Music Kendrick Lamar

[Lay]

Pac being called overrated makes him underrated. He dropped two classic albums and one iconic album before he was 25 for fecks sake

Biggie is probably the most quotable rapper in history despite limited albums. He was 24.

 

[b82REZ]

He unironically posted something with minions in yesterday so he's out unfortunately.

Haven't seen that. But he started the reemergence of the hip hop in the early naughties. His influence is greater than Pac or Biggie IMO.

 

[Solius]

Haven't seen that. But he started the reemergence of the hip hop in the early naughties. His influence is greater than Pac or Biggie IMO.

Yeah I'm only messing. He's gone weird recently though.

 

[Pickle85]

Yeah I'm only messing. He's gone weird recently though.

I used to love him but I'm not a fan any more. A lot of his work now seems to be rhyming for the sake of rhyming without too much thought for what he's actually saying. I also don't like his recent 'look how quickly I can rap' phase. He also really needs to stop with the shock rap thing...it was daring and new a couple of decades ago but it's a bit pathetic to listen to a fifty year old man rap about rape/buttholes etc (not that making light of rape or homophobia was ever ok). He's got a huge body of work and has only made four quality albums imo (MMLP, MMLP2, Eminem Show and Slim Shady LP

 

[Solius]

I used to love him but I'm not a fan any more. A lot of his work now seems to be rhyming for the sake of rhyming without too much thought for what he's actually saying. I also don't like his recent 'look how quickly I can rape phase. He also really needs to stop with the shock rap thing...it was daring and new a couple of decades ago but it's a bit pathetic to listen to a fifty year old man rap about rape/buttholes etc (not that making light of rape or homophobia was ever ok). He's got a huge body of work and has only made four quality albums imo (MMLP, MMLP2, Eminem Show and Slim Shady LP

Wow not sure how he hasn't been cancelled!

 

[Pickle85]

Wow not sure how he hasn't been cancelled!

Flipping hell that was a bad typo! Edited...

 

[horsechoker]

Wow not sure how he hasn't been cancelled!

 

[IhabX7]

Head and shoulders above everyone. Dead or alive.

 

[lsd]

Pac being called overrated makes him underrated. He dropped two classic albums and one iconic album before he was 25 for fecks sake

Biggie is probably the most quotable rapper in history despite limited albums. He was 24.

Biggie was a mixture of Pac and Nas musically he did very little original and while it doesn't matter was extremely fake.

Pac's first two albums were decent me against the world is a classic but everything he did at death row was wannabe gangsta stuff that never suited him.

I never really liked his flow and I believe that's why Dre didn't do a lot of work with him.

It's all subjective but I agree with the poster who said If neither died they would be remembered a lot less

 

[Lay]

Biggie was a mixture of Pac and Nas musically he did very little original and while it doesn't matter was extremely fake.

Pac's first two albums were decent me against the world is a classic but everything he did at death row was wannabe gangsta stuff that never suited him.

I never really liked his flow and I believe that's why Dre didn't do a lot of work with him.

It's all subjective but I agree with the poster who said If neither died they would be remembered a lot less

All Eyez On Me regardless if you thought it was wannabe gangster stuff is still iconic. The Makaveli album was exceptional. He released two albums in the last 8 months of his life (one being a two disc album) that have stood the test of time.

Calling Pac overrated is ridiculous. Not in your top 5? Cool. But calling him overrated considering his body of work in 5 years which was interrupted with jail times is pretty exceptional. They could release a classic album with all his other work too if his state was better run.

 

[Pickle85]

All Eyez On Me regardless if you thought it was wannabe gangster stuff is still iconic. The Makaveli album was exceptional. He released two albums in the last 8 months of his life (one being a two disc album) that have stood the test of time.

Calling Pac overrated is ridiculous. Not in your top 5? Cool. But calling him overrated considering his body of work in 5 years which was interrupted with jail times is pretty exceptional. They could release a classic album with all his other work too if his state was better run.

All opinions, isn't it. I happen to agree that Pac gets overrated as a result of his early death. All Eyez on Me is a classic but for me that's his only classic album. I also think his sound has aged poorly when you put him alongside rappers like Nas.

