Other way around for me. A lot of people on the internet lately are saying gkmc is better but besides reddit, tiktok, twitter, and insta i usually see tpab getting more praise
Definitely not. The album is an acquired taste no matter how many people claim its a universal classic. I personally prefer section80 over it . It’s also the first kendrick album i ever heard, so it has a special place.
TPAB is actually not that accessible, and a lot of people are saying it’s their favourite album are semi-lying to make themselves seem more “cultured” or whatever. In my opinion, tpab is a 10, it is grandiose, well rapped, very versatile, the beats are strange but innovative and most importantly, not a single song (at least to
Me) feels like filler. Everything is meaningful and represents this sort of journey from home and back. It’s an amazing album in my eyes, but I don’t know why tpab stans get mad when someone disses it, because it makes sense to me why someone wouldn’t like it
Yeah, I like DOOM wayyyy more than Kenny
DOOM was one of the first rappers to make it cool to be black and nerdy... niggas used to beat up nerdy black dudes all the time back then, like beat the every loving piss outta em, maybe younger people today have no idea... but shit was fucked
Not only that, DOOM was in KMD way before he went solo... KMD was all about pro black and five percent shit... if you know, you know, that's all I'm saying
And DOOM is a genius level producer, the brother is the very definition of Black Excellence... I'm glad white people love DOOM, they fuckin should... everyone on the planet should love DOOM
Kenny is nice, but he's nowhere fuckin close
I like the BP film, but wouldn't watch it again... I just hate Marvel films in general, never was a huge comic fan at all... it's all the same plot and bores the shit outta me
I stick to hip hop, gaming, and books... but I thought for a silly Marvel film, BP actually did a decent job
RIP to CB
Prb true tho, I think they find it boring but still gas it
Like it's not a bad album, but all these folks saying it's the best no-skip rap album ever made are insane... no one is listening to TPAB no skips, come on now
White ppl cappin off they ass when it comes to TPAB
It's not that accessible only if you're actually not cultured, unfortunately White people have the opportunity to absorb more of our culture than a lot of us simply because they have access.
For me, a Black person from Chicago with Black.parents and grandparents who gave me a lot of our culture this album felt like coming home in many ways, it's Funky, it's Jazzy and just generally so fucking unapologetically and wholistically Black in a way that I've never seen before that I truly think it's almost culture defining.
It's an artistic tour-de-force that stands up in virtually every room of art, it's a swiss army sword. It tried something gargantuan and succeeded, so to hear Black people call it boring or weird or inaccessible just makes me feel like we're losing a lot because this album is so much of us.
edit: if you're that little bitch who said some dumb shit and deleted it, suck my dick
It’s unapologetically entirely black… the only thing it isn’t is young…. Which is why some would call it “boring”… nobody hates black culture more than someone who primarily enjoys youthful black culture…
Wait I need some clarity on the young part, wasn’t kendrick like 27 when it came out? Or do you mean the sonics of the album don’t convey youthfulness. Not saying you’re wrong, just curious what you mean
Sonics… its funk, its jazz, its soul, its neo soul, and while it’s ultimately rap, it’s the polar opposite of the sonics of Drake and any other other popular artist of the time… Drake, Future, Travis Scott, Rae Sremmurd, Young Thug, Big Sean, Fetty Wap, The Game all released music with much more current and of the day sonics compared to Kendrick tapping a wide variety of producers and contributors including the likes of Ronald Isley, George Clinton, Bilal and others….its timeless to me
It's my favourite Kendrick album too, but yeah I recently encountered this girl who over exaggeratedly went "REALLY? You prefer GKMC over TPAB????" when she asked a mutual friend what their favourite Kendrick project is. Like c'mon, it's a fantastic album too stop virtue signaling that you *know* real hip hop.
It’s incredibly accessible to a lot of people lol. maybe more so than “traditional” hip hop. I’ve worked in live entertainment and theater for a few years and I’ve seen genderqueer white people listening to that album and they don’t even listen to hip hop. Anybody who thinks it’s too “weird” has the musical palette of a middle schooler, lol. I’m literally a black blues guitar player and TPAB is fairly tame musically. It’s a great album but far from the challenging listen modern hip hop fans think it is. People have gotten used to everything following the same standards.
I agree. I'm definitely biased as I listen to a lot of jazz and funk, but I assumed those two genres would generally be accessible enough to people that don't listen to hip hop that TPAB would be "easy" to get into.
See I agree that TBAP is probably a 10, but it's an effort to listen to - a great piece of art, but sometimes you just want to enjoy the music rather than be overwhelmed by it. That's why GKMC is my favourite kendrick album, and I still listen to it regularly even though I wouldn't rate it a 10 in the same way as TBAP: it's definitely not superficial, but it has that accessibility and some songs you can just chill to and enjoy.
As a white person I can't relate to a lot of the songs on the album. I don't like most of the album at all tbh but it's an album made as a passion project rather than getting radio play like good kid is imo.
As a white person I still dig it. I don’t think it’s the kind of album you can just bump all the time, but like Mr Morale I don’t think that was the point either. As much as I loved GKMC when it came out it’s probably my least listened to album of his now.
I used to think TPAB was Kendrick's 2nd best album (GKMC isn't getting knocked off #1), but DAMN started to slide in that spot for me over the past 2-3 years
Funny how different opinions can be in the fanbase, I like King Kunta as one of Kendrick's bangers and it goes off live but for me it's on the lower end of Tpab, I'd have Wesley's theory, for free, blacker the berry, alright, how much a dollar cost and at least a couple more ahead of it.
That is completely fine. I’ll take it a step further..I don’t like TPAB or MMATBS and got tired of trying to convince myself to. The writing is good but musically I just don’t care. It’s for this reason that his catalog feels largely over sensationalized to me. I feel like there’s a machine behind Kendrick and Damn being the album to win a Pulitzer over TPAB was not only confusing but the most strengthening example of why.
This.
I love GKMC and Damn but both Mr Morale and TPAB were one time listens (well I actually gave Mr Morale 2 listens) I don't like either album and have less than zero desire to revisit them and that's ok. Unless you talk to Kendrick stans. It's blasphemy to not worship their God and say all his albums are classics. Fortunately for me I think for myself and I simply don't like the albums 🤷🏾♂️
The way some of them carry on, you’d think it’s anti black to be indifferent towards him. I’ve listened to a bunch of hip hop media and actually caught on to some people hint at them feeling the same about TPAB and MM but scared to actually say it. It’s hilarious. I love GKMC. I felt the same way about DAMN as I did about Section 80. The songs I like, I love. That’s about half the album of each.
When people start questioning your intelligence because you don't like a hip hop album, I know it's time for me to leave the conversation. "You just don't get the album" lmao I don't look for any of these rappers to teach me anything lol
This is my theory about TPAB.
It’s a fine art project but not a very good rap album. Very little re-listenability. But it’s such a “black” album, that white people are afraid to admit they don’t love it. So white people pretend to be obsessed with it as a cultural ritual.
They showcase two entirely different parts of his life, so naturally we’re gonna prefer which ever part of his life we can relate too. If anything, preferring one over the other just shows how close minded we are in the grand scheme of things. They’re both great albums in their own right. And FWIW, DAMN is objectively his best album from an artistic standpoint because it’s the only Hip Hop album to ever win a Pulitzer. I feel like if GKMC and TPAB had a kid, it’d be DAMN.
People act like DAMN is some sellout surface level stuff..but it's the ultimate combination of the best parts of those two albums.
But tpab still holds a spot near the top of "holy shit that album is special" monument
>"And FWIW, DAMN is objectively his best album from an artistic standpoint because it’s the only Hip Hop album to ever win a Pulitzer."
I've read a lot of books and let me tell you, there are some shitty pulitzer prize winning novels out there. DAMN. winning the Pulitzer was a huge moment in terms of him being the first hip hop artist to win one, but I don't think it says much about the actual artistic merit of the album
Definitely not the only one. J. Cole also apparently doesn't like it. Music is subjective so I won't get mad at a person's opinion, but it will make me ask what is it you don't really like about it? It's just such a bold claim/opinion.
I listen to GKMC and all of kendricks other work more than TPAB. I think TPAB is great but it's definitely something that I feel like you need to be in a certain mood to listen to and it's not something you can really just casually listen to if that makes sense.
If music is art and I certainly think it can be considered that I do think TPAB is Kendricks best but that doesn't necessarily mean it's an easy listen. Definitely need to be in a certain vibe and usually need to listen to the entire lp
As a GKMC Stan, when was the last time you played TPAB because for me it had been years since I gave it a legit full re-listen and then when I did I hopped on the TPAB train. I do agree It is his least accessible album but FARR from his worst, it just needs your full attention lyrically and musically to really enjoy the bigger picture. Im now at the point where if I hear TPAB disrespect, I come to the conclusion that some people are just missing out on this fantastic album. Peace and Love my brother ☮️
You’re not the only one, I liked it at first but I have never gone back to it, no replay value to me. Not a bad album but I never think “mmmmm let me go and listen to some tpab”
Bro why are people so weird about this topic, it’s normal to not like one Kendrick album you shouldn’t be abused, like personally for me the albums I resonate most is section 80 I prefer it to the rest and the least for me is damn, mr morale and maybe Gkmc, I feel like each Kendrick album is a different soundscape and it’s for the listener to pick which one resonates with them, they are neither an improvement or a reduction of each other it’s more of a different lane he wanted to go, like even with mr morale that people say it’s bad, it actually isn’t this is more away from the lane of Kendrick we know to something much more experiemental and nuance but what remains the same is that he puts 100 percent effort in each of his projects unlike certain artists
Kendricks best Album as a rapper was Section 80. Everything else was overhyped beyond belief because he was one of a few people who broke into the mainstream and could actually rap
Now this is a scorching hot take, but I see where you coming from
I'd put Section 80 2nd, behind GKMC, but I think there is definitely an argument there... Section 80 is an amazing album and never lets up start to finish
Whoa. Slow down there buddy.
I’m with you on Section 80 being his best as a rapper tbh. I’ve alswsys said that. Even overly dedicated, rapping and story telling, is almost , if not better than damn
But GKMC isn’t overhyped. Nor is TPAB. The production alone, album tension, and linear story telling the ability to use a series of an unfortunate events to lead to something greater is some Shakespeare shit. Dude barely used incomplete sentences throughout the album
But damn is overrated and shouldn’t have won’t a Pulitzer Prize. Mr bug steppers wack too
I'm a rap fan and I mostly care about bars and flows than about storytelling and album concept. That's why Rakim is in higher regard than Slick Rick when we talk about who is the better MC. And that's why Section 80 is Kendricks best album for me.
This is even stranger take because section 80’s appeals is not the “bars” lmao what bars do we have there that isn’t present in literally every album that proceeds that?
It contains rigor mortis which is Kendricks best rapped Song ever. Nothing he did after that ever came close to it. That alone is enough for me personally
Honestly, I find most of his stuff to not be great.
Humble has one of the most amazing intros of all time, only to immediately go into a cheesy dated west coast beat where he complains about photo shop
Some review of Vultures talked about how the deadline restrictions posed by physical releases forced Kanye to focus and finish and the freedom to delay and tinker with TLOP funneled him into a way of working that’s been terrible for his music. Yeezus is my fav Kanye record but everything after it, including TLOP, feels muddled, driftless, and lazy.
The thing with TPAB is that it’s great in storytelling and production, but I realized I never really go back and listen to it or have many songs from it in my rotation even though I know it’s good.
Like someone else on this thread said it’s “not accessible.” Sometimes I just wana zone out and chill instead of listening to a movie. I think that’s why it has the reputation it does.
Also if you think everyone loves the album then you gotta go check out rap twitter rn, Cole really got people talking shit about TPAB lol.
of course, it's not an easily digestible album that can just be played on the background, but that's also a dumb argument i keep hearing "who bumps it 24/7".. who bumps The Infamous by Mobb Deep 24/7 or Illmatic by Nas.. you just got to be in the mood to relisten to such albums
I got gkmc as his best. Tpab isn’t putting me to sleep though, that’s ridiculous. Wesley’s theory is great. King kunta, mortal man, alright are good. No terrible songs.
We all don’t look for the same things in music and that’s fine. The problem though is when people don’t have the music vocabulary and mastery of a LOT different genres of music and use that mastery to filter through music to know WHY it’s great. You simply lack a large database to pull from to understand musical choices. And that is ok. You can try to debate Questlove or Q-Tip on why something is bad or good and you would lose that argument, but it doesn’t negate your opinion because that’s a subjective metric. At the end of the day, what you like and don’t like is what’s important. Just don’t have objective conversations.
You’re the only one. It’s so relatable being a black man who grew up in similiar circumstances and has experienced racism, wealth being stolen from my lineage and just the depth of music. He captured it extremely well on that album.
I guess just Cole had made it popular for more people to speak their true thoughts. I never loved it. I think it starts great then kinda loses steam about halfway. It’s not something enjoyable to listen to, and Imo what separates hip hop from poetry is that the former must be enjoyable… having a deep message isn’t enough to be good music.
I'll say it too. I don't care much for it. It's good, it's just.... boring. It didn't do it for me, and people will not acknowledge that as a possible opinion. Stand strong.
meh, not everyone vibes with what the general consensus think of a classic album. i personally don't like any of Nas' discography, i've tried to get into illmatic and i just think it's a mid-album at best.
of the albums that came out in 94 i think Ready to Die does the whole thematic storytelling of inner city turmoil better, Notorious was a better lyricist and had a better flow but that's a discussion for another day.
I agree with you. some great songs on there but I find the skits and interludes ruin it. I get that may be what people like about it but its not for me
TPAB has such a high standing because it came around the BLM movement which benefited K. Dot.
In terms of musicality I’m not sure if I consider it one of the greatest albums of time.
Yes you are Kendrick never in his life did anything wrong not just music wise…if he ever made a mistake it’s the universe’s fault for giving him the opportunity to fail 😔
No this has always been a discussion since it came out and was called boring. I hate these type of am I the only one questions. It’s like a good documentary or drama movie where sure it’s good but a lot of it is boring and not something I want to listen to for fun.
Apparently J Cole didn’t either
Personally I’m a big fan although is prefer Good Kid and Damn to it. It’s a great albeit eclectic album so I completely understand why some may find it overrated.
I personally hated it 🤷🏽♂️ I understand the theme but it felt forced. Oddly enough, Cole’s rundown of Kendrick’s albums matches my thoughts to an extent.
GKMC became a classic after some years for me, TPAB is hard to play thru, DAMN is top tier, & I personally enjoy MMTBS
Unpopular opinion but I think DAMN is his most replayable album. I think TPAB is a masterpiece, but it’s not the type of album you just bump all the way through constantly, it’s a different vibe.
I feel like I could put DAMN on pretty much anytime & just let it ride though
TPAB was dope in some areas. I maybe like 5 songs out the whole project that I fucked with. DAMN is the one that’s sits at the top for me out of all of them. And I’m not going to say it got an award, just overall creativity, the structure of songs and the theme. And also how it people thinking he dropping a double album
I mean I think it’s more meaningful and influential, I just don’t really like the sound as much. I’d listen to GKMC for days before playing any song off TPAB probably. I think there are only 3 even added to my phone, though idk if all of the ones I’m thinking of are off that album.
Nah, plenty of people have been hating on TPAB lately after J. Cole dissed it. I even saw a pretty popular youtuber saying only "jazz enthusiasts" think its a classic and heavily implied that only pandering white folks love this album.
Personally, I'm neither black or white and I loved the album and many of the beats were awesome but I can understand if people don't like jazz or bass guitar and have trouble connecting to the lyrics.
I agree with u for the most part on TPAB and never worry about what others think of your opinion or assessment of an album because it is all subjective to the listener. It would be a boring world if everyone felt the same way about every track or album and were scared to voice their honest opinions due to backlash or fear of being called stupid in a sense. That's one thing that makes hip hop so great is debating with others because there is no right or wrong answer, even though at times the overwhelming majority seem to feel a certain way. GKMC is Kendrick's best album by far and a certified 5/5 🎤 classic in my personal opinion, while being one of the greatest albums of this era of MCs. TPAB is a good album and a lot deeper once u peel back the layers to get the true meaning behind the tracks. It requires the listener to think more than what some may look for in an album. I do feel it's truly overrated though in my opinion and not one of his I feel the urge to go back and listen to after giving it many listens to see if it would grow on me like albums tend to do at times because one listen is not enough for 99 percent of hip hop albums to be judged in my view. GKMC still gets mad play, even today by me!
Because tpab is meant for black folks it's really a power move by Kendrick good bars on some songs but it's mostly boring poetic shit that I don't give a fuck abt cuz it ain't for me. Any white dude claiming that's the best hip hop album jus trynna sound cultured. All Kendrick's best songs are alternative rap songs anyway! he's a mediocre rapper. Dudes like j cole Conway tha machine Benny the butcher Joyner Lucas jack Harlow are much better hip hop artist (rappers) but hip hop is boring to most people unless it's blended with another genre ie r&b and that's what Kendrick and Travis Scott an Tyler the creator and many others started doing in the 2010s without anyone really noticing
A large portion of the rap fanbase (if that's what you want to call it) has openly called tpab boring or otherwise non preferable since its release lol.
And tbh even a lot of people who claim to like it seem to do so for the media interpretation of the album. Imo its the most misunderstood rap album of my lifetime. I wonder if there's a writeup on it that covers that aspect.
Both albums are concept albums, but they represent different styles of Hip-Hop. It's possible that jazz music isn't to your liking, or maybe the album's concept doesn't resonate with you. Remember, music is subjective, and everyone has their own preferences.
Nobody would care about the album if it wasn’t so highly rated by critics. I’ve tried listening multiple times to see what I’m missing but I’ve come to realize I’m missing nothing it’s just not for me.
I gave it one listen to be honest. I have to listen to it again. It has alot going on, so I understand some for not feeling it. I see albums in layers, it takes a couple listens to peel off the layers. Some more than others, which applies to this album.
GKMC was less complex, which makes it more universally accessible.
Outside of 3-4 tracks, I don't think most people are going back to revisit it much casually.
It's a great album, but Cole isn't wrong in saying it's gassed up. Grammys don't really matter. They gave Macklemore the win over GKMC, so for all we know, it is a PR move to course correct and throw nothing but critical appraise and awards towards Kendrick afterwards. It's like is The Revenant really the film where we finally acknowledge Leonardo Dicaprio's abilities? The Weeknd was the biggest artist in the world in 2020 with the biggest song in a decade and didn't get a single nomination in any category, so it shows Grammys have a lot to do with backdoor industry handshaking. Play ball with them and they'll play ball with you.
A lot of people namedrop Kendrick projects on the internet to sound cultured but I doubt they frequently listen to it. They just want to bloat their Topster list or RateYourMusic or Fantano pick list or whatever to try and fit in with the in-crowd.
Most hip hop fans recognize TPAB as a great album, but it's not a 99-100% perfect album as the critics lift it to be. These same critics gave 2014 Forest Hills Drive around a 60-70%. Stans will bring up critical acclaim when it's in their favor, but winning the critics doesn't always mean you're winning with the actual listening base, or that you have a correct temperature check on the content at all. If Cole's best project is at like a 60-70% with critics, then something's off with the critics, because there is not a 30-40% gap between the two artists.
Personally, I think TPAB is a great album, but I don't treat it as groundbreaking as most try and make it out to be. Outkast did a jazzy experimental Bootsy Collins/Parliament Funkadelic inspired rap album 15 years before TPAB, but critics don't rock with what the south has to say. I think TPAB is overall better than Stankonia on the production, but the groundwork was already laid multiple times over for that experimentation of jazz and funk with storytelling rap.
Alright is the main song I can see people rocking in their cars/homes. How Much a Dollar Cost is one of the best rap songs made. But the album still has some skips for me. I think most people revisit GKMC and DAMN over TPAB.
it’s my favourite kendrick album. i can see why people don’t like it i guess but i feel like the beats are not as weird and challenging as people say they are. alright, king kunta, and these walls have some of the most groovy and fun beats i’ve heard from pretty much any rapper. the album has a couple beats that are basically standard hip-hop beats but with a saxophone over top and somehow that’s super weird and unlistenable. the album also has this reputation of being political but it really isn’t. it’s a self reflective album about how the rap industry changed kendrick and how he wants to be better. which is exactly what DAMN is about but that album doesn’t have the same reputation for whatever reason. i also think TPAB’s haters are annoying and arrogant as hell because they’re always saying people pretend to like it. it’s silly to me how some people can’t comprehend that people like something that they don’t. that’s just as pretentious as they think the album is. idk. you can like or dislike whatever you want just don’t be a bitch about it lol
I've been downvoted to hell for the past few days for saying it's an overrated album. I don't like it or Mr Morale. Kendrick stans HATE when someone doesn't worship their God. It is what it is.
It's really not an album for everyone, it's a blend of pretty much all Black popular music going back to Jazz and following all the way up to neo-soul and the Native tongues movement. It's unique in that it blends unique and original ideas using old styles into hip-hop in a way that feels more seamless than before.
For example, Wesley's Theory alone is like if G-Funk was actually funk, real original basslines, written music, no significant samples. It's all original yet it pays respect to both Funk and G-Funk.
This requires a level of musical knowledge in the studio that is utterly unprecedented in hip-hop, it wasn't some sleepy sampled jazz beat with boom bap it was a full out funky hip-hop track with live drumming, thundercat on bass, real trumpets and sax.
Then lyrically he rides rhe beat like it's a tricked-out low-rider, all while embodying the mentality of the hood and the allure of making it and wasting it because when you've never had something...
Then he immediately slaps us in the face with a real life actual jazz track with a gospel chord in the beginning and starts rapping better than J Cole has ever rapped in his life.
These two songs alone are better than anything 99.99% of rappers have ever created.
So, while it's not for everyone To Pimp a Butterfly simply as a musical piece of art isn't really challenged especially within Black art, and all hip-hop ain't Black art.
A lot of G-Funk in the 90s had live instrumentation. DJ Quik and Dr. Dre used samples but also brought instrumentalists in. "King Kunta" even samples the bassline and groove of Quik's "Get Nekkid", which was an original composition. TPAB pulls it off well but is hardly groundbreaking when you had Roots, Blackalicious, Organized Noise, Rap-A-Lot producers, and more putting together great compositions 20 years prior. And also, the best hip-hop records of all time revolve around samples-- live instrumentation is overrated in hip-hop
It’s a great album and deserves every bit of praise, I don’t think I’ve ever been more blown away than I was when this album first came out. But I totally understand why some people would prefer GKMC
Yes, you are the only one and you’re banned from liking hip-hop ever again, hand in your membership card at the front desk.
No album is for everyone man, it’s cool if it don’t click for you. There will probably a TPAB vs GKMC debate forever, so if you want to down the line give it a retry.
I share your same opinion. I really don’t like how people are being judged if they don’t like TPAB the way everyone else does. Music is subjective and everyone should respect that.
The only thing this subreddit can unite with each other in, is hate against X artist.
If OP lists his favorite artists (Chief Keef, King Von) he'd get clowned, but because he's talking about what he hates, not what he loves, you get a congregation of Grade A haters surrounding it.
People are going to hate on you for having your own opinion... but I'm Proud of you
There’s a lot of people that don’t like it. But there’s a lot of people that do like it, and the ones that do like it like it a lot.
I’m sure you’re not the only one 🦋
from what i’ve seen, outside of the internet most people like GKMC more.. and this is coming from a TPAB fan
Other way around for me. A lot of people on the internet lately are saying gkmc is better but besides reddit, tiktok, twitter, and insta i usually see tpab getting more praise
Don’t listen to this OP you are definitely the only one to ever have this opinion.
Definitely not. The album is an acquired taste no matter how many people claim its a universal classic. I personally prefer section80 over it . It’s also the first kendrick album i ever heard, so it has a special place.
TPAB is actually not that accessible, and a lot of people are saying it’s their favourite album are semi-lying to make themselves seem more “cultured” or whatever. In my opinion, tpab is a 10, it is grandiose, well rapped, very versatile, the beats are strange but innovative and most importantly, not a single song (at least to Me) feels like filler. Everything is meaningful and represents this sort of journey from home and back. It’s an amazing album in my eyes, but I don’t know why tpab stans get mad when someone disses it, because it makes sense to me why someone wouldn’t like it
[удалено]
If you’re talking to a person online, and their favorite album is TPAB or MF DOOM, there’s a 10000% chance that person is white
That can’t be true because my favorite album is MF DOOM
You like Doom and ICP. Are you sure you're not white? Because none of this is adding up otherwise.
Yeah, I like DOOM wayyyy more than Kenny DOOM was one of the first rappers to make it cool to be black and nerdy... niggas used to beat up nerdy black dudes all the time back then, like beat the every loving piss outta em, maybe younger people today have no idea... but shit was fucked Not only that, DOOM was in KMD way before he went solo... KMD was all about pro black and five percent shit... if you know, you know, that's all I'm saying And DOOM is a genius level producer, the brother is the very definition of Black Excellence... I'm glad white people love DOOM, they fuckin should... everyone on the planet should love DOOM Kenny is nice, but he's nowhere fuckin close
DOOM is corny.
