This is certainly one hell of a way to celebrate Independence Day (what them other folks call it; not us). Directed by Kendrick Lamar and Dave Free… if you missed all of the fun regarding this song and the battle with Drake, you can read up on that here.
Welp. As you’re probably aware, there’s a war going on outside no one is safe from. Reigniting a conflict that honestly began back during the “What Happened To That Boy” era, Drake and Kendrick Lamar are in a midst of battle — one of the most entertaining since JAY-Z and Nas brought up arms on wax closer to the turn of the century.
Below, we decided to group together what’s been going on… It just made sense to keep the disses in one place. Enjoy the ongoing beef (which will be regularly updated) below.
Old news, but it’s clear that J. Cole’s lines on this particular drop got Dot’s attention in a way that no one expected.
Future and Metro Boomin’s new album contains a LOT of shots at Drake — the biggest of which was courtesy of Kendrick Lamar on “Like That.” Even The Weeknd and Rick Ross inexplicably jumped into the fray, making everyone wonder:
J. Cole has responded! The North Carolina emcee decided to tack on a diss record to his Might Delete Later project, and it’s a strong enough contender. UPDATE (April 7, 2024): Bro apologized and said he was taking the song down. No words.
It appears as if A$AP Rocky has decided to join in on the Drake cancelled party by dropping some hot tea on “Show Of Hands.” He didn’t start it, though — one quickly remembers quizzical raps that Drizzy made about Rocky and Rihanna on Her Loss.
We really have no idea why Rozay decided to jump into this, but he’s been hilarious with both his diss and on social media. Whatever, man. UPDATE (April 23, 2024): Now with video (below).
Here we go! While J. Cole decided to get out the way, Drake is here and ready for war. On “Push Ups,” he didn’t just go at Kendrick — he went at all of his adversaries in one fell swoop.
Oh! Drake just did another “Back To Back”! Even wilder, “Taylor Made Freestyle” begins with him rapping as 2Pac and Snoop Dogg with the aid of AI. UPDATE (April 26, 2024): Drake had to take the song down because of threats from Tupac Shakur’s estate. Thanks to YouTube users who kept that party going regardless.
This was super random. Kanye West decided to help “eliminate” Drake with an updated (??) version of “Like That.” Between the addition of the The Inter Milan Ultras and that verse, this one really could have stayed on the hard drive — which is crazy to say about anything regarding Ye.
Kendrick is back with a vengeance. There’s a lot to unpack in this one, which seems to break Drake’s character down into atoms.
Taking a page from his opponent, Kendrick delivers more heat mere days after “Euphoria.” Are those Maybach gloves in the artwork?!
Drake fires back and Kendrick and everyone else — specifically, A$AP Rocky, Rick Ross, Metro Boomin, and (on a lighter note) Future — with “Family Matters,” along with a matching video that adds to the three-part song’s aggressive energy. Know that we are more than entertained right now.
YOOOO… things just got dark. Kendrick is earning his “Boogeyman” nickname pretty effortlessly at this point.
……We, uh……
Kendrick might’ve officially won this battle. This drop shut up a lot of people, from the Drake fans to Hip Hop listeners who felt bored by his approach (shout out to DJ Mustard). Also, those are sex offender markers placed on Drake’s Toronto mansion. We’re deep in the mud, now.
Metro Boomin spent his morning responded to Drake’s claims in pretty humorous fashion. He even crafted a beat for others to join in.
#colonizer pic.twitter.com/ky21ETyBTu
— Metro Boomin (@MetroBoomin) May 5, 2024
#wedontwannahearyousaynigganomo #colonizer pic.twitter.com/3SF7ibKn9e
— Metro Boomin (@MetroBoomin) May 5, 2024
cmon you know how #freakyassnigga https://t.co/Y5gA4Gcbp2
— Metro Boomin (@MetroBoomin) May 5, 2024
#freakyassnigga lmaoooo
I can’t make this shit up pic.twitter.com/BtolwUo7yb— Metro Boomin (@MetroBoomin) May 5, 2024
It’s 9 am in Amsterdam my nigga I got time https://t.co/kx31iABVyl
— Metro Boomin (@MetroBoomin) May 5, 2024
#itswaytoolate https://t.co/Y5gA4Gcbp2 pic.twitter.com/Ng9vqR9KVZ
— Metro Boomin (@MetroBoomin) May 5, 2024
#freakyassnigga lmaoooo pic.twitter.com/DE2IhhA88V
— Metro Boomin (@MetroBoomin) May 5, 2024
this shit so easy cause all I gotta do is post shit that YOU already put out #zestyman pic.twitter.com/YbIrq6mm50
— Metro Boomin (@MetroBoomin) May 5, 2024
I knowwww a nigga wit lipo scars not tryna call me lame pic.twitter.com/1d3M1WnbCz
— Metro Boomin (@MetroBoomin) May 5, 2024
I knowwww a nigga pushing 40 and painting his nails not tryna call me lame
#identitycrisis pic.twitter.com/Izok5tpqOg— Metro Boomin (@MetroBoomin) May 5, 2024
#ibelieveyousee2badbitches pic.twitter.com/lQsxUZWNEE
— Metro Boomin (@MetroBoomin) May 5, 2024
I still can’t believe these pictures are even real
It all makes sense now #colonizer pic.twitter.com/q18MjC9oI3
— Metro Boomin (@MetroBoomin) May 5, 2024
the drum thing was laughable so I let it slide but what we not gon do is spread lies and have my loved ones involved
nobody ever hit my girl nigga we grew up together
she’s a real woman and not even in the industry but I guess #youwouldntknownunboutdatttt
— Metro Boomin (@MetroBoomin) May 5, 2024
I’m lame but the first week after #LikeThat you tried to block it at radio
I been sitting on this email for a month now but was just sparing you
oh u aint #LikeThat record??? pic.twitter.com/Jj4nVaz5LG
— Metro Boomin (@MetroBoomin) May 5, 2024
#hesspiraling pic.twitter.com/N7juktlzqe
— Metro Boomin (@MetroBoomin) May 5, 2024
now go make another song telling more lies cause we both know you can’t tell everyone why I don’t fuck wit u
that wouldn’t be a good look either for u so imma spare us both wit that
— Metro Boomin (@MetroBoomin) May 5, 2024
best verse over this gets a free beat
just upload your song and hashtag #bbldrizzybeatgiveaway https://t.co/YDULmWYm0M— Metro Boomin (@MetroBoomin) May 5, 2024
This is definitely Drake at his best rapping… but it also sounds like he’s kind of waiving the white flag.
‘Ye spazzes on his latest, featuring Kendrick Lamar and produced by Madlib.
This is dope: next month, Kendrick Lamar will be receiving a key to Compton, as announced by Compton Mayor Aja Brown (below). It all goes down February 13th.
.@kendricklamar you inspire millions + rep #Compton w/ honor! Excited to give you the #keytothecity Feb13th! #VisionForCompton #ComptonUp
— Aja Brown (@AjaLBrown) January 14, 2016
@AjaLBrown I appreciate that. HUBLUV.
— Kendrick Lamar (@kendricklamar) January 14, 2016
— Aja Brown (@AjaLBrown) January 14, 2016
Sometime prior to last night’s riveting State Of The Union Speech, Kendrick Lamar (and a few other TDE members, including Dave Free) got a chance to visit President Obama at the White House.
If you missed PBS’ premiere of Kendrick Lamar’s performance for their Austin City Limits series, don’t fret — the full recap can be seen above.
The only thing about it — he has to perform a curse-free set. Just makes you irrationally angry.
Let me start this post off by explaining the title. J Cole and Kendrick released two separate-but-linked songs entitled “Black Friday.” These two tracks have two of the most popular MCs out tackling famous beats from each other. Kendrick went in over J. Cole’s “A Tale Of 2 Citiez” and Cole raps over the beat from Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright.” I guess these two artists Black Friday gift to their fans is to rap unbelievably well.
Free TC drops this Friday.
Last night, Kendrick Lamar blesses those at the Kennedy Center with a live performance of To Pimp A Butterfly, backed by the National Symphony Orchestra (we couldn’t have thought up a better dream concert, to be honest). Below, you can check out recap footage of the Compton emcee performing ‘These Walls’, ‘Alright’, ‘King Kunta’ and ‘i’.
Source: Peter Hutchins/The Kennedy Center
Chants of @kendricklamar's "Alright" echoes down 7th street downtown. #JusticeOrElse pic.twitter.com/f1R62P0bIi
— The Hilltop (@TheHilltopHU) October 10, 2015
As you should know, Louis Farrakhan and millions of both his followers and #BlackLivesMatter supporters have converged on the Mall in D.C. for the #JusticeOrElse rally, done in lieu of the 20th anniversary of the Million Man March. Simply put, the crowds have showed up in force very early, and many moments are already happening in protest of what this country has been doing to both people of color and those that are without.
Above, some marchers began chanting the words to Kendrick LAmar’s ‘Alright’. We’ll be added more from the day’s events as time wears on (source: The Hilltop).
Welp…I have no words. Just pure excitement. From the Washington Post:
Rapper Kendrick Lamar is the latest musician set to team up with Washington’s National Symphony Orchestra for a live, classical remix of his rhymes at a one-off performance Oct. 20 at the Kennedy Center.
Lamar and the NSO Pops show will perform songs from Lamar’s sophomore album, “To Pimp a Butterfly” in a show the symphony is billing as the rapper’s first orchestral collaboration. He’s not, however, the first musician to mix it up at the Kennedy Center: Last year, Nas performed his classic, “Illmatic,”and in 2013, the symphony performed with Phish’s Trey Anastasio.
Tickets for the Kendrick Lamar NSO Pops performance, which will be priced starting at $35, go on sale to Kennedy Center members on Tuesday at 10 a.m., and to the general public Wednesday at 10 a.m. Get them here.
COLUMBIA, MD – MAY 30: Kendrick Lamar performs during the 2015 Sweetlife Festival at Merriweather Post Pavillion on May 30, 2015 in Columbia, Maryland. (Photo by Taylor Hill/Getty Images)Kendrick Lamar was the must-see act at this year’s Sweetlife Festival in Maryland, and not only did he deliver, he also gave fans the opportunity to perform along with him (which was dope). You can check out some fan clips of his performance below.
Featured image source: Baltimore Sun
He also speaks on collaborating with Taylor Swift on ‘Bad Blood’, which is now the number one record in the country (and his first). In related news, he’s also found a solution for paparazzi.
Check out Compton’s Kendrick Lamar throwing the ceremonial first pitch at a recent L.A. Dodgers game. More below.
In 2015, hip-hop has garnered some of it’s most influential and creative musicals concepts. These efforts could lead to future Grammy nominations. It’s looking like it gonna be a good year for the genre, similar to 2013 with Jay-Z, Kanye, Drake, J. Cole, Childish Gambino and others all releasing their best work. This year is shaping up to be an incredible year for hip-hop. So far, Nicki Minaj, Lupe Fiasco, Joey Bada$$ and Drake all have released critically acclaimed projects, and the month of March did not disappoint with these three new albums.
Action Bronson – Mr. Wonderful:
You’d be surprised what a former chef can cook up when you give him recording studio. Action Bronson is definitely one of the prolific newcomers in hip hop right now after releasing two critically acclaimed mixtapes (Rare Chandeliers, the Blue Chips series) he rose to prominence quickly. This album is essentially Bronson’s coming out party with his major debut release, and it didn’t disappoint. Mr. Wonderful is an experiment in itself bringing particular elements to a odd rap record; from old German (editor’s note: it’s Turkish) folk rock samples like in “Easy Rider” to a boom-bap hardcore bass-boosted beat like “The Rising”. As always, Bronson delivers with catchy imagery-driven lyrics carries this album. Mr. Wonderful isn’t without it’s hang-ups though, the instrumentals and concepts seem to get lost in translation with the last few tracks. Bronson throws us a curve ball but nonetheless this album is unique but still tasteful.
I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside: An Album by Earl Sweatshirt
Earl Sweatshirt; hip-hop collective Odd Future’s most potent lyricist, released a follow up to 2013’s critically acclaimed “Doris” onto iTunes without any prior announcement. This album is very gritty and dark, it seems like Earl looked deep inside himself and put all his depression onto a short 30-minute LP. Sweatshirt displays his signature lyrical prowess over very grim beats and talks about his new lifestyle and his time away from limelight. Although this LP seems like a half an hour cliffhanger, it shines some light on Earl’s darkest perspectives.
Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly
What more can you say about the revolutionary Compton-raised MC, Kendrick Lamar? He delivers another stellar project which is a follow-up of the Grammy-nominated album good kid, M.A.A.D city. This album further explores Lamar’s story-telling ability in which he’s able to deliver yet another cohesive LP but the concept behind the whole project is the drive that centers around every track. Subject matters like racial equality, conviction, politics, religion and the current state of hip-hop. Lamar digs deeper within himself and his personal life and gives the listener a lot of things to learn. I highly recommend listening to this is you want to get educated or in retrospect To Pimp A Butterfly is a celebration of music.
– MK (@kittlessaidwhat)
Just days after the song “Kunta Kinte” was leaked, Interscope released Kendrick Lamar’s new album To Pimp a Butterfly a week early (on iTunes and Spotify) much to the surprise and dismay of Lamar’s label TDE. You can stream the album below (via Spotify.) If you don’t want to get a Spotify account, I don’t blame you. Hopefully another stream will be available soon. You can purchased To Pimp a Butterfly on iTunes.
Universal has announced the March 23rd release date for Kendrick Lamar’s upcoming album. Thanks to DJ Booth, we have the track listing as well. Check that out below.
1. Wesley’s Theory
2. For Free? (Interlude)
3. King Kunta
4. Institutionalized
5. These Walls
6. U
7. Alright
8. For Sale? (Interlude)
9. Momma
10. Hood Politics
11. How Much A Dollar Cost
12. Complexion
13. The Blacker The Berry
14. You Ain’t Gotta Lie (Momma Said)
15. I
16. Mortal Man
Kendrick pays tribute to Biggie over “The What”
Some might know the names Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith and Terrence “Punch” Henderson. These two run the TDE label, home to Black Hippy and SZA. But few know that both are rappers in their own right. Punch has been prepping a new release, My Project Window for some time. “25” featuring Kendrick is just one song from it.
We previously reported that Kendrick Lamar’s new single ‘i’ is the official theme song for this year’s NBA season; above is the new promo video featuring the TDE artist.
Spotted on Hypebeast:
The NBA has announced that Lamar’s latest single “i” has been named the official theme song for the forthcoming 2014-15 season. “i” will be featured in league commercials leading up to the season and will surely be played in arenas throughout the year. The Rahki-produced track has already been used to promote NBA on TNT and Lamar is expected to perform the song at a special fan fest party, prior to the Cleveland Cavaliers’ opening match-up against the Knicks on October 30.