 

[Red_Aaron]

I'm not the biggest All Eyez fan but Makaveli is a brilliant album - remove toss it up and it's practically perfect. The posthumous R U still is also chock full of great tracks and unlike a lot of the subsequent posthumous stuff it was left largely untouched on release

I'm a forty something, grew up in raps golden age of the nineties and I'd have kendrick in my top 5 too . He's someone who you could comfortably drop in any era and he'd hold his own - an exceptional talent I can't wait for the next drop

 

[SuperiorXI]

He's easily above 2pac, Biggie and Jay z in terms of pure quality for me.

Always felt Biggie was very overrated while Pac just was not that good a rapper though he had so much charisma.

Jay was always a bit too pop for my taste. Nas had had his ups and downs but the way he is turning out quality album after quality album now after the career he has had puts him at number one then it's Kendrick

I love Kendrick but come on man! That's some praise.

 

[Red_Aaron]

Haven't seen that. But he started the reemergence of the hip hop in the early naughties. His influence is greater than Pac or Biggie IMO.

Reemmergence? Are you suggesting hip hop went away in the late nineties?

Eminem is a great rapper but he stands on the shoulders of the likes of Pac. Ems influence is naught but a by product of the gangster rappers he grew up on - he'd say as much himself too I'm sure

 

[b82REZ]

Reemmergence? Are you suggesting hip hop went away in the late nineties?

Eminem is a great rapper but he stands on the shoulders of the likes of Pac. Ems influence is naught but a by product of the gangster rappers he grew up on - he'd say as much himself too I'm sure

It never went away, but it was far from the mainstream behemoth it is today.

Eminem bridged the gap and made it far more popular than it ever was.

 

[phelans shorts]

Why is 2 Pac's legacy the biggest?

I've never liked rap, just curious. Also, does Outkast not make anyones lists, or are they more hip-hop and not rap? I liked them maybe for that reason.

Outkast would have to be right near very top. They’re absolutely brilliant phenomenal.

 

[Red_Aaron]

It never went away, but it was far from the mainstream behemoth it is today.

Eminem bridged the gap and made it far more popular than it ever was.

Hip Hop was already on that upturn, due in no small part to 2pac attacking all and sundry in the mid nineties and getting the world's attention from it. Eminem played his part in the naughties and is unquestionably a key figure of the era but to suggest he started anything is nonsense imvho

Either way this is a kendrick thread and I'm happy to disagree

 

[ArmchairCritic]

Can’t believe I made the OP 10 years ago, where does the time go.

 

[horsechoker]

What are people's opinions on DAMN after 5 years?

My opinion is that it lacks the cohesiveness of previous projects and having several songs that are ok but nothing special. The hits are great but the hits were great on GKMC and TPAB but the other tracks were also good. I've rarely returned to listen to DAMN in its entirety while I've gone back to GKMC and TPAB a few times since 2017.

It's by no means a bad album, it's good but not as good as his previous work.

 

[adexkola]

Why is 2 Pac's legacy the biggest?

I've never liked rap, just curious. Also, does Outkast not make anyones lists, or are they more hip-hop and not rap? I liked them maybe for that reason.

Because 2 Pac's legacy goes beyond technical ability and hits on the charts... For a rapper, the amount of emotion in his music was unparalleled. For lack of a better way to put it, you felt his music deeply.

OutKast are as much hip-hop as they are rap. They were very adventurous and eclectic with their sounds starting from the second album onwards, compared to their peers.

 

[lsd]

What are people's opinions on DAMN after 5 years?

My opinion is that it lacks the cohesiveness of previous projects and having several songs that are ok but nothing special. The hits are great but the hits were great on GKMC and TPAB but the other tracks were also good. I've rarely returned to listen to DAMN in its entirety while I've gone back to GKMC and TPAB a few times since 2017.

It's by no means a bad album, it's good but not as good as his previous work.

Yeah I would say it's shorter and easier to listen too I listen to it the whole way through as there's nothing skippable on there.

There is the one with Bono on which although ok always makes you sigh and go Fkn Bono when it starts

It's not one I rush to repeat but when I do start it I play it all which can't be bad

 

[adexkola]

What are people's opinions on DAMN after 5 years?

My opinion is that it lacks the cohesiveness of previous projects and having several songs that are ok but nothing special. The hits are great but the hits were great on GKMC and TPAB but the other tracks were also good. I've rarely returned to listen to DAMN in its entirety while I've gone back to GKMC and TPAB a few times since 2017.

It's by no means a bad album, it's good but not as good as his previous work.

