Kendrick Lamar is better than Soundgarden

[epilogue]

I'm not sure why "new" matters here. To Pimp a Butterfly, and especially "Alright," is a celebration of, and testament to, the resiliency of the (black) human spirit in the face of constant adversity. His coming out in chains and then doing a set that conveyed the depths of perseverance and optimism in his culture is not "new," but it bears repeating...

I think "new" definitely matters if we're talking about sociopolitical statements. If you're making a statement that's already been made, why are you making it?

BECAUSE NOTHING'S FUCKING CHANGED AND IT NEEDS TO.

Jesus Christ. I can't even...

An "important" political statement doesn't inherently make for good art.

Nope. But what happened at the Grammys WAS great art.

[LoathedVermin72]

I've barely explored Kendrick Lamar's work. I gave one very casual listen to TPAB several months ago and I enjoyed it but I didn't really sit down and listen to it. It was background music while I did chores and worked on some projects.

That performances was powerful and compelling. It genuinely moved me. It affected me. It caught my attention. This guy is clearly a force. I'm going to give him my full attention.

Oh, for sure. He's a very arresting and flashy performer. No dispute there.

[epilogue]

I've barely explored Kendrick Lamar's work. I gave one very casual listen to TPAB several months ago and I enjoyed it but I didn't really sit down and listen to it. It was background music while I did chores and worked on some projects.

That performances was powerful and compelling. It genuinely moved me. It affected me. It caught my attention. This guy is clearly a force. I'm going to give him my full attention.

Joey DGAF

wat

[LoathedVermin72]

I'm not sure why "new" matters here. To Pimp a Butterfly, and especially "Alright," is a celebration of, and testament to, the resiliency of the (black) human spirit in the face of constant adversity. His coming out in chains and then doing a set that conveyed the depths of perseverance and optimism in his culture is not "new," but it bears repeating...

I think "new" definitely matters if we're talking about sociopolitical statements. If you're making a statement that's already been made, why are you making it?

BECAUSE NOTHING'S FUCKING CHANGED AND IT NEEDS TO.

Jesus Christ. I can't even...

An "important" political statement doesn't inherently make for good art.

Nope. But what happened at the Grammys WAS great art.

Yeah...like I said, I'm skeptical of that.

[4/5]

Well said tragabigzanda....that's what happens when you start a reply and then get distracted: somebody comes in and replies before you and better than you.

Now my comment isn't even new. Crap.

Ha, not at all -- I think you comment was great, because you mentioned the personal aspect of Kendrick's journey (blowing up, returning home, experiencing guilt at this success, and accepting his role as the voice for his community). I couldn't have said that, because I didn't even see that narrative on TPAB so clearly until I read your post. But of course it's there -- it's all over that record. And it's another thing that sets him apart from Kanye...

Kendrick's has been one of authenticity, of humbleness, of a desire to inspire. He's still with his highschool sweetheart, he doesn't smoke weed, yet he never looks down at his fellow comrades who have less willpower. I believe he sees himself as setting an example for the people around him, and his journey to fame, and then back home -- the one of which you spoke -- is part of what makes him such a compelling artist.

Agreed. This guy is the real deal.

[digster]

Ugh. Humility is so fucking overrated.

I don't doubt Kendrick's authenticity. But I don't doubt Kanye's either. I'm sure both of them want to make the world a better place. Kanye's vision just resonates with me in a way Kendrick's doesn't. Kanye is so defiantly millennial and confident, while Kendrick is so...like a lot of other people. Kanye is big and loud and extreme and crazy and I love it. He lives his art.

I'm hesitant to wade into the argument; I know the catalogs of both artists, but not inside and out.....but I do not understand the bolded at all. Even Kendrick's detractors don't criticize him for being cookie-cutter.

[E.H. Ruddock]

I've barely explored Kendrick Lamar's work. I gave one very casual listen to TPAB several months ago and I enjoyed it but I didn't really sit down and listen to it. It was background music while I did chores and worked on some projects.

