Feb 26, 2018 I don't really see how TPAB is overrated. It's divisive because it was such a left turn and so some people specifically don't feel it but overall it was a cultural smash hit amongst hip hop heads and non-hip hop heads alike. For every person who didn't feel Kendrick's direction, there were 5 rap fans and 15 non rap fans who dug it. Gotta count for something
Feb 26, 2018 I don't know if "it's really popular" is a good counterpoint to it being overrated. Kendrick was too big to fail after GKMC, people were gonna hail whatever he did next as a masterpiece regardless of what direction he went in. It's overrated (obligatory "in my opinion" here) because it's nothing special in the context of his discography, Kendrick is objectively a great rapper, but he wasn't rapping well on TPAB. Musically it's good, but he wasn't doing anything that hadn't already been done by Outkast/Tribe/Guru/whoever and yet it was hailed as revolutionary high art. The album's significant because an unapologetically pro-black album by a major artist was necessary in the social climate of the time, but I don't think being important does anything for the quality of the music.
Feb 26, 2018 Fair points but I disagree with the idea that he "wasn't rapping well" on TPAB, and to me that just seems like an incorrect generalization and an unfair analysis to lump with the album. Look at "u" for example, which is brilliant in every aspect of concept, writing and performance. He was rapping well on the album. Maybe the instrumentals which are foreign to mainstream rap came off as flat for a lot of people who were expecting something as flashy and west coast as GKMC but Kendrick's rapping and lyricism was on point as usual.
Feb 26, 2018 I mean in comparison to his other work, his writing isn't as colorful or engaging as it was on GKMC or parts of S80 and he doesn't sound as hungry as he did on either of those projects. Feels like he bought into his own hype was phoning in a lot of the verses.
Feb 26, 2018 Coloring Book by a landslide.... To see it win a grammy, be hailed as some "indy-saving" record and be called the best album of that year was absurd. Chance can be a great rapper when he's not doing that self-righteous s--- but CB wasn't this pioneering masterpiece I've see people make it out to be.
Feb 26, 2018 GKMC and colouring book I just felt like both these albums were let downs after what they produced before them acid rap is a classic and kendricks mixtape run was insane the albums wernt as good as made out to be but there big commercial debuts got praised because of the amazing work they put out before
