Album Rating: 4.5

That could turn out to be quite the conversation, alc. I don't really think he is overrated as an artist, but felt like TPAB got blown out of proportion and don't think the quality matched the ambition and hype surrounding it. That's just my 2 cents.

Album Rating: 3.0

"what sort of coherent controversial messages do you think could be explored lamb"



I can think of a few, although this isn't an exhaustive list:



-A forthright discussion on race that doesn't boil down to blaming. ( I do give Kendrick at least some credit for this - but he kind of backed down the minute his comments began stirring controversy - saying he was 'victim blaming' etc.)



-Discussing how inner city youth generally aren't appreciated for academic achievements or nobility, how gangsterism is toxic predictably leads to misogynistic, homophobic and racist attitudes.



-An actual intelligent take on politics that isn't mindless parroting of the Democrats and/or superficial class warfare / balkanization nonsense.



-Friendship, loyalty, integrity - how these things are more important than immediate satisfaction and superficial popularity that isn't based on true respect.



-Animal welfare... addressing the cognitive dissonance people have with killing an innocent creature every day they exist while generally objecting to violence.



-Recognizing and limiting the power of government... addressing the cognitive dissonance people have with using government force/violence to enforce frivolous laws, while generally objecting to violence.



-Actually exposing fraud politicians on a reasonable basis, not just lumping all politicians together and throwing out the baby with the bathwater.



-Generally just teaching kids how to be respectful, decent people. Have respect for women. Have tolerance for homosexuals. Show gratitude for the society your elders left you. Appreciate your veterans and the people who fought for your rights etc.



The best example I can think of is Killer Mike. I don't even agree with him on a lot, but at least he puts his neck out, informs himself as much as possible and says what he believes. I can't even think of a single other mainstream rapper I can say that about.. next closest is probably The Game and he's actually quite uninformed- but at least he has integrity.

Album Rating: 4.5

@Alc The fact that this and TPAB have the same (if not higher) avgs then a lot of the bona fide classics in and outside of hip hop causes people to have much higher expectations when listening to him, which in turn causes lower ratings then what they would give just any other album because these Kendrick albums aren't considered just any other album, and it causes a lot more contrarianism.

nobody will read that

Album Rating: 4.5

Isnt this album more or less a commentary on youth violence in run down places like Compton though? Or did I miss something here.

Album Rating: 4.5

[2]

Album Rating: 3.0

"i may not have been on this earth that long, but i HIGHLY doubt this is anything but total bs. "



It's true dude, people used to derogatorily call these girls "sluts" - who use their pussy to get what they want. Now this sort of manipulation is the norm and we call it "slut shaming". Complete 180 degree shift. Men still had the upper hand in society (not saying that's a good thing generally) and didn't kowtow to everything women said, if anything it was the opposite. The one good thing that came out of this was men could listen to man music, and this helped raise a generation of fatherless kids in the inner city.



Now its the norm to see some dude listening to and singing along with Taylor Swift in his car and buying a girl 4+ drinks for some pussy... it's borderline prostitution. I don't even blame em, they're so confused as to what matters in life and are just looking for pleasure in the only way they can find it... I blame the DJs

thats not how you spell lembas bread, fyi

rite can u real quick tho show me a better rap song of the decade than sing abt me oh you cant ok thnx

Album Rating: 4.5

wait, are you telling me that my Taylor Swift CDs can get me laid? the hell ive been doing?



(this is jokes btw, I only have T-Swift on digital)

Album Rating: 3.0

"So I'm not trying to say you all are wrong, but I'm curious - why exactly does Kendrick have users rate him low when he's gained praise? I'm not saying he is or isn't overrated, I'm just very curious to know why. This is my first and only Rap album, I bought TPAB but haven't listened yet. What makes Kendrick "overrated" or not?"