That performances was powerful and compelling. It genuinely moved me. It affected me. It caught my attention. This guy is clearly a force. I'm going to give him my full attention.

Joey DGAF

wat

idk

[LoathedVermin72]

Ugh. Humility is so fucking overrated.

I don't doubt Kendrick's authenticity. But I don't doubt Kanye's either. I'm sure both of them want to make the world a better place. Kanye's vision just resonates with me in a way Kendrick's doesn't. Kanye is so defiantly millennial and confident, while Kendrick is so...like a lot of other people. Kanye is big and loud and extreme and crazy and I love it. He lives his art.

I'm hesitant to wade into the argument; I know the catalogs of both artists, but not inside and out.....but I do not understand the bolded at all. Even Kendrick's detractors don't criticize him for being cookie-cutter.

I'm not saying he's cookie-cutter, I'm just saying that he doesn't have the bold personality of someone like Kanye. He's a much quieter artist. And I get why people prefer that, but I find it boring by comparison to what others are doing.

[epilogue]

I've barely explored Kendrick Lamar's work. I gave one very casual listen to TPAB several months ago and I enjoyed it but I didn't really sit down and listen to it. It was background music while I did chores and worked on some projects.

That performances was powerful and compelling. It genuinely moved me. It affected me. It caught my attention. This guy is clearly a force. I'm going to give him my full attention.

Oh, for sure. He's a very arresting and flashy performer. No dispute there.

I think "flashy" tends to carry a negative connotation. Kanye, to me, is flashy -- meaning all bark and not bite, big and glossy but lacking real substance. I'm talking specifically about his live performances that I've seen. Kendrick's performance wasn't flashy to me. Not in the sense that I usually use the word.

I've seen Kendrick Lamar perform twice now. And both times I was blown away. He's an incredible live performer. I've never seen that from Kanye. In fact, some of my least favorite live performances by any artist belong to him. He just does nothing for me as a performer.

[tragabigzanda]

[tragabigzanda]

[epilogue]

I'm not sure why "new" matters here. To Pimp a Butterfly, and especially "Alright," is a celebration of, and testament to, the resiliency of the (black) human spirit in the face of constant adversity. His coming out in chains and then doing a set that conveyed the depths of perseverance and optimism in his culture is not "new," but it bears repeating...

I think "new" definitely matters if we're talking about sociopolitical statements. If you're making a statement that's already been made, why are you making it?

BECAUSE NOTHING'S FUCKING CHANGED AND IT NEEDS TO.

Jesus Christ. I can't even...

An "important" political statement doesn't inherently make for good art.

Nope. But what happened at the Grammys WAS great art.

Yeah...like I said, I'm skeptical of that.

Okay, well, I watched it and I can confirm, it was.

[E.H. Ruddock]

Did any of these guys grow up in Compton or Cabrini Greens or South Bronx? If not, meh.

[epilogue]

Did any of these guys grow up in Compton or Cabrini Greens or South Bronx? If not, meh.

Flatbush Gardens. Represent.

[E.H. Ruddock]

Did any of these guys grow up in Compton or Cabrini Greens or South Bronx? If not, meh.

Flatbush Gardens. Represent.

Dude, you could be a hardcore gangsta rapper, joey!

[epilogue]

Did any of these guys grow up in Compton or Cabrini Greens or South Bronx? If not, meh.

Flatbush Gardens. Represent.

Dude, you could be a hardcore gangsta rapper, joey!

Word to your mother.

[Kevin Davis]

Kendrick is from Compton, Ruddo. Kanye is from Chicago.

[E.H. Ruddock]

Kendrick is from Compton, Ruddo. Kanye is from Chicago.

I was being sarcastic, but thanks for the info. I didn't know that about Kendrick, actually.

[Kevin Davis]

Kendrick is from Compton, Ruddo. Kanye is from Chicago.

I was being sarcastic, but thanks for the info. I didn't know that about Kendrick, actually.

I just figured you'd like to know.

Also, I am from Cabrini Green.

[4/5]