BY ZOE VONGTAU

Staff Writer

If fans and haters can agree on one thing about Kendrick Lamar, it is the fact that he is timely. In early March, Kendrick released untitled unmastered, a selection of demos cut from his recent album To Pimp a Butterfly. The surprise album release can be traced to a tweet from basketball star Lebron James. After Kendrick’s earthshakingly controversial performance at the Grammy’s, which included an unreleased song, James and fans voiced their yearning for new music from the rapper. As expected from the proactive artist, the album is rampant with sultry, ballad-like confessions such as “untitled 01 | 08.19.2014.” and soulful listens like “untitled 08 | 09.06.2014.” Tracks on the album mirror Lamar’s last effort, as he tells stories of misery and eventual, hopeful triumph. On “untitled 03 | 05.28.2013,” Lamar discusses worldwide philosophies and perceptions of success that make him question his own. Overall, untitled umastered reminds listeners of everything Kendrick Lamar does best, at an untouched, raw level, while still leaving fans itching for more.