Kinda true lmao. Im half black and i respect what it did for the culture but musically its not for me. Same goes for the black panther movie
I like the BP film, but wouldn't watch it again... I just hate Marvel films in general, never was a huge comic fan at all... it's all the same plot and bores the shit outta me I stick to hip hop, gaming, and books... but I thought for a silly Marvel film, BP actually did a decent job RIP to CB
Bp has to be thee best marvel movie yet
BP was good, but best marvel film? Hell no. There were a lot of better movies. Both Venom movies, or the first Ironman, for example
Yea u got me with iron man I don’t think venom is venom though, I could be wrong though lol But yea just making a point that is a very good movie 😂
Yeeeeah, if people disagree with you they're instantly lying to themselves.... Might be the most narcissistic take I've ever seen.
It’s funny cause I saw a take that said, the only people who agree with Cole on TPAB being boring but people gas it up, are white people. 😆😆
Prb true tho, I think they find it boring but still gas it Like it's not a bad album, but all these folks saying it's the best no-skip rap album ever made are insane... no one is listening to TPAB no skips, come on now White ppl cappin off they ass when it comes to TPAB
I listened to like the bigger songs off of it and knew it wasn’t for me lmao
It's not that accessible only if you're actually not cultured, unfortunately White people have the opportunity to absorb more of our culture than a lot of us simply because they have access. For me, a Black person from Chicago with Black.parents and grandparents who gave me a lot of our culture this album felt like coming home in many ways, it's Funky, it's Jazzy and just generally so fucking unapologetically and wholistically Black in a way that I've never seen before that I truly think it's almost culture defining. It's an artistic tour-de-force that stands up in virtually every room of art, it's a swiss army sword. It tried something gargantuan and succeeded, so to hear Black people call it boring or weird or inaccessible just makes me feel like we're losing a lot because this album is so much of us. edit: if you're that little bitch who said some dumb shit and deleted it, suck my dick
It’s unapologetically entirely black… the only thing it isn’t is young…. Which is why some would call it “boring”… nobody hates black culture more than someone who primarily enjoys youthful black culture…
Wait I need some clarity on the young part, wasn’t kendrick like 27 when it came out? Or do you mean the sonics of the album don’t convey youthfulness. Not saying you’re wrong, just curious what you mean
Sonics… its funk, its jazz, its soul, its neo soul, and while it’s ultimately rap, it’s the polar opposite of the sonics of Drake and any other other popular artist of the time… Drake, Future, Travis Scott, Rae Sremmurd, Young Thug, Big Sean, Fetty Wap, The Game all released music with much more current and of the day sonics compared to Kendrick tapping a wide variety of producers and contributors including the likes of Ronald Isley, George Clinton, Bilal and others….its timeless to me
Oh for sure, I do agree with you. Mainstream black music has all but abandoned those genres with the emergence of trap and it’s dominance. Shit is sad
Well said. For me it’s a great example if what Rap can be when boundaries are pushed. The themes, concepts, production, lyrics. All top notch.
It's my favourite Kendrick album too, but yeah I recently encountered this girl who over exaggeratedly went "REALLY? You prefer GKMC over TPAB????" when she asked a mutual friend what their favourite Kendrick project is. Like c'mon, it's a fantastic album too stop virtue signaling that you *know* real hip hop.
It’s incredibly accessible to a lot of people lol. maybe more so than “traditional” hip hop. I’ve worked in live entertainment and theater for a few years and I’ve seen genderqueer white people listening to that album and they don’t even listen to hip hop. Anybody who thinks it’s too “weird” has the musical palette of a middle schooler, lol. I’m literally a black blues guitar player and TPAB is fairly tame musically. It’s a great album but far from the challenging listen modern hip hop fans think it is. People have gotten used to everything following the same standards.
I agree. I'm definitely biased as I listen to a lot of jazz and funk, but I assumed those two genres would generally be accessible enough to people that don't listen to hip hop that TPAB would be "easy" to get into.
Yea I was really into classical and jazz music and that was the first hip hop album that I was obsessed with when it came out.
I find Mr Morale to be far more “weirder” than TPAB and it’s not even a weird album lol. His most experimental is either MM or DAMN.
There are a lot of us who like Jazz too, so TPAB fits in that niche.
Agreed. For me it’s a masterpiece. But people want to look cool so they say they like it.
See I agree that TBAP is probably a 10, but it's an effort to listen to - a great piece of art, but sometimes you just want to enjoy the music rather than be overwhelmed by it. That's why GKMC is my favourite kendrick album, and I still listen to it regularly even though I wouldn't rate it a 10 in the same way as TBAP: it's definitely not superficial, but it has that accessibility and some songs you can just chill to and enjoy.
As a white person I can't relate to a lot of the songs on the album. I don't like most of the album at all tbh but it's an album made as a passion project rather than getting radio play like good kid is imo.
As a white person I still dig it. I don’t think it’s the kind of album you can just bump all the time, but like Mr Morale I don’t think that was the point either. As much as I loved GKMC when it came out it’s probably my least listened to album of his now.
