Kendrick Lamar has been on top of the rap game for a decade, and even his leaks get more buzz than a lot of big releases. Moreover, two new songs from the Compton legend from 2013 just surfaced online, these being "Crooked" and "Burn." The former is a West Coast banger with chopped organ samples, a G-funk-inspired synth, and sharp snares. On the other hand, "Burn" has some jazzier tendencies, like warm piano chords, dynamic bass, and a simple backbeat. Of course, both are lyrical gems, with Kendrick's storytelling, hard-hitting phrasing, vivid detail, and shifting flows on full display.
Furthermore, every new leak from the "Hood Politics" MC continues to prove the consistency and interconnectivity of his catalog. However, that's not even referring to the quality of the track, although his consistency extends to that, as well. Instead, it's fascinating to see the thematic and narrative throughlines in his career stretching all the way to Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. His personal experience lended him a nuanced but still gritty perspective on race, violence, and morality, and it's one that he's been perfecting for years.
2013-Era Kendrick Lamar Tracks Surface
Still, that's not to say that Kendrick Lamar has only stuck to that comfort zone throughout his career. The 35-year-old is as prone to dropping an introspective track like "Father Time" as he is a banger like "DNA," which recently celebrated its sixth anniversary. With that said, leaks also give fans a peek at the creative process it took to get to landmark albums like To Pimp A Butterfly. If these leaks are our only reference point, we can assume that he started off making grimier and more classically hip-hop centric tracks. Eventually, that turned into the fusion of jazz, funk, soul, rap, spoken word, and much more that became one of the best albums of the decade.
Meanwhile, it's staggering to hear quality leaks like these at the same time as the pgLang boss reaches some of his highest commercial peeks. It's like we're constantly seeing two sides to Kendrick, which is unsurprising given his artistic attention to the concept of duality. Still, it's crazy to think that ten years after recording, these songs would've still hit hard at the highest-grossing rap tour of all time. Regardless, check back in with HNHH for the latest news and updates on Kendrick Lamar.