Kendrick Lamar Lupe Says He's a Better Lyricist Than Kendrick

Started by Worm, Sep 21, 2020, in Kendrick Lamar Add to Reading List

  1. Michael Myers
    Posts: 40,813
    Likes: 82,823
    Joined: Feb 28, 2011

    Michael Myers Moderator

    Sep 22, 2020
    Yeah ffs lets not turn this into a typical american race thing. I didn't say anything about the content, I just think that song is more enjoyable than any song on TPAB
     
    #21
    0 0
    Mar 29, 2024
  2. skip
    Posts: 425
    Likes: 1,093
    Joined: Mar 16, 2019

    Sep 22, 2020
    A big mental hurdle that some ppl, including some rappers, never get over is what I like to call “inception syndrome”

    As played out as saying “it’s like South Park” is,... it’s like South Park when they spend half an hour having to explain to the kids that inception isn’t the best thing in the world just cuz it’s complex. No amount of rational discourse will convince these people that something simpler can be of the same quality, unless it’s essential in the formation of their glorified complex works (see 80s hip hop and its reverence by ppl who claim to hate simple rhyme schemes simply cuz it’s the precursor to their preferred art)
     
    #22
    1
    Ordinary Joel likes this.
    1
    Ordinary Joel likes this.
    Mar 29, 2024
  3. Tone Riggz
    Posts: 2,537
    Likes: 4,394
    Joined: Feb 16, 2011
    Location: Queens, NY, USA

    Tone Riggz There's No Cure For Being A C*nt

    Sep 22, 2020
    I’m surprised he mentioned Homeboy Sandman
     
    #23
    2
    Zeugma and Ordinary Joel like this.
    2
    Zeugma and Ordinary Joel like this.
    Mar 29, 2024
  4. skip
    Posts: 425
    Likes: 1,093
    Joined: Mar 16, 2019

    Sep 22, 2020
    Revisited both recently. I prob would’ve agreed back in the day but def not anymore. T&Y seems a bit random sometimes, and the guest singers feel forced and industrial
     
    #24
    2
    Thy and Ordinary Joel like this.
    2
    Thy and Ordinary Joel like this.
    Mar 29, 2024
  5. Winter
    Posts: 5,941
    Likes: 13,755
    Joined: Nov 24, 2014

    Winter Super Comfy

    Sep 22, 2020
    Obviously can’t speak for anyone except myself but I just don’t think the music is that good. Also a lot of it is pushback against the album’s fans, shoutout to besky
     
    #25
    3
    Thy, Ordinary Joel and Ricky like this.
    3
    Thy, Ordinary Joel and Ricky like this.
    Mar 29, 2024
  6. Head Bussa
    Posts: 8,027
    Likes: 16,325
    Joined: Dec 23, 2014

    Sep 22, 2020
    Ehh, who cares

    anyway, this is one of my favorite Lupe cuts. He absolutely kills it every line

     
    #26
    3
    skip, Trackz and Ordinary Joel like this.
    3
    skip, Trackz and Ordinary Joel like this.
    Mar 29, 2024
  7. hargydon
    Posts: 6,009
    Likes: 18,580
    Joined: Oct 7, 2016

    hargydon No investigation, no right to speak

    Sep 22, 2020
    TPAB is boring?

    Miss me with that take.
     
    #27
    1
    Ordinary Joel likes this.
    1
    Ordinary Joel likes this.
    Mar 29, 2024
  8. Worm
    Posts: 14,951
    Likes: 59,383
    Joined: Feb 15, 2011
    Location: New Jersey

    Worm Big Perm Big Worm

    Sep 22, 2020
    when I tore my ACL I told them to put on TPAB instead of giving me anesthesia for the surgery. Knocked me right out. Had to play redman to wake me up
     
    #28
    2
    Ricky and Ordinary Joel like this.
    2
    Ricky and Ordinary Joel like this.
    Mar 29, 2024
  9. hargydon
    Posts: 6,009
    Likes: 18,580
    Joined: Oct 7, 2016

    hargydon No investigation, no right to speak

    Sep 22, 2020
    :currydead:
     
    #29
    1
    Ordinary Joel likes this.
    1
    Ordinary Joel likes this.
    Mar 29, 2024
  10. joeyp363
    Posts: 15,375
    Likes: 24,260
    Joined: Feb 15, 2011

    Sep 22, 2020
    Em’s lyricism on Revival s----s on both these “WOKE” wannabes
     
    Mar 29, 2024
  11. Kujaku67
    Posts: 345
    Likes: 750
    Joined: Jul 9, 2020

    Sep 22, 2020
    Lupe is the GOAT technical lyricist in hip hop followed closely by Aesop Rock. This doesn't mean that they're the best rappers because rapping goes beyond lyricism. But Lupe in his element is an ALIEN when it comes to wordplay, metaphors, entendres, etc.