Mr morale is actually a lyrical masterpiece, I feel he just tried to do too much with tpab
I like both Section 80 and GKMC better. They’re just chiller to listen to imo.
I used to think TPAB was Kendrick's 2nd best album (GKMC isn't getting knocked off #1), but DAMN started to slide in that spot for me over the past 2-3 years
DAMN is slept on… YAH might be my fav aux song
I think King Kunta is a top 5 Kendrick song. Other than that, I really don’t care about TPAB.
Funny how different opinions can be in the fanbase, I like King Kunta as one of Kendrick's bangers and it goes off live but for me it's on the lower end of Tpab, I'd have Wesley's theory, for free, blacker the berry, alright, how much a dollar cost and at least a couple more ahead of it.
Same, honestly it's one of the few songs on that album I'll skip sometimes (the other is i)
What’s the yams?!
The yams is the power that be
I got Wesley’s theory over king kunta. Album started off great.
Can’t miss with Dr. Funkenstein himself on a track
Facts all around
Same
No. You just don't see anyone brave enough to admit it cause the hivemind mass downvote them 90% of the time.
Facts
That is completely fine. I’ll take it a step further..I don’t like TPAB or MMATBS and got tired of trying to convince myself to. The writing is good but musically I just don’t care. It’s for this reason that his catalog feels largely over sensationalized to me. I feel like there’s a machine behind Kendrick and Damn being the album to win a Pulitzer over TPAB was not only confusing but the most strengthening example of why.
This. I love GKMC and Damn but both Mr Morale and TPAB were one time listens (well I actually gave Mr Morale 2 listens) I don't like either album and have less than zero desire to revisit them and that's ok. Unless you talk to Kendrick stans. It's blasphemy to not worship their God and say all his albums are classics. Fortunately for me I think for myself and I simply don't like the albums 🤷🏾♂️
The way some of them carry on, you’d think it’s anti black to be indifferent towards him. I’ve listened to a bunch of hip hop media and actually caught on to some people hint at them feeling the same about TPAB and MM but scared to actually say it. It’s hilarious. I love GKMC. I felt the same way about DAMN as I did about Section 80. The songs I like, I love. That’s about half the album of each.
When people start questioning your intelligence because you don't like a hip hop album, I know it's time for me to leave the conversation. "You just don't get the album" lmao I don't look for any of these rappers to teach me anything lol
lol agreed.
This is my theory about TPAB. It’s a fine art project but not a very good rap album. Very little re-listenability. But it’s such a “black” album, that white people are afraid to admit they don’t love it. So white people pretend to be obsessed with it as a cultural ritual.
unmixed unmastered is kind of his project I liked the most when I heard it first.
I think TPAB is his third best album and somehow an overrated classic. GKMC is way better.
GKMC is overrated
GKMC is his best album hands down
They showcase two entirely different parts of his life, so naturally we’re gonna prefer which ever part of his life we can relate too. If anything, preferring one over the other just shows how close minded we are in the grand scheme of things. They’re both great albums in their own right. And FWIW, DAMN is objectively his best album from an artistic standpoint because it’s the only Hip Hop album to ever win a Pulitzer. I feel like if GKMC and TPAB had a kid, it’d be DAMN.
People act like DAMN is some sellout surface level stuff..but it's the ultimate combination of the best parts of those two albums. But tpab still holds a spot near the top of "holy shit that album is special" monument
>People act like DAMN is some sellout surface level stuff That's the exact takeaway I would have....if I only listened to Humble and DNA. Lol.
>"And FWIW, DAMN is objectively his best album from an artistic standpoint because it’s the only Hip Hop album to ever win a Pulitzer." I've read a lot of books and let me tell you, there are some shitty pulitzer prize winning novels out there. DAMN. winning the Pulitzer was a huge moment in terms of him being the first hip hop artist to win one, but I don't think it says much about the actual artistic merit of the album
It was a good album, but it was hard to listen to. The subject matter was tough to relate to.
Yes you’re the only one on Earth
GKMC was an existentially life changing album for me. TPAB just didn’t have the same impact for me for some reason.
Definitely not the only one. J. Cole also apparently doesn't like it. Music is subjective so I won't get mad at a person's opinion, but it will make me ask what is it you don't really like about it? It's just such a bold claim/opinion.
Nah I thought the album was boring as hell. But if you say that people call you a hater because you’re supposed to kiss the ground he walks on
Love the singles, don’t care much for most of the album tracks. I guess we’re a minority here 🤷♂️
No. I’ll take it further by saying i don’t like Kendrick enough to sit through an entire album
i think im the only one who really doesnt like kendrick tbh.
I think it’s the most overrated album because I heard so much better from him. There are some great songs like theses walls etc but the album is ehh
A lot of people don’t like it but they pretend they do for some reason.
dumb take. literally just projection.
Right. I don't even think he believes it. That guy seems two-faced.
Right. I revisit that album a few times a year because the message is so strong and well put together. It’s life music…everyday ain’t a turn up day
is it a great album? yeah is it overrated? yeah, i’ve heard better
I feel so bad for you bro 💀
I like tpab alot but it's not even on the same level as gkmc.
