YESSS

the difference

Puts into perspective how far someone like Lupe fell or moreso how much better he would have done if he came out in like 2010-2013 since he has two of those type of projects with Cool and F&L

Somewhat the same with Chance. Kanye still get the benefit of the doubt cuz of the college dropout aesthetic, content of the album and rollout

*saved the album

Bro I rly liked this only bc the ratio was unfathomable

Lol imagine actually believing this. If TPAB wasn't the masterpiece it was he wouldn't have retained the attention from GKMC for 10 years alone

This is literally it

This. Plus, he never bucked at the major label system like Lupe did. Lupe had all of this support from fans and the industry at one point. Had the hits. Had the mainstream critic acclaim.

crazy what picking the right label can do to or for your career

bc he has made hits

Not sure if you just went for the joke but this is actually why lol

He replaced Eminem in that place lol

my aoty

Kendrick just knows how to bridge the gap between the two. Idk.

this.. not to say that kendrick isn't also talented, but most "lyrical rappers" never had the backing, funding, and marketing of interscope or guys like Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine

This is a huge part people don't acknowledge.

also Kendrick coming out at the time where blog rap was still a thing and we wasn't into playlist culture yet really helped.

The whole 'big 3' era (which as time passes, really hurt a lot of rappers that came out around that same time. Because it made any other rappers besides drake, cole, and kendrick pretty much be looked at as not good/worth shti. ( ESPECIALLY for example, niggas like KRIT who imo is just as good if not better than all them niggas) also making it so a lot of people who normally wouldn't be into a kendrick-type of rapper, were kind of "forced" in a way into listening to either him, cole, or drake (shoutout to the radio)

GKMC being an "instant classic" definitely helped. But yeah the mainstream has always been like "we only let 1 in the room" and in the mid 2000s, it was Lupe until Lasers. Now it's Kendrick. I do wish there was more variety cause Kendrick aint the only lyrical rapper that can combine the 2 of accessibility and being lyrical.

And for what it's worth, as great as Mr. Morale is, I still got Few Good Things over it as RAOTY tbh.

this is really the answer tbh

He uses interesting production, does weird flows , features other popular artists, has unique video concepts, etc. making his music more appealing, aka "sexy"

if Kendrick just rapped over boom bap beats nobody would care

but the thing is there are other rappers around and since then that are legit doing just this and still not getting shine.

Part of it is that being independent really does put you at a disadvantage. But also, like, the career ascension of Kendrick Lamar will probably never be replicated again in this generation.

Especially with how spread out and niche rap has gotten.

It’s a snooze fest

You’re deaf

hurrdurr different opinion hurrdurr

but tbh i think tpab is a phenomenal album it has by far the least replay value. i come back to alright and these walls but thats about it.

I like his other albums (well, I can see their value and why they are acclaimed)