untitled unmastered.
by Kendrick Lamar
  • Record Label: Top Dawg
  • Release Date: Mar 4, 2016
User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 932 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 854 out of 932
  2. Mixed: 31 out of 932
  3. Negative: 47 out of 932
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. longjetty7
    Mar 7, 2016
    6
    This is no To Pimp a Butterfly (I'm not sure if anything he does will ever surpass that), but nevertheless, it's not without its merits. It seems like this is a collection of songs that Lamar had sitting around for a while (judging from the dates in the titles) and didn't quite know what to do with. They're interesting and jazzy and experimental, just like the stuff on TPAB, but it feelsThis is no To Pimp a Butterfly (I'm not sure if anything he does will ever surpass that), but nevertheless, it's not without its merits. It seems like this is a collection of songs that Lamar had sitting around for a while (judging from the dates in the titles) and didn't quite know what to do with. They're interesting and jazzy and experimental, just like the stuff on TPAB, but it feels like an album of B-sides. Granted, Lamar's B-sides are better than many artist's A-sides, but untitled unmastered does have kind of an unfinished feel to it. It's nice enough, although I don't really see it as an album I'll be returning to very often.… Expand
  2. nzyeezy
    Mar 5, 2016
    4
    The songs we had already heard sounded one thousand times better live than the plain lifeless studio versions. The album feels like one long song for the most part, but not in a good way. I dont know why he still feels the need to use so many different voices but it grew tiresome along time ago.
  3. mlarch
    Apr 23, 2016
    6
    I feel like it's just me, but I did not love this album. I like what he did here, I like the jazz-y/relaxed feel, but as a whole I just don't love it. I can't see myself listening to this over and over again. Kendrick Lamar is such an influential artist and this album does not make me think any less of him.

    Favorites: untitled 2, untitled 8

Awards & Rankings

28
#28 Best Album of 2016
18
#18 Most Discussed Album of 2016
19
#19 Most Shared Album of 2016

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
86

Universal acclaim - based on 31 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 31 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 31
  3. Negative: 0 out of 31
  1. Uncut
    Apr 27, 2016
    70
    It's typical of Lamr's artistry that even a comp of offcuts comes formatted and conceptualised. [Jun 2016, p.75]
  2. Record Collector
    Apr 22, 2016
    80
    The songs here appear to be fragments sewn together so looking to find any cohesive narrative is beside the point, nor is there any pressure for there to be any obvious hits on the album. The effect is that the focus is shifted to Lamar’s vocal performance and serves as more evidence that he’s not only the foremost rapper of his generation, but is fast becoming one of the most effective vocalists full-stop.
    Read full review
  3. No Ripcord
    Apr 13, 2016
    80
    Kendrick Lamar’s talent is superficial in the extreme, plumbing his own creative depths with an unerring attention to detail. With untitled unmastered., he has found another way to sheathe people in his compelling vision.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »