I don't know about sucks, but I do find him a lot more interesting than the music he makes.

I was just trying to get a rise. I actually don't know much about him except he wrote a song about his momma and he dissed Taylor Swift.

Yes, I really have very little idea of what's been going on in popular music the past, say, decade. (In fact, I can't name a single Taylor Swift song off the top of my head.)

But my local library is fantastic. Well-stocked and you can check out 50 items at once. I currently have a stack of CDs that comes close to reaching my knee.

Three of those CDs are from Kenrick, who, like I said, I hadn't really heard until a week ago.

Last night I gave PIMP a cursory listen. Nothing grabbed me until "Complexion." That's followed by "Blacker the Berry," which gave me chills. I think I listened to that two song sequence about four times in a row. I was high, but still.

I dunno. Are we sure he didn't invent a whole new way of doing gangster rap, at least on the first album? He begins a verse with "Fresh outta school cuz I was a high school grad." I think I heard "six in the morning" somewhere, and I'm sure there are other gangster rap allusions I'm missing.

I think of consciousness rap as: the rapper has a strong point of view and tries to get it across.

Kendrick's world seems a lot more complex.

You owe it to yourself to listen to Kanye West’s music. Forget the dude, just listen to the music. Must I remind you that he is tied with BOB DYLAN for the most times tipping the Village Voice Pazz & Jop Critics Poll? Arguably the most prestigious thing in music journalism?
And what took Bob Dylan FORTY YEARS (having four #1 P&J albums), Kanye did in SIX.
If you can’t appreciate the evolution from one album to the next, and his ability to make seemingly ridiculous creative decisions that always work, while changing his own identity and the identity of music itself with each release, then you’re the one who “sucks.”

Seriously... Like David Bowie or Prince or the Beatles, Kanye is just an artist that you’re damn well gonna have to know if you care about being a music fan.


AAAAANYWAY... about Kendrick, yeah there’s definitely tons of gangsta rapisms in his music, but he is categorically NOT gangsta rap. He just comes from that culture. Compare good kid, mAAd city to a legitimate modern gangsta rap album like YG’s My Krazy Life and you’ll see.
Kendrick is something different. Even if he will “slap a bitch as n****” if he has to.

Btw, good kid is not his first album. His first album is the excellent Section.80. Go listen to it.

Hey evollove, sorry to bust your balls. All in good fun. (Except for the Kanye stuff, which is deadly serious.)

Here, since you have no access to anything, check out links to some of the songs I recommended:

Kendrick - F*ck Your Ethnicity
Kendrick - HiiiPower
Kendrick - Element (this one’s kinda gangstery, at least the video and chorus)

I’m glad you liked “The Blacker The Berry.” That’s some serious shit.

I have a, what would you call it... oldhead? friend who only really digs lyric-heavy rap that demonstrates vocal ability and energy and so on. He was making a fuss about the Kendrick hype for months, bitching to me/at me about it.
He would say, “I like his politics but he’s too mellow, no urgency, where’s the passion? I just can’t respect him as a rapper.”

Finally I was like, “Ok, has this guy even heard Kendrick?” And I played sent him a link to “The Blacker the Berry,” and tell him to just humor me and listen to it.

five minutes later, he texts me. “Ok, this kid can fucking spit,” he says.

Yeah, no fucking shit.

The way he alters his voice to fit the character of whatever the song is reminds me of Kate Bush. For reals.

Oops. Didn't know about Section 8.0. Those two tracks were great. Doesn't he have, like five or so early mixtapes also? He seems like someone I should listen to in order.

Really didn't like "Element" at all. Or maybe there's something really subtle in there I didn't get.

“Element” is a weird Kendrick song. So is “Yah.” I feel like both are kind of sneaky attempts to take the Drake model of making catchy, sing-songy hip-hop, and saying, “Hey buzzcut, THIS IS HOW YOU MAKE AN EARWORM.”

Kendrick revealed a new side of himself on the newest album, DAMN. Honestly, he’s been subtly reinventing his persona on each release. Not drastically like Kanye, but gradually and thougtfully like Dylan in the ‘70s. Another reason why Kendrick is the Dylan to Kanye’s Beatles.

I’m SO GLAD you liked “F*ck Your Ethnicity” (my hands-down, all-time favorite Kendrick song) and “HiiiPower” (which incidentally interpolates Kanye’s “So Appalled” in its chorus).

Here’s another one from DAMN. It’s the hardest goddamn thing ever. Don’t pay attention to the video... it’s meh... just listen to the track. Spoiler: shit gets REAL in the last minute or so. Like.. real as fuck and more intense than anything else I’ve heard this year.

