A Deep Dive into DAMN. - Kendrick Lamar's Darkest Opus

[@TennisThom]

Thank you sooo much for the kind words on the video and most importantly, 10K SUBS!!! ❤ It really means the world to me :) Btw, what artists would you like to see next on the channel? 🤔

[@EmInExtras]

I would REALLY LOVE it if you make a video about IGOR by Tyler, The Creator.

[@Pogchamp57]

I’d love to see you make a video on twenty one pilots debut album

[@skepandbbh]

frank ocean maybe?

[@koofe0]

kanyeee

[@ahmaddimasmaulana6286]

Quadeca - I Didn't Meant To Haunt You I Didn't Mean to Haunt You is a VERY omnious 54min experience, with immaculate production that sends chills down your spine. Lyrically, this album is quite dark. Talking about heavy subject matter from the viewpoint of a ghost in the afterlife that's still missing life & those close to him.

[@dumitrugeorge2985]

now i understand why this album won a Pulitzer prize

[@The_Jazziest_Coffee]

yeah honestly the same too i would like to believe the critics had this same analysis, and combine that with the lyricism and metaphors throughout the whole album, it's pretty damn hard to dispute that

[@lucaslorenzo81]

BROOO SAMEEE

[@Justhereforthefreefood]

I love that the beef has us coming back to talk about DAMN

[@wildfire9280]

⁠​⁠@@Justhereforthefreefood it made everyone say it too

[@wedontagelikemilktho.7839]

​@@wildfire9280DAMN.🗣️

[@eddienicx]

DAMN. being your first rap album is setting a very high bar for your rap taste

[@o.d.5070]

Odeee bro I wonder if there’s an album he ranks above this

[@EurofighterTyphoon-EF2000]

damn is great but personally it's not even kendricks best so it's not impossible to like other shit too

[@JGreyJens]

To Pimp a Butterfly has been my intro to conscious rap. And it moved me so much even though I can't actually relate to it very much but it just caused a swell of empathy and a paradigm shift of what "answer" is to making the world a better and more open place

[@jamez6398]

Mad City is my favourite Kendrick Lamar album I like it more than Damn.

[@blue-eye-white-dragon]

Brother it was my first rap album😭

[@Texo_narxo]

the story of DAMN sounds like a psychological horror movie.

[@SuryaRamadhan-jd9ft]

The story itself could be a whole movie itself

[@titleuntitled9152]

Snowfall

[@teejay4096]

@@titleuntitled9152literally thought of snowfall

[@shadowangel6359]

Jacob's Ladder

[@livagVallz]

Yeah I'd be like martin scorsece "Absolute Cinema"

[@HorizontalTears]

how can you integrate such a story in a single album is crazy . i cant imagine how much time he has taken to create this masterpiece . it really affects your brain. thank you so much bro you explained the story flawlessly !

[@bober293]

I mean, this sort of thing has been done before, most of My Chemical Romances albums are concept album, which are EXTREMELY similar to DAMN. Not discrediting Kendrick, but he's not the first to do it.

[@abyss6540]

​@@bober293 Which are those MCR albums?

[@bober293]

@abyss6540 I Brought You my Bullets You Brought Me Your Love, Three Cheers to Sweer Revenge, The Black Parade, and Danger Days (I'm not typing out the full name cause I'm lazy)

[@annesnow8015]

I hope my homies are ready because i'll definitely be presenting this video as my own ideas for the next 5 years

[@youflippingdoghnut3085]

ONG watch me casually slip this info during listenings

[@DuppyBoii187]

That's sad

[@frankzatank7382]

​@@DuppyBoii187We've all done it intentionally or unintentionally, but I have been trying to get better at saying I learned it from someone else.

[@robo-guy68479]

@@DuppyBoii187 nobody gaf

[@DuelistRL]

Well we're already prepared to see this comment 1000 more times as I see this on almost every video essay about anything lately.

[@McFlyIncognito]

kendrick is the only dude where you need an 1 hour explanation for his album

[@Primatenate88]

I know this cool KZbin channel full of dudes needing 1 hour explanations for their albums.

[@anirudhtalabattula1257]

@@Primatenate88 can you tell me plz

[@beautiful_ground]

You've clearly never heard a Swans album.

[@McFlyIncognito]

@@beautiful_ground Yes I have Soundtracks for the blind and To be kind to be more precise. I don't know what are you trying to say tho

[@zaidlacksalastname4905]

Don't think the album itself is one hour lol

[@MountTaesan]

XXX is 10.10.10 in Roman numerals; Fear’s 3 verses are 10 years apart

[@jasper1142]

Whoa i never thought about it like that thats sick lol

[@YTHandlesWereAMistake]

Kendrick was also 2 months till 30 when damn released

[@newaccountofficial.]

It also makes 10th of October 2010 🤷‍♂️

[@ArtiwaraWisu]

999 likes

[@TacoDash666]

it could be xxxtentacion

[@dopeunapologetic7145]

All I can say is DAMN!!! This was the best interpretation of this album that I have came across. Well done, and much appreciated.

