Kendrick Lamar is capping off an incredible year with a gift for his fans. On Friday (Dec. 8), the Compton rapper released a COLLECTORS EDITION. of his album DAMN., which earned seven Grammy nominations.
The re-release features all 14 tracks in reverse order, with “DUCKWORTH.” as the opener and “BLOOD.” as the finale. The original album, which includes collaborations with Rihanna and U2, topped the charts upon its release in April.
In August, K-Dot confirmed speculation 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 told MTV News. “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.”
Stream the DAMN. COLLECTORS EDITION. below.