Kendrick Lamar’s Surprise ‘Untitled Unmastered’ Album

This was posted on Thursday evening on Top Dawg Entertainment CEO Anthony Tiffith‘s Twitter confirming fan speculation of a new Kendrick Lamar album after the appearance of a work called “untitled, unmastered” on Lamar’s Spotify page. Earlier in the week, Tiffith had teased a new Lamar album for 2016 with an Instagram as well.

Just 2 show niggas I’m not playing. Ive decided 2 drop a project 1 day this week. I won’t say wut day or who. It cud be 2nite So don’t ask me jus stay close to the net. Is this Kool with y’all? #TDE

A photo posted by gwadpot (@dangerookipawaa) on Mar 1, 2016 at 2:00pm PST

The album was released Thursday night with eight album tracks listed as untitled with the addition of dates spanning from 2013-2016. He performed one of these tracks during the Grammys, saying that it was one of the tracks that did not make To Pimp a Butterfly.

He said in an interview with Grammy.com that he had a lot of material from the album that he loved and still listened to that didn’t make the album. He also performed untitled tracks on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and The Colbert Report.

Many people attribute the album’s release to NBA MVP LeBron James‘ tweet at Tiffith:

To which Tiffith had responded:

Tiffith told his followers before the album was uploaded to thank LeBron for his inspiration.

Yea muthafuckas KING KENDRICK returns 2nite.. Thank @kingjames for this…. #TDE

A video posted by gwadpot (@dangerookipawaa) on Mar 3, 2016 at 7:30pm PST

Although LeBron himself took to Instagram to show his appreciation of the album:

King Kendrick! Levitate levitate levitate levitate #EssenceOfItAll #StriveForGreatness #YoungKings

A video posted by LeBron James (@kingjames) on Mar 4, 2016 at 8:59am PST

The album sticks to the futuristic jazz sound of Lamar’s hint album laced with strong characters and a tight narrative of the struggles within race, identity and self-worth.