untitled. unmastered.

Untitled Unmastered. In the world of Cornrow Kenny, the audience is merely just that: An audience. All we can do is watch. We have no say on what Kendrick creates because it comes from his heart, mind, body and soul which is thankfully not a place of mainstream sounding music. It’s different and that’s what makes Kendrick so mainstream: The fact that his music, sound, and lyricism is not mainstream at all. And as a mere audience member myself, it’s not only Kendrick’s music that is entertaining, but it’s the fact that he puts many other mainstream rappers to shame, which is worth me getting a bowl of popcorn for while I watch these rappers get roasted and have their careers dangling by a thin line. It is such a relief to hear rap music that’s not talking about the cliché pimps, guns, and buns. Anyone can talk about that, but it takes a true artist to indulge into his own soul and bring out truth while glazing it on top of smooth funk jazz rhythms and head bobbing trap melodies. Listening to any of Kendrick’s music is like having the privilege to peek into his ever working mind and sit back and watch his thought process and mindset as you would if you were at the movie theater with a box of popcorn waiting for that climax moment and indulging in every scene in the midst. Though the mental, spiritual, and emotional movie of Kendrick’s mind bluntly unveils the unique yet oh so common storyline of a young man growing up in Compton, coming out by way of the salvation in music, and dealing with the agony of internal conflict in seeing his homeboys still in the trap, Kendrick still manages to keep the mystique of his personal life. This mystique creates superstars, no, LEGENDS. Hating to compare, but it seems Kendrick (Cornrow Kenny) is engaging in, and executing the same principles as Prince, a legend in his own right, did in his peak: Mystique, otherworldly music, and yes again, more mystique. It’s these principles that make the Untitled Unmastered album so indulge worthy, even though it’s just an album of demos. Untitled Unmastered distributes To Pimp A Butterfly leftovers that are still as good as what TPAB had to offer. Sure, they’re just demos but they are of a critical importance to the rap game by TEACHING THE AUDIENCE what great consideration to their craft is as Kendrick puts the life of himself onto paper and pad and creates a voice for those without one. Kendrick doesn’t talk down to his audience and that’s what makes all the difference.

Jeremy Dennis states,

“The songs on the untitled unmastered were great but I can understand how they didn’t make the cut for To Pimp a Butterfly. There’s not really one song that stood out to me because all of them were great. There were lots of quotable line like "back pedaling Christians settling for forgiveness" or "life completely went in reverse I guess I’m running in place trying to make to church". Untitled one is where he shows concern for the times from a Christian point of view and at the same time showing he got bars. Untiled 2 was one of those tracks that sounds like a radio future young thug type song. The thing about Untitled 2 is that he took that style and put his Kendrick touch. My favorite moment on the song was when he switched the style with his rap "Cornrow Kenny he was born with a vision..." The song showed that he could make any kind or rap with his many styles. now that also shows the mediocracy of other rappers as another trap like song produced by the son of Alicia keys, Egypt. Egypt is 5 years old. So this album shows how far ahead Kendrick Lamar is to the rest of rappers as these were the songs that didn’t make the cut for To Pimp a Butterfly. King Kendrick is simply a talented perfectionist.”

JoBrea Neal (radio spokeswoman and multi-talented interviewer) states,

“I love this album Untitled Unmastered! I love that Kendrick released it. He should have released it earlier and him holding all that good music back for so long isn't fair at all lol. Kendrick never disappoints he is always being real music into the game. Untitled Unmastered is an album you don't hear from a common "rap" artist; it's something beyond that: Such as the real instrumentation and the way, he flows and delivers his songs. This album is more than an album, it has messages behind it, and that's what I love about this album and his other albums! I think everybody should listen to this album it should definitely be nominated for a Grammy! Kendrick is AMAZING! I'm forever a fan of his!" -JoBrea Neal

With news of a physical copy distribution on the way, Untitled Unmastered is one for the ages and shares that same amount of charisma and rawness that elevated To Pimp a Butterfly.