Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar Duckworth (born June 17, 1987) is an American rapper and songwriter. He is considered to be one of the most influential hip hop artists of his generation. Born and raised in Compton, California, Lamar began his career as a teenager performing under the stage name K.Dot. After becoming a founding member of the hip hop supergroup Black Hippy, Lamar dropped his stage name and started using his first and middle names professionally.
Due to him and Lupe Fiasco being compared to one another in their respective fanbases, this has led to debates on their artistry and impact as a whole. Fiasco had verbalized in 2020 that Lamar was a better artist, but not a better lyricist. While it is often seen as the media pitting them against each other, the two seem to hold mutual respect for one another.Forman, Murray (2010). "Conscious Hip-Hop, Change, and the Obama Era". American Studies Journal. 54. doi:10.18422/54-03 Fiasco has also collaborated with Black Hippy member Ab-Soul, where the two met at a Chicago show while Ab-Soul was on tour with Lamar.Weekes, Jabbari (July 10, 2014). "Ab-Soul Details Lupe Fiasco Connection". HipHopDX.
Fiasco has been credited as one of the pioneers for bringing the genre of conscious hip hop to a wider audience. Exclaim! made note in 2022, "Before Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Wale or Chance the Rapper, Lupe Fiasco was mainstream hip-hop's voice of reason."Ayiku, Vernon (June 28, 2022). "Lupe Fiasco Preaches Without Being Preachy on 'Drill Music in Zion'". Exclaim!
== Background ==
On September 23, 2012, Kendrick Lamar brought Lupe Fiasco out at the Chicago stop of his Music Still Matters Tour. Fiasco presented the "Next Big Thing Award" to Lamar, saying he was a fan and deserves it.Donaldson, Erich (September 24, 2012). "Video: Kendrick Lamar Brings Out Lupe Fiasco in Chicago". Complex.
On August 14, 2013, Fiasco published the track "SLR 2" in response to Lamar's 2013 "Control" verse. He rapped, 'He's so crazy, look at the little baby / N-gga you ain't Nas, you ain't Jay-Z / You will respect me, you will reject me / But I've done so much, no matter how far you go, you will reflect me.' In an interview with The Arsenio Hall Show, Lamar said that he was not offended by any of the responses, as it was meant to "challenge" the culture of hip hop. Lamar elaborated, "The whole point of the thing is not just the challenge for the moment […] What we going to do to challenge ourselves, how we're going to make better records, how we're going to push forward and innovate the next generation coming up rather than just sticking in the moment of the verse. That was the whole point of the joint and I hope everybody really gets the idea behind it."Bustard, Andy (September 7, 2022). "TDE's Punch Names 'Best' Response to Kendrick Lamar's 'Control' Verse". HipHopDX.
In a June 2014 interview with radio station HOT 97, Fiasco said he was "always a fan of Kendrick," though believed that Lamar was not the best lyricist in the game, naming MF Doom to be the best. Concerning the younger emcees, he named King Los, Logic, and Cassidy to be better lyrically. This was partly said to rile up Peter Rosenberg, one of the radio hosts who was a fan of Lamar."Lupe Accuses Rosenberg of Huggin Kendrick's Nuts Too Tight!". YouTube. June 3, 2014. Lamar said in response to Kube 93 FM, "Everybody entitled to an opinion, you feel me. I just continue to do what I do. Everybody feel they own aspect of it, and how they look at different artists, but I just continue to do what I do."Fleischer, Adam (June 10, 2014). "Kendrick Lamar on Lupe Fiasco's Comments: 'Everybody Entitled to an Opinion'". MTV News.
In a January 2015 interview with Billboard, Lamar said of Michael Brown's death, "I wish somebody would look in our neighborhood knowing that it's already a situation, mentally, where it's fucked up. What happened to [Michael Brown] should've never happened. Never. But when we don't have respect for ourselves, how do we expect them to respect us? It starts from within. Don't start with just a rally, don't start from looting—it starts from within." Fiasco publicly supported Lamar with the hashtag #BeMoreLikeKendrickLamar on January 9.Meara, Paul (January 10, 2015). "Lupe Fiasco, Kid Cudi & Azealia Banks Spar Over Twitter". HipHopDX.