[@bobfrank3575]

bro is definitely getting an A in english

[@typicalw1248]

💀

[@praisesamuel3086]

30:28 overcummed 🤣

[@TheactualJayj]

Can we get a profile check on this mf

[@hatcrab4923]

THIS WHAT GOD FEEL LIKE 🗣️🗣️🗣️

[@roejoganthesecond]

well he does have a Pulitzer so he technically got a S+

[@Shiny_mewtwo4]

He’s feeling cursed and then his newest album he mentions the generational curse being broken. Kendrick is an absolute genius and the best rapper alive

[@jjola]

facts

[@gerodford711]

The generational curse he’s talking about on his newest album is the one that plagues most black communities. That what the album was about, speaking to the black community about those curses and how we should break them by having those tough conversations, auntie’s diary is a perfect example of this.

[@joebowl8315]

We wuz cursed n sheeeeeeeeeiiiiiit

[@Zaxorit]

🤖

[@nick_hunter00]

the amount of symbolism and theme, the quality of this album… its one of the greatest albums of all time

[@josephine1049]

literally, Kendrick lamar is goated

[@rustyjohn1327]

I just need to yap about this to my English teacher

[@solomon6693]

@@yeinterneither your rage baiting or didn’t watch the video because it’s not possible to watch this video then actually think that.

[@solomon6693]

@@yeintern story does make the album better.

[@realestchococatguy]

​@@yeintern bro thinks DNA. ELEMENT. LOYALTY. HUMBLE. LOVE. XXX. and GOD. are bland and boring. You clearly do not know music and also yes, story does make an album better but i feel like you're too slow to appreciate a good album when you see one

[@nukelemur]

33:44 What if in BLOOD. The blind lady is "Society ", the lost item is the "Truth", and its representing that society keeps looking for the truth even though its infront of them the whole time and when someone (kendrick) goes to point it out. They are silenced or ignored (getting shot) and throughout the entire album, society keeps repeating the same mistakes and its a never ending cycle which is why the album is played in reverse. Same could be said when you listen to the album in reverse, Society understands the problem and then BLOOD. is when someone says something about it just to be silenced. Both leading to the same outcome.

[@idkl0l3]

This comment is a hidden gem

[@ratlol11]

This needs to be pinned lmao

[@titusweikal414]

This is 100% what I think, especially considering the context of this album being written right around when Donald trump was elected. The album to me is saying so much about society, the industry, god, and happiness, while also having this heartbreaking story of Kendrick at his most depressed. Truly an incredible listen

[@NguyenHuuTri2008]

@@titusweikal414 Kendrick mentions trump being elected in XXX.

[@TheoW456]

bro just put DAMN. into a whole new perspective for me. I think that if XXX. wasn’t a song i would think you’re thinking too hard about it

[@ahuman2398]

1:01:52 it's implied that the lady is Lady Justice.. because justice is blind. Kendrick is being held to justice for his wickedness and therefore loses his life

[@Outta-hz1ej]

I always took the lady as an Angel sent by God to give Kendrick his cursed fate. Like this album is about whether free will is real or that one is chained to fate

[@ahuman2398]

@@Outta-hz1ej i like that interpretation!

[@kelseybowman5463]

🤯

[@thomas-jamesthompson4447]

Definitely Lady Justice "Justice is Blind" No one sees everything, and by looking at ANYTHING from a different angle changes the truth perceived. We all lost justice when we started judging. Justice is blinded by perceptions limits.

[@jramtheman6694]

What if the blind lady is the other version of Kendrick, the one where he finds god. What if the better kendrick decides to kill his former self of doing crimes etc to start his journey of finding god, and therefore starting the album once again

[@christianaragon8533]

Duuuuuude, this is one of the best album breakdowns I’ve ever seen. Also the animations were on point. Definitively following you and hope you can do more of Kendrick in the future!

[@pabinda]

ete sech

[@ferigood26]

eat yourself

[@heavenly_heavenly]

One thing that could be point out. In the regular album cover in DAMN, DAMN is above Kendrick as he’s wearing a blank white T-shirt, indicating his journey to salvation and being free from damnation. In the collector’s edition (reversed order) DAMN is on his shirt which could indicate his path into damnation and where he becomes cursed.

[@mk_makkaro]

i didnt notice that. Thats pretty cool!

[@amimistry3869]

Omg I didnt notice Tysm this feels like a part of the video more than a comment

[@European_batman]

49:50

[@Bdot_youtube]

Damned if you do, damned if you don’t

[@godspoweronabor7842]

​@@Bdot_youtube😂

[@morgeenee811]

Love how Kendrick always seem so calm and laid back irl but inside his mind holds the capacity to do something like this his english teacher must ne so proud

[@w1u4]

Holy shit i never realized how insanely amazing this album is. The reverse twist is phenomenal, and its so impressive that kendrick and his team were able to make this story so cohesive in both directions

[@AlimamyBangura-p7u]

Trust bro it was dope in reverse

[@ItsBuuild]

I was so confused that the collectors edition was reversed but damn.