A lot of the traditional things rap fans look for are missing from Kendrick. His lyrics aren't that great, a lot of rap fans like lyrics that are good enough that you can read them and enjoy them - he's far from a lyricist in this sense. He's also kind of immature and he brags too much - that's the antithesis of a lot of hip hop. Older rap fans usually tend to like slower rapping where every word is crystal clear and the message is the point - Kendrick is more about shocking you with his delivery, the message is secondary and not that profound relatively (most of it's been said before many times).

Album Rating: 3.0

"Isnt this album more or less a commentary on youth violence in run down places like Compton though? Or did I miss something here."



Yeah, it is, but that is all it is. The thing is, this isn't news to anyone, and it's not controversial to preach to the choir. IMO Kendrick mostly just laments about how much life sucks and how unfair it is in Compton, he doesn't offer anything to fix the situation... if anything he paints the picture of a Lord of the Flies scenario where violence is justified for survivability. His scope as a conscious rapper is narrow and he ironically is romanticizing and justifying the problems he is lamenting about.

"His lyrics aren't that great"

youre a freaking idiot

Album Rating: 3.0

"rite can u real quick tho show me a better rap song of the decade than sing abt me oh you cant ok thnx"



Don't get me wrong that's probably his best track ever but I can name 10 that are better than it in the last year, all by the same artist from the same city as Kendrick.





https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RR7b3P_SAtk&list=PLkpTFAHTRH_uGxb-4fRtXhC1mzEtGZ0B6&index=6



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOMEKVNWav8&index=7&list=PLkpTFAHTRH_uGxb-4fRtXhC1mzEtGZ0B6



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPsc-32_G_A&list=PLkpTFAHTRH_uGxb-4fRtXhC1mzEtGZ0B6&index=15



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izYumytGP4o&list=PLkpTFAHTRH_uGxb-4fRtXhC1mzEtGZ0B6&index=18



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBKYFO9CpZ0&index=22&list=PLkpTFAHTRH_uGxb-4fRtXhC1mzEtGZ0B6



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qs5k-CLQxpY&list=PLkpTFAHTRH_uGxb-4fRtXhC1mzEtGZ0B6&index=23



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lhAZH6RBHg&list=PLkpTFAHTRH_uGxb-4fRtXhC1mzEtGZ0B6&index=28



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KN4Z8bWFu8M&index=30&list=PLkpTFAHTRH_uGxb-4fRtXhC1mzEtGZ0B6



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Mlti224BOk&list=PLkpTFAHTRH_uGxb-4fRtXhC1mzEtGZ0B6&index=34



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmaChpEtsFk&list=PLkpTFAHTRH_uGxb-4fRtXhC1mzEtGZ0B6&index=35

Album Rating: 4.5

hmmmmm

not one song on any game release in the past 5 years touches sing about me

I'm 23 with morals and plans of living cordial
Not rich, but wealthy, there's nothing you can tell me
My killings are not remorseful
The city got my back, and for that, I give them my torso
You think about it, and don't call me lyrical
Cause really I'm just a nigga that's evil and spiritual
I know some rappers using big words to make their similes curve
My simplest shit be more pivotal
I penetrate the hearts of good kids and criminals
Worrisome individuals that live life critical
So won't you bear witness while I bare feet
So you can walk in my shoes and get to know me

HES JUST NOT THAT GUD A LYRICIST IMMORTAL TECHNIQUE BETTER

dudes making me lol with his comments about rap lyricism and an immortal technique 5. i know its cliche sput to be like but u 5d this but COME ON GUYS

i know some rappers usin big words to make they similes curve

my simplest shit be more pivotal

probs better than any line in techniques career tbh

like not one of those game songs touches sing about me, life is dope but like just no

game is so far passed his prime

im an enormous nas fanboy and the ghetto just doesnt touch sing about me, like how you gonna give an example of ten better songs AND PICK THEM ALL FROM THE SAME HALFWAY DECENT ALBUM

Album Rating: 4.5

that new Game album was great, but like, I'd give Lambs more credit if he had an actual list of songs instead of just link Game's enitre album. Because that comes across as just hardcore fanboy and makes it look like your discontent stems from the fact "X rapper isnt doing what my favorite rapper is doing". It makes for a weak argument all around.