Iiiiiiiiiiiiinteresting…
What a year Kendrick has had.
Between the release of the critically adored DAMN. – which is already topping several Best Of 2017 lists – and popping up on U2’s new album, 2017 has been a landmark for the rapper, and it looks like it isn’t even over for him yet.
Ever since he dropped the DAMN. album, there have been rumours and theories swirling around it.
For a little while, everyone was convinced that he was going to release another album within a week or two, but that never materialised.
There was also the theory that DAMN. actually plays better when the tracks are played in reverse, starting off with ‘Duckworth’ and ending with ‘Blood’, instead of the other way around.
This was confirmed by Kendick earlier this year, during an interview with MTV:
“I think like a week after the album came out, [fans] realised you can play the album backwards. It plays as a full story and even a better rhythm. It’s one of my favourite rhythms and tempos within the album. It’s something that we definitely premeditate while we’re in the studio.”
“I don’t think the story necessarily changes, I think the feel changes. The initial vibe listening from the top all the way to the bottom is … this aggression and this attitude. You know, ‘DNA,’ and exposing who I really am. You listen from the back end, and it’s almost the duality and the contrast of the intricate Kendrick Lamar. Both of these pieces are who I am.”
While all of that is great, it looks like Kendrick will be taking it one step further, by actually releasing a Special Edition version of DAMN., according to a few different sources online.
First, there is this Reddit post, which shows the back-cover of the album, and then there is this posted-then-deleted link to the iTunes album (which somebody managed to save before it was taken down), both of which show the DAMN. track-list in reverse.
Additionally, despite it being a Special Edition version, it does not appear that there are any actual new tracks in the mix.
Why people can’t just set up the Spotify playlist to play the album in reverse order, we’re not entirely sure.
Regardless, maybe we will find out which order he prefers it when he performs in Ireland next year…
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