Recently Kendrick Lamar dissed both Drake and J Cole. More specifically he said there “is no big three, only big me”. This line greatly implies that he believes that he is the king of rap. Furthermore, what does it mean to be the “King” of rap? Rap is an inherently black art form. As a black form, rap presents itself as one of the primary means of black expression.
Furthermore, the lyricism and connection to previous music within the black musical tradition through sampling makes rap special. The King of rap is someone who understands this concept to the highest degree and demonstrates this great historical understanding in their music.
Rap Legends
The King of rap is a position of great power and respect in the black community. The closest example would be a grandmaster of martial arts. The “King” is someone who understands that Black culture is constantly examined, undermined, and attacked in the media.
Furthermore, the King is unapologetically in tune with their blackness and encourages others to be so as well. To be in the position of “king” in the rap game a few things must be accomplished.
Rap Diet
First, one must discern the types of rap there are. Truly, there are only two kinds of rap. The first is known as candy rap. This kind of rap lacks substance. The reason why it’s called candy rap is because it is enjoyable to listen to but not necessarily good for you. Rap is music made from the soul to the soul.
The black soul diet must remain balanced or the black soul will go hungry. Additionally, the King of rap is someone who primarily makes rap made for the soul. The King’s rap is rarely ever candy rap. This means that this music feeds an entire culture’s worth of souls. The King steers the culture in the right direction. With inspiration from black art forms like Jazz, Funk, and Soul, the samples required for “soul” music are inherently Black.
Drake Is No King
Here are a few examples of both kinds of rap. Drake, Kodak Black, and Ludacris are candy rappers. Kendrick Lamar, J Cole, and Andre 3000 are soul rappers. Moreover, the first speaks to the need to dance and party, and the other speaks to the need to live and survive. Drake is not in the conversation for the King of rap.
Furthermore, no matter how many records he has sold and no matter how many fans he has he is not the King. The King is something that is fought for through competition but is ultimately given by the people. Furthermore, the King isn’t truly a monarch-style title. It is a manifestation of the people’s champion through cultural impact based on a black art form. The King of rap isn’t the king of black people. The King of rap is a people’s chosen champion based on the way their music adds to black culture and feeds the souls of black folk.
Kendrick Is the Goat
Finally, in the modern era, there is only one man who fits the qualifications for this title. Kendrick Lamar, the Pulitzer Award winner, the storyteller, and the epic lyricist, is the current king of rap. There is no debate on this subject. His lyricism is impeccable, his storytelling is epic, and his GOAT status is undeniable.
Kendrick Lamar was the only rapper who could have been asked to be the head of the Black Panther album. He is the first and only rapper to have ever won a Pulitzer prize for a rap album. His lyrics are studied in collegiate settings. Kendrick Lamar is the King of rap because he heard the call from the souls of black folk and responded with some of the greatest rap albums ever made
Opinion by Kenneth Mazerat
Sources
Billboard: 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time by Carl Lamarre, Gail Mitchell, Keith Murphy, Michael Saponara, Datwon Thomas, Mark Elibert, Eric Diep , William E. Ketchum III, Heran Mamo, Neena Rouhani
OxfordAASC: Featured Essay – In the Beginning: Hip Hop’s Early Influences by Raymond Codrington PhD
JSTOR: How Rap Taught (Some of) the Hip Hop Generation Black History by Julia Métraux
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of Kmeron’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
First Inset Image Courtesy of Pemberton Music Festival’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
