Many times have I heard people, who are a little older than me, tell me that nothing will ever beat what rap was in the 90’s. Sure, it was a great time for the genre; artists and groups like Tupac, Biggy, and NWA were hot, and the sound of the struggle in the streets was feeding their ambitions. Rap was about struggle, about being someone when people thought you’d be nothing, and the power of words over violence. This molding of the genre didn’t set however, instead, the genre dripped into a weird style in the mid to late 2000’s. Heavy bass boosted, electronic fed beats were being spit out and ghost writers were becoming more and more prevalent in the industry. It seems as though we turned a blind I to creativity and instead, we only cared about who could put out the freshest beats, or who could talk smack about someone else better. This is where I agree with those who say rap isn’t what it used to be, but I believe that there is yet another shift in the genre, and this time it’s for the better.
Kendrick Lamar, another Compton rapper who’s found himself at the top, is changing the way we listen to music. Kendrick realizes that without a beat, rap wouldn’t really be rap. However, he also knows that without a story to tell or intellectual thoughts to speak of then we mine as well just listen to a beat. Lyrics are what make rap, they must have a meaning, hence why Kendrick Lamar’s music is so successful.
Kendrick can tell a story about anything, and every song he’s made there is a story to it. He doesn’t sound like some unintelligent rapper who just wants to make money, he’s rapping for a cause. Growing up in the harsh streets of Compton, Kendrick has basically seen it all, and he’s seen things that people like you and I hope to never experience. However, instead of resorting to utter violence, he raps about what’s affected his life and the lives of the people he loves.
Kendrick often delves into Black Rights, and how even though we may not see it, racism still exists. Kendrick raps to break the barriers of racism and hatred, by telling stories of how it’s affected him and his life personally. The lyrics have meanings, they’re not just there to sound good, they are there for a purpose.
Recently, Kendrick Lamar had the privilege of guest starring on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. There, Kendrick debuted a brand new song titled, “Untitled 2.” Astounding is the only word I can say, because his performance absolutely blew my mind. The song was about five-six minutes long, and in those minutes, Kendrick rapped about him being the best in the business and his power over other rappers.
“I could put a rapper on life support!”
Kendrick delves into other genres and pulls out different styles, often making his beats of the jazz nature. In Untitled 2, he rapped in a very jazz like style with a band playing behind him. And this is exactly what I mean when I say rap is seeing a change. Kendrick is putting together some of the hottest tracks without sounding like your stereotypical rapper. Take into consideration his album, “To Pimp a Butterfly.” The album was so well done that it was up for 11 Grammy nominations, just two away from the record holder Michael Jackson’s 13.
Kendrick Lamar can’t change rap by himself, but his style has definitely made a spark in the genre and has started to shape a new rap. kendrick is a true success in the industry and all I can say is that there is no doubt that he has worked tirelessly to develop to where he is today. So, Kendrick, keep putting in the work, because nothing but pure gold is coming out.