On January 5, 2018, Fiasco expressed that Lamar and SZA's single artwork for "All the Stars" was in likeness to his Drogas Light album artwork. He tweeted, "Even I admit this is a little too close for comfort…😔…damn now I guess I need a new album cover… thanx @TheBlackPanther." He continued of the similarities, "All black album covers, Backwards albums, Ninja! Now this...I'm getting suspiciously delicious hahahha 🧐." President of TDE Dave Free responded, "@LupeFiasco go kick & push yourself into a tree with these wild allegations. 😂" Lupe replied in a joking manner, "I see what you did there. However it's rather impossible to skate into a tree because most trees are located in grass where skateboards don't actually work to well due to the wheels not really being optimal for traversing across such terrain. Now a car or say a well placed gate."Smith, Trevor (January 6, 2018). "TDE President Responds to Lupe Fiasco's Comments About Kendrick's Artwork". HotNewHipHop. Fiasco also added of his own artwork, "we gone keep it because I made it and it's dope but I want everybody to mark the date so that y'all don't retroactively accuse of biting K-Dots album art when Wave drops…ok?"Goddard, Kevin (January 5, 2018). "Lupe Fiasco Thinks Kendrick & SZA's Artwork for "All the Stars" Looks Too Much Like His". HotNewHipHop.
On January 6, 2018, Fiasco made a series of now-deleted tweets, which mainly critiqued Lamar's "Control" verse:
I'll put it to you like this. K. Dot is not a top tier lyricist to me and my standards when it comes to punchlines and bars. His overall lyrics are good, his stories phenomenal, but punchline entendre lyrically I don't see it.
I've never been destroyed. Also the only issue that the world thinks I have with KDot and I actually do is that I think his 'Control' verse was wack and super overhyped to be a verse claiming you are the best rapper.
In a follow-up the same year in March, he apologized for his critique over an Instagram livestream, stating, "Maybe I should have just left it alone. Even though my impetus was the 'Control' verse. I mean you put yourself out there like that. So, you opened yourself up to critique, but even that still, I should have just shut my fucking mouth. I apologize for even engaging and talking about s careers, I'll never do that shit again."Watson, Elijah (March 27, 2018). ""I'll Never Do That S**t Again": Lupe Fiasco Apologizes for Criticizing Kendrick Lamar's Talent". Okayplayer. On October 1, Fiasco posted "Left to Right," which freestyles over Lil Wayne and Kendrick Lamar's "Mona Lisa."Montes, Patrick (October 1, 2018). "Lupe Fiasco Reworks Lil Wayne & Kendrick Lamar's "Mona Lisa" on "Left to Right"". Hypebeast.
On September 20, 2020, Fiasco said that he was a better lyricist than K-Dot. The following day, he explained further on Twitter (now deleted):
In my own words…once again for you bitches…I love me some KDot…always have always will
With that said do think I he's a good lyricist? Yes. Do I think he's the best lyricist? No. Do I think it's lyricists that are better than him? Yes. Is he a better artist than me? Yes. Is he a better lyricist than me? No. Does he make better songs than me? Yes.
Did I think control was ridicule? No. Am I jealous of Kdot? No. Did I personally give him his props in Chicago on stage as the next to take the crown? YES. Is It on camera? Yes. Did I mean it? Yes.Richards, Will (September 22, 2020). "Lupe Fiasco Claims He's a Better Lyricist Than Kendrick Lamar – But Not a Better Artist". NME.
HipHopDX observed of its aftermath, "The poignant explanation was enough to draw a simple 'LOL' from TDE President Punch who also convinced many fans he was alluding to a "Heart Pt. 5" response from Kendrick Lamar down the line." Punch did the cryptic tweet hours after, "Be careful what you ask for. You may get it. This business isn't for the faint of heart."Clark, Trent (September 27, 2020). "Hip Hop Week in Review: Kendrick Lamar & Lupe Fiasco Rap Debate Rages on & Tory Lanez Challenges His Cancellation". HipHopDX. The incident caused fans to compare the two artists. Andre Gee of Complex reported:
Lupe speaks for a class of lyricists who are just fine with the freedom of being elite lyricists instead of "good lyricists" at labels that don't understand them. It's worth noting that rap discussion is entirely arbitrary.
[…]
While Kendrick is the more popular cue to lyricism, Lupe at his best represents a gold standard, consistently able to weave together entendres with assonance while telling coherent, edifying stories. Doing one of those things makes you impressive. Doing all three at a high level, simultaneously, makes you a genius.
