Voice of the People?
Voice of the People?
Kendrick Lamar may be the greatest rapper of all time. But is he greater than that? Prophet maybe?
#kendricklamar
#gnx
#hiphop
Lil Bill- https://youtu.be/YYKxZSSOVqA?si=RMdGV0Stg3I3Wk4i
FD-https://youtu.be/ytaXpG8kgs8?si=Pb-cWAMuI0fkYX6P
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Great video and maybe the most definitive one I've seen summarizing the problems with Kendrick's intentional (?) contradictions.
YT randomly recommended this video, and I'm so glad it did. Subbed.
Hello @FatCharlie215 I have just discovered your channel after seeing it on my feed for a while (I am subbed now), I appreciate that I found a creator that dove so deep into my issues with Kendrick as an entity in pop culture as person who ironically enjoys all his albums.
There is always a dissonance I find while listening to him and I haven't been able to quite understand how to engage with it in the healthiest way possible, unlike some of his fans that just don't question anything about him, to me he is a dilemma.
I see so much of myself in his BS persona and feel seen but at the same time disgusted, as a youngin myself (21) this fragments my approach to my reality, its daunting really. More so your approach of skilfully breaking him down through lenses that reflect most of my personal values, not only shows me the hypocrite in Kendrick but also people (Loved ones and all) in my every day life some of which who act like their sh*t don't stink and as you can imagine I don't really know what to make of it, through my eyes its so evident that we people have so much capacity to be "flawed" that most of us (youngins) are overwhelmed by it and become easily shifted to nihilism (I thus feel the Drake stans, though I hate them) or other means to look at the world to pacify the flaws that consist our insecurities and fears.
You aren't my savoir I understand that idea and I do see its value, but seeing as we all indulge in this complex life under common social pressures carved by a multitude of institutions and history we inherit, you have far more experience with this world how would you suggest we/I (youngins) interact with this multidimensional world.
Essentially what peace do you find in attending Grand national concert? What truth deserves my respect and why? I just seek advice. I feel like "a puppet that is able to see the strings…"
He literally says "Who am I? Not your father, not your brother
Not your reason, not your future
Not your comfort, not your reverence, not your glory
Not your heaven, not your angel, not your spirit
Not your message, not your freedom
Not your people, not your neighbor
Not your baby, not your equal
Not the title y'all want me under"
His catalog is for all aspects of the black experience. Pharrell gave him we gone be alright, hook included during a rough time in the culture. I believe if your truly a Kendrick fan you’re already on a different path to help and uplift, although we backslide and indulge in forms of social interactions, no one’s perfect and we shouldn’t hold him to a status of savior regardless of his past lyrics or his actions!
As always, an informative video. Enjoying the new longer format videos. I really appreciate the attention to detail (the changing sign). I would love a video on how the Hotep became the Hotep, were they always the right leaning triple k adjacent types, or was there a transtition. It has always confused and fascinated me. Thanks for a wonderful vid as always Charlie.
Same but box caprice
I love the idea headings behind you
4:26 he made the reparations speech 8 weeks before he was taken. The song Black and proud about African Americans came a month after he passed. Black has always meant African American as the song by James Brown was for the civil rights movement
He is lying on Kendrick Lamar. Because he's a bitter human being. That probably hate a man's status. And if you listen to Mr. Moral land the big steppers, he talks about his auntie is a man now and he accepts it. He was a little kid at the time. He didn't understand so he talked about his experiences, Stop visiting your opinions. and putting you're like luster life up on somebody else. Kendrick Lamar aint asked none of us to look up to him. ,Kendrick Lamar has never asked any of us to follow in his footsteps. You do you homeboy.
Great video and a good retrospective on Kendrick as an artist. Definitely raised my awareness on some of the stuff i may have overlooked off Mister Morale. The Lefty Gun play thing was crazy and makes me sad along with Kodak and Dr.Dre. Great work keep going bro. 👍
I'd have to disagree with your take on "Auntie Diaries" . I believe the dead-naming and misgendering was done deliberately in order to convey a real-time feel of the thought processes of a person working their way out of the woods of bigotry and ignorance. I think Kendrick thought it would have been disingenuous to pretend that the main character in this story suddenly becomes totally PC overnight; in reality it takes work and time to unlearn ignorance, and I believe this is what Kendrick intended by presenting the narrative the way he did. Just wanted to throw that out there because, while I understand why the language in "Auntie Diaries" rubs some the wrong way, I think it's important to consider the point I've presented, to then be able to consider that Kendrick's heart was in the right place, which I believe it was, which ultimately makes him a meaningful ally to the trans community.
(PS- I also don't think Kendrick frames his cousin's transness as a choice—he frames his cousin's decision to live her truth and commit to transitioning as a choice.)
Kendrick "I'm just a chill guy" Lamar
I don't like how 'Kendrick isn't your savior' has become a mantra by Kendrick fans to deflect from any criticism.
This is a video for rewatching
Nobody will save us.
Lost me with the political commentary. Bye
We are in a unique time where with a little research we can find out who we are supporting. Record labels and the industry are losing power as well. I think it’s the best time to demand more from artists. Artists push the culture forward they play a major role in society. Your conclusion is a touch nihilistic but I get why that’s the time we are in. But there are people out there who are worth supporting and propping up not just because they are exceptional artists because they are exceptional people. No one is perfect of course but I’m in nooooo way ever giving a dollar to an artist who is pro-capitalism in 2025
While i agree with parts of what you say…atleast he makes an attempt to face his shortcomings and put it on display for…consumption,dissection and entertainment (?).
We're all a work in progress…and most entertainers (music, film, social media, youtube) have varying degrees of ego.
You're surgeon with these words thats for sure.
I dont think it's about "saving" us but about inspiring us to do the work…or is that the same thing?
Can someone point out a single person who has said “Kendrick Lamar will save me/us”? The straw-manning and red herrings are getting out of hand. Time to turn those screens off . . .
Can't say i agreed the whole way through but I thank you for giving your thoughts, possibly because of that
I feel like I have a lot to say, but I want to focus mostly on the last part; while Kendrick means a lot to me, it's NEVER to the point of being a hero. Similar to what you said, I believe holding anyone up to the status of hero, is a disservice to yourself. And that's why I always feel a bit weird when people expect so much of him, or any other celebrated person. Because ideally we would take the ideas that they present and that we agree with and put them into action the best we know how and not place the burden on them to do that. But that doesn't mean I think they're totally relieved of taking any action. TLDR; I resonate with your closing statements, as well as the rest of the points in the vid
"It's a choice!" 🤔Really? Please tell me about the moment you chose your gender… 🧐and if it was luck or skill that you chose the gender that aligned best with your anatomy. 🤨How can anyone forget the moment they chose a core element of their identity that will forever impact their entire existence?? 🙄
That's sarcasm mouth breathers. Ask your cousin that still has a tooth to help you understand. TL;DR Bummer.
You skipped over the Black Panthers