A lotta times I see people saying lyrically dense rappers like Lupe has no mainstream appeal because their content is too deep.

If thats the case then why do mainstream rap fans/publications listen intently to Kendrick's lyrics but not other lyrically dense rappers (with good to great production)? Its as if in the mainstream there's only ever room for 1 lyrical rapper at any given time.

Cause Kendrick make it look sexy

Cuz Kendrick can make hits

kodak had the best verse on the album

people dont listen to kendrick cause he's lyrical they listen cause he's kendrick

The music has to be good

mainstream need to stream billy woods' aethiopes

Marketing

basically

also kendrick's career progress been extremly fascinating

Lupe was mainstream in his prime, he just fell off for a time. By the he dropped T&Y his time was already up.

*Mainstream needs to buy billy woods' Aethiopes

The very best doing it

The reason is GKMC, it was very mainstream record that broke him into the mainstream. So obviously when an album drops that’s what they expected, but then they realized it wasn’t the same (TPAB) which is why it ain’t have no replay value. Then came DAMN. which was a very pop/mainstream record, since Kendrick established himself with GKMC the people will keep checking every project he drops. Same thing with the Steppers, everyone finna check it out cuz it’s Kendrick and they remember GKMC. Haven’t heard steppers yet so idk how this record is but you get the idea

Cause Kendrick is just undeniable he’s literally the 2nd biggest rapper of the last decade

Almost everyone who listens to rap at all f***s with him, he might be the only rapper out that barely has any haters. It’s impossible to replicate that today

imagine saying TPAB has no replay value.
you have some of the worst takes I ever seen

Same thing applies to Jay-Z tbh.

There's literally breakdowns on that recent Pusha verse.

Back when Wayne was more popping(like 07-11) it'd happen for him too.

I hear you. I think is just great at executing his ideas and expressing his thoughts fully. Also has some hits but I believe so many artists are worthy of the same attention I hope ppl dig into latest albums by Saba, Vince, and Denzel.

Kendrick albums are like Oscar movies. everybody tunes in, it’s like a social event to hear the new Kendrick album. Once you leave the theater, you discuss with social media and your friends

One week passes

You never discuss or watch the movie ever again.

He picks beats better than any lyrical rapper

Because people don’t just like Kendrick as a rapper, they like Kendrick as an artist, person, etc.

He’s found a way to imprint on his fans in ways other rappers haven’t.

Bc he’s just way more accessible than a Ka or Woods or Mike or Earl or anyone else.

All the heads that actually dive into the underground like Kendrick but they don’t treat him like the monolithic representative of lyrical rap that the causal fans do

basically this

all it takes is one really big album to forever capture an audience and GKMC is that album. larger than life, designed like a movie while being accessible to the mainstream

Lyrical Rappers The Black Comedians Of The Mainstream Music Industry

🤣

But the answer is GKMC had enough universal critical acclaim (with enough mainstream promo/looks/coverage) to where everything he did was gonna be important and he solidified that/didn’t fumble it. Walked the fine line of having substance but also U can’t say he some smack battle rapper who never accomplished anything in the mainstream, hella hits.
Not that that should matter anyway