Making masterpieces is objective but trying? That's a good question. I always wonder what people's objectives are when they make music, and did it work? With Kanye & Kendrick I think they want to move the needle in hip hop, create masterpieces.
Like with J Cole's first albums I knew he was going for College Dropoutish production, relatable everyday raps... but not really conscious, pop appeal.. but with a higher grade of rapping. The Illmatic/Nas comparison. And he's failed greatly each album with those references. I do feel like he tries to make big, brash albums like Late Registration, I do think that's his aim. But he fails. I will give him credit for trying those heights though.
I think Drake has different goals. Dominate the club, social media, have the biggest song/album of a year. But make a classic record? Make a masterpiece? Nah - I don't think that's ever been his aim. But he does always achieve the goals he seems to pursue. In that freestyle he put out he spoke on being in the club, hearing the crowd's reaction to his rivals songs. That's his metric of success or dominance. I also remember him saying he wished he wrote NIP... those records are important to him. He would rather have a Control verse than a Sing About Me. A NIP than a Jesus Walks. Different types of records but.. I guess classic in their own way.
I feel like RTJ have the sickest goals at the moment. Just to put out the hardest rap albums. Big, hard beats, big hard raps. Straight at the neck. And they deliver.
In general I feel like Young Thug wants to really explore his sound, his voice as an instrument. We talk about "unlocking flows" but honestly some of his work feels like a "flow exercise". Does this flow work? Can I do this with my voice? These types of hooks. This type of deliver. This rhyme structure etc. I think it's hella dope
Rappers like Wale, Big Sean... they can put out good product but they don't seem to have strong artistic visions therefore it's never fully realised. Because they would never put out a record like Yeezus or TPAB, they would never put out a record like College Dropout or GKMC. That's why they're 3, 4 albums in and they don't have their own producers or sound.