[@nm9101]

7:48 Someone's probably mentioned this already, but "sex" being the 23rd thing in his DNA holds significance: it's the chromosome pair that determines your sex at birth. And... the second chromosome in the pair (the one that makes the difference) is provided by the father

[@jackomangi9898]

Man Kendrick is a genius

[@rehmatshah8956]

DAMN.

[@kiethehuman]

NO WAYYYY

[@daraquesto2277]

Nah that's crazy

[@4ORCE_NLM1]

Yeah I've learned that on Biology/Life Sciences

[@eddybagajevs]

5 minutes into this video and your interpretation of story-telling and editing is actually amazing dude! Never stop making vids :)

[@theoneandonlyazizf]

Then your gonna love how he did the wolf trilogy

[@keanewhiteirproductions9538]

I’m sorry this is well made and thought out but this guy is so close but so wrong, he’s got the right idea but is also so off

[@Graciousgates]

Literally said what I wanted to say! Insight on this album is amazing

[@user-cw8pv6sf5k]

Holy glaze

[@akduyahwvd4137]

ッ

[@LiamWolff-tg7rn]

I interpret BLOOD in the weakness order is that the old lady is his conscience realizing that he’s lost his life to sin, and the gunshot is it setting in.

[@mr.lonely-c1n]

Respect for Kendrick's father! He found a smart move that changed whole history

[@kingace6186]

Ducky is a great father that more people should try to be like

[@makesomething4093]

Yeah, adding biscuits to a box gave us To Pimp a Butterfly

[@zboy1152]

That chicken incident gave us gkMC and TPAB

[@juannaym8488]

it's a showcase of peaceful actions leading to peaceful resolutions

[@Avazarrineh]

@@kingace6186especially drake 💀

[@polarsvoid]

Barely 20 minutes in and he's uncovered more than I would've ever imagined by myself. Insane bro, also the animations and works are amazing. Keep it up bro!

[@philippoberhauser9866]

bro it was so good right?

[@R4lka]

@@philippoberhauser9866ONGGG, I adore his damn videos, I could’ve never cared less about the meaning of albums but he single-handedly made me so interested

[@Skurtz901]

This shits crazy I’ve listened to this album so many times but I guess I never really understood it😂

[@trapzone707]

The quality of this is fucking wild, definitely looking forward to seeing more! Update: I just relistened to DAMN. Because of this video. It was always my least favorite Kendrick project and this let me give it a second chance with new context and it elevated it a whole lot. Thanks for this

[@nonkolisekowaka2754]

I'm glad u gave it another chance

[@isthatfox6780]

exact thing happened to me

[@Frosty1026]

I’m about to do the same after this vid I also didn’t like it like I have other projects but this vid gave me a whole different perception on it.

[@nebiyoutadesse9785]

Exact same thing with me too

[@haz2202]

took the words out of my mouth. Amazing video

[@itsirissss]

The front and back cover thing is really interesting because both covers have elements of wickedness and weakness in some way

[@connorrocketleague6796]

this album would be the greatest father’s day present ever

[@Fiskket]

how is it a father’s day gift

[@connorrocketleague6796]

@@Fiskket basically saying that without his dad alive he would live a wicked life and end up dying. Long story short he said without my dad i would be dead

[@ZachIGuess69]

I’ve always interpreted XXX. As 666. Or hell. Showing that America is now a hellhole, and also referring to one of Kendrick’s main fears in the album

[@sadeensada9107]

i literally had the same thought

[@anshuuu9708]

Been thinking the same for years, even in TPAB he keeps referring to that

[@chilluxtheduck8023]

Perhaps both symbolizing the similarities between USA and 666

[@zboy1152]

"I don't see Compton, I see something much worse, the land of the landmines, *the hell that's on Earth"* That line from the end of Complexion might fit perfectly with XXX.

[@vanessaluna5000]

3 characters in the alphabet can mean so much.

[@markelMoses]

As an young teenager with a short attention span, this was not difficult to keep my attention on for an hour. This is amazing keep continuing to be great

[@cqxmdy]

same bro

[@birdsarecooliguess]

Same here

[@JUSTREGULARSCREAMINGAAHH]

Yo I'm 12

[@fatteststevenson]

@@JUSTREGULARSCREAMINGAAHH iphones are older than bro 😭😭

[@rolott7393]

Ive watched this video at least 5 times. its become a comfort video, something to throw on and listen to while i work

[@MonkeMusicMan]

In PRIDE, he says “I wasn’t taught to share, BUT care.” Maybe, he’s saying that he cares, but nobody else does. Maybe that other life is where people DO care.

