Kendrick Lamar fans have been speculating on his next album since he dropped the Pulitzer Prize-winning DAMN. back in 2017. Now, it looks like his new album might finally be finished.
In the intervening years between DAMN. and now, the Compton rapper has bagged an Academy Award nomination for curating Marvel’s Black Panther soundtrack and teamed up with everyone from SZA to James Blake.
Elsewhere, a leaked tweet from Interscope Records-affiliate Polydor Records indicated he would be dropping a new album in 2019, too, but obviously that didn’t happen. However, thanks to new information from industry insiders has renewed excitement for an impending album.
Here’s everything we know so far about Kendrick Lamar’s new album.
What will the next Kendrick Lamar album sound like?
Lamar has often drawn sonic influences from beyond hip hop. He enlisted some of the most exciting and innovative jazz musicians on To Pimp a Butterfly and recent rumors suggest his new album will be a similar cross-genre situation.
Billboard columnist and former editorial director, Bill Werde, took to Twitter recently to reveal that Lamar’s latest project is “pulling in more rock sounds.”
When will Kendrick Lamar’s new album drop?
Werde’s initial tweet promoted speculation about an impending drop, but he was quick to clarify that a finished album doesn’t necessarily mean the release date is close.
In a follow-up tweet, Werde clarified that “just because recording had hit a point where folks believe it may be finished — albums go back to the studio all the time after this point, and for a million different reasons.” So in short, Kendrick’s album could drop any time now, but it’s likely we’ll have to be patient.
What is Kendrick Lamar’s new album called?
As of yet, we have no idea what Kendrick’s fifth studio album will be called. His previous full-length albums include Section.80, Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, To Pimp a Butterfly, and DAMN., which has since been certified triple platinum.
Who will appear on the album?
Thundercat revealed that he has been working on Kendrick Lamar‘s untitled new album. The musician confirmed the news in a recent video interview with Japanese fashion brand Neet Tokyo on March 27.
Kendrick Lamar new album cover art
Without even an album name to go on yet, obviously we have no new album art to share with you. It could be that he teams up with Vlad Sepetov again, though, seeing as he created the covers for To Pimp a Butterfly and DAMN.
Kendrick Lamar new album tracklist and guest artists
No word has released yet regarding potential tracks and collaborators on Kendrick’s new album, but we’ll keep you in the loop as soon as we get word.