Kendrick Lamar Confirms DAMN. Was Meant to Be Played Backwards

Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN. is one of 2017’s best albums, and now King Kendrick has confirmed a popular fan theory about the record: It’s even better when played backwards.

“I think like a week after the album came out, [fans] realized you can play the album backwards,” Lamar 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.”

Lamar went on to explain how listening in reverse makes for a deeper listening experience:

I don’t think the story necessarily changes, I think the feel changes. 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.

Kendrick has released a handful of mind-blowing music videos for DAMN. tracks, including “HUMBLE.,” “DNA.,” “ELEMENT.” and “LOYALTY.” He recently performed those first two tracks at the VMAs.

Stream DAMN. here, read our review of the album here and find out where it fell on our list of 2017’s best albums right here.