[@thenitpickchannel9993]

Or it’s worse in that Kendrick does care about people but he CAN’T share, like maybe it’s just too important for himself that he can’t share his success or career or what he gains from it with others. In another life, he surely was there for everyone else. If you take that perspective, it’s possible that this song is kind of a balance between the Wickedness and Weakness theme since it’s also in the middle of the album (the 7th of the 14 songs). His pride is his wickedness, and so is why be won’t share it. But he also feels shame for this because he does care and wishes that in another life, he wasn’t so prideful and actually tried to help others and put the needs of others before his own. That in this “perfect world,” he’d put faith over riches, make schools out of prisons, etc. But he sort of “knows” that that can’t happen, that’s it’s never a perfect world because each perfect world would be a world of lies. Kendrick is too prideful about his own success to share while caring at the same time, hence his remorse because he could do better but his pride gets in the way. He can’t show Weakness because he has too much Wickedness

[@MonkeMusicMan]

@@thenitpickchannel9993 Right on the nose, man. This album is so intricate, it’s insane how much you can pull from it.

[@brycebrown3416]

​@@thenitpickchannel9993I 😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮

[@Toastedbuns-hq9fb]

​@@thenitpickchannel9993gonna make me cry bro this writing is so glorious (literally doing the chrollo crying meme right now) God is good

[@JiruPlays101]

​@@thenitpickchannel9993Damn. Bro this made more sense now and plus 7 is the number of completion like it as you said balances the album perfectly now either from path to Weakness or Wickedness either of them he's still struggling to go to God but the path to Weakness reaches God while Wickedness is obviously the downfall but shows that he is still trying to reach God but was too late.

[@jabraillemorrison7204]

I think it’s really important to mention that Rhianna had been dealing with a similar situation. Somebody in her team took money from her / deceived her and Kendrick heard about it. They ended up collaborating on Loyalty cuz they were in very similar places dealing wit dishonesty & being backstabbed in the industry

[@48pulkitgupta65]

and yet in one of the songs, kdot says “i read a case about rihanna’s accountant and wondered, how did the BAD girl feel when she looked at the numbers” wicked ken 😂😭

[@jabraillemorrison7204]

exactly. it wasn’t a slight at Riri. he was doubling down on the fact it happened to her and that it was fucked up.

[@Rpl5555]

@@48pulkitgupta65it’s just a reference to her nickname badgyal riri

[@lexxblack5392]

Looking at an album breakdown like this truly makes you realize that Drake in all of his vapidity, hubris, and piddling pseudo introspection NEVER stood a chance against someone like Kendrick. Wow

[@turalabasov9829]

Absolutely, however people who thought otherwise just didn’t know who Kendrick Lamar actually is. Hopefully after the beef people start realising why dot fans would ride with him

[@lexxblack5392]

@@turalabasov9829 100%

[@copycatlyn]

@@turalabasov9829 would ride him*

[@imelusivexd]

@@turalabasov9829 i had someone tell me that he was team drake today, and i pray he finds this video

[@Vexossoul]

​​@@turalabasov9829 I tend to use the phrase "Drake supporters are the radicalists of rap" when talking about those who think he's better than everyone else, even after everything that's happened. Because no matter how much you show them about Kendrick and why he's a better artist, they still don't change their minds.

[@LegoGoldenFrieza]

This video keeps me coming back, Its just I know the Story but the Presentation is just so NICE!

[@kamui.shuriken]

fr this is clean

[@nickrag1608]

the theory that this is a loop is supported too by the premise in fiction going back to even Homer: blind people are the ones that aren’t actually blind. they physically can’t see but what they do see is the truth. the old lady being blind telling Kendrick he’s lost his life is (in the reverse track list) her telling him he’s lost his way without his father’s guidance, which damns him; the blind lady in the original track list is telling him the truth that he’s lost his life because he’s cursed/damned from the start. even though she’s blind she can see Kendrick for who he really is in that moment, but until you listen to the whole album and choose weakness or wickedness for you and him, you can’t see what she sees.

[@AltAccount-p8b]

Oh crap I never caught that, that is actually such a sick detail, thanks for sharing!

[@vitorx4]

this video is PERFECT. the interpretation, the imagery, the color game, everything builds up to a MASTERPIECE. congratulations brother, you've made ART.

[@ADMmachine]

saw two words in all caps with a dot at the end and thought they were DAMN. tracks lmao

[@mewxtwo]

​@@ADMmachine😂 kinda a funny coincidence. That's the amount of power this album holds, I can't ever unsee it now lmao

[@tocide]

YOU. Made an art

[@Wositap333]

I feel like the blind lady was a reference to weakness or wickedness, lemme explain. He helped the lady without knowing what would happend trusting and showing her weakness WHICH GOT HIM KILLED. But if he didnt helped her he would be wicked, or "a bad person" but not get killed. Showing how unfair the world it's, bad people have it all, they do whatever they want and it comes out however they want. While good people are usally punishes or suffer too much in their life.

[@nicolaspagnotta1072]

I feel like you can kind of apply that to every song on this album. I think every song shows something that kendrick has went through and hes unsure if his actions are weakness or wickedness. Have all the bad things kendrick or even the world done been made out of wickedness or weakness

[@luisortegast]

IS IT WICKEDNESS , IS IT WEAKNESS¿

[@Wositap333]

@@luisortegast R E ALLLLLL

[@luisortegast]

@@Wositap333 damn, this album top 3 of kendrick

[@officialconch]

The lady was weakness and wickedness all-in-one.

