Three weeks ago, Kendrick Lamar's new song, “The Heart Part IV,” ended with the Compton native as confident as ever, shouting, “Y'all got 'til April the 7th to get y'all shit together.” (I've had my shit packed and ready ever since.) Of course, April 7 came and went without the album’s release, leaving hip hop fans everywhere confused and hitting repeat yet again on the other single, “HUMBLE.” Everything about that track—from Lamar preaching modesty in a Pope cape to the buoyant brashness of Mike WiLL Made-It’s production—hinted at a simultaneously more aggressive and more upbeat Kendrick Lamar in 2017. And today, we find out.

Kendrick Lamar's fourth studio album, DAMN., arrives in style (with a cover that happens to be designed by recent UW grad Vlad Sepetov). At 14-tracks long and with only two credited features—Rihanna and U2, who are sonically worlds apart—it’s not exactly clear what the project will sound like. Add in both confirmed and unconfirmed collaborator rumors, including Steve Lacy, Kaytranada, and Zacari, and you’ve got a diverse soundscape only an artist like Lamar could make coherent.

After two hiphop masterpieces, 2012’s good kid, m.A.A.d city and 2015’s To Pimp A Butterfly, Lamar should not be doubted. Expect the same breathtaking storytelling and speaker-igniting bars this time around from him, because he’s never given you a reason not to.

I intend to spend the weekend listening intently to DAMN., and I'll return to Slog Monday morning to share my findings.