I always skip BLOOD lol

To me, Blood and DNA are as inseparable as Pry to, and Corduroy. It's all just one song. And I see now that there's a version of the record with the tracks in reverse order. Which is cool... but there's no way DNA into Blood is as powerful and perfect as Blood into DNA. What a fucking insane way to begin an album.

I prefer the new reverse order album.

I’m not sure that post holds water TPAB considering TPAB was generally more acclaimed than DAMN. I also think DAMN is easily the more accomplished and complex album. TPAB just announces its consciousness more loudly.

After listening to TPAB and Damn. a couple of times each, it seems beyond obvious that white culture at large would revere and honor Damn. more than TPAB. Of the two, it's the only choice to win a Pulitzer, really. TPAB is far superior in composition. The music is much, much more interesting and effective and spans more ground. But the lyrical content is difficult. It's way too "black" for most white people. Damn. is stripped down and far more accessible. It relies on beats and hooks and samples and slick production. But the lyrics are less aggressively "black" (by which I mean, less exclusive to black culture and more relatable across all American cultural sub-sects) and seem to rely on morals and objectives more than TPAB.

Damn. feels more inclusive, like someone who has something to say and wants to be heard by the widest audience possible. It's a powerful record, for sure, and stands on its own, outside of political interrogation. Or it should, anyway. But conservative white people won't have as difficult a time relating and liberals will certainly see themselves in the record far easier.

Of the two, to my point, Damn. is the one I like more. The one I find more accessible and listenable. It's the one I'll continue to return to most often, I think. But TPAB is, to me, the far more interesting/difficult/rewarding record.

And just to be clear, this isn't meant to speak to any of the people slamming keys in this thread or how they've reacted to either record. There are plenty of people from various backgrounds who appreciate all kinds of music on their own terms and with open minds. I'm really just commenting on why the Pulitzer committee would focus on Damn. more than TPAB. Both records, I think, are absolutely worthy of the highest praise. Both are worthy of a Pulitzer Prize but it doesn't surprise me that Damn. is the one that got the attention. If that makes sense.

i agree with all of this except for one major distinction: the more i listen to TPAB, the less rewarding it becomes. there's a lot of vibey filler that bogs down the high points. to what extent i'm not connecting with those parts because i'm not black, i couldn't say for sure -- but i really don't think that's the case. i do love miles davis, herbie hancock, max coach, thundercat, etc etc...

i hear TPAB as an unfocused explosion of thoughts and emotion, and whole swaths have come to feel sort of tedious with time. DAMN's focus, consistent vibe, and shorter run time are what make that album so easy to enjoy front-to-back; i don't think it has much of anything to do with the lyrics (though i agree they are more white/radio-friendly on DAMN).

can’t even take this talk seriously if we are going to act like “good kid, m.a.a.d city” doesn’t exist

As far as I’m concerned, there’s DAMN, and then there’s a handful of great songs on albums that are annoying to listen to front-to-back.