Showing posts with label Kendrick Lamar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kendrick Lamar. Show all posts
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Kendrick Lamar has had a big year. His infamous Drake beef song has had more exposure than his entire discography put together. Intelligently, he has chosen to use that spotlight to introduce these casual listeners to his actual music. Kendrick Lamar is the most creative rapper in the game. Every release he does something you haven't heard. We choose to stay away from the "Big 3" argument because being a great "indie rapper" is a different set of criteria. Any 10 seconds of "GNX" proves his talent and is top notch hip hop, but activism is divisive. How do we make the world better? More fair? "Tv off" is a great song, but the message is a little open ended. He explores several different angles of reality. The rappers with depth are getting older, and although they are aging well, the lack of upcoming artists makes celebrating seasoned rappers seem like over-hype. Interestingly, the song "GNX" addresses this reaction by featuring three rappers that seriously miss the target.
Kendrick Lamar is rapper from Compton, California. The thing that you have to keep in mind about this album is this is the most unapologetically "black" aligned rap I've ever heard. Tupac had more tact... Kanye has more tact. (Yes, I said it). If you can keep an open mind, you can appreciate his finesse talent and creativity. He calls attention to social issues that most people may have missed, ("The heart part 5" for example). There's an Eminem style showing-off in a lot of these songs, but his love for urban hip hop culture gives this album a legitimacy and authenticity that his fans have come to listen for.
Kendrick Lamar is a rapper form Compton, California. He has been doing very well this year. Damn is a collection of conscious rap mixed with fresh flow patterns and presentation styles. There are no ad-libs. There are no breathe-taking instrumentals. He is coasting off of pure talent. Damn is a good album. It's much better than "Untitled" and "To Pimp a Butterfly." He's always had a very insightful look at politics. His focus on jurisdiction rather than discrimination is more effective. In DNA, he says he feels like people have been "fed forgiveness." Connecting privilege to ethics is very astute.
Defining Track
"Humble" is phenomenal. No song has been that good and original in a long time. He's pumping a large amount of hip hop's hype single handedly. He was drifting into irrelevance on the mainstream scene until it dropped. He's back.
Final Thoughts
Kendrick Lamar is very talented. There isn't anything revolutionary about his subject. He isn't bending the genre rules. He's just being an incredible poet.
Kendrick Lamar - Damn
9/10
Defining Track
Swimming pools is the premier track of the album and plays in the tone. Although it's by far the most melodically charged track, it refuses to spare content to be more enjoyable. The beginning builds up the prologue and enters an explosively powerful chorus about the temptation of alcohol. This focus on pre-emptive decision making is slightly reminiscent of J-Cole's writing style. However, Swimming Pools is a highly innovative hybrid between widespread appeal and substance driven music.
Final Thoughts
Kendrick Lamar is a phenomenal rapper with a highly iconic flow pattern but his appeal is limited to a select demographic. Although his flow pattern and messages are dynamic, his lyricism simply doesn't translate with the same impact. The album is very good, but it doesn't have the appeal necessary to say more than that.
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