Everyone lost their collective shit over this Kendrick Lamar verse on Big Sean's "Control". I simply don't understand it. Yes, he "called out" many rappers but in the friendliest of ways. He essentially said, I like you guys but I am better than you, which is what every rapper has said since the dawn of time. Moreover, his verse is mediocre. My biggest knock on Kendrick is that he has a tendency to make a technically sound verse without actually saying anything clever. His verse on "Control" is a perfect example of this.
So there's that.
Oh, and if every rapper could stop making a "response" verse...that'd be great.
Showing posts with label Kendrick Lamar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kendrick Lamar. Show all posts
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Friday, July 5, 2013
Jay-z - Magna Carta Holy Grail
Sean Carter is 42 and is unequivocally still the champion of the rap game . He has released a must-hear record in three different decades. He has more #1 records than Elvis. He is 1/2 of the most powerful couple in America not in the White House. So it was with a high-octance cocktail of hesitation and nervous excitement that I listened to Magna Carta Holy Grail yesterday. I wanted it to be great but I also knew that it was made by a man with every reason to slack off. This acknowledgement, coupled with an ad campaign that set expectations at Empire State Building-level heights, SHOULD have made this record a disappointment; but it didn't. Aside from immaculate production and the dexterous flow that are prerequisites for a Jay-z record, Hova impressively employs new approaches on his twelfth album, leaving you with the feeling that you are talking to an old friend who just returned from a trip abroad--it's the same guy, but he has a slightly new outlook on the world.
Jay-z is always ahead of the curve when it comes to making money, whether it be starting his own label, heading a clothing line, sponsoring a vodka, owning a club or the 360 deal with LiveNation, he simply won't settle for the status quo. It is no surprise, then, that he released this album with Samsung to ensure it had a million copies moved before it even dropped. He is also a man that has never shied awy from picking up on trends in the industry and putting his own spin on them. The influences of Kendrick Lamar (longer tracks with beat changes and different flows) and A$AP Rocky (a song entitled Tom Ford) are prevalent on Magna Carta Holy Grail. But by studying new talent and adding his favorite aspects of their approach to his own game, Jay-z has managed to sound fresh with each successive release. This same approach led him to making a gem at a stage in his life where many are on their second or third profession. By being both forward-thinking and decidedly present moment, Jay-z makes Magna Carta Holy Grail a candidate for album of the year in a year replete with deserving selections.
Jay uses the dialectical yin and yang approach to perfectly strike a balance between the thought-provoking and the playful, the sentimental and the gritty, the rear-view recollections and the Gringotts-level of luxury he lives in presently. And it is beautiful. After Yeezus, there was a lot of talk about Kanye surpassing Jay-z in the race to have the best catalog (mostly by me) but with the drop of Magna Carta Holy Grail, Mr. Carter retakes the crown. Long live the King.
Jay-z is always ahead of the curve when it comes to making money, whether it be starting his own label, heading a clothing line, sponsoring a vodka, owning a club or the 360 deal with LiveNation, he simply won't settle for the status quo. It is no surprise, then, that he released this album with Samsung to ensure it had a million copies moved before it even dropped. He is also a man that has never shied awy from picking up on trends in the industry and putting his own spin on them. The influences of Kendrick Lamar (longer tracks with beat changes and different flows) and A$AP Rocky (a song entitled Tom Ford) are prevalent on Magna Carta Holy Grail. But by studying new talent and adding his favorite aspects of their approach to his own game, Jay-z has managed to sound fresh with each successive release. This same approach led him to making a gem at a stage in his life where many are on their second or third profession. By being both forward-thinking and decidedly present moment, Jay-z makes Magna Carta Holy Grail a candidate for album of the year in a year replete with deserving selections.
Jay uses the dialectical yin and yang approach to perfectly strike a balance between the thought-provoking and the playful, the sentimental and the gritty, the rear-view recollections and the Gringotts-level of luxury he lives in presently. And it is beautiful. After Yeezus, there was a lot of talk about Kanye surpassing Jay-z in the race to have the best catalog (mostly by me) but with the drop of Magna Carta Holy Grail, Mr. Carter retakes the crown. Long live the King.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Kendrick Lamar "Swimming Pools" (Blood Diamonds Remix)
Blood Diamonds does it again! Buckle up and enjoy.
Monday, March 18, 2013
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Kendrick Lamar
I've been listening to Kendrick Lamar almost exclusively this last week. This album is even better than I'd thought initially.
I can't help but think with every listen "Who has the imagination to make a record like this?"
I can't help but think with every listen "Who has the imagination to make a record like this?"
Monday, October 22, 2012
Kendrick Lamar - good Kid, m.A.A.d. City
Just finished my first listen of Kendrick Lamar's full-length debut good Kid, m.A.A.d City and it is somewhere between damn good and outstanding. What makes it even better is that I took off my headphones knowing that this is one of those records that I will enjoy more and more with each listen.
Kendrick has found that perfect middle ground between pouring out hundreds of dense, intricate bars (which rap purists love) and making tracks with infectious hooks over complimentary beats (which causal listeners love). This is by no means an easy feat--some of my favorite rappers have never been able to put this together in their entire careers, let alone on their first LP.
Even more impressive is that this album doesn't succeed by playing it safe. On the contrary, good Kid, m.A.A.d. City succeeds by deftly executing risky decisions. Featuring story tracks about topics ranging from inner-turmoil and self-consciousness to murder and alcoholism, it never feels sluggish, despite the fact that many tracks last longer than five minutes. The production is superb, paying homage to the west-coat vets that paved the way while having a decidedly forward-thinking inclination. The bars are sharp and the lasting message of the album is poignant without being preachy. This LP is impressive in both scope and delivery. In short, it is a great freshman release.
Shit, it's just a great release--no modifiers needed.
Kendrick has found that perfect middle ground between pouring out hundreds of dense, intricate bars (which rap purists love) and making tracks with infectious hooks over complimentary beats (which causal listeners love). This is by no means an easy feat--some of my favorite rappers have never been able to put this together in their entire careers, let alone on their first LP.
Even more impressive is that this album doesn't succeed by playing it safe. On the contrary, good Kid, m.A.A.d. City succeeds by deftly executing risky decisions. Featuring story tracks about topics ranging from inner-turmoil and self-consciousness to murder and alcoholism, it never feels sluggish, despite the fact that many tracks last longer than five minutes. The production is superb, paying homage to the west-coat vets that paved the way while having a decidedly forward-thinking inclination. The bars are sharp and the lasting message of the album is poignant without being preachy. This LP is impressive in both scope and delivery. In short, it is a great freshman release.
Shit, it's just a great release--no modifiers needed.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Kendrick Lamar/ Young Jeezy
"West Side, Right On Time" is the newest single from Kendrick Lamar. With this track, Kendrick reminds us once again that he is going to be the next rap heavyweight while Young Jeezy contributes some raspy words that sort of rhyme and almost make sense. Par for the course for both.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Kendrick Lamar, Talib Kweli, Curren$y Collaboration
Kendrick Lamar, Talib Kweli and Curren$y are just Wind and Water away from completing the Rap Captain Planet. (In case you were wondering-Kendrick is Fire, Curren$y is Earth, Talib is Heart).
The song is called "Push Thru"
The song is called "Push Thru"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)