So apparently Lamar has started ruffling some feathers after supposedly calling out some names and proclaiming himself the King of New York among other things in this elongated yet delightful verse in a recent song. The entourage of responses from rappers left and right was the ultimate proof that Lamar definitely got the attention of the rap scene. My response?
Good.
Rap has gotten lazy. Hip-hop has gotten lazy. Nearly every single well-known rapper in the game right now has toned down their sound to appeal better to the mainstream ears. We are seeing more lame collaborations (Nelly doing country? Really?), we are hearing shorter and shorter verses on these rap songs (Nikki Minaj's High School has only 2 major verses, and 1 is coming from Lil' Wayne), very little creativity (OutKast, please come back), and the overall scene of hip-hop and rap has lately taken a few steps back. You have artists that should never be even rapping collaborating with well-known rappers (I am looking at you Chris Brown). And even whenever there is a new rapper that looks like is going to stir the pot a little, they eventually calm down and just conform.
Example: Big Sean just released a song with Miley Cyrus. Really?
Kendrick Lamar is a prime example of starting from the bottom, something Drake would never know about. He mixtaped his way from underground to getting that major record deal, and then coming out with an album that still sticks to his California roots. He may have noticed his genre of choice is dipping and decided to do something about it. He said he was the king of New York despite being from California, and did a cluster of shoutouts to other contemporary rappers before mentioning that his job is to destroy them and raise the game of rap to the next level.
None of it was offensive really, but he is taking a page from the 90s and decided to start some competition. And before you know it, rappers from all over the place (and some that weren't even mentioned in the verse) decided to release their quick responses to him. Lamar is a humble man, and was having some fun. And the rapid-fire responses is more evidence to his claim: Lamar is the best, and the genre has gotten lazy.
You can't respond within 72 hours with a song. That's extremely minimal time to work and perfect your craft. Do you really think three days of preparing and recording would deliver your best stuff? Instead of giving it more time to see if you can improve the lyrics, the structure, and the beat? And unless you are Eminem or Notorious, you cannot freestyle a good response quickly. Especially when going up against Lamar's moment in Control.
And check out the entourage of responders: Lupe Fiasco, Cassidy, Riff Raff, Joe Budden, The Mad Rapper, Mickey Factz, Mysonne, Bizarre, B.o.B., and plenty more. None of you guys were even mentioned, why are you responding to a supposed diss that wasn't even directed at you? Where were all of you before this song came out. Now the community is rebelling mildly against the proclaimed best M.C. in the game simply because Lamar secretly has a point.
Mild to decent rappers manage to slip into the mainstream and get attention from radio, MTV, YouTube, and more. A great rapper is one that is so unique, so creative, so talented that the music scene forces itself to adapt to listen to more of the artists' material. Did 2Pac and Notorious sound like everyone else in their heyday? No way, but they were so good that they started the trend of where music should be and what we should be listening to. By no means did Notorious and 2Pac invent rap or even gangster rap for that matter, but they brought it to a new level and became the dominant force in the musical community----even if it didn't last long.
Not saying Lamar is the next 2Pac, Notorious, OutKast, or even Eminem. But he is leaving his mark by releasing a good album with the underground edges that still managed to slip into the consciousness of the average music listener and the average hip-hop fan. And then is settling his mark by criticizing his contemporaries for failing to evolve the genre or improve upon the craft.
Rappers of today step up, because there is somebody definitely above you.
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