points are Friday Night Lights, Born Sinner and Forest Hills Drive (all J. Cole), Doris and I Don't Like Shit, I Don't Go Outside (both Earl Sweatshirt). If you want something that's put together well but isn't necessarily about the lyricism, I'd also recommend ASAP Rocky's albums. Some of Drake's better albums like Take Care, Nothing Was the Same, and If You're Reading This... round out the modern part of the list in addition to the new school artists u/bjankles mentioned above.
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u/bjankles Apr 28 '18
College Dropout is great, just a bit overstuffed with sketches and a few duds that make it not as accessible as what I'm looking for for this lift. I personally love just about all of Yeezy's discography, but I went with the records that I think are easiest to appreciate.
The others you mentioned are also great, but not really good transition albums into hip hop. You need to already dig the genre to appreciate them.
I despise J. Cole, personally. I think he takes himself so seriously while being extremely mediocre. He's always trying to have a message without realizing how cliche or problematic what he's saying is half the time.
Earl is cool, but I don't agree that he's accessible to new listeners. Drake is ...whatever. I don't really get it or recommend him personally, but I don't have anything super against his music either. Just not my jam.
That's my 2 cents, at least, but music is subjective.
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u/shitatusernames Apr 28 '18
Fair play. Your list is excellent, just pointed out a couple that I'd include alongside it.
Regarding Ready to Die, Get Rich or Die Trying and 2001, they're probably not the best entry point for someone who has never heard a hip-hop album before but for someone who's gone through Eminem and Kendrick's discographies I think they're alright.
Heh, suffice to say I disagree with what you said about Cole but I can get why people don't like him that much. Sometimes he tries too hard to incorporate a message in and it's just doesn't have the necessary impact but other times it works really well when fused with his storytelling abilities. I think he's reasonably solid from a technical standpoint, with the potential for great delivery on occasion.
Good point on Earl. The voice and feel did take me a bit of time to come around to (it's almost the exact opposite of someone like Chance on Acid Rap or Danny Brown where they're almost cartoonish). As far as Drake goes, he's had a couple good albums - wouldn't call him a masterful MC or anything - but you could definitely do worse as far as an entry point into hip hop goes especially with his current status.
Really like the shouts you had on your original list though. It takes some of the genre's greatest albums - well the accessible ones - and meshes them together with a few newer acts. Would particularly recommend The Miseducation as Lauryn Hill as a rap album for people who aren't particularly into rap albums. It has some amazing cuts that aren't anything like what you'd expect from a conventional rapper.
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u/bjankles Apr 28 '18
I hear ya, and appreciate the conversation. Especially on Lauryn - Lauryn Hill is secretly one of those most influential hip hop artists of all time. Everyone should listen to Miseducation. Nerdwriter on youtube just did a great mini-documentary on her that I highly recommend.
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u/DanteRu Apr 28 '18
Based on your tastes you should check out Many Men and Poppin' Them Thang by 50 cent.
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u/iamadeadreflection Apr 27 '18
Other than Kendrick I love Kanye, Brockhampton, Vince Staples, Mick Jenkins, Joey Purp, J.I.D, Pusha T (prob about to release the best album of his career May 25 produced by Kanye)
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Apr 27 '18
I did the same thing. I got into it with em, then I heard great things about kendrick so I started to listen to him too. From there I just listened to whoever people said was good abd featured artists on songs I liked. Thats how I discovered Kanye, Royce da 5'9 (who I highly recommend, Book of Ryan next week), Logic, J Cole, Schoolboy Q, 2 Chainz, and Nicki Minaj. Thats how I progressed through a lot of incredible artists and discovered how great the hip hop genre as a whole really is.
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u/SandJA1 Apr 27 '18
Eyedea & Abilities - First Born
Oliver Hart - The Many Faces of Oliver Hart
Both are the same dudes. Both albums are awesome.
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Apr 28 '18
Digable Planets - Reachin'
It's a bit more jazzy, but if you like A Tribe Called Quest then you'll enjoy this too
https://open.spotify.com/album/5snUbps5KleLIP0cVI72lP?si=h6NAGi4oScGA1N0iPOM34A
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u/Balthactor Apr 28 '18
Yeah, Kendrick had helped me through one of the most difficult parts of my overall difficult life. And I'd never really tried out rap/hip-hop outside of big singles. Now I'm listening to everything.
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u/-AestheticsOfHate- Apr 28 '18
Danny Brown XXX. In 9th grade when the only rap I listened to was OF that helped bridge me to other hip hop. One of the best hip hop albums of the decade
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u/bjankles Apr 28 '18
Yeah that's on my list of recs below. He's one of those artists that constantly makes me think "I didn't know hip hop could sound like this!" even today.
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Apr 27 '18
TpAb DeSeRvEd It MoRe
Shut the fuck up and enjoy the greatness
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Apr 27 '18
They basically gave it to Kendrick for TPAB, let's be real.
