Movies

Granderson: ‘Record of the year’ doesn’t capture Kendrick Lamar’s brilliance

BBG News

Granderson: 'Record of the year' doesn't capture Kendrick Lamar's brilliance

As a longtime hip-hop connoisseur and aficionado, I can confidently say that Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” and its subsequent tracks have not just been the song of the summer, but rather the album of the year. The intensity and depth in his lyrics are unparalleled, providing a raw insight into the complexities of identity, accountability, and manhood that resonate far beyond the rap industry.

In April, Billboard magazine, which tracks chart success in the music industry, attempted to forecast the song that would dominate summer playlists. At that time, they believed that Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em,” Ariana Grande’s “We Can’t Be Friends,” and the collaboration between rappers Future, Metro Boomin, and Kendrick Lamar titled “Like That” could potentially be the top tracks of the summer.

Approximately two weeks following Billboard’s inquiry about the potential summer hit of 2024, Drake dropped his track “Push Ups.” This song criticized numerous figures within the rap industry, but Drake specifically targeted Lamar, even poking fun at his height and shoe size. In response to Drake’s provocation, a week later he released the freestyle track “Taylor Made Freestyle.” Finally, on the last day of April, Lamar retaliated with the six-minute long piece “Euphoria.

As a moviegoer reviewing this year’s musical blockbusters, I must say that “I Had Some Help” by Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen stole the show and was crowned as the undisputed anthem of the summer by Billboard. Surprisingly, Kendrick Lamar’s chart-topping collaboration with Drake, “Not Like Us,” found itself in third place. To be truthful, I had assumed that the race for the summer hit was a done deal after Lamar showcased “Not Like Us” an impressive five times during his Pop Out concert at The Forum in June. However, Post Malone and Morgan Wallen managed to snatch the title away with their compelling collaboration.

Two Americas, I guess.

Then again, “Not Like Us” is not a song, it’s a revelation as Lamar would say.

In light of the fact that racial issues and identity politics played a significant role in the recent election, especially following Vice President Kamala Harris’ nomination, Lamar took some powerful jabs at Drake in “Like That” and “Euphoria”. Yet, by the time the song “Us” was released, Lamar was no longer targeting Drake directly. Instead, he used Drake as a symbol to initiate a broader discussion about honesty, responsibility, and masculinity.

Including “Us” on a best-of-summer list might be similar to describing the curls on my head as a hairstyle – it’s factually correct, but it overlooks cultural nuances and sensitivity.

“Snoop Dogg stated on ‘The Champs’ podcast that the record in question brought unity to the West. It sparked a sense of camaraderie, making people wonder about the amount of love they have for each other. Therefore, it’s important to talk about this.

Of course! There’s no hesitation when it comes to discussing disputes within hip-hop, be it feuds among artists or conflicts between gangs like Bloods and Crips. Yet, why is it difficult for us to focus on affection instead?

In contrast to many other genres of music, the healing properties they offer are frequently recognized, yet the emotional depth found in hip-hop lyrics is often underestimated. This oversight can cause the human essence behind the rapper’s words to be overlooked as well. However, Kendrick Lamar’s seven Grammy nominations this year, his scheduled Super Bowl performance next year, and his record-breaking streaming numbers are all impressive achievements. These accomplishments would not have been attainable without the social commentary that is an integral part of his music.

This refers to “GNX,” the unexpected album that Lamar dropped on Friday. Although he still takes jabs at Drake, Lamar’s strength has always been his knack for making a single individual’s story resonate as if it’s a metaphor about all of us. Where “Not Like Us” ended, “TV Off” and “Man at the Garden” began in terms of production quality and piercing insights.

It’s amusing to reflect on how, in April, Lamar was quietly going about his day without a care, unaware that Drake was trying to claim his throne – and failed. Since then, news headlines have been swinging between the chaos of the election and social media buzzing over another unexpected move by Kendrick Lamar.

Song of the summer?

Record of the year?

In a year marked by difficult times, Lamar’s nicknames fail to capture the exceptional brilliance and radiance he has shown.

In 2012, LeBron James achieved an extraordinary feat that only one other player had accomplished before – winning the regular season MVP, an NBA championship, Finals MVP, and Olympic gold all in the same year (Michael Jordan being the other). This sparked intense debates about who is superior between the two basketball legends. Following his remarkable summer, James declared his status among the game’s greats by donning a pair of golden gym shoes to symbolize his Olympic victory and kick-starting the new season.

In an interesting turn of events, a week prior to that matchup, Lamar solidified his place among the elite artists by releasing “Good Kid, m.A.A.d City.

Just as James has consistently set new records, Lamar has done the same. Unlike with James, there’s general consensus that Lamar is the best in his field.

@LZGranderson

Read More

2024-11-26 01:31

Previous post Clown in a Cornfield movie sets early 2025 release date
Next post The best scene in Wicked doesn’t have any singing in it