[@N-retrospect]

It's like a snake eating itself because the cycle keeps going after you play the album in reverse then you can play it forward

[@anakinizboring]

I swear, K-Dot's work is like a movie series. He's such a great storyteller. Specifically in this album, he sets up the entire tone with the lines: "Is it WICKEDNESS? Is it WEAKNESS? YOU decide. Are we gonna LIVE? Or DIE?" And it's so well done. I have yet to listen to his other work but yeah, this one's my favourite so far. Thank you for doing this deep dive!

[@MontySlython]

highly recommend good kid maad city if you like the concrete storytelling, ultimately good kid maad city is meant to be kind of like a movie with skits of his real life interspersed throughout the tracks, it was also absolutely robbed best album at the grammies by macklemore's thrift shop to everyones collective outrage.

[@frayfray4496]

Bruh. Whole discography needs to be listened to immediately. I'm talking mixtapes and everything.

[@Docmatema]

​@@MontySlythonthat's my favourite album of ALL TIME. And I'm a Beyoncé fan😂, but GKMC is literally a work of art. Kendrick should've been given that Pulitzer award for GKMC🔥🔥🏆

[@charlescharvaka6425]

I'm not sure if anyone's came up with this before, but I also think that the "LOVE's gonna get you killed, but PRIDE's gonna be the death of you and me." takes on a different meaning in the wickedness version of the album. LOVE gets Kendrick killed, as he still has enough love left to try to help the old lady, and because he does so, LOVE ends up getting him killed. But in the end, the true death of Kendrick was because of his PRIDE, as if he hadn't thrown away GOD, God would not be trying to kill Kendrick.

[@daka3785]

Holy shit

[@noyas_thoughts2803]

DAMN.

[@lomuc]

Understandable. I think he already mentioned it.

[@kayisit9744]

I covered my mouth like you spit the hardest bar yet after reading this!

[@juciy8599]

He won the fucking Pulitzer prize for this album… the first rapper to ever do so and to my knowledge, the first music artist

[@cornball0072]

I think a lot of classical and jazz artists win it, but Kendrick is for sure the first rapper to earn the award

[@Docmatema]

Wasn't the Pulitzer prize for TPAB?🤔

[@cornball0072]

@@Docmatema No but tbh it should have been that album and not DAMN..

[@Kevy808]

​@@cornball0072 DAMN has deeper context

[@cornball0072]

@@Kevy808 musically and sonically TPAB is superior to DAMN in every way. Just the instrumentals alone have more nuance, and details than any of the tracks on DAMN. The way the album is able to tie in a series of different ideas, with each line of the poem, and then for it all to tie together in the end is very well put together. DAMN is good with its storytelling and overall narrative however I believe the music has to be just as good as your message and tracks like Loyalty, God, and Love are some of Kendrick’s worst, And not just that album but any period.

[@Jaha08]

I’ve watched this multiple times, as I’ve listened to DAMN. several times. Just amazing work. Hats off to you! This is by far the most intricate analysis of a Kendrick Lamar album out there!!

[@brainoffgaming]

I wish i could like this a million times cuz thats how much this deserves. DAMN. Was my fav album but i could never put in to words why, and this video finally answered that for me 🔥🔥🔥

[@Chaoticz_official]

Same here for everything you said

[@jessepowell5750]

How does someone else answer why you like an album?

[@brainoffgaming]

@@jessepowell5750 by describing the reasons why i like it

[@greyscale2023]

note how the age of 27 is also referring to the 27 club. kendrick is afraid that he could potentially join that club because if how unusually talented he is.

[@greyscale2023]

in FEAR.

[@greyscale2023]

because of*

[@natrell.awsome4711]

good thing he didnt

[@ggguygeek]

We NEED a Mr morale version. This is the 3rd time I’m watching this video and I’m amazed every time

[@damak_fadi]

YEAH we surely need one

[@sumportuguesedude2605]

YAH. true

[@Rei-bg3rf]

Never thought I've been so interested in rap music lmao. Kendrick got me into this after Not Like Us drop. If Kendrick turn me into liking hip hop, then he's the goat 😭

[@diejoeboo5624]

SAME

[@ETRACKOFFICIAL]

I liked Kendrick since DAMN. I would hear HUMBLE and LOVE on the radio all the time in 2017, which is why they are my two favorite tracks on DAMN. I learned that Kendrick was behind the mic, and listened to his music until the beef for a while, but I loved his music.

[@Mariobusters37]

SAME

[@themysticalrebirth955]

This entire video is beautifully made.