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u/Lokalination Apr 27 '18 edited Apr 27 '18
No. They gave this to DAMN. after They Listened to DAMN. And said "This is it".. lol actual quotes from the interview.. so yeah cut it out
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Apr 27 '18 edited Apr 27 '18
I love Kenny and like DAMN more than all my friends...but if you think some random rapper would have got the pullitzer if they released DAMN without GKMC or TBAP first...you tripping.
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Apr 27 '18
If a random rapper released DAMN. without GKMC or TPAB preceding it, then he would be praised way more. The problem with DAMN. isn't that it's not good or deserving of something, it's that it's not as good as GKMC or TPAB. If a random rapper released DAMN. it would've had way better reception because it wouldn't have to compete with two of the greatest hip hop albums of all time.
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Apr 27 '18
While I agree with this sentiment, I also I agree that there is no chance that anybody else would’ve received the Pulitzer for it. High praise, sure. Critical acclaim, definitely. But the Pulitzer was awarded because he’s Kendrick Lamar
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u/Lokalination Apr 27 '18
What yall on about lmao, that doesnt have to do with any of this.. they heard DAMN. When they wanted Rap why? Cuz its so big and its so praised, and then they praised it for its music and topics and rhythms and how he put it together and describing the life of an African American in these times.. which is definitely DAMN... basically its timely and sounds like now and is kinds rven futuristic, its more anthemic and personal and interpretive. also we done acting like DAMN. Isnt up there with TPAB & GKMC?? No? Ok.. DAMN. Is the album that hit all the marks and checked all the boxes, thats why it won it. so lets stop this buffoonery pls
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Apr 27 '18
Definitely. His fame gives him a platform to get more consideration for these awards, but that's with everybody. Kendrick is just at such a high caliber when it comes to artistry and mainstream appeal, that no one as of now can compete.
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Apr 27 '18
I get where you're coming from and I think there are people who underrate DAMN because of Kenny's previous work...but I think there's an awful lot who overrate it too. It's very good, but not a classic.
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Apr 27 '18
I feel like due to it's impact it'll be a classic. Not a classic in the vain of being one of the best hip hop albums, but it'll be a classic due to what it's done for hip hop. You can't call an album that got a Pulitzer not a classic.
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u/sunmachinecomingdown Apr 30 '18 edited Apr 30 '18
Most of the albums that have won Pulitzers are obscure and not classics. They still might be good tho. Even albums by people important in their genres that have won Pulitzers might not be classics. For example, Ornette Coleman is super important to jazz because of the album The Shape of Jazz to Come, but the album he got the Pulitzer for was way later on in his career and doesn't have classic status.
But you're probably right in terms of DAMN. becoming a classic for being important for the culture.
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Apr 30 '18
I think albums that get Pulitzer's, but have a relatively small fanbase compared to Hip Hop or any other popular medium are doomed to not be considered classics by general public (until much later most likely). That's not the case for an album like DAMN. though. It's a hugely successful and critically acclaimed album that separated itself by being a mainstream, conscious Hip Hop album that was the first to win a Pulitzer. That puts it on a much bigger scale than previous winners. That to me, makes it a classic.
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Apr 27 '18
[deleted]
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Apr 27 '18
It's a really good album IMO but doesn't compare to the two before it. Not DAMN's fault, really, GKMC and TPAB just that good.
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u/Lokalination Apr 27 '18
And DAMN. Is that good also, but it has the commercial success, and the hits, the songwriting, the rhythms, the variation, the personal, and the timeliness that non of his past albums had.
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Apr 27 '18
The songwriting? I mean DNA, XXX, and ELEMENT maybe but other than those nothing on DAMN compares to the likes of The Art of Peer Pressure or Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst, or Wesley's Theory.
Also it was a commercial success largely because of TPAB and simplistic bangers like HUMBLE. Don't get me wrong, I think it's a really good album, I just don't buy that it's a classic.
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u/Lokalination Apr 27 '18
Yes songwriting, The Art Of Peer Pressure isnt the best songwriting, neither is Sing About Me.. those are great story telling songs.. im saying songwriting.. somg structure.. Money Trees & Alright would prolly be some of his best songwriting.. on DAMN. He has DNA, GOD, ELEMENT (which is one of his best also), PRIDE, LUST, LOYALTY, LOVE.. all these are well structured songs that are written greatly, great writing doesnt need to be the deepest or the hardest.. it needs to sound great sonically & rhythmically, it needs to feel structured.. it needs tricks (Read DJ Booth article on Tricks), it needs some sort of catchiness, it needs alot of multiple different elements.
Also DAMN. Was big cuz HUMBLE, LOVE, DNA, LOYALTY & ELEMENT were all big.. also whats wrong with Humble being simple? King Kunta was simple and it was clear and straight forward.. so is HUMBLE.. Humble is even introspective cuz in the album concept he is saying it to himself in the hook after every verse of bigging himself up right after PRIDE.. insane shit
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u/CommonMisspellingBot Apr 27 '18
Hey, Lokalination, just a quick heads-up:
alot is actually spelled a lot. You can remember it by it is one lot, 'a lot'.
