Mar 22, 2015

Humility and Kanye West are rarely mentioned in the same sentence. But now rap’s most controversial innovator has admitted he needs to raise his game after an upstart rival, Kendrick Lamar, stole his hip-hop glory.

On Monday, Lamar, a 27-year-old from Compton, Los Angeles County, released his second album To p---- a Butterfly.

It tackles issues of “violence, race, police power and white supremacy” in the US, to a backing of jazz and funk-inspired beats and was instantly hailed by critics as the most important release of the year.

Despite its lack of a radio-friendly single, Butterfly has proved hugely popular. It rapidly broke Spotify’s single-day global-streaming record with more than 9.6 million streams. By this weekend the album, which is on course to top the UK chart today, had racked up more than 36 million streams. The top 50 most streamed tracks worldwide last week included 10 from the album.

Lamar’s success presented a dilemma for West, notorious for dismissing music rivals he feels aren’t worthy. The pair previously toured together when Lamar, who won seven Grammy nominations for his 2012 debut album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, supported 37-year-old West.

However, he chose to pay homage to his protégé. “Kendrick is an inspiration,” West tweeted. “Thank you for the vibrations and the spirit. Your meaning, message and execution are gifts to the world.”

While the announcement that West will headline Glastonbury’s Saturday slot prompted a petition of opposition, Lamar’s appearance at the Wireless Festival in Finsbury Park, London, is now set to be the most eagerly awaited live performance of the summer.

Kanye West performing at Koko, London Kanye West performing at Koko, London (Getty)
Lamar also received praise from Taylor Swift and Justin Timberlake after Butterfly appeared on iTunes and Spotify a week early due to a record company error, according to the rapper’s manager. Pharrell Williams has likened Lamar to Bob Dylan.

Lamar is very different in temperament to the bombastic West. Growing up in g----dominated Compton, he was inspired to pursue a career in music after seeing a video for Tupac Shakur being filmed near his home. He rejects rap’s obsession with bling and fashion endorsements, rarely drinks or smokes and is said to be in a quiet, decade-long relationship with his high-school sweetheart. Yet his music is riddled with self-doubt, depression at new-found fame and “survivor’s’ guilt” about leaving behind bullet-strewn Compton.

Like West’s, Lamar’s music polarises opinion, but he said his Butterfly album is “full of strength and courage and honesty”, as well as “growth and acknowledgment and denial”.

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-e...anye-wests-crown-as-king-of-rap-10125369.html

 

Mar 22, 2015

s-----y article

 

Mar 22, 2015

What about Drake though

 

Mar 22, 2015

Lacks classic albums. Take Care is great but not a classic imo.

 

Mar 22, 2015

I mean more in the sense of popularity, Drake seems to be on top imo

 

Mar 22, 2015

Drake is whack AF, i wonder what drake thinks 'bout kendrick right now. Because i personally feels drake will never be able to top GKMC not to mention TPAB. (my opinion)

 

Mar 22, 2015

Kanye West king of rap?

 

Mar 22, 2015

This is a stupid thread, any article that claims kanye is king in anything the writer should be fired

 

Mar 22, 2015

Can't get the Kanye love nowadays.
Great producer, ok rapper.

 

Mar 22, 2015

When did kanye admit that he needs to up his game?
Are they basing that off of the tweets about him being an inspiration?....

 

Mar 22, 2015

Kanye's crown as king of rap? This isn't 2007, nor 2010. It's widely agree'd Drake had the crown. Whether or not Kendrick has yet snatched it is up for debate.

 

Mar 22, 2015

People acting like Nas dont exist now

 

Mar 22, 2015

If yall don't think Kendrick has the crown there's the f---ing exit door to this part of the forum

 

Mar 22, 2015

Agree

 

Mar 22, 2015

Drake doesn't have one project that's better than any of Kendrick's albums though.

 

Mar 22, 2015

oh wait how did i miss this thread

agreeeeeeed

kendrick >>>>kanye

 

Mar 22, 2015

someone actually took the time to write this?

 

Mar 22, 2015

Kanye is roughly 1/4 as good as Kendrick at this point

 

Mar 22, 2015

Kendrick is #1, and then regardless of who's number 2 3 4 5 and etc. there's a huge gap between Kendrick and 2 and the rest...

 

Mar 23, 2015

Kendrick is king, his popularity is growing rapidly after dropping another classic album plus drake only has Take Care and Kanye hasn't seemed to really been investing time in music at least compared to fashion. I hope SHMG is another classic from
Kanye. No one dethroning kendrick right now or for a long time if he keeps up this pace