"FEAR." - A Hiphop Masterpiece by King Kendrick Lamar and The Alchemist

Entertainment
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http://stereoday.com/kendrick-lamar-fear/

At nearly eight minutes “FEAR.,” arguably DAMN.’s centerpiece, is a sprawling parable about the health of Kendrick Lamar’s soul. Part biography, part apocalyptic church service, the song explores the phases of Kendrick Lamar’s life where it seemed dread would undo him. At seven, a parental voice rings constantly in his ears, threatening him with bodily harm to assert dominance and keep him in line. At 17, neighborhood affiliations, teenage distractions, and the specter of police violence are steering him towards an early grave. By 27, even though “Kung Fu Kenny” is a star, he’s not immune to the notion that fame and the platform it affords could all disappear. Over a mellow bass and a trembling guitar riff, Lamar’s cadence is at turns defiant and despondent, adjusting more than once to suit his frame of mind. Pained vocal harmonies weave together throughout the track like a chorus reinforcing the pastor’s sermon. At one point, bits and pieces of a chant are reversed, mimicking the sound of speaking in tongues, and amplifying the feel of a divine experience.

According to his cousin Carl Duckworth, who appears in a pair of bookending voicemail snippets, Kendrick is under a curse of biblical proportion—one that reaches beyond him to affect his family and his community. Quoting from the Book of Deuteronomy, Carl says that Kendrick is smitten “with madness and blindness and astonishment of heart,” and that he can only escape by returning to religion. A crisis of faith is heavy stuff for anyone to weather, and throughout “FEAR.” Lamar comes back to the idea that he might not make it: “Within 14 tracks, carried out over wax/Wonderin’ if I’m livin’ through fear or livin’ through rap.” But he’s self-aware enough to see salvation, far away as it may be.

Courtesy: Vanessa Okoth-Obbo; http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/18993-kendrick-lamar-fear/

This is 8 minutes of hiphop nirvana!

Every Kendrick project has had that one track that tastefully sums up the overall pallette. Section.80 had “ADHD.” GKMC had “Sing About Me/ I’m Dying of Thirst.” Then TPAB’s “The Blacker The Berry” and now this :slight_smile: And surprise surprise! It seems like a brilliant take on the 2016 film Moonlight.

Kendrick is an EMCEE in the truest, purest form. A true emcee is able to take you away and transport you to another world with technical, masterful art of storytelling.

King Kendrick track record over the last seven years is now worthy of G.O.A.T. status. Many have come before him but few have been as talented on the mic and NONE has curated a catalog as consistent, as culturally important and as critically acclaimed.

Is it too early to crown Kendrick as the G.O.A.T? If so, why not?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvaNUb15bYc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOMmrq4usro

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For the past few weeks or probably months i have known lamar, it was through those featured songs. But i just tried going through his albums like a 5th time now and i can’t get why the Internet is so much hyped. Just tell me guys maybe i will get it right and don’t quote the obvious-ass with cellulite stuff.

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The man is a good artiste but calling him the best rapper of all time is pushing it a little bit.

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Niaje shoga mkuu?

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Do you listen to hiphop much? When did you start listening to it?

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Explain why…

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The G.O.A.T. ? Not even close. I think the reason he gets this much attention is because he’s the only good rapper in an era dominated by mediocre rappers and mumble rap

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Here is your answer

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Like I said hapo juu…

Many have come before him but few have been as talented on the mic and NONE has curated a catalog as consistent, as culturally important and as critically acclaimed.

Tell me then of any emcees who have achieved the same as Kendrick and who are then worthy of the GOAT status!

Kendrick is facing the EXACT SAME subjective bias that Messi and Bolt are facing in sports. That they can’t be the GOATs because they haven’t been in the picture LONG ENOUGH for observers/ critics to enjoy the benefit of retrospect/ hindsight, even when objectively, they are way more accomplished than those who came before them.

Messi, for instance, can’t be considered the GOAT simply coz he hasn’t won the FIFA World Cup, even when he was 7 minutes away last time. The same critics are stuck in a different era, when club football wasn’t as developed as today and accomplishments from which weren’t as revered.

Now back to K.Dot. One of the reasons he is worthy of the GOAT status is based on what he’s been able to achieve purely on his skills and not gimmicks, side shows, business etc.as is the norm nowadays.

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Back when tupac made me cry

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angekuwa back days za kina dre, eminem, nas, jarule etc angekuwa just another rapper

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Niaje shoga mkuu? Kwa nini hupendi Frank Ocean for the obvious reasons?

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Hehehehe dre had his lines written for him

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Ongeza Run DMC,Naughty By Nature na Warren G kwa hiyo list…

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If you’re not a person new to hiphop music, then I recommend this for you. Hope it helps; http://www.thetigernews.com/timeout/how-to-listen-to-kendrick-lamar/article_2570e278-1d81-11e7-8915-93e3044b6ce5.html

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Notorious B.I.G only had 2 albums and he is considered a G.O.A.T so why not Kendrick Lamar Who has 4 great Album’s plus some good mixtapes?

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Pengine Run DMC pekee kwa hiyo list yako

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yeah but still nionyeshe ngoma moja ya kendrick enye ni better than this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CL6n0FJZpk

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Ja Rule? Really? Don’t even wanna comment further. Pole.

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And Kendrick rapping is technically way more astute and diverse. Yes, it’s true. Biggy is still in the top five though. I still quote some EPIC Biggy bars to date. RIP.