Rolling Stone - "[T]here's brilliance in even Lamar's cast-offs, and an intimacy here that makes this more than just a gift for his ravenous fans --it's an illuminating look at a red-hot rapper's craft."

Spin - "untitled unmastered can feel like the clearing of a table, rather than a feast. But in this lies its power and greatest asset: With the stakes low, Lamar can air out his demons, have some fun, bask in the afterglow of the Grammys..."

Mojo (Publisher) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "The standout, 'Untitled 03,', is as affecting as any cut from the `finished' album, its lurching groove transfigured by Lamar's coolly deadpan flow and piercing observations on unflattering stereotypes."

Mojo (Publisher) - Ranked #45 in Mojo's 'The 50 Best Albums Of 2016' -- "It's proof of the Compton rapper's current status as the most alert mind with the sophisticated flow in the genre..."

NME (Magazine) - "[I]t's all dense and considered, but never overwrought or explicitly angry. What really emerges is Kendrick's nuanced worldview..."

Paste (magazine) - "[T]here's an intimacy here that will probably never make it onto any of his future official studio albums....untitled unmastered shows that the holes in his willed chrysalis might be more interesting than the beauty promised by the cocoon."

Pitchfork (Website) - "One of the most enchanting things about this project is hearing how Kendrick manipulates his own voice before the studio modulations kick in."

Clash (magazine) - "[I]t's not just that this release adds new layers and context; some of the stellar work stocked here even surpasses the best that BUTTERFLY has to offer."