If there was ever a doubt in anyone’s mind that Kendrick Lamar isn’t the cream of the crop in the rap game, they may want to reconsider that notion.

Almost a full month after taking home five Grammys for his critically acclaimed masterpiece of an album “To Pimp a Butterfly,” the Compton-rapper surprised the music world, releasing a new album “untitled unmastered.” on March 4. An assist can be attributed to NBA All-Star LeBron James for the release of Lamar’s latest project.

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ small forward was so blown away by Lamar’s fierce performance at the 58 Grammy Awards on Feb. 15 that he publically issued a request towards Lamar’s label Top Dawg Entertainment via Twitter.

James’ request was ultimately taken into consideration by the TDE label, as fans had long been begging for the release of untitled tracks that Lamar had performed live in the past. Everyone got their wish when “untitled unmastered.” was released on March 4. This was a compilation album of unreleased material by Lamar, who had commented on these unreleased tracks from “To Pimp a Butterfly” during an interview originally conducted for Grammy.com a day after his resonant Grammy performance.

“You see all these performances on these late night shows—I got a chamber of material from the album that I was in love where sample clearances or something as simple as a deadline kept it off the album,” Lamar said. “But I think probably close to ten songs that I’m in love with that I’ll still play and still perform that didn’t make the cut.”

The compilation album of demos and unreleased material feels incomplete, hence its title and the track’s titles possessing nothing more than a number and a date. It almost comes off as a “making of” documentary for “To Pimp a Butterfly,” where we see Lamar coming of age, transitioning from the ghetto storyteller wrapped in West Coast “hip hop” sounds on his 2012 release “good kid, m.A.A.d city” to the political rapper who indulges in funk, jazz and soul vibes, inspiring circles of the Black Lives Matter movement with his ear piercing lyricism. It is on this album that Lamar remains as fierce as ever, maintaining his intensity but experimenting with the sounds that would eventually find its way onto “To Pimp a Butterfly.”

While none of the demos are composed to stand out in the manner that singles from “To Pimp a Butterfly” and “Alright,” do, they are crafted equally as beautiful. From the eerie, mellowed out vibes on the beatnik lounge jam “Untitled 3” (which was performed on “The Colbert Report”) to “Untitled 7” which transitions from a trippy trap song into a something resembling a ghetto-mafia movie score, rumored to be composed by Alicia Keys and Swizz Beat’s 5-year-old son. Despite the imperfections of the tracks, they manage to remain captivating and make audiences wonder how Lamar could’ve kept these tracks off his album, let alone from the entire world until now.

Altogether this is Lamar’s directors cut, the deleted scenes of his scenic masterpiece that netted him 11 Grammy nominations and the attention of music fans everywhere. It is only fitting that on “Untitled 8” Lamar gets in touch with his in touch with his inner George Clinton, embracing the funk to close out the album. This track is Lamar’s pimp strut, as he stunts his musical genius so that everyone can’t help but marvel at his vibrant ways, for he is a spectacle for all the right reasons. Anytime Lamar gets on a track, people are compelled to give him their undivided attention and leave only wanting to hear more of what he has to say. Hence why people like LeBron James are ready to riot whenever he performs amazing untitled, unreleased songs on live television. Even for an incomplete album filled with nothing but demos and imperfect tracks, Lamar still manages to showcase his brilliance.

With “untitled unmastered.” the rap game has witnessed an explosive start to 2016 as Kanye West returned to form on “The Life of Pablo” and Future turned heads with “EVOL.” This has all occurred with Drake waiting in the wings with “Views from the 6,” J. Cole lurking with a new project, that may or may not be a collaborative effort with Kendrick Lamar, and the highly anticipated debut album of Chicago rapper Mick Jenkins promising to drop this year.

The rap game promises to take center stage this year, with many hungry rappers eager to stake their claim as the best in the game. Yet with Lamar constantly reaching new heights and successfully exploring different avenues of artistry, the task certainly won’t be an easy one, for “untitled unmastered.” only makes it clear that he indeed is the game.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5