[Opinion] Kendrick Lamar Is The Best Emcee Of The Digital Era
Around late 2008, hip hop entered the digital era. An era where blogs overtook the web and emcees no longer had to go the conventional route of being heard. Rather than upping the cash for studio time and then pressing up hard copies of CDs, artists began dropping numerous songs and projects on the internet for a relatively low cost. The upside was that the record labels no longer had the power to break artists like they once did. The downside of all this was the fact that the internets were literally crawling with emcees out of ever digital nook and cranny and it became difficult for anyone to keep up with the massive amount of new music hitting the web. Gone are the days when release dates are actually anticipated, and in its place are a glut of disposable emcees who remain hot for the moment and evaporate as soon as the next big thing comes along.
In short, nobody cares as much as they used to. This has easily become the era of music where “too much of a good thing” applies. Nevertheless, there have been a few artists who have separated themselves from the pack of rapping wolves longing to take a bite out of your iPod. Artists like Drake, J. Cole, XV, Big K.R.I.T., Curren$y, Asher Roth and Wale have all used the net to their advantage. But none may possess the potential to impact a generation of ADD hip-hop fans like Kendrick Lamar. Before you go slamming your laptop or iPad in anger while proclaiming that the aforementioned names have either already made it or have a bigger buzz, allow me to explain.
In a post-Obama hip-hop climate, the motivation has changed for many emcees. The music is littered with self-masturbatory riddles where artists spend more time patting their own back rather than speak on society’s ills. Because, frankly, once Barack Obama got in office, everything changed and most forgot what it was they were fighting for. The rhymes about telling the system to kiss our collective ass evaporated because “our” president was now part of that system. Racism isn’t necessarily a thing of the past, but it’s certainly not a topic that is addressed without being provoked. The new generation has a short attention span when it comes to society ills. Sean Bell, Oscar Grant, Danroy Henry and a list of others who have been killed by police are hardly spoken on after the fact. You see, this is a new generation of emcees. A generation that grew up with Playstation, cell phones and the internet. A lazy generation that has all the knowledge in the world at their fingertips, but are too busy on Facebook to care about the Gaza Strip or the root behind our immigration laws. A generation that remembers Tupac and Biggie like I remember Marvin Gaye — too young to truly experience their contributions to music. This isn’t to say that they don’t understand, it’s to say that they digest what they are told about their history without giving it a second thought. Malcolm X and The Black Panther Party are slowly being erased from their memories and few have a clue why Big Daddy Kane is one of the greatest emcees of all time.
It’s certainly a different climate today.
But that’s where Kendrick Lamar differs from the rest. The 24-year-old’s mind is well beyond his years. His rhymes aren’t selfishly scripted into his brain. He has the hunger to be the best but is also much more than “just a rapper.” If Tupac were alive today, he’d be proud of what the Compton emcee has accomplished in his short stay in hip-hop. And it may sound like blasphemy, but Kendrick could be the closest thing to Tupac Shakur meets Ice Cube that we’ve ever seen in terms of being a socially conscious street poet who can weave a narrative just as well as he can destroy a battle emcee – and neither were as lyrically inclined (in a battle rapper sort of way) as Kendrick. Think of him as a hybrid emcee whose parts include N.W.A.‘s street reporter mentality, Tupac’s passion and Nas‘ poetic. Like Tupac, he can go from a cautionary tale of hopeless women working the corner on “Keisha’s Song” to the sh*t talking “The Spiteful Chant” without breaking stride. He’ll wax poetic about how the vice of sex and alcohol can ease the most difficult situation. He’ll spill his guts with the vigor of the most powerful spoken word poet on “The Heart Pt. 2″ and you’ll never once question his passion on either subject. His references of Huey Newton, Malcolm X, Bobby Seale, Marcus Garvey, Serengeti and Illuminati on the J. Cole produced “Hiiipower” would make Chuck D and Immortal Technique nod in appreciation. This is what you get with Kendrick Lamar.
He’s conscious, but not too conscious to the point where he hovers to far over the heads of the streets. Without trying, he can create music we can all relate to. He wags his finger at haters who spend more time downing other people rather than helping themselves on “Cut You Off (To Grow Closer)” and can just kick a rhyme about the opposite sex on “She Needs Me (Rmx).” And if you need evidence that Kendrick can just crush a track, look no further than what he demonstrated on over Kanye West‘s “Monster.”
He comes from the the streets of Compton so his desire to do better is believable. He’s never been in a gang and that’s a sign of independence. His raspy tone reflects a life whose oxygen has been littered with trails of gun smoke. He’s unlike any of his peers, but all of his peers can relate to something about him.
