Studio Album · No. 4
DAMN. Songwriting Credits by Kendrick Lamar
Produced by Mike Will Made It, Sounwave, DJ Dahi, Bekon, The Alchemist, 9th Wonder · Engineered by Derek Ali (MixedByAli), Matt Schaeffer
Top Dawg Entertainment / Aftermath Entertainment / Interscope Records
Hip HopConscious Hip HopTrapContemporary R&B
100%
Authorship
Kendrick Lamar wrote 14 of 14 documented tracks
Authorship Breakdown 14 / 14 documented
Who wrote the songs?
Scored across the 14 tracks with documented writers, by whether Kendrick Lamar carries a lyricist or composer credit.
14 trackswritten by Kendrick Lamar
0 tracksoutside writers
Kendrick Lamar's roles on this album
Share of the 14 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
Lyricist100%
Composer0%
Producer0%
Performer100%
By the Numbers
14
Tracks
44
Lyricists
21
Producers
1
No.1 Single
1 million
US Copies Sold
2017
Released
Awards & Recognition 2
Pulitzer Prize for Music (2018)
Best Rap Album (2018)
Data Insight
Kendrick Lamar wrote his own verses across DAMN., shaping the record's themes of weakness, wickedness, faith and lineage. The production roster is wide: Mike WiLL Made-It anchored the lead single 'HUMBLE.,' while Sounwave, DJ Dahi, Bekon and Teddy Walton built much of the sonic backbone, and pop producer Greg Kurstin co-produced 'LOVE.' Steve Lacy contributed to 'PRIDE.,' and U2 appear as featured collaborators on 'XXX.' Rihanna and Zacari supplied the album's two charting guest features.
Released April 14, 2017, DAMN. examines duality, weakness vs. wickedness, sin vs. righteousness, through 14 tracks that flow as a single narrative. It became the first rap album to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music (2018). Features Rihanna and U2, and includes sonic references to Lamar's Compton upbringing alongside Cold War-era geopolitical anxiety.
Track Listing & Credits 14 tracks
Written by the artist
Written by outside writers
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
BLOOD.
|
Kendrick LamarDaniel TannenbaumAnthony Tiffith | Kendrick DuckworthDaniel TannenbaumAnthony Tiffith | BekonTop Dawg | Kendrick Lamar (Rap) |
| 2 |
DNA.
|
Kendrick LamarMike Will Made-It | Kendrick DuckworthMichael Williams II | Mike Will Made It | Kendrick Lamar (Rap) |
| 3 |
YAH.
|
Kendrick LamarSounwaveDJ DahiAnthony Tiffith | Kendrick DuckworthMark SpearsDacoury NatcheAnthony Tiffith | SounwaveDJ DahiTop DawgBekon | Kendrick Lamar (Rap) |
| 4 |
ELEMENT.
|
Kendrick LamarSounwaveJames BlakeRicci Riera | Kendrick DuckworthMark SpearsJames BlakeRicci Riera | SounwaveJames BlakeRicci RieraTae BeastBekon | Kendrick Lamar (Rap) |
| 5 |
FEEL.
|
Kendrick LamarSounwave | Kendrick DuckworthMark Spears | Sounwave | Kendrick Lamar (Rap) |
| 6 |
LOYALTY.
#14
|
Kendrick LamarDJ DahiSounwaveRihannaTerrace MartinAnthony TiffithBruno MarsPhilip LawrenceChristopher Brody BrownOl' Dirty BastardRZAJay-ZMalik CoxSnoop DoggRicardo Thomas | Kendrick DuckworthDacoury NatcheMark SpearsRobyn FentyTerrace MartinAnthony TiffithPeter Gene HernandezPhilip LawrenceChristopher Brody BrownRussell JonesRobert DiggsShawn CarterMalik CoxCalvin BroadusRicardo Thomas | DJ DahiSounwaveTerrace MartinTop DawgKuk Harrell | Rihanna (Vocals) |
| 7 |
PRIDE.
|
Kendrick LamarSteve LacyAnna WiseAnthony Tiffith | Kendrick DuckworthSteve LacyAnna WiseAnthony Tiffith | Steve LacyTop DawgBekon | Kendrick Lamar (Rap) |
| 8 |
HUMBLE.
