49. Kendrick Lamar - “untitled 02 | 06.23.2014.″

Certain songs possess an aura to them that just sort of sets them apart. It’s an intangible but clearly felt power that imbues the track and gives it a swagger – almost as if it was meant to be, or the song existed before it was recorded, floating around within Plato’s realm of perfect forms and all the artist had to do was somehow find it and tap into its power.

This is one of those tracks. Kendrick is at his best, completely comfortable, effortlessly flowing over the beat as if you’re sitting next to him – blunt in hand, having an intimate conversation as the night slowly expires into the haze of morning. It’s art at its finest. The lyrics aren’t as deep cutting or enlightened as other tracks of his, but the loose and almost jazzy freestyle-like quality of the flow are part of what gives the track its appeal and makes it so perfectly fit into what it is.

I guess that’s what makes it so great – this track is beautifully itself. A lot of tracks try to be something they’re not, but this track embraces what it is and does it better than anyone else.