[@hiitsmorgan5431]

Weakness = life Wickedness = death We are all sinners but we get to CHOOSE whether we live (weakness) or die (wickedness) FEAR is weakness, we are scared of things. Realizing your wickedness is being vulnerable, which is weakness. Finding GOD means FEARING God. If we find GOD, we get rid of LUST, PRIDE, and FEAR. We learn to be LOYAL, HUMBLE, and LOVING. By choosing weakness we live. PRIDE and LUST are both forms of wickedness. By choosing to stay in our own ELEMENT and not finding God, we die not necessarily physically but spiritually. Matter of fact, we will face a punishment worse than death, being eternally DAMNED by GOD. By choosing wickedness we die. Moral of the album: Find God, and do it right now.

[@daughterofzion7297]

🎯💯

[@daughterofzion7297]

Sub out the title GOD for His actual name YAH.. take head to the message in there from cousin Carl, read the book of Deuteronomy (Blessings & Curses) Wow truly amazing #CHOOSELIFE

[@StruggleInTheFlesh]

All of this can be achieved without being religious, no offense meant here.

[@daughterofzion7297]

@@StruggleInTheFlesh Perhaps you're mistaking having a relationship with the Most High YAH/GOD with those that are religious in their practices/doctrines. Furthermore the very album you're commenting on is littered with sentiments of finding and understanding the relationship and connection to a higher power that many, perhaps even yourself may not clearly see as the awakening. It's Spiritual, it goes beyond being religious. Hope that offers you a bit more insight. No offense taken #eachoneteachone

[@margotl2418]

I don’t think not believing in god will make you turn to violence. I don’t believe in god, it’s made me a better person because instead of having this us vs sinners mentality and constant anxiety over whether or not I’ll go to hell, and being able to let go of that for a better life, has made me better. I’m glad the idea of god has allowed people to have the motivation to become better people, I’m glad Kendrick could create a better life for himself through god, but just because someone doesn’t believe in god, doesn’t mean they automatically chose to do what Christian’s believe is sin.

[@theKaizen1]

we need mr morale and big steppers version

[@ezraels3157]

I second this

[@TheRestoredMan]

@@ezraels3157third

[@shalev550prod]

I third this.

[@RobbianMemzexe]

I fourth this

[@AmongstAndromeda]

I fifth this

[@joshua1502]

I just cried my eyes out and prayed, Going to take alot to change my path but I see I'm on the wrong one so clearly for the first time and that's something, Thank You so much for this video, will try to come back to this and donate something in the future when I turn it around.

[@Ghostpants446]

Any updates?

[@chasewilliamson1449]

Man I’m really going to need you to do the rest of Kendrick’s discography after this one

[@glitchin2547]

genuinely my favorite video I've watched in years, I love your editing, commentary, story telling, everythings so unique and feels so fresh, cant wait to see what you do next brother

[@inkyoggy]

i agree 100%

[@enzomartino2038]

I think the interpretation for BLOOD. in the reverse order is that she says he's lost his life and a replay of the gunfire that killed his father rings in his head as he recognizes that he's lost his true self, his life, in the path that he's chosen.

[@Dennipot]

After watching several other breakdowns this video finally helped me understand this album after 7 years. Great Job! I love it even more now

[@BrandoDioDa]

This is easily the best breakdown of DAMN I’ve ever heard. Everything from the commentary to the editing and storytelling is one point. I’ve always wondered why I’ve like the dichotomy tracks of LOVE and LUST or PRIDE and HUMBLE.

[@tommyzitko3419]

this album literally changed my life, i was in a deep depression and listening to kendrick dealing with most of the same issues as a young 19 year old kid lost with no plans he really helped me understand that there is good and evil

[@tv9820]

I pray that this album helps lead you to God✝️

[@tommyzitko3419]

@@tv9820 i always had god. my lord and savior jesus christ.

[@misterm7486]

i hope you live a better life than delusion. Hatred and wickedness. Constant abuse from those who are supposed to love you

[@hudsonbartlett2303]

This is physically hard to write after watching that whole vid from start to finish but Kendrick has been my favourite artist for ever and I saw this album live but never understood the true meaning and hidden messages behind each song and when I tell u this vid made me cry because of how beautiful it all was…….. you’ve changed my life. My theory for who the lady was is Lucy (lucifer) who is mentioned on tpab. You’ve made me a very happy man watching this video I hope you know I’m crying tears of joy while writing this

[@o.b.itwistedrose1091]

It is lady justice bro. Lucy is a male figure in TPAB but here it is lady justice.

[@leespn4396]

@@o.b.itwistedrose1091 Lucy is the industry. Not male or female.

[@misky1952]

A few things I'd like to mention. 1) The 23 things in his DNA are a bit of a stretch. You mark "though" in red, like, how does one have "though" in one's DNA?? 2) What is less of a stretch is the 17 ways he'll die in FEAR. when he's 17. 3) "Until I found it's me vs. me", and what do we see in LOYALTY.'s music video? Kendrick vs. Kendrick. Him versus himself. 4) I think the old lady could be interpreted as justice, because of the fact she's blind, and she literally does justice by killing this wicked version of Kendrick. Awesome video, I loved it and it gave me a new found appreciation for this masterfully crafted album :)

[@dwdavis6605]

I've been trying to understand the conceptual side of damn for so long. This truly is the best breakdown I've seen on this project. I truly am amazed by the work you've put in and ofc kendrick's hehe. Thank you! Love!

