The Grammy-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar’s latest move has once again ignited the flames of debate and discussion with the release of We Don’t Trust You. In his collaboration with Metro Boomin, Lamar has sent shockwaves through the rap world with his bold declarations about none other than Drake and J. Cole through the track, Like That.
Kendrick’s lyrical prowess has sparked conversations about his place as the greatest of all time (GOAT), a prevailing debate with Eminem, Kanye West, and Jay-Z, each sharing their admiration for the rapper.
Rap Icons’ Perspective on Kendrick Lamar’s Influence
Like many prominent figures in the public eye, Kendrick Lamar has garnered both acclaim and critique from people along with his peers within the industry, such as Eminem, Kanye West, and Jay-Z. Eminem, who collaborated with him on songs like Love Game, has consistently shown admiration for Lamar.
The rapper has even hailed him as a “top tier” lyricist of all time. He has expressed admiration for his work on many occasions. Reacting to Lamar‘s fifth studio album, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, Eminem tweeted, “Yo @DrDre this Kendrick album is f****** ridiculous. I’m speechless.”
Not just the Mockingbird hit maker, the rap icon Jay-Z, who has praised multiple of his fellow artists, has also regarded Lamar as an inspiration. The 54-year-old rapper congratulated Lamar on his win for Best Rap Album at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards.
He also listed Lamar among the artists who inspired him, recognizing his influence after Jay-Z’s induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. “Thank you to all the people that have inspired me. Rakim KANE KRS chuck cube Jaz Em Andre Nas big PAC cole kendrick chance jayE,” he mentioned in a tweet.
Lamar’s admirers also include the singer-songwriter, Kanye West, who Lamar allegedly took a hit on in his song King Kunta. However, despite being the subject of alleged criticism, West has expressed admiration for Lamar. As per MTV, he took to X (Twitter) to commend Lamar’s album, describing him as “an inspiration” and praising his artistic depth and spirit.
From Mixtapes to Chart-Topping Albums, Kendrick Lamar’s Lasting Legacy
Over the course of his career, rapper Kendrick Lamar has solidified his position as one of the greatest rappers of all time. His musical journey, spanning five studio albums, a compilation album, and various singles and mixtapes, showcases his artistic growth and has captivated audiences worldwide.
He initially rose to prominence with a series of mixtapes released under his moniker K.Dot. However, it was his fourth mixtape, Overly Dedicated, which garnered significant attention and set the stage for his future success.
Breaking into the mainstream scene with his debut album Section.80, Lamar made his mark on the Billboard 200 chart, debuting at 113. His breakthrough came with the 2012 album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City. It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, selling 241,000 copies.
The album has since achieved triple platinum status, surpassing 2 million copies sold as of 2021. Lamar’s subsequent releases, including To Pimp a Butterfly in 2015, Damn in 2017, and the compilation album Untitled Unmastered in 2016, further solidified his status as a musical force.
His fifth studio album, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, continued his streak of success by debuting at number one on the Billboard 200. With an impressive 17 Grammy wins and numerous other accolades, Lamar has reportedly sold approximately 9.5 million albums. His legacy as an innovative artist and cultural icon is poised to endure for generations to come.
