Music reviews: Kendrick Lamar, Cold War Kids
One of 2015's most feverishly anticipated hip-hop albums, Californian rapper Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly certainly lived up to its hype when it dropped a week earlier than expected. On the first day of its release, the follow-up to the West Coaster's critically acclaimed and platinum-selling major label debut Good Kid, M.A.A.d City set a global record on Spotify with 9.6 million streamed tracks in a single day.
To Pimp a Butterfly
TDE/Aftermath/Interscope
One of 2015's most feverishly anticipated hip-hop albums, Californian rapper Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly certainly lived up to its hype when it dropped a week earlier than expected. On the first day of its release, the follow-up to the West Coaster's critically acclaimed and platinum-selling major label debut Good Kid, M.A.A.d City set a global record on Spotify with 9.6 million streamed tracks in a single day.
Of course, popularity doesn't simply equate to good taste. So is the 27-year-old emcee's expletive-laden sophomore effort really that good? Well yes, it really is. If you're a fan of hip hop, you'll likely already be familiar with three of its previously released tracks. King Kunta is a stomping beast of 1970s Parliament funk, while the confrontational The Blacker the Berry sees Lamar full of rage and hatred for racist America. The Isley Brothers sampling i reveals his poppier side: with its celebratory chant of "I love myself", it's an epic anthem of self-belief. Lamar has delivered a challenging, empowering and lyrically dense album, and remains one of rap's brightest stars.
Hold My Home
Downtown Records
You have to feel for a band when they unwittingly hit a creative peak on their debut album and then spend the subsequent years of their dwindling career desperately struggling, and failing, to attain those same heights of success. Orange County natives Cold War Kids are one such band.