#1
|
Kendrick LamarMike Will Made-ItAsheton Hogan | Kendrick DuckworthMichael Williams IIAsheton Hogan | Mike Will Made ItPluss | Kendrick Lamar (Rap) |
| 9 |
LUST.
|
Kendrick LamarDJ DahiSounwaveChester HansenAlexander SowinskiMatthew TavaresLeland Whitty | Kendrick DuckworthDacoury NatcheMark SpearsChester HansenAlexander SowinskiMatthew TavaresLeland Whitty | DJ DahiSounwaveBadBadNotGood | Kendrick Lamar (Rap) |
| 10 |
LOVE.
#11
|
Kendrick LamarZacari PacaldoTravis WaltonSounwaveGreg KurstinAnthony Tiffith | Kendrick DuckworthZacari PacaldoTravis WaltonMark SpearsGreg KurstinAnthony Tiffith | Teddy WaltonSounwaveGreg KurstinTop Dawg | Zacari (Vocals) |
| 11 |
XXX.
|
Kendrick LamarMike Will Made-ItDJ DahiSounwaveAnthony TiffithBonoThe EdgeAdam ClaytonLarry Mullen Jr. | Kendrick DuckworthMichael Williams IIDacoury NatcheMark SpearsAnthony TiffithPaul HewsonDavid EvansAdam ClaytonLarry Mullen Jr. | Mike Will Made ItDJ DahiSounwaveTop DawgBekon | U2 (Vocals) |
| 12 |
FEAR.
|
Kendrick LamarDaniel MamanDale Warren | Kendrick DuckworthDaniel MamanDale Warren | The AlchemistBekon | Kendrick Lamar (Rap) |
| 13 |
GOD.
|
Kendrick LamarRicci RieraSounwaveDJ DahiDaniel TannenbaumRonald LaTourAnthony TiffithDaveon JacksonMike HectorTravis WaltonBrock Korsan | Kendrick DuckworthRicci RieraMark SpearsDacoury NatcheDaniel TannenbaumRonald LaTourAnthony TiffithDaveon JacksonMike HectorTravis WaltonBrock Korsan | Ricci RieraSounwaveDJ DahiBekonCardoTop DawgYung ExclusiveMike HectorTravis Walton | Kendrick Lamar (Rap) |
| 14 |
DUCKWORTH.
|
Kendrick Lamar9th WonderNai PalmDon RobeyJoe ScottBill Curtis | Kendrick DuckworthPatrick DouthitNaomi SaalfieldDon RobeyJoe ScottBill Curtis | 9th WonderBekon | Kendrick Lamar (Rap) |
Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 71 contributors
KD
Kendrick Duckworth
Writer
KL
Kendrick Lamar
Writer · Rap
S
Sounwave
Writer · Producer
MS
Mark Spears
Writer
AT
Anthony Tiffith
Writer
DD
DJ Dahi
Writer · Producer
DN
Dacoury Natche
Writer
MW
Michael Williams II
Writer
MW
Mike Will Made-It
Writer
RR
Ricci Riera
Writer · Producer
TW
Travis Walton
Writer · Producer
DT
Daniel Tannenbaum
Writer
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Frequently Asked Questions DAMN.
Did Kendrick Lamar write DAMN. himself?
Yes. Kendrick Lamar wrote his own verses across DAMN., working through its themes of faith, weakness and family legacy. He collaborated with a large production team but the lyrics and rapping are his own.
Did DAMN. by Kendrick Lamar win the Pulitzer Prize?
Yes. DAMN. won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Music, making Kendrick Lamar the first artist outside the classical and jazz traditions to receive the award. The Pulitzer board described it as a unified body of work capturing modern African-American life.
What Grammy did DAMN. win?
DAMN. won Best Rap Album at the 2018 Grammy Awards. The album and its singles earned Kendrick Lamar multiple Grammys that night.
Did the song HUMBLE. reach number one?
Yes. 'HUMBLE.' reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Kendrick Lamar's first solo chart-topper. The Mike WiLL Made-It-produced track was the album's lead single.
Who is featured on LOYALTY. from DAMN.?
Rihanna is featured on 'LOYALTY.' from DAMN. The song peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100.
What genre is DAMN. by Kendrick Lamar?
DAMN. is primarily a hip hop and conscious hip hop album, with strong trap and contemporary R&B elements. The production ranges from hard-edged trap on 'HUMBLE.' and 'DNA.' to softer R&B textures on 'LOVE.'
How many copies did DAMN. sell?
DAMN. opened with 603,000 album-equivalent units in its first week in the US and was certified 3x Platinum by the RIAA. It crossed one million pure copies sold domestically.