We gon’ put it in reverse! Eight months after Kendrick Lamar dropped DAMN., the Compton rapper could be unleashing a collector’s edition of his chart-topping album in reverse, according to multiple outlets.
Talk of the re-release, with its tracklisting reversed, first appeared on Microsoft’s online music marketplace, according to Pitchfork. The new version of the effort features a new cover and the song titles in reverse order, with “DUCKWORTH.” as the opener and “BLOOD.” as the finale. Microsoft has since taken down that page.
In August, K-Dot told MTV News that the album could be played in reverse. “I think like a week after the album came out, [fans] realized you can play the album backwards,” he said. “It plays as a full story and even a better rhythm. It’s one of my favorite 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,” he added. “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.”
DAMN. has been a critical and commercial success, earning top spots on several year-end lists, including Rolling Stone’s. The project also earned him seven Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year and Best Rap Album.