(Context for DNA: Geraldo Rivera criticized Kendrick in 2015 during a performance of “Alright” on BET, and said rap music was a bigger threat to back communities than gang violence. Kendrick responds here, and at other moments on DAMN — like the “Yah” lyric: “Fox News wanna use my name for percentage... somebody tell Geraldo this ni**a got some ambition”)

:)

Do you mean to include a DNA link?

Anyway, don't worry. I take him seriously as an artist and I promise I will eventually listen to everything he's done.

---

I'm sort of confused by 4:44. Actually, just confused by Jay-Z, because I found the music itself to be interesting (except for the handful of pop single songs).

First, technique-wise, I don't get it. He's not even really rapping most of the time. Just reciting. If I can fucking do it, is it any good?

Second, I'm not that familiar with his life, so I have a hard time caring about a lot of the songs. I forget the song, but I was really turned off when he regretted not buying a $2 million piece of property. Poor fellow. And I didn't even really care that much that he cheated on his wife.

Anything can be made interesting, but I had a hard time finding any space in his lyrics to invest any deep interest.

But my listen was just a brief run-through, not a thorough, concentrated effort, so maybe something will click with more attention.

--

I appreciate Eminem a lot more than you do, but yeah, that song straight up sucks.

Ok, 4:44 is an album for people who love Jay-Z and have listened to him for years. Like... exclusively. I can’t think of any other explanation, because there are references to his past and his life that only a fan would even understand.
It’s also an album for fans of a certain kind of hip-hop... a kind of hip-hop that Jay has only really done a couple times in his career, usually with the assistance of a famous producers... it’s for lyrical hip-hop fans. People who openly dislike mumble rap, and want more intelligence and consciousness in their rap.

It’s for fans of Tribe, early Lupe, Mos Def, early Kanye, Fugees, etc.

I promise it’s a good album. Just spin it a bit. And if you don’t know Jay, maybe get to know Jay.

Here’s a primer on Jay-Z, containing all the meat and none of the fat... listen to these albums or put them in your streaming library:

Reasonable Doubt
The Blueprint
The Black Album
American Gangster
Blueprint 3
Watch the Throne (more of a Kanye album, but still has some of the best Jay-Z shit ever)

And don’t forget these singles:
• “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)” (from a largely forgettable album, but a genius pop hip-hop song. You’ve heard it, but you need to be able to appreciate it.
And...
• “Brooklyn Go Hard” from the Notorious soundtrack. This is my favorite Jay song ever. Produced by Kanye. Actually I don’t think it’s available as a single, but stream that shut, because it definitely deserves a spot in the primer.

Lil Peep died (not to be confused with Lil Pump, kid who has a top 5 hit on the Billboard charts right now that goes "Gucci Gang Gucci Gang Gucci Gang.."). RIP.

He was an "emo rapper" on the rise.. had a strong and constantly growing Internet following.

People say he overdosed backstage. And apparently there's a horrifying video up of his friends thinking he was "just sleeping". I wasn't a fan of his music but it's sad to see someone go away at 21. That new generation of rappers really needs to change their lifestyle and understand that drugs are no joke, being "lit" and "living like a rockstar" 24/7 have their consequences.

Agreed with that. At the moment too many of the young popular rappers are glorifying drug taking. I'm not talking about just weed. Bragging about Codeine, Xanax and purple drank is totally fucked up. From that you've got too many kids looking up to people like these guys (Future, Young Thug etc) and theyre spiralling down into addiction because of it.

These are the new rock stars that kids are looking up to and it's fucked.

Yeah, this is just incredibly fucked up.

I’m not at all a fan of Lil Peep’s music, but that doesn’t even matter. 21-year-old kids should not be dying.

It’s tough to blame or point to the mention of drugs in music as a potential cultprit, because hard drugs have been part of that world since it began in the 1950s. I don’t think there’s a problem with rappers singing about using drugs, but it’s a fine line between rapping about “real life” and glorifying self-destruction.

Just sad.

know your source

Oh, yeah.. sorry!

Kendrick Lamar - “DNA” official music video

Wish I could link the song without the video, but Kendrick or TDE appears to be exerting some control over what’s available on YouTube. Lots of songs from DAMN. aren’t available in their full format.

Anyway, again, the song goes hard as fuck, and in the last minute or so it gets so intense it feels like it’s just gonna burst apart. I’ve never been a fan of Mike Will Made It, but his work on DAMN. is excellent.

Apparently, in that last, super-intense minute or so, Kendrick cut the verse a cappella, and asked Mike Will Made It to overlay it with a variation on the song’sbeat beat that “sounds like chaos”

(Incidentally: This is an example of how Kendrick is indeed “making decisions” about his music. Contrary to what Rob sayas, Kendrick does have an overarching artistic idea for every album or piece of music he makes. So, yeah.)

