![]() ![]() Not all of Untitled Unmastered hits as hard. The two have history: Lamar showcased Gunplay’s breathtaking, scene-stealing talent on 2012’s unreleased Cartoon & Cereal – and in this context, paired with Lamar’s concerns with success isolating him from the community that made him, it feels like a tribute to another artist who was unable to make the leap that Lamar could. His verse on Untitled 05 opens with a reference to the troubled Florida rapper Gunplay’s Bible on the Dash, and thereafter mimics the hoarse, barking passion of his flow. Most interesting of all is Lamar’s continued experiments in outre voice work: on Untitled 02 he pushes his timbre into an ancient-sounding quaver before seizing the shifting sands of the beat with relish for a bravura final rap verse. Untitled Unmastered – a clever title that nods to Lamar’s concerns of freedom as well as the nature of the material – isn’t as sonically lavish as To Pimp a Butterfly, but its more skeletal arrangements still allow satisfying details to shine: the careening bassline of Untitled 05, the way it pauses for a snatch of gospel choir with just a minute left to go the gentle collapse of Untitled 02 in echoing voices and cascading piano. Lamar doesn’t exclude himself from judgment, but instead underlines the mercilessness of Christian righteousness. ![]() Vividly, cinematically drawn, its descriptions of towers crumbling, oceans drying and rapists fleeing – as well as its promise of an end to war, discrimination and superficiality – capture terror and justice in equal measure. ![]() ![]() Lamar’s approach to religion has always been a conflicted mix of guilt, self-abnegation and salvation Untitled 01, a depiction of the end of days, feels like a logical conclusion of sorts. Untitled 06 underscores the radical self-love of Complexion (A Zulu Love) if anything, its acceptance is even more generous. All, though, provide a fascinating insight into Lamar’s creative process, whether extending his themes or pivoting to new angles on his preoccupations. Its eight untitled tracks were mostly recorded during the To Pimp a Butterfly sessions in late 2014, and range from casual studio demos to fully fledged, gorgeously produced songs as fleshed out as anything on the album they were cut from. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |