Kendrick Lamar v Drake: Why You Sound Like An Ass
“The number of transistors on integrated circuits will double every two years “– Gordon E. Moore
This is Moore’s Law. The most interesting part about it to me is that, it is not actually a law, despite its distinct high level of accuracy for the semiconductor industry. It is merely an observation. An observation, which although not law, has held true for the last 58 years. That is of course until 3 years ago, in 2010, where an observed shift in the law deemed it to be a little less true than scholars and industry experts realized. Electronics will not develop at this speed. Over time, the observed evolution of electronics, will get slower.
What the fu*k does this is have to do with Kendrick Lamar, or Drake, or music, or anything?
Nothing Was The Same for the Good Kid from the m.A.d.d. city
Thank the heavens everything naturally gets better over time, by default. Time is very powerful. It heals some of the most devastating wounds. Some may not agree, but I insist that is simply a lack of foresight. Truth be told, from a purely objective and technical standpoint, whether it be how much older we age, our general health during that aging, or the diseases we no longer have to deal with at grand scale, life itself is better…….just not for everyone. Some of our children, our kids…still live in a very m.A.d.d city. To them, the observed world is not better, because their personal environment has not benefited from this better world. To them…everything IS the same.
Houstonlantavegas: I Think We Have A Problem
“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill
Whatever her name is…Aisha…Courtney…Brittany…Oprah. Drake really wants this girl to know that he wants to be with her, although I’m sure she’s probably a woman now. Notice I said, “wants to know”, and not “actually wants to be with her”…more on that in another article. Regardless, that drive, that desire, has fueled classic records which are identifiable by millions of people around the world for their emotional accuracy and execution of a complete and honest message.
“Sweat Pants, Hair Tied, Chillin’ with no make-up on, that’s when you’re the prettiest, I hope that you don’t take it wrong” – Drake, “Best I Ever Had”
Experts that focus solely on studying the musical content of records have identified this precision within Drake’s music as a consistent factor to his reception and popularity. What does this all mean? Nothing really, other than that Drake’s audience developed presence to the point that peer groups with influence would take the time to analyze his music. Remember, Gotye was largely ignored as an artist until “Somebody I Used To Know”. I highly suggest you listen to his music before that song. You will notice a very peculiar trend. If you don’t know who Gotye is, fix that. It will take about 5 minutes of your time.
Compton: Where Satan Walks & Black Boys Talk
In the 1800s, farmers attempted to grow various crops in Compton, which at the time was called “Comptonville, California”. The environment was treacherous. Yields were in the low 5% for some of the most basic forms of agriculture. In Compton, whenever you planted a seed, it had a very, very low probability of flourishing. One listen to “Black Boy Fly”, by Kendrick Lamar, and you will realize that 200 years later everything is the same. Seeds still rarely grow into flowers in Compton, let alone anything that can be harvested for nourishment.
Also, here’s a Fun Fact: The average age of an individual in Compton is 25 Years Old.
“So I’m sayin’ what up? What up? nikka you made it! So I’m sayin’, what up! What up! nikka, I hate it!” – Kendrick Lamar
This is a very different type of ambition. Not one that is trying to convey a message about the emotional affection toward another human being, but someone who is trying to convey a message about a self-destructive environment, and their drive to escape that environment. It’s very difficult to build a home from inside, outward. Carpenters and architects will insist that it is best to see the home from a bird’s eye view, and build from the foundation.
Jayceon Taylor is The Game, Interscope Records Platinum Recording Artist.
Arron Afflalo is an NBA basketball player for the Orlando Magic.
Kendrick Lamar is an Interscope Records Platinum Recording Artist.
Compton has a population of approximately 97,000 people. All three of these people are from Compton. If you add all of NWA, and every act that has come out of Compton and successfully made it into an entertainment industry, you have approximately 30 – 50 people. That is 0.04% of the population, adjusted for population increase between 1800 and 2010. My criterion is based solely on the entertainment industry, and break-out success. My number is very conservative.
Compton is also a very different city today, so a child living in Compton in 2013 will have a very different story to tell. If you do not believe me, check out some new statistics being developed. The city was recently dubbed an “Entrepreneurial Hot Spot”. I am 7000% sure Kendrick Lamar, Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, The Game, & Arron Afflalo would disagree. I may be wrong.
Why, to others, you may sound stupid.
“I mean, they’re ignorant. They’re just…they’re just ignorant. So ignorant.” – Michael Jackson
Drake and Kendrick Lamar are two very different individuals, from two astronomically different environments and their music speaks to two very different audiences. Sometimes, a very impressive and statistically low-probability event occurs. You find a person who belongs to both audiences (this, I insist, is the natural power of art). Hi, my name is Atman, and I belong to both audiences. There are several people like me, who are able to grasp both experiences through their execution, specifically because the execution is that great. There have been many artists from Toronto and Compton, but not surprisingly, few have been this good at their art.
The argument is void. You are comparing a shark to a lion, and trying to decipher which is the better predator. Both would under-perform in the other’s environment, to say the very least. To be realistic, both would ultimately die.
Although one could debate the ocean is more treacherous than the jungle, in which case the real question would be, which one of the two artists is the shark?