Talib Kweli got Jay Electronica, Waka Flocka, BJ the Chicago Kid, Anderson .Paak, Rick Ross and Bilal on his new album. Interesting.

Rick Ross is basically a personification of the word “lazy” in hip-hop at this point. Can’t remember the last thing he was on that was better for his presence. He’s slumming it culturally.

But Anderson Paak and Jay Electronica and Bilal are interesting choices.

Real talk, I didn’t even know Wacka Flocka was still a thing. Arguably isn’t.

Oh man, this article really pissed me off:

Post Malone Suggests Fans Looking for “Real Shit” Avoid Hip-Hop Music

http://djbooth.net/news/entry/2017-1...malone-hip-hop

*FACE PALM* This guy is an idiot.

Guy’s never listened to Kanye despite being on one of his songs. What a pussy.

I know that if Kanye was still on Twitter he'd give that dude the business. Just like he did Macklemore.

Just got back from the library with:

My Beautiful Dark...
The Essential Wu-Tang
The Black Album
Watch the Throne
Ghostface Killer ICON
Three Common CDs
Three Roots CDs
DAMN.


Put on My Beautiful... on the ride home. Only got through three tracks before the ride was over, but yeah. This is awesome.


I held a Macklemore CD in my hand. Decided not to borrow it. Mistake? (Well, it was fucking free, so yeah, that was dumb.)

*Angels sing in background*


THANK You.

Keep listening. Keep me informed.

I'll just throw this out: I feel really dumb listening to music meant for clubbin' when I'm sitting home alone. I'll grant that Kanye makes the most sophisticated music meant for the dance floor, but it's still just music meant for the dance floor.

I'm referring to only certain tracks, of course.

In that respect, he reminds me of Brian Wilson: spending a lot of time and genius on something that probably doesn't warrant so much time and genius.

If I squint and turn my head, I can sort of accept the blatant sexism found in a lot of hiphop. But I really can't excuse away the homophobia. That may not speak well of me. Not sure.

No homophobia in any Kanye tracks. Sexism abounds, of course, but like Tupac it’s juxtaposed with a reverence for women. Which makes it no less insulting, just more conceptually interesting.

I can’t do homophobe hip-hop. Not anymore. Can’t squint past it. No sir.

I disagree. I don’t think Kanye’s music is “for the dance floor.” Even patented dance tracks, like the nightmare nuclear winter flashdance of “FADE” really sound like they belong in a club.

I think he makes headphone music. But I appreciate your Brian Wilson comparison, and I dig your “most sophisticated” line. Feel like someone who previously didn’t get it finally gets it. Just like, who once TOTALLY didn’t get it, got it like crazy when the best kicked in after the piano drone on “Runaway.”

Some Kanye tracks are for the club, sure. Most aren’t. Even the singles that sound like they should be, like “Stonger” and “Power” are in fact packed with tracks on tracks on tracks, and tweaked into sonic eardrum perfection. I’d rather listen to thy shit by myself in my car than with ANYONE.

Well, that's your call. Best guess is he's going for both the dance floor and the car speakers and the headphones.

I was joking when I wrote Kanye sucked. So much so, that I realized I didn't know his work at all and picked some up. So I'm not really converting. Just learning.

Second, it was the second track "Gorgeous" that made me think My Dark was going to be a great album. Maybe it is. But that's still my favorite and the rest either doesn't grab me or isn't my thing, although I appreciate it all. (Hey, kinda like Brian Wilson.) I'm a little bored until I hear Aphex Twin and John Legend meet each other. But I've only listened to it three or four times.

Also got YEEZUS.



I meant generally, not him.

I was probably thinking mostly of Nas, actually, blemishing Illmatic.

"Halftime"

Versatile, my style switches, like a faggot
But not bisexual

Hm. Now that I see it written out... Leaves a bad taste taste in the mouth for sure, but I've heard much worse. And he's renounced the lyric since.

Bigger sin is everyone's beloved Tribe.

https://genius.com/A-tribe-called-qu...-porgie-lyrics


Cuddly Q-Tip raps:

Walking in the ville with them long dreadlocks
But on the DL, getting done up the butt box
Oh my God how gross can one be
Well anyway, better him than me

Let it sink in. “Gorgeous” is without question one of Kanye’s best tracks as far as “rap songs” go. Thing is, a lot of his songs aren’t rap. But “Gorgeous” is certainly the best song after “Runaway.”

Yeezus will take some listening. Let it work for you. Give it a solid chance. It becomes somehow *more* over time. Sounds a bit disparate at first, but all things considered, I reach for it more often than I reach for MBDTF.