He’s your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper. And anyone that claims that Kendrick Lamar sits high on their list, likely have a number of different reasons as to why he is perched there. Some may identify with his Cali roots while others enjoy his awareness of the social climate. If you think of all the great rappers in the history of the culture, nearly all had something to say. None were rhyming arbitrarily to be posted on anyone’s blog. Kendrick Lamar didn’t need a cosign, it was just too hard to deny his talent. Without a single big name behind him, he paved his way with his Top Dawg Entertainment family behind him. And now look at him. He’s in the studio with Dr. Dre, has people like J. Cole saying that they want to put together a collaborative project with him and his Section.80 album is arguably the best project this year.
For this writer, his rhymes were the jumper cables that kick started my engine that has been locked in cruise control for the past few years. There are several rappers that I can personally remember who brought me “back” to hip-hop when the music turned me away. Kendrick Lamar has become one of those esteemed emcees who I’ll reflect on and remember what exactly was going on when I heard his music and what it did for me.
This is why he’s the best emcee of the digital era and could top many top 10 lists before its all said and done.
But I’m just a critic, who the hell am I?
I like Kendrick… but I’d have to give to Big K.R.I.T. or Jay Electronica….
Slow hand clap sir. Could not have been said better. Kendrick is changing this industry and the culture.
Couldn’t agree more, though I think J.Cole is right there neck and neck.
This is 100% true
*clap* *clap* *clap* *clap* *clap* *clap* *clap*
i been sayin this to ppl since i started listenin to him, he really has it all.
rappers have rapped about how dope they were since it started. In Rapper’s Delight, one of the emcees talks about how a woman’s man can’t do what he can, penis wise. There’s always been conscious hip hop and braggadocio hip hop. Kendrick isn’t revolutionary at all. There’s dozens of rappers who are better lyrically and conceptually.
This is real rap, my friend. Kendrick is truly the emergence of a new hip-hop breed. Believable, he is and I can’t wait to see where he goes. He’s easily in my top 3 of right now rappers, working his way onto the “Best Ever” list.
To the author of this piece: You might want to listen to “Ignorance Is Bliss” one more time.
Second verse:
“The critics are calling me conscious
But truthfully, every shooter be callin’ me Compton
So truthfully, only calling me Kweli and Common?
Proves, that ignorance is bliss”
You might want to read his article again and see where you went wrong.
I respect your opinion but i wouldn’t put kendrick SOOOOO far ahead of j cole, krit, fashawn, or even freddie gibbs.He probably is lyrically better but not by much. Its not like kendricks super lyrical on every song he does like elzhi or pharoahe monch is, he does have his share of dumb sh*t on overly dedicated lol but if the rest of his albums are like Section 80 or better, thenn we can start talking because as of right now, it really is still up in the air on who is the best newcomer.
Great article. He is #1 on my list. You also could have mentioned ‘Rigamortis’ where he leaves the listener gasping for air lol .
couldn’t agree more. kendrick lamar is my fav emcee right now and for damn good reason. nobody puts passion into a track like him. a lot of rappers are too cool to feel anything more than arrogant. kendrick gives the listener everything he has. lyrics only get you so far. passion is what changes folks’ lives. listening to him, you get the feeling that he is fulfilling something greater. its so refreshing to know somebody is in it for the love. accolades to him aren’t disses to anyone else. k.r.i.t., yelawolf, etc. do their thing too, but kudos to KL!
section.80 is a masterpiece
He is dope no question but how you gonna talk about the digital era and not include Tech Nine the most sold indie artist with a fanbase that shows up by the thousands. Tech Nine is a artist and indie label owner with no radio play or major co signs. His album was cool and he says some really deep ish. I’m not Tech Nine biggest fan but thought he deserves some respect because he is living the dream most the rappers you mentioned are trying to get to without selling out or d*ck riding. He is the digital era and has made millions doing his own thing. You got to respect that.
PS. I guess you have never heard much Kurupt from DPG cuzz if you have you would no that Kendrick whole steez came form kurupt.
Exactly ur just a critic, much rather of u kept ur opinion to urself but hey so be it, but to be clear k dot is not no god or anything he is a great mc but would u say he is better then Crooked I? Dubb? etc.. nah me either
Of course this is opinion based so everybody tryin to put they favorite rapper in place.. In all honesty I don’t know if Big KRIT has “MASS” appeal and he still sound like he tryin to find himself he ain’t no 3 stacks nor scarface nor Big Boi though you kinda would know by now.. J. Cole is already boring and his debut album ain’t dropped yet. I hope it’s crazy but like everybody else it doesn’t feel like his team know what they’re doing at all.. Drake is Drake can’t knock him he does what he does I can honestly see him leaving young money and gettin on some “I do whatever the f*ck I want” cause that ship will soon sink as a whole doubt if drake goes with.. Wale seem like he’s always gon be trying to fit in.. Now Kendrick I just haven’t seen anything like it yet.. Only thing he hasnt shown yet is thay he can make a “hit” song but i dont think hes tried at all and lets not leave out the fact he got Dre in his corner and we all know Dre has been waiting on somebody to inspire him and i think this is it.. He has substance, wit, storytelling ability.. all those things the greats have.. he ain’t blowing up too fast and then he come with that trump card.. One of the CRAZIEST flows ever whenever he wants to! I would say he’s more 2pac x Em than Ice Cube he just ain’t as crazy as either one of them literally on some bi-polar do n say whatever the f*ck I want type but I agree w writer but until that good kid in a mad city drop I’ll reserve judgement on where to place him
have u ever listened to Freddie Gibbs?