It's not as cohesive as TPAB/GKMC but the hits on DAMN were so popular it didn't matter. From a critical acclaim perspective Kendrick is all set. DAMN established him as an artist that could pull off stadium tours.

 

[adexkola]

2 Pac is not overrated, that is insane talk by the way from anyone who knows at least a bit about hip-hop.

 

[Pickle85]

2 Pac is not overrated, that is insane talk by the way from anyone who knows at least a bit about hip-hop.

Tbf, that's a subjective opinion. Not an objective fact.

 

[adexkola]

Tbf, that's a subjective opinion. Not an objective fact.

Very opinion is subjective to some extent but even opinions must be supported by some sort of evidence. Regarding the 2Pac opinion I don't see it apart from "I don't like his music" which is fair but doesn't have any merit beyond that person's individual tastes.

 

[Pickle85]

Very opinion is subjective to some extent but even opinions must be supported by some sort of evidence. Regarding the 2Pac opinion I don't see it apart from "I don't like his music" which is fair but doesn't have any merit beyond that person's individual tastes.

Many put Tupac as the greatest that's ever lived which, to my mind, is nonsense and massively overrating someone that (again, for me) had one top class album and some decent ones. Also someone whose sound now sounds, to me, very dated. I know a decent amount about hip hop but also think that Tupac, while a top ten of all-time (probably) is overrated.

 

[Solius]

What are people's opinions on DAMN after 5 years?

My opinion is that it lacks the cohesiveness of previous projects and having several songs that are ok but nothing special. The hits are great but the hits were great on GKMC and TPAB but the other tracks were also good. I've rarely returned to listen to DAMN in its entirety while I've gone back to GKMC and TPAB a few times since 2017.

It's by no means a bad album, it's good but not as good as his previous work.

It’s his worst album but Kendrick’s worst is better than most people’s best. It just lacks something and felt too commercialised for me. I absolutely hate Humble and Loyalty. DNA is a banger though.

 

[lsd]

Top 5 Kendrick Songs?
HiiiPower
Blow my high
M.A.A.d city
DNA
Bitch Dont Kill My Vibe

Changes a lot though

 

[adexkola]

Many put Tupac as the greatest that's ever lived which, to my mind, is nonsense and massively overrating someone that (again, for me) had one top class album and some decent ones. Also someone whose sound now sounds, to me, very dated. I know a decent amount about hip hop but also think that Tupac, while a top ten of all-time (probably) is overrated.

1. Ok yeah proclaiming him as the undisputed greatest is a bit OTT. He is closer than you give him credit though! His impact on hip-hop music in the 90s can't be overstated.
2. He has at least 3 top class albums, come on ... Me Against the World, All Eyes on Me (one of the better double LPs) and Makaveli are all up there in terms of quality. That's not bad for someone who died in their 20s. I mean, Biggie is considered the GOAT by some and he only had 2 albums!
3. A lot of stuff from that time sounds dated... And not just in terms of production. I dare you to listen to Efil4zaggin again with a straight face at all the misogyny... I try not to let that impact my understanding of a project's overall standing in the pantheon.

But overall fair enough, I don't think he's the GOAT.

 

[Pickle85]

1. Ok yeah proclaiming him as the undisputed greatest is a bit OTT. He is closer than you give him credit though! His impact on hip-hop music in the 90s can't be overstated.
2. He has at least 3 top class albums, come on ... Me Against the World, All Eyes on Me (one of the better double LPs) and Makaveli are all up there in terms of quality. That's not bad for someone who died in their 20s. I mean, Biggie is considered the GOAT by some and he only had 2 albums!
3. A lot of stuff from that time sounds dated... And not just in terms of production. I dare you to listen to Efil4zaggin again with a straight face at all the misogyny... I try not to let that impact my understanding of a project's overall standing in the pantheon.

But overall fair enough, I don't think he's the GOAT.

Yeah, agree with almost all of this tbh. I agree that his standing for me is probably compromised as I just don't really dig him like I used to. And it's a valid point about Biggie. Its weird, when I was first getting into rap and hip hop culture more broadly I was MUCH more onto the west coast scene but now, even looking back at that time, I'm WAY more into the east coast music. Weird how tastes change.

 

[Wednesday at Stoke]

I fear the album might break Spotify.

 

[2mufc0]

Many put Tupac as the greatest that's ever lived which, to my mind, is nonsense and massively overrating someone that (again, for me) had one top class album and some decent ones. Also someone whose sound now sounds, to me, very dated. I know a decent amount about hip hop but also think that Tupac, while a top ten of all-time (probably) is overrated.

Tupac's music is timeless. The production esp on AEOM is better sounding than some modern day music.

 

[2mufc0]

Biggie was a mixture of Pac and Nas musically he did very little original and while it doesn't matter was extremely fake.

Pac's first two albums were decent me against the world is a classic but everything he did at death row was wannabe gangsta stuff that never suited him.

I never really liked his flow and I believe that's why Dre didn't do a lot of work with him.

It's all subjective but I agree with the poster who said If neither died they would be remembered a lot less

Dre didn't work with him because when Pac got to death row he had already fallen out with Suge Knight and was in the process of severing ties with Death Row.

Not like it mattered, the stuff DJ Quick, Daz and Johnny J were producing were as good as anything Dre was comig up with at the time.

 

[Pickle85]

Tupac's music is timeless. The production esp on AEOM is better sounding than some modern day music.

Yeah, I guess if you like that sort of thing it is. It's just not for me. His thug persona always seemed rather affected and I just don't get on with that laid back, west coast sound (the production, not his rapping).

 

[Tarrou]

Top 5 Kendrick Songs?
HiiiPower
Blow my high
M.A.A.d city
DNA
Bitch Dont Kill My Vibe

Changes a lot though

I'd have to have 'feck Your Ethnicity' in mine

Such an epic opener to an album

 

[Tarrou]

Pac's music does sound a bit dated, but I mean, it's like 25+ years old to be fair

 

[Solius]

Top 5 Kendrick Songs?
HiiiPower
Blow my high
M.A.A.d city
DNA
Bitch Dont Kill My Vibe

Changes a lot though

F*ck Your Ethnicity
Rigamortus
M.A.A.d City
Sing About Me
Cartoons & Cereal

Also changes a lot.

 

[2mufc0]

Yeah, I guess if you like that sort of thing it is. It's just not for me. His thug persona always seemed rather affected and I just don't get on with that laid back, west coast sound (the production, not his rapping).

I think you are just listening at a surface level which is fair enough as his music is clearly not your taste so you wouldn't delve deeper. Tupac never claimed to be a gangster, his music is usually a reflection of what he was going through in his life at the time, that's why each of his album's are so unique. The whole thug/gangster thing on AEOM was just based on the environment he was around at the time.

Plus his definition of Thug was completely different to the mainstream definition.

 

[JP77]

Tupac is a legend and ranked close to the top because of the impact his music had. Quite a few people underrate his flow and actual ability which I've always found crazy. He made you feel what he was saying as much as probably anybody that I've personally ever listened to in music as a whole. Not everything had to be wrapped in riddles and insane word play like seems to be the case nowadays, that's not what makes a great lyricist, it's about a lot of people being able to relate, understand or feel what's actually being said and Tupac did that probably as well as anybody has done in rap music. Music alone he put out classics, when you then combine that with the effect his music had on people and the rap game itself and how much effect he eventually had as a person too you easily get one of the most influential and important people to ever be a part of rap or even music itself for that matter. There's different levels to the game, there's not many bigger than him. And as a rapper alone he had genuine classics that stand the test of time after 25+ years, no way is his music outdated, a lot of his music still easily fits in today without sounding out of place at all.

Big fan of Kendrick and I rate him highly but the 'easily top 5 ever' and disrespect for past legends like Tupac, Biggie, Nas and not even mentioning people like Cube, Rakim etc as if it's a foregone conclusion is a bit crazy. Obviously it comes down to personal taste in a way as well so I've got no problem with anybody thinking Kendrick is top 5.

 

[Pickle85]

I think you are just listening at a surface level which is fair enough as his music is clearly not your taste so you wouldn't delve deeper. Tupac never claimed to be a gangster, his music is usually a reflection of what he was going through in his life at the time, that's why each of his album's are so unique. The whole thug/gangster thing on AEOM was just based on the environment he was around at the time.

Plus his definition of Thug was completely different to the mainstream definition.

I think it's tricky for him to have it both ways. You can't release a song like Americaz Most Wanted and many others and simultaneously claim that you're not living that lifestyle. Of all his work, I think the best came when he dipped more into social commentary and storytelling mode and away from the swagger of Americaz Most Wanted and Ambitions of a Ridah