    That being said, Kendrick has more mass appeal and is still one of the most skilled mainstream rappers out there with a better discography. And he has a better flow. But Lupe is the better lyricist hands down.
     
    #31
    1
    Ordinary Joel likes this.
    1
    Ordinary Joel likes this.
    Mar 29, 2024
  12. hargydon
    Posts: 6,009
    Likes: 18,580
    Joined: Oct 7, 2016

    hargydon No investigation, no right to speak

    Sep 22, 2020
    I think it’d be good to have a discussion on what people’s definition of lyricism is because clearly it differs.
     
    #32
    3
    skip, MichaelsMad and Ordinary Joel like this.
    3
    skip, MichaelsMad and Ordinary Joel like this.
    Mar 29, 2024
  13. MichaelsMad
    Posts: 1,459
    Likes: 2,912
    Joined: Oct 2, 2016

    Sep 23, 2020
    Lupe isn't wrong imo. as far as Punchlines/Metaphors/entendres/ inner and out rhyme patterns Lupe is definitely superior. Doesn't always translate into great songs/albums tho. He even states that, on his IG live video with Royce he even said that the songs are just kind of a vessel for him to get his lyrics off, hes not always concerned with if what he does made a great "song"

    @hargydon for me, Lyricism is kind of what i mentioned above. Having internal rhyme patterns separate from the outer scheme, Punchlines, wordplay/ metaphors/similes entendres etc. it's the technical skill set with lyrics. Not so much about making a statement or telling a story as much as its what you can do with the words you're using.
     
    #33
    2
    Ordinary Joel and hargydon like this.
    2
    Ordinary Joel and hargydon like this.
    Mar 29, 2024
  14. Trackz
    Posts: 9,457
    Likes: 16,641
    Joined: Mar 17, 2011

    Trackz BARCODE

    Sep 23, 2020
    Kendrick and Lupe are both great. But speaking in terms of lyricism, I don't see how you can't pick Lupe.
     
    #34
    1
    Ordinary Joel likes this.
    1
    Ordinary Joel likes this.
    Mar 29, 2024
  15. hargydon
    Posts: 6,009
    Likes: 18,580
    Joined: Oct 7, 2016

    hargydon No investigation, no right to speak

    Sep 23, 2020
    Conveying a story a certain way & using unique, clever or complex metaphors is harder to be perceived on what’s more impressive as everyone will have a more subjective view on that topic & I feel like that’s where Kendrick is being discredited a lot here.

    Also, if you focus on making a good song rather than lyrical miracles - chances are your technical ability is going to be constrained hence why rappers who focus on punches can’t make a good song most of the time, so it’s not really a fair match up if you’re not considering song writing as lyricism in my opinion.
     
    #35
    3
    skip, Ordinary Joel and MichaelsMad like this.
    3
    skip, Ordinary Joel and MichaelsMad like this.
    Mar 29, 2024
  16. Winter
    Posts: 5,941
    Likes: 13,755
    Joined: Nov 24, 2014

    Winter Super Comfy

    Sep 23, 2020
    Lupe’s probably right, idk I don’t really think about lyricism like that. I love the first two Lupe albums a lot, there’s some s--- on there that I just can’t imagine how he came up with, but neither one is as good as GKMC
     
    #36
    2
    Ordinary Joel and MichaelsMad like this.
    2
    Ordinary Joel and MichaelsMad like this.
    Mar 29, 2024
  17. Chaotic Progress
    Posts: 4,664
    Likes: 7,968
    Joined: Jan 4, 2017

    Chaotic Progress NEW EM - APRIL 5th.

    Sep 24, 2020
    I find Lupe annoying. Like, as a person.

    I never got into him much because he never struck me. I remember when I first heard him on 'Touch the Sky' and everyone was like "OMG THAT LUPE VERSE!!'' and I was like 'eh... '. Ye had much better verses, I find Lupe to be quite corny. I think a lot of people just like rappers with smooth voices and deliveries.

    Kendrick is a better rapper. And much more interesting.
     
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2020
    #37
    0 0
    Mar 29, 2024
  18. skip
    Posts: 425
    Likes: 1,093
    Joined: Mar 16, 2019

    Sep 26, 2020
    Exactly this. Imagine grading a novel on its word count and number of 8+ letter words instead of the soul of the material. Saying “Lupe is good but his lyrics don’t always translate to better songs” shouldn’t be an excuse for Lupe but a valid criticism of his failure to format his thoughts in a way that translate to an entertainment medium
     
    #38
    2
    hargydon and Ordinary Joel like this.
    2
    hargydon and Ordinary Joel like this.
    Mar 29, 2024
  19. skip
    Posts: 425
    Likes: 1,093
    Joined: Mar 16, 2019

    Sep 26, 2020
    Brevity is the soul of wit and while I love carrera lu he overstuffs his bars so much he runs out of breath on some of the headier verses
     
    #39
    1
    Ordinary Joel likes this.
    1
    Ordinary Joel likes this.
    Mar 29, 2024