(AllHipHop News) It’s been over 10 weeks since Kendrick Lamar released DAMN, and the album still sits in the Top 3 on the Billboard 200 chart.
The success of DAMN also includes near universal praise from professional music critics.
Kendrick sat down for a rare interview with Real 92.3’s Big Boy’s Neighborhood to talk about his platinum-certified LP.
The TDE emcee discussed the meaning behind naming his masterpiece DAMN.
“It was so many different ways you could put it. In my head, it was like from the concept ‘damned if I do, damned if I don’t.’ The loudness of the record – it just screamed that in my face,” explained Kendrick.
K. Dot also revealed he had another name for the project but ditched the idea of What Happens On Earth Stays On Earth because the title was too long.
Instead, listeners can hear Kid Capri say those words on the intro to “ELEMENT.”
At one point in the conversation with 92.3, Lamar was asked if he feels pressure from being referred to as the voice of this generation.
“I wouldn’t necessarily say pressure. All I can do is continue to be an actual human being to show them that I go through the same emotions and feelings that y’all go through,” Kendrick responded. “If they put that as being the leader of this generation, then so be it, because all I can do is express myself and hope you take something from it.”
The “HUMBLE” performer later declared he has to view himself as the G.O.A.T. of Hip Hop.
“I got to, cause what’s the point of doing it if you don’t want to be the best at what you’re doing. So I can’t take that for granted at all,” stated the self-described “Mr. One Through Five.”
In addition, Kendrick Lamar ranked his discography: DAMN (1), good kid, m.A.A.d city (2), To Pimp a Butterfly (3), and Section.80 (4).
He broke down his number one pick, “I think DAMN is a hybrid of all these projects. It was me finally being able to take elements from good kid, the message behind To Pimp a Butterfly, the sonic and beats slapping on good kid, and the rawness of just being able to do what I want like I did on Section.80.”
While the Compton native had to place them from best to worst, all four albums are critically acclaimed.