All tagged Kendrick Lamar
Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers takes many angles, however, one that may go overlooked is Kendrick claiming his humanity by taking himself off the pedestal many people place him on. Many Kendrick fans look at the rapper as a type of moral authority in Hip-Hop because of his talent to examine society throughout his music. This all came to a boiling point during the protests of 2020 when the American public demanded to hear from Kendrick, a demand that was ultimately not met. Throughout the album, specifically on ‘Savior’ Kendrick references the situation while attempting to remind listeners that he is not trying to be anyone’s savior. The appeal of relieving himself of the pressures that comes with being looked upon as a savior may be a motivating factor behind Kendrick featuring Kodak Black throughout the album, using the F-word on ‘Auntie Diaries,’ and admitting to cheating on his partner. With these possibly calculated mistakes, Kendrick attempts to reclaim his humanity by displaying instances of imperfection. Kendrick’s attempt to reclaim his status as an imperfect being could also be the start of an artistic rebranding, ultimately freeing him from his current expectations and allowing him to take more artistic risks. The new risks Kendrick Lamar may plan to take could surface in his new artistic projects like the comedy he’s developing for Paramount.
As we get deeper into the 20’s new stars are beginning to emerge in ways not many would have foreseen. With younger artists dominating the airwaves these days, an artist that’s becoming close to undeniable is Baby Keem. A young star from California, in just a few short years the 20-year-old rapper is already a collaborator with Kanye West, Travis Scott, and did we mention he’s Kendrick Lamar’s cousin? It’s clear Baby Keem is up next and Hip-Hop’s most powerful titans have already taken notice.
Here’s the reality of the situation: Hip-Hop hasn’t been as active in spreading awareness about the issues that the black community faces as the genre has been in the past. Many artists aren’t using social media’s amplifying power to speak up and push the movement forward at a time where exposure is at its highest. Without current artists taking on the storied responsibility, the people can never be confident that they are truly being heard, and Hip-Hop will have failed. Hip-Hop is changing for the worse, and it needs to return to its roots of protest music.
The early ’80s serves as the starting point for Hip-Hop’s increased relevance, as the content and delivery would become more and more refined. Most notably GrandMaster Flash and the Furious Five’s “The Message” would change the landscape of what could be a Hip-Hop hit. The vivid lyrics depicting what it was like in the ghettos of all major cities, specifically for black people, make the song one of the most influential songs to this day. Through this grew the roots of protest that have proved to be one of the foundations of Hip-Hop that still stand strong to this day.
With the last decade ending in a few letdowns, the expectations for the potential drops of 2020 couldn’t be higher. We’re officially on the lookout for albums from Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Lil Uzi Vert, Playboi Carti, Migos, and many more.
This top ten list isn’t for rappers who’ve displayed dominance over just one summer, but for the rappers who on the impact of their presence and influence within Hip-Hop has molded it into the multifaceted genre that we know it to be.
Looking at the 2010s we’ve seen the best artists deliver, and new artists raise the bar. Looking forward to my picks for the best 15 projects of the decade, I consider both albums and mixtapes, focusing on a project’s overall impact, as well as sales and critical response. More importantly, uniqueness is rewarded, while many believe the genre of Hip-Hop is a bit saturated, these albums have stood out by standing the test of time, and inspiring Hip-Hop and music fans alike. Without further ado.
Many Hip-Hop fans look to the summer of each year to define a year musically. The summer has proven to cement Hip-Hop careers as important amongst the Hip-Hop community.