[…]
We love MCs for being honest enough to reflect on their career. We also love MCs who tell vivid stories and drop social commentary. The last thing we should be doing toward an MC who can do all three at once is laugh at them, as many believe TDE's Punch did in response to Lupe's comments this week.Gee, Andre (September 22, 2020). "What the Lupe Fiasco and Kendrick Lamar Debate Says About Rap in 2020". Complex.
On August 4, 2021, Fiasco posted the freestyle "Forest Fires" which raps over the instrumental of Lamar's "Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst." This also happened to be where the lyric 'My next album is titled is "Drill Music in Zion"' originated.
On May 13, 2022, with Lamar's release of the album Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, Fiasco took to Twitter to praise, "Reporting from Hawaii. Exceptional work Mr. Lamar ☺️.""Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco)". Twitter. May 13, 2022.
In December 2022, as part of an introduction to his Rap Theory & Practice for MIT, he did an analysis of Lamar's "Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst" along with Eminem's "Stan" and his own song, "Jonylah Forever."Brown, Preezy (December 29, 2022). "Lupe Fiasco Decodes Eminem and Kendrick Lamar Lyrics in MIT Lecture". Vibe.
In 2024, controversy arose during the feud between Lamar and Drake, where fans and rappers participated in choosing sides. On April 15, Fiasco spoke with Aye Verb over Twitter Spaces. Fiasco felt Drake was a better rapper of the two, for bars, but not a better technically skilled performer. He later added, about Lamar, "I think he's a great performer. I think he's a great rapper. I think he makes great albums. I think he's a great conceptualist. I think he's a great mind. I think what he does for the culture is amazing. I love him to death. I do not think that he's this amazing lyricist, though. And if I had to put a top 100 list together… the first 60 slots would be s that ain't in the mainstream that s don't even know. It ain't finna be s with record deals. It's gonna be all these battle rap s. When it comes to lyrics."Moore, Sam (April 16, 2024). "Lupe Fiasco Claims Drake Is a 'Better Rapper' Than Kendrick Lamar". HipHopDX.
Several months later on July 19, Dame Dash took to his Instagram account to announce of selling one-third share of Reasonable Doubt by Jay-Z, requesting for serious inquires only. Fiasco left the following comment:
… @champagnepapi will keep it safe for generations to come. This is grail and influenced an innumerable amount of rappers to see it peddle such a lack of grace genuinely hurts my feelings a little bit but also on savage shit fuck it…either donate it to a museums for safekeeping or seriously let Drake make an offer so he can put in where it needs to be. Or just keep the shit OG you should be infinitely proud of this. Without it there is no me as I am and I'm sure other MC's will agree.Fitzgerald, Trent (July 20, 2024). "Lupe Fiasco Suggests Drake Buy Dame Dash's One-Third Share of Jay-Z's Reasonable Doubt Album". XXL.
On July 20, Fiasco took to Twitter Spaces to speak of how gatekeeping in hip hop was "a process which I don't agree with" and "bullshit." He added, to those qualified to speak on who should be in or out of hip hop, "If you want to do that you should have a degree. You should have a PhD in hip-hop." He continued, "Just because you can rap, and you've sold a bunch of records, I don't think at this point, and it's to the point now that it is visceral, and it's to the point where people are making decisions on it, and it's hurting people and building up other people that it shouldn't just be based on some at a podcast… It should be stewarded by people who know what the fuck they are talking about very very deeply and can write a book about it. But I'm being biased. I don't agree with the process anyway." He went on to shut down rumors that he holds any animosity towards Lamar, though some fans remained doubtful. Fiasco clarified that he never had a problem with Kendrick, and it was fans or people who created that narrative. It grew popularized that he even went to speak with TDE's Punch to address the situation.Pointer, Flisadam (July 21, 2024). "What Did Lupe Fiasco Say About Kendrick Lamar and Drake's Beef?". Uproxx.Horvath, Zachary (July 22, 2024). "Lupe Fiasco Sparks Debate & Heated Reactions from Kendrick Lamar Fans Following His Twitter Spaces Event". HotNewHipHop. Concerning the Drake-Kendrick beef, he stated his early remarks of who were a better rapper was a neutral take, and he personally didn't listen to either diss tracks. He shared a memory of him standing in the Crenshaw parking lot where Nipsey Hussle died, and how he understood how rap feuds led to violence in their community. Similar to drill music, he saw no entertainment in it, not liking to see that energy."Lupe Fiasco (@LupeFiasco)". Twitter. July 22, 2024.
== Gallery ==
File:Lupe Fiasco - May 12 2020.jpg|@lupefiasco: "☺️"
== References ==
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