[@JackieLombardi]

I never understood why people didn't like DAMN. as much as his other albums, personally i think DAMN. is a better album than TPAB even if TPAB is the objectively more culturally significant one. This video really made me realize why I loved this album so much...i never thought this deeply into it even though i spent a lot of time with this album and listening to what Kenny had to say. Thanks so much for your hard work on this ♥

[@shaelaputaindrole9625]

I'm gonna be honest, I think the main reason why I didn't like it (or rather just not as much as the others) was because I didn't get shit about it. I've always been a big fan but I caught the DAMN train rather late for some reason, so I mostly first experienced the album through the commercial tracks without context and only took the time to listen to it after ; except I didn't necessarly bother to analyze the whole thing because I was bored with the most well known songs already. This video fucking blew my mind and definetely changed my whole percepective on the album. Even when I thought I couldn't underrestimate Kdot I realize I still did.

[@BeastscopesCL]

I feel like TPAB and GKMC have this reverance that has damaged both DAMN and MMATBS's perceptions almost as though the idea that Kendrick or anyone could ever hit that level is an insult to how good those albums are. To me both of the more recent albums especially MMATBS are on the same level as the earlier two but it will take a long time for that to be an accepted consensus and even then there will be naysayers still being influenced by the respect they have for the earlier two instead of letting the latter two be judged from an uncompromised position

[@jqn_001]

I did always has the same feeling, I could'nt understand why people say this album is more "commercial". Only because has more mainstream songs that the previous albums didn't mean it isn't DEEP as fk... My favourite album for sure =)

[@jamez6398]

It's because some people find this album too dark, nihilistic, and hopeless.

[@veenus745]

I felt this way before, damn being my favourite from Kendrick. But I feel like though this album is stellar, he does everything he does here so much better on the Mr Morale, tpab and gkmc. It's obviously subjective, but I feel like once you really understand all these albums, damn kind of falls behind.

[@arthurmaranesi7899]

holy shit. I started watching this at 3 A.M. thinking "this video has 1 hour, I'm going to watch it to maybe sleep in the middle of it" BUT WHAT???? this video was fucking incredible, man. when I heard this album for the first time, I didn't have any idea that it was *_that_* deep. this video was so amazingly written and edited that it made my comprehend the album so much better. never stop making videos, man. you got a new _loyal_ sub. *damn.*

[@robbobstone]

2:33 made me want to listen to the whole album for the billionth time

[@damareyontaylor]

this just made me realize damn. is one of the greatest works of art in music history. unbelievable. great breakdown

[@northcoast1403]

Dude, I've been a fan of Kendrick's poetry since GKMC, so i gladly listened to that and TPAB over and over again to get it(and watched a few explanation videos)...but DAMN was a brain teaser. I couldn't understand it for the life of me. And yet, finally, someone did their homework to fully explain (in the best way possible) the entire album (in both ways!!). Thanks a lot for your hard work. 🙏

[@ScylenoMido]

This is like my first time commenting in a long time, perhaps since 5 years ago. I gotta say, while watching this at 3 in the morning, this has to be the BEST breakdown of an album I have EVER seen. Without even mentioning the quality of the editing or tone of the video, it’s fucking amazing. Keep it going man, this was an incredible watch.

[@GuyWithTotallyCalmTemper88]

This was one of the greatest album analysis’s I’ve ever seen. You should do more of these! PLS!

[@spacepeep4850]

I think the blind lady is justice and what she was finding was Kendrick’s fate on whether he chose weakness or wickedness

[@philima]

Good call!!

[@mscaine2291]

Whats crazy about this is whats currently going on with him and Drake. Listening to him explain Damn album makes me feel he is serving his purpose here

[@j-slotsfromdabackblockstv8105]

The fact he he gave drake the choice in battle wickedness or weakness and drake choice wickedness- are you gonna live or die deep

[@brandon6090]

The blind lady can represent the Lady of Justice

[@anantborse6552]

Makes more sense

[@BiggieCheeseGames]

It would also tie in with the phrase “justice is blind” aka blind lady of justice

[@MoFromFlint]

“Before this album I didn’t listen to rap” that blew my mind you got great taste

[@oneizzyjones]

So clear why he was given a Pulitzer for this album

[@thezone3967]

I think the blind lady is actually wisdom because in proverbs 1:20-23 it’s saying that wisdom cries out on the streets for those who want to listen. While in the original order Kendrick goes to seek wisdom and his old self dies showing that he is starting his journey with Christ while in the reverse it’s showing that because of all his wickedness, that Kendrick dies because in Deuteronomy 30:19 it is saying that God has given you a choice to choose from blessings or curses and he has called all on earth and heaven to witness your decisions. But the most important part in that is him saying that if you choose God or “life” as it states, then you and your descendants will live. It also states in the Bible that wisdom is a woman in some way so it would make more sense 1:00:11

[@maryamesque]

i love this!!