1. Shaniya Davis was 5 years old. She wasn’t killed by police. Her mother sold her as a prostitute and she was later raped & murdered
2. J. Cole’s “See World” on the FNL mixtape was dedicated to her
Kendricks good but your giving him a good ‘ol fashion digital sloppy d*ck suck right now. You need to do alittle more homework before you give head out first.
Your comment is why I love this culture.
Agree that KL is the most technically and lyrically proficient artist in the digital era, but J. Cole has more ability to cross it over to the mainstream and will ultimate go farther with it.
Kendrick Lamar is the BEST M.C… of this generation. Why? because of his growth and skill set. There’s not too many of these “new boy rappers” that can technically switch patterns and complex wordplay these days. Dude is creating his lane while the other ones are just following someone else’s.
J. Cole is cool but he has shown no growth as an M.C. and an music artist. His last two mixtapes sound identical… same subject matter, same sounding beats, same flow and cadence. J. Cole is becoming very predictable.
No growth as an mc? The come up was full of ill lyrical displays u cld tell he was dope with an ill flow, “get it” is a perfect example of that from the come up. However, he was still a bit raw. On the Warmuo which was made two years late, he really saw his growth as an artist, rapper,mc, and most importantly a student of the game. He started to portray his full story and messages clearer. The octures he painted became more vivid for listeners to “see”. ights plea, hold it down, losing my balance, i get up, and many more on the warmup are example of his growth not only as a rapper but as a man.
Maybe its just the tribal n*ggatry of the hiphop culture…but is there any intelligent reason why I can’t respect n love all emcees mentioned??????????????? Ur talkin like claimin Kendrick is the best means I should only listen to Kendrick….Lets be happy in all honesty that the “digital” era is entering it’s own “Golden” era that I personally feel will soon trump that 90′s sh*t…I’m Young with Youth Bias….Ur first half of ur whole post wuz that TIMES ARE CHANGING….So!!!! Times are always changing….get wit it bruh
how far back does the digital era reach? b/c i remember clearly Lupe built his buzz up off of mixtape series and a strong internet presence. so if we throw him in the pot, K.Dot isnt even seeing Lupe lyrically or conceptually or flow wise or charisma wise. really i dont see why Kendrick would be ahead of Krit or Cole or Drake for that matter. Every category that those three fall short in, they make up in an area that K.Dot isnt that good in. think about it
How this post feels about K. Dot : blog rappers is how I feel about this post : most of what makes it to The Well Versed.
Not gonna lie, I was THIS close to giving up on this website; it started out very insightful for me, but ultimately the quality of the writing/research being done started to feel a little half-assed.
I guess Mr. Hale has just proved once again that the original is always the best. Bravo, sir. Bravo.
My opinion on the above opinion here:
http://smartandangry.squarespace.com/imported-data/2011/7/10/my-opinion-on-andreas-hales-kendrick-lamar-piece.html
This reads like a pitch to a blog or publication to get Kendrick Lamar some press. Even in the most positive commentary about an artist when written honestly the writer will reveal everything about said artist strengths and weaknesses. Not sure it’s critical enough. It also was kinda hard to get through. Too long.
Listen it all comes to versatility & Kendrick Lamar AND Wale are the most versatile, though J.Cole has great wordplay, he is overhyped and becoming predictable & its not there yet to crossover with mainstream, now Big Krit makes a big case for that spot so as Jay Electronica they both have lyrical content & speak the truth & real, Krit is truly bringing hip hop back n especially real southern cruisin music, now Wale you can put him on ay song any drama he can do it justice perfect example “More About Nothing” now Kendrick is neck n neck because he possess all the same like Wale, Wale jus had the edge for now, wait til Wale’s next album naaa mixtape cuz albums these days too commercial ..but whenever Wales next project releases then judge, and you will have ur digital era emcee. Only time will tell.
but if Lupe is considered in the era ..then shidd its not even a contest Lupe is the best emcee..when his label is not tryna make commercial.
AMAZING ARTICLE – Kendrick is by far best – love cole as well, but Kendrick has the right substance for our generation!
I vote thurz