Best ever? Seems about right.
Music Kendrick Lamar
- Thread starter ArmchairCritic
- Start date
Best of his generation definitely but best ever? Not sure about that
Granted I don't listen to that much of the new stuff but really, Kendrick top 10? Surely not. I just can't see it at all
Rakim, KRS-one, Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane, Nas, Biggie, Big Pun, AZ, Guru, Pharoahe Monch, Phife Dawg, Q Tip, Jeru the Damaja, Masta Ace, Big L, Slick Rick, GZA, Raekwon, Ghostface, Chino XL, Ras Kass, Common, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Royce Da 5'9 just to name a few surely so much better/greater?
Rakim, KRS-one, Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane, Nas, Biggie, Big Pun, AZ, Guru, Pharoahe Monch, Phife Dawg, Q Tip, Jeru the Damaja, Masta Ace, Big L, Slick Rick, GZA, Raekwon, Ghostface, Chino XL, Ras Kass, Common, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Royce Da 5'9 just to name a few surely so much better/greater?
When it's all said and done he could make my top 10 - but not there yet.
I think people get a bit carried away because there aren't so many greats coming through nowadays.
I think people get a bit carried away because there aren't so many greats coming through nowadays.
I think of all them Ghostface probably has the best discography?! Supreme Clientele, Fishscale, Ironman, then albums like 12 Reasons To Die and The Pretty Toney Album (one of the first albums I bought so it's got a special place in my heart). Then you've got everything with the Wu...
He is easily in my top ten.
Allong with Redman, Eminem, Pharoahe and Cube maybe even in my top 5.
Allong with Redman, Eminem, Pharoahe and Cube maybe even in my top 5.
I have a lot of love for the old school but he's clearly surpassed the likes of Chino XL and Ras Kass. He's among the others in the upper echelon of rappers. He's got a stronger body of work than a lot of them too (Rakim? As good as he is, doesn't have a particularly strong list of albums to fall back on). It's stylistic preference at this point.
You could definitely call him the best ever. Rakim and Jay Z are the only ones I think you can put ahead of Kendrick at this point.
Top 5 all time for me. Best of his generation.
The real king of the west: The Game
I’m on board.
I've heard a lot say his style is similar to Q Tip but I've never really listened to Q Tip, is he any good?
I'd say Kendrick's better than everyone there except Cube, Biggie and Nas, but to each their own.
Kendrick wrote several verses for for the Game, not sure if you're the type who think rappers shouldn't have ghostwriters.
Did he?!
Yes. Not insane to say that he's a better rapper than Kendrick either.
Hasn't put out a better volume of solo albums though.
Most won't. Some would. Pm me if you want a few of his highlights reeled off.
I love Q-Tip he is probably my favorite person in Hip Hop ever. I think he and Kanye are the two best rapper/producer combos ever and I think both them could argue that they have the best discographies ever in Hip Hop. But, I do not think they are the best "rappers" it is a pretty silly distinction but, while they have made some of the best music ever in Hip Hop when we rank "rappers" the assumption is we are rating them on lyrical and technical ability. And while they are great they do not have the jaw dropping lyrical ability guys like Andre 3000, Pharoahe Monch,Kendrick Lamar etc have.
No disrespect to your list but he is comfortably better than a few of those. And I'm one who thinks Kendrick is kind of overrated.
Ghostface has a better discography than Jay-z, Nas, Biggie and Eminem? Not a chance imo.
I think you're a Ghostface fan, which is fair - I personally would put Ghost in the top 30, but not top 20.
This sounds like the type of list people write that makes it sound as if they are into rap.
Out of this list, in terms of pure technical rapping ability - Kendrick is better than most on this list.
We could spend forever talking about individual tastes and what sounds good to you vs what sounds good to me.
But I guess it comes down to what you consider when it comes to calling someone a great rapper.
Some people only think the complexity of your lyricism makes you a better rapper than somebody else, others think there are other things to consider outside of technical rapping ability.
Fair! As ridiculously capable as Eminem is, the Slim Shady LP is the only album of his I go back to. Like you say, at this point it comes down to stylistic preference as there is a ridiculous roster to choose from.
Just a quick one, listen to these two GFK tracks and lemme know what you think. I know you said you rated him, but sometimes I find his style sort of inaccessible but songs like this just kick so hard! Demonstrates his diverse delivery.
Send me a PM and I'll have a listen to your recommendations. I've got spotify so should be able to find most of his stuff.
They just played him on Radio 1, he's got a very similar delivery and sound to Kendrick.
To be fair, i'm not an Eminem fan at all, his style just isn't for me - however his lyricism has always impressed me, and he's one of the few rappers who's managed to maintain a high level of consistency that spans decades/eras, so it's hard to not include him.
As for GFK - again, I'm not trying to suggest he's not a bad rapper, he was one of my early favourites because 36 Chambers was the first rap album I bought (along with Ja Rule
) and his voice & tone was instantly memorable to me as a 7/8 year old.Just, when I list rappers, i'm not only thinking of their lyricism I think that approach came from the 80s/90s and now hip hop has moved on.