Geanmy nominations are in. Ugh. Again. Of course Kendrick and Jay are up for Album and Record of the year (as well as Best Rap Album, naturally) and Jay is up for song of the year for... the title track from “4:44” of all things... which is a weird choice, but whatever.

Some strange choices for album of the year aside from those... like freaking Childish Gambino? I mean, I guess some folks thought it was OK, but... huh? And then Bruno Mars, who is terrible but will probably win.

Big and/or on-topic categories:

Here’s what will win:

Album of the year: Lorde - “Mellodrama”
Record of the Year: Bruno Mars - “24K Magic”
Song of the year: Bruno Mars - “That’s What I Like” (worst thing since aids)

As for the rest, who knows. I expect Kendrick will get shafted because his album is too edgy and violent sounding at times for Grammy voters. Jay will probably win because everyone will think — justifiably — that this is their last chance to honor a great Jay-Z album, because he probably won’t make another.

Kendrick’s too young. Too new. Besides, I wouldn’t *want* DAMN. to be recognized by the music industry establishment. Kinda weirded out that it’s even nominated for the big award.

* Note: Kendrick is now in Kanye circa-2007 territory, where he has released three albums, each of which have been the best or close to the best of their respective year, and each of which have been nominated for Album of the Year at the Shammys. Like Kanye, I think Kendrick will be stuck in the “only wins the black people awards” category, and will go 0 for 3 despite very obviously being the best option available.

OR... The Grammys will make a conscious stand against Trumpmerica... but I think not. Jay Z is safer for white people at this point, and he’s achieved Beck circa “Morning Phase” status in terms of aging into classicdom. He’ll probably steal the show for the rap categories.

Shrug.

Wow.

No nominations for “We Got it From Here... Thank You For Your Service”

-Yo! Where's my white people? Why can't we get some love? Grammy's a bunch of fuckin' racists.

-Funny. "Humble" is probably my least favorite Kendrick song.

-Did you see Q-Tip go off on Grammys?

https://www.instagram.com/qtiptheabstract/

I didn’t realize “We Got it from Here...” was a THIS GRAMMY YEAR album, so I thought it had won some stuff last year.

Should have been up for Album of the year.

Need a new Grammys.

I don't know why Q-Tip cares so much.

cuz the Grammy people asked Tribe to perform last year just after Phife died, and he thought their latest LP should have been nommed.

Oh yeah, forgot about that.

I realized anyone can be a successful rapper nowadays. Lyrics don't matter, flow doesn't matter, voice doesn't matter. It's all about the image: just look as edgy, obnoxious and loud as possible. An extroversion contest.

HOW TO BE A RAPPER 101 - THE STARTER KIT:

- crazy colored long hair (preferably dreads)
- random piercings and face tattoos everywhere, as many as possible
- does drugs
- wears chokers and bracelets
- dark ripped homeless clothes or just shirtless, accompanied by a bag from your favorite brand name
- BONUS POINTS if you hold a gun






Works if you're white too.

^ gross.

The Lil Peep thing is absolutely stupid. No idea how someone can be deemed cutting edge when it sounds just like everything else. The whole emo + hip hop thing is not genius or trailblazing. 808s & Heartbreak is emo + hip hop and that was almost a decade ago.

Yeah it’s sad when someone so young dies but I’ve met a lot of people like Peep. I grew up in Florida where it’s cool and “romantic” to do pills and be sad. It is not cool and should not be rewarded. I almost guarantee that if half the people who have been eulogizing met the kid they’d think he was a scumbag

I listened to good kid mad city yesterday. I’m still shocked something like that got so popular. I’m with Rob a bit - sometimes i just want to bump something nasty sounding. Who am i to judge what people say in their music. But a lot of trap stuff doesn’t try to be anything than what it is. It makes me sick when shit like lil Peep gets lauded as some grand artistic statement.

What happened to Lil B?

Y’all are gonna hate me to for saying MBDTF is not all it’s craxked up to be. Give me 808s or Yeezus any day of the week over it.

Sorry I’m a bit tipsy and in a hip hop mood.

DOOM tried to warn us about it for years and no one was listening.

Nah, no hate. I mean, obviously I disagree, but as long as you recognize the brilliance of 808s and Yeezus... you good. As far as I’m concerned, “808s > MBDTF” or “Yeezus > MBDTF” are both perfectly respectable arguments.

Me, I think MBDTF is the best. There truly isn’t a single not or lyric that’s out of place. So, if we’re talking about what’s best, that’s it. It’s more than it’s cracked up to be.

BUT... I reach for Yeezus and Pablo more. I reach for Late Registration more even. I reach for 808s less, I think, but still ... when I do, it wallops the fuck out of me.

No hate bro. Perfectly respectable opinion.