[@GabriellovesJesus]

thank you so much for this well thoughtout and cleanly edited video essay

[@noahberry7497]

I wrote a 5 page essay on this in hs in journalism. I stated that 5 pages wasn't enough. great vid

[@walter7005]

I got a light on kendrick from the rap beef and now I know why he is the big him. holy I sat through all this I never realized how music can actually portray horror until now.

[@Catsaresupreme]

You did an amazing job breaking g this album down. A cinematic adaptation of this whole album would’ve been great.

[@edjones4188]

this is my all-time favorite album. i've been listening to it off and on for the past few years, and loved every bit of it. awesome video, my man. love to find new perspectives

[@hugoribeiro3236]

yo usually i dont even comment on vids and shit but allow me to tell you this video is amazing. The visuals, the way you explain it, the overall attention to detail is what makes this video so entertaning and complete. really hope u keep going dude, u killed it.

[@zverobes]

Bro, this is one of the greatest video essays I've ever seen. Though I knew the twist about the reverse story, you still made me watch the whole video with so much satisfaction. You gave me goosebumps with the structure, the montage, the storytelling. Great job, bro!! Thanks a lot!!

[@megumoth]

this is actually one of my favorite yt videos

[@crabbie-max]

Please do his other albums omg 😭💖 This was such a delight to watch!

[@htxvnce]

the duckworth ending is a representation of kendrick lamar getting shot "die in a gunfi-" and the rewind/reverse is how all your life flashes before your eyes.

[@ir0316]

No lmao

[@badcat7754]

Bro Kendrick literally posted a reverse tracklist how does that make sense 😭

[@gooddood3857]

im not saying youre wrong for having that interpretation on it but comes off like a "this is what it means" grand statement. Art is never one thing

[@iamsam-cu9rz]

@@gooddood3857this video IS a grand statement

[@NimbusAnimations]

missed the opportunity to name the collectors edition “god damn.”

[@IamFirtyDucker]

The theory when it came out was that it’ll be called Nation. To complete the damnation arc

[@Rylan1]

@@IamFirtyDuckerThank you bro you reminded me to do my homework 🙏

[@INCRYPTIDFORM]

@@IamFirtyDuckerLowkey reminds me of the Opeth Deliverance+Damnation double album

[@nunikoh]

Dude, thanks so much for this explanation! It made me love this album even more! Thanks! ❤

[@justalffie]

Basically DAMN is musical TENET .. I love this album and somehow listening to this breakdown makes me think i love just 1 idea of the album .. great work!!

[@KarlMalone_69]

When I heard pride for the first time I cried especially when he said “a perfect world isn’t perfect just full of lies “chills

[@borisbozhilov5952]

I was so confused by this album, because I knew there was something more to it. That video solved it all. Such an amazing perspective of this album. Thank you :)

[@dhineshmohan3867]

This is one of the best videos I've ever seen. Absolute chills

[@colorfulfeathersbird]

this is probably the best and most well made analysis of music ive ever seen on youtube, especially with all the graphics. would love to see you cover more works!

[@sirdouros]

Dude, never stop making videos. They just keep getting more incredible. Your editing is also so amazing

[@Jakquis]

this is one of the best videos ive ever seen, the editing, the attention to detail ect is incredible

[@nqobile.mdluli]

Thank you bro You just gave me an opportunity to listen to DAMN. For the first time again with new set of ears

[@daneking3235]

I’m going to be honest at first I was like "I doubt some guy who discovers rap music in 2017 will have any thing interesting to say about this amazing album" but then you blowed my mind on how well this video was written and edited. You even thought me about the two different path of the album I always thought it was just about how Kendrick picked the wickness path and that’s it wow I can only tell you how impressed I am

[@BobbyBarmint0n]

Dude, I never thought that Tyler video could be topped, yet this is absolutely magnificent. Great video!

[@avengersendgame-ne3vo]

when the vid so good you just stand there like,DAMN.

[@zapama]

Literally the fourth time I’ve watched this vid so good I would love to see more like this and keep up the great work

[@isabelr8678]

This is genuinely such an amazingly written and well made video well done !!

[@julianajaxson]

Thank you for making this… I’m 30 and went through my 20s with the emergence of Kendrick Lamar… this made me appreciate this body of work infinitely more. Edit: I just referred back to this and I’m so happy it blew up!!! Well deserved! I posted this on all of my socials when it came out (I know that didn’t do much) but I’m glad you are getting the recognition you deserve from this ❤

[@angrybirdsblanket9998]

first started listening to kendrick because of the drama, then went on to play his other albums, with damn probably being one of my favourite bodies of work ive heard in a while. you sir just made that appreciation of it better, youve earned a sub

[@jasonh8326]

This is probably the best video I’ve watched in a long time. Seemed very heartfelt and geniune. I really like this. I really like this album. Thank you geniunely for breaking this album down

[@monokey2059]

What an amazing breakdown. You must have sat and dwelled on this albums for hours man 😭 we appreciate your work.