Is Kendrick Lamar the best rapper of all time (G.O.A.T.)? That’s a difficult query. Go on social media, and a few are fast to say that he has achieved that standing.
Then there are others who take a extra nuanced method. As a substitute of constructing an announcement in regards to the 50-plus years of Hip-Hop, they don’t say he has surpassed greats like LL Cool J or Andre 3000. They only say he’s the best of his era.
I feel we have to be surgical in our method. No blanket statements. No prisoner of the second evaluations. However let’s focus on this fastidiously, lets? Have a seat youngsters. In case you’re underneath the age of 30, it’s possible you’ll not like what I’ve to say.
Lamar is actually the perfect of his era, however that has not at all times been the case. I’ve at all times appreciated his lyrical expertise, however he had an absence of BANGERS in his catalog. “Alright” off of To Pimp A Butterfly is banger adjoining, however that track blew up as a result of he was chatting with the second.
Not as a result of it was a transcendental, licensed banger like Juvenile’s “Again that Azz Up” or Jay’s “Huge Pimpin’.” To me, if a rapper goes to be within the GOAT dialog, they need to not have only one track that bangs, they want many. (Shout out to the scholars in my Black In style Tradition class at Oklahoma State College and my son Lawrence Ware, Jr. who vehemently argue {that a} rapper doesn’t have to have bangers to be nice. Ya’ll are unsuitable, however you’re passionately unsuitable.) That is what held Nas up for a few years. He had nice songs, however few bangers. Identical with J. Cole: He’s a outstanding expertise, however solely thought of a G.O.A.T. by dudes who put on dreads and burn sage.
Earlier than his beef with Drake, Okay. Dot was thought of nice, however probably not within the GOAT dialog. Now he’s. “Not Like Us,” “TV Off,” “Squabble Up,” even “Luther.” These are all bangers for various causes. Battling with the subpar actor from Toronto unlocked one thing in Mr. Duckworth. He’s doing what we at all times knew he might. Selecting beats that knock (Do individuals nonetheless put 10s of their trunks?) and spitting sizzling fireplace.
This brings us to the query at hand. Is Kendrick Lamar (aka Okay-Dot aka Kungfu Kenny aka Cornrow Kenny aka King Kendrick aka King Kunta…dude has numerous nicknames) the best rapper of all time?
No. Not but. Many are speeding to offer him that standing as a result of he’s on high of the world proper now, however I feel we extra proof earlier than we make such a lofty declare. Simply contemplate a number of the greats that got here earlier than him: Lauryn Hill, Nas, Jay, Biggie, Tupac, LL…even Scarface and Killah Priest.
Lamar might get there someday, he actually has the expertise, however he’s not on high of the mountain but. He could also be on Mount Rushmore of rap, however he’s not the best. I don’t care what number of Grammy’s he wins nor does it matter to me that he’s the primary rapper to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize. We mustn’t ever use white accolades as a method to measure Black artwork. Kendrick is the perfect of his era, however he’s not but the best MC to the touch a mic.