The Biggest Surprises on Kendrick Lamar's 'DAMN.'

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We first became familiar with Steve Lacy as part of The Internet. But in the past six months, members of that band have been releasing solo projects, including front woman Syd and Matt Martians. Steve has produced songs for Big Sean and Jhene Aiko's TWENTY88 project and featured on Kali Uchis' "Only Girl," but this February he released his first body of work as a solo artist, Steve Lacy's Demo.

Steve Lacy recorded and mixed his project entirely on his iPhone, and just a few months later dude has one of the best tracks on Kendrick Lamar's album. It sounds like Steve's vocals open the song (Anna Wise appears with backup vocals later in the song), and his rich, bright production is the perfect backdrop for Kendrick to get introspective. 

Damn, Steve Lacy leveled up.

As soon as the tracklist for DAMN. dropped, we could tell there would be two sides to this story. The back of Kendrick's cover was almost a mirror image of the front, and the album has only two listed features—Rihanna and U2—who occupy contrasting ends of the pop spectrum. 

When U2's feature was announced there was immediately a lot of hate, but Mike Will erased all doubts with some masterful, double-sided production. The first half of "XXX" might be the album's toughest track, with Kendrick killing cowards at "Backseat Freestyle" levels of insanity, going in over tire screeches, alarm bells, and clipped, angry percussion. 

As for Bono? His voice fits nicely, twice—first in a pitched down intro that quickly gives way to Kendrick's ferocity, then again in the plaintive second half. And even though they're coming from very different places, Bono and Kendrick are singing about a subject familiar to them both.

These are two artists who have worked to be a voice for the voiceless, and they attack the subject with renewed energy here: "This country is to be a sound of drum and bass," Bono warns. Kendrick counters: "The great American flag is wrapped and dragged with explosives."

Damn, Kendrick really made Bono cool in 2017.

If I gotta slap a pussy ass n*gga, I'ma make it look sexy

If I gotta go hard on a bitch, I'ma make it look sexy

I pull up, hop out, air out, made it look sexy

They won't take me out my element

Nah, take me out my element

Damn, Kendrick.

There are jazz elements sprinkled into Kendrick Lamar's entire catalog, and To Pimp a Butterfly was a dense, complicated, free-jazz-meets-rap masterstroke. Billboard even called Kendrick "the John Coltrane of hip-hop." When we saw Kendrick was working with Canadian jazz group BadBadNotGood on "Lust," the ninth song on DAMN., we were expecting, you know, jazz. But the dark "Lust"—which also features work from DJ Dahi, Sounwave, and Kaytranada—is not that. Aside from a couple of moments on songs like "Element" and "Feel," DAMN. is pretty light on jazzy vibes altogether.

"Loyalty" is great. Rihanna and Kendrick are both super talented artists in their own right, but, having never previously collaborated, it was hard to imagine what the song would sound like. Would it be a pop song? Would Rihanna handle the hook? Would their styles mesh?

In the end, "Loyalty" is a perfect balance of this more melodic Kendrick album and Rihanna's mastery of contemporary pop. They duet on parts of the chorus, but the highlight here might actually be Rihanna's verse.

Damn, RiRi's got bars.

We already know Kendrick Lamar has range, from empowering anthems like "Alright" to bangers like "Backseat Freestyle" to deeply impactful tracks like "Sing About Me, Im Dying Of Thirst." Love songs, however, probably aren't the first thing that come to mind when thinking about Kendrick's music.

The aptly titled "Love," featuring Zacari, is a gorgeous track, taking on the subject of what real love is, and what it means, once the money and the fame is stripped away. All the unexpected moments make DAMN. such a compelling record, and the variety gives it real replay value.