Plus the nostalgic effect means that we view a lot of the stereotypical 'good' rappers as being better, purely because they existed in the 90s, and the thought of a 00's/10's rapper being better than them is blasphemy.
What does that mean?
It sounds like the stereotypical list of rappers that people reel off when they're talking 'real' rap, and how 'the 90s were the golden age' and such.
I'm not suggesting that's what you're doing btw.
He sure did. 50 cent wrote the entire 'This is how we do' and 'Hate it or love it' for the Documentary, not just the hooks. He got a lot of help on that album as it dragged on for almost a year before completion. 50 cent coming on board helped exponentially. Kendrick wrote for him on the R.E.D album
Game only had 2 excellent albums though. The rest are a bit hit and miss.
Nah I agree. Lyricism is a bit secondary to me. It's everything else that matters; flow, delivery, aesthetic sound of their voice etc. I have so much time for YG, Future, Drake, Jay Critch etc. cos they know to make music that sounds good (for the most part). It just depresses me that I don't live their life.To be fair, i'm not an Eminem fan at all, his style just isn't for me - however his lyricism has always impressed me, and he's one of the few rappers who's managed to maintain a high level of consistency that spans decades/eras, so it's hard to not include him.
As for GFK - again, I'm not trying to suggest he's not a bad rapper, he was one of my early favourites because 36 Chambers was the first rap album I bought (along with Ja Rule
Just, when I list rappers, i'm not only thinking of their lyricism I think that approach came from the 80s/90s and now hip hop has moved on.
Plus the nostalgic effect means that we view a lot of the stereotypical 'good' rappers as being better, purely because they existed in the 90s, and the thought of a 00's/10's rapper being better than them is blasphemy.
Anyone see the Joe budden podcast where they named rappers and asked would they be in their top ten?
They ended up with something like 30 rappers in their top ten .
That's the trouble with these lists personally I would have Kendrick top five at least but when I really think about it there's like ten more id say should be top five
Right now I'm going Nas,Kendrick,Joey Badass,Asap Rocky,Logic .
But tomorrow I want cube,Jada,Styles p,Scarface and Snoop in there too
They ended up with something like 30 rappers in their top ten .
That's the trouble with these lists personally I would have Kendrick top five at least but when I really think about it there's like ten more id say should be top five
Right now I'm going Nas,Kendrick,Joey Badass,Asap Rocky,Logic .
But tomorrow I want cube,Jada,Styles p,Scarface and Snoop in there too
Did he, re 50?! I thought he only wrote a few hooks (and his own verses ofcourse).
Also surprised re: Kendrick on RED, but makes sense I suppose.
edit: indeed seems 50 just wrote some of the hooks: http://www.thisis50.com/forum/topics/proof-that-50-cent-wrote-game-s-album-the-documentary
Agreed tbh (as his biggest fan), his albums (bar the first 2) have also been below-par, his mixtapes and random tracks much better than his actual studio albums IMHO!
Anyone see the Joe budden podcast where they named rappers and asked would they be in their top ten?
They ended up with something like 30 rappers in their top ten .
That's the trouble with these lists personally I would have Kendrick top five at least but when I really think about it there's like ten more id say should be top five
Right now I'm going Nas,Kendrick,Joey Badass,Asap Rocky,Logic .
But tomorrow I want cube,Jada,Styles p,Scarface and Snoop in there too
Logic is terrible.
Anyone see the Joe budden podcast where they named rappers and asked would they be in their top ten?
They ended up with something like 30 rappers in their top ten .
That's the trouble with these lists personally I would have Kendrick top five at least but when I really think about it there's like ten more id say should be top five
Right now I'm going Nas,Kendrick,Joey Badass,Asap Rocky,Logic .
But tomorrow I want cube,Jada,Styles p,Scarface and Snoop in there too
I love these guys but ok, thats a lot of praise!
He wrote more than just those hooks, its an badly kept 'secret'.
Oddisee needs some respeck on his name. Guy is stupidly consistent.
2 good songs released so far from the Black Panther album which he (and TDE) are curating.
They need to remove Future from ‘King’s Dead’ though. Wtf was that?!
They need to remove Future from ‘King’s Dead’ though. Wtf was that?!
Going to see him next Saturday in Manchester. Doors open at 6 and last train home is 12.30, does anyone have an idea how long it'll go on for etc? Only reason is it'd make more sense getting the last train home as it'd be much cheaper than driving + parking and gives me chance to have a beer and enjoy it.
Last train from Piccadilly or Victoria?
Shows at the Arena usually end around half 10 anyways.
Piccadilly mate. About a 15 min walk to the station from the arena isn't it? Oh that'll be Good then, thanks for the help!
No worries mate, just give yourself 20-25 minutes because the crowds move slowly after the gig.
I will do, appreciate it!
Haven't heard kendrick much but after reading this potential comparison with Q tip ive followed literally about him on spotify.
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Back in Poland, back in Kraków in August, just like three years ago, cannot fecking wait