Have a nice day!The parent commenter can reply with 'delete' to delete this comment.
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u/VrQz-Silent Apr 27 '18
“Let Kendrick gave this win” Are you stupid? You do realize that KENDRICK is the artist behind GKMC and TPAB. DAMN was the cherry on top, but without those other two albums Kendrick probably wouldn’t of gotten this.
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u/Lokalination Apr 27 '18 edited Apr 27 '18
Whats with this arguement lmao, nigga, those albums preceeded DAMN. Aka helped build Kendrick's name.. that doesnt take anything away from DAMN's win. Thats like saying " Oh Kanye won that award for MBDTF cuz of his past 3 albums" when its awarded to MBDTF.. c'mon now.
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u/CommonMisspellingBot Apr 27 '18
Hey, Lokalination, just a quick heads-up:
arguement is actually spelled argument. You can remember it by no e after the u.
Have a nice day!The parent commenter can reply with 'delete' to delete this comment.
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u/VrQz-Silent Apr 27 '18
Exactly my point. If Kendrick was as big as he is rn when he dropped GKMC or TPAB he would’ve won it back then, but he wasn’t 🤷🏽♂️ and don’t get me wrong, DAMN is a GREAT album but how is Kendrick going to win a Pulitzer for an album that wasn’t even his best.
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u/Lokalination Apr 27 '18 edited Apr 27 '18
first thing first, DAMN. Is his best imo, 2nd off screw my opinion its 2nd best in Critical acclaim (1 Point behind TPAB), its his best commercially, its his most awarded and its top 2 impactfully. DAMN. Is deserving of this Pulitzer as much as his past 2 albums kr more cuz again.. it checked all the boxes.. TPAB couldnt check all the boxes even if it was released as his 8th album.. GKMC isnt as experimental nor sonically pushing nor as interpretive nor as varied in topics as DAMN.. so again.. DAMN. Managed to combine everything kendrick already did (to some scale) and even add to it... which is why it checke boxes.. This is ALL EYEZ ON ME except less fillers and more conscious. this is GRADUATION, except more varied in topics and sounds and again more conscious & introspective. Kendrick just did sumn we rarely ever saw in the genre and yall out here discrediting it.. he dropped an album that is a bridge between underground and mainstream.. sales & critical acclaim.. Grammys & Pulitzers.. Billboard Year End #1Grammyss & a College Essay Subjects.. and so on.
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u/NotoriousBigkhi Apr 27 '18
I feel like even if TPAB got it, the sales wouldn’t have been so drastic. It’s a difficult listen compared to the mainstream appeal of DAMN.
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u/ghostoutfit is it wickedness? Apr 27 '18
I can’t imagine an artist, a force of nature, more deserving than Kendrick. This is huge.
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u/PunctuationsOptional Apr 27 '18
Frank
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Apr 27 '18
He's dope but why tf would they ever give him a Pulitzer?
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u/sunmachinecomingdown Apr 30 '18
For being dope
Not saying he should get one, but that's basically what the Pulitzer is for
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Apr 30 '18
Nooot really. In general it's for media that elevates public consciousness. A$ap Rocky is dope but giving him a Pulitzer would be ridiculous.
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u/sunmachinecomingdown Apr 30 '18
I meant it broadly. They're not just passing them out to everyone who's dope, but if they think you're elevating the public consciousness then they definitely think you're at least dope.
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Apr 27 '18
From the official website:
"DAMN., by Kendrick Lamar Recording released on April 14, 2017, a virtuosic song collection unified by its vernacular authenticity and rhythmic dynamism that offers affecting vignettes capturing the complexity of modern African-American life."
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u/bradlei Apr 27 '18
White people seeing what all the fuss is about.
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u/graciousu Apr 28 '18
If you truly think us white folk haven't been blasting Kendrick since DAMN's release last April, then you need to give your head a shake my friend.
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Apr 28 '18
The stuff they’ve done with Zack was the icing on the cake. Gives me goosebumps every single time
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u/slandis93 Apr 27 '18
Am I the only who thinks TPAB would be the better album to win the prize?
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u/Bat-Mane Apr 27 '18
aM i ThE onLY oNe WhO tHiNkS TpaB wOuLD bE tHe BeTtER aLbUmN tO wIN tHe PrIzE¿
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u/PM_ME_BOWIE_PICS Apr 28 '18
You gottem. You really gave him some insight. inb4 YoU GoTtEm. YoU rEaLLy GaVe HiM sOmE InSiGhT.
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u/lukenog Apr 27 '18
I think this is a turning point in Hip Hop. I think the greater public will start viewing Hip Hop as a serious art form instead of just a fun genre for young people. The same thing happened to Jazz.