What is the best Kendrick Lamar album to start with?

The best album to start with is "Good Kid, M.A.A.D City" (2012). It's the most representative of what makes Kendrick Lamar worth hearing.

What are the best Kendrick Lamar albums?

The essential Kendrick Lamar albums include "Section.80" (2011), "Good Kid, M.A.A.D City" (2012), "To Pimp a Butterfly" (2015), "Untitled Unmastered" (2016) and "DAMN." (2017).

How many albums does Kendrick Lamar have?

Kendrick Lamar has 47 releases in their discography, including 10 albums and 1 EP.

Photo: Fuzheado · CC BY-SA 4.0

Kendrick Lamar

Q: Who is Kendrick Lamar for?

If you're into funk and jazz, Kendrick Lamar is worth your time. Kendrick Lamar's music pulses with intricate rhythms and dynamic changes, using tension and release to guide listeners through emotional landscapes.

Kendrick Lamar's music pulses with intricate rhythms and dynamic changes, using tension and release to guide listeners through emotional landscapes.

alternative hip-hop · funk · gangsta rap · jazz

United States

Read about Kendrick Lamar on Bookshop

Start here

The album

Good Kid, M.A.A.D City album by Kendrick Lamar

Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012)

Represents Kendrick's storytelling ability and West Coast sound in a cohesive narrative about his upbringing.

The song

“Alright” from To Pimp a Butterfly

Immediate hook and powerful message introduce Kendrick's style and themes of resilience.

See the full guide

About Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar's presence in the music landscape has redefined the boundaries of hip-hop, transforming it into a platform for profound cultural commentary and personal reflection.

His ability to articulate complex narratives around race, identity, and systemic injustice resonates deeply with listeners, fostering a sense of community and shared experience.

His ability to articulate complex narratives around race, identity, and systemic injustice resonates deeply with listeners, fostering a sense of community and shared experience. By elevating the genre beyond mere entertainment, he has inspired a generation to engage with social issues through the lens of art. Lamar’s innovative approach lies in his meticulous attention to storytelling, often employing cinematic techniques that blur the lines between personal memoir and broader societal critique. He crafts intricate soundscapes that complement his lyrical prowess, creating an immersive listening experience that challenges conventional structures. This commitment to narrative depth invites listeners to explore their own perspectives while navigating the intricacies of his music. Common themes in Kendrick's songwriting include the struggles of marginalized communities, the search for self-identity, and the complexities of fame. His voice oscillates between raw honesty and poetic introspection, often using irony to underscore sincerity in his messages. This duality allows for a rich tapestry of emotion and thought, engaging listeners on multiple levels.

10 studio albums· 47 total releases· 1 decade· United States

Full discography

Kendrick Lamar's albums in order, from earliest releases to latest.

47 releases • 10 albums • 1 EP • 2009–2025

Type:

Studio albums ()

Experimental

EPs ()

The Kendrick Lamar EP

2009

Singles (36)

Grouped by decade — 3 eras.

2020s ()

2010s ()

Undated ()

U

No releases match the current filters.

Songs to start with

If you'd rather pick a song than an album.

1

"untitled 01 | 08.19.2014." — from Untitled Unmastered (2016)

establishes the sonic palette early
2

"Sherane a.k.a Master Splinter’s Daughter" — from Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012)

establishes the sonic palette early
3

"Wesley’s Theory" — from To Pimp a Butterfly (2015)

establishes the sonic palette early
4

"United in Grief" — from Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers (2022)

establishes the emotional core of the record
5

"Fuck Your Ethnicity" — from Section.80 (2011)

establishes the sonic palette early
6

"wacced out murals" — from GNX (2024)

establishes the sonic palette early

Continue your journey

If you liked Kendrick Lamar, start with Danny Brown

A guided entry point we think you'll like.

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Reference

Official site Wikipedia MusicBrainz Wikidata

Kendrick Lamar

About Kendrick Lamar

Full discography

Studio albums ()

GNX

Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers

Black Panther

DAMN.

Untitled Unmastered

To Pimp a Butterfly

Good Kid, M.A.A.D City

Section.80

Overly Dedicated

C4

EPs ()

The Kendrick Lamar EP

Singles (36)

2020s ()

30 for 30

TV Off

Like That

America Has a Problem

The Heart Part 5

Family Ties

Look over Your Shoulder

2010s ()

Big Shot

Pray for Me

King's Dead

All the Stars

New Freezer

Element

Loyalty

Humble

The Heart Part 4

Untitled 07 | 2014 - 2016

These Walls

Alright

Bad Blood

The Blacker the Berry

Pay For It

Never Catch Me

i

Give It 2 U

We Up

Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe

YOLO

Poetic Justice

Forbidden Fruit

Fuckin' Problems

Good Kid

Backseat Freestyle

Swimming Pools (Drank)

HiiiPoWeR

Undated ()

U

Songs to start with