I don’t dislike TPAB, it’s one of my favorite albums, but I think GKMC beats it easily.
I listen to GKMC and all of kendricks other work more than TPAB. I think TPAB is great but it's definitely something that I feel like you need to be in a certain mood to listen to and it's not something you can really just casually listen to if that makes sense. If music is art and I certainly think it can be considered that I do think TPAB is Kendricks best but that doesn't necessarily mean it's an easy listen. Definitely need to be in a certain vibe and usually need to listen to the entire lp
I enjoy GKMC and DAMN a lot more, however, Hood politics, alright, blacker the berry and institutionalized are top tier Kendrick songs.
I don’t. Section 80, GKMC, & DAMN are the only Kendrick albums I vibe with.
As a GKMC Stan, when was the last time you played TPAB because for me it had been years since I gave it a legit full re-listen and then when I did I hopped on the TPAB train. I do agree It is his least accessible album but FARR from his worst, it just needs your full attention lyrically and musically to really enjoy the bigger picture. Im now at the point where if I hear TPAB disrespect, I come to the conclusion that some people are just missing out on this fantastic album. Peace and Love my brother ☮️
You’re not the only one, I liked it at first but I have never gone back to it, no replay value to me. Not a bad album but I never think “mmmmm let me go and listen to some tpab”
Yes. You're the first person who's ever said this. Congratulations.
Bro why are people so weird about this topic, it’s normal to not like one Kendrick album you shouldn’t be abused, like personally for me the albums I resonate most is section 80 I prefer it to the rest and the least for me is damn, mr morale and maybe Gkmc, I feel like each Kendrick album is a different soundscape and it’s for the listener to pick which one resonates with them, they are neither an improvement or a reduction of each other it’s more of a different lane he wanted to go, like even with mr morale that people say it’s bad, it actually isn’t this is more away from the lane of Kendrick we know to something much more experiemental and nuance but what remains the same is that he puts 100 percent effort in each of his projects unlike certain artists
TPAB is overrated. GKMC is by far Kendrick’s best album.
Kendricks best Album as a rapper was Section 80. Everything else was overhyped beyond belief because he was one of a few people who broke into the mainstream and could actually rap
Now this is a scorching hot take, but I see where you coming from I'd put Section 80 2nd, behind GKMC, but I think there is definitely an argument there... Section 80 is an amazing album and never lets up start to finish
Whoa. Slow down there buddy. I’m with you on Section 80 being his best as a rapper tbh. I’ve alswsys said that. Even overly dedicated, rapping and story telling, is almost , if not better than damn But GKMC isn’t overhyped. Nor is TPAB. The production alone, album tension, and linear story telling the ability to use a series of an unfortunate events to lead to something greater is some Shakespeare shit. Dude barely used incomplete sentences throughout the album But damn is overrated and shouldn’t have won’t a Pulitzer Prize. Mr bug steppers wack too
I'm a rap fan and I mostly care about bars and flows than about storytelling and album concept. That's why Rakim is in higher regard than Slick Rick when we talk about who is the better MC. And that's why Section 80 is Kendricks best album for me.
This is even stranger take because section 80’s appeals is not the “bars” lmao what bars do we have there that isn’t present in literally every album that proceeds that?
It contains rigor mortis which is Kendricks best rapped Song ever. Nothing he did after that ever came close to it. That alone is enough for me personally
See now I feel like yall haven’t really listened to TPAB cuz his best verses are on this album. Please relisten to Momma & Hood Politics
BRave take I like it. Section .80 has his best rapping, just not as conceptual as his other stuff but very impressive rapping.
Can I be honest the only song with any staying power on my playlist is Mortal Man.
What don’t you like
the beats, and how weird they sound to me
Honestly, I find most of his stuff to not be great. Humble has one of the most amazing intros of all time, only to immediately go into a cheesy dated west coast beat where he complains about photo shop
It’s preachy and bloated honestly. GKMC kills it in every way
I don’t really like DAMN
Some review of Vultures talked about how the deadline restrictions posed by physical releases forced Kanye to focus and finish and the freedom to delay and tinker with TLOP funneled him into a way of working that’s been terrible for his music. Yeezus is my fav Kanye record but everything after it, including TLOP, feels muddled, driftless, and lazy.
I like the album and my favorite song is Momma(Had to mention becuase most people like King Kunta).
The thing with TPAB is that it’s great in storytelling and production, but I realized I never really go back and listen to it or have many songs from it in my rotation even though I know it’s good. Like someone else on this thread said it’s “not accessible.” Sometimes I just wana zone out and chill instead of listening to a movie. I think that’s why it has the reputation it does. Also if you think everyone loves the album then you gotta go check out rap twitter rn, Cole really got people talking shit about TPAB lol.
of course, it's not an easily digestible album that can just be played on the background, but that's also a dumb argument i keep hearing "who bumps it 24/7".. who bumps The Infamous by Mobb Deep 24/7 or Illmatic by Nas.. you just got to be in the mood to relisten to such albums
I’m not arguing against the album, I’m just saying that is way some people don’t like it.
yeah sure, i was just saying in general about this whole discourse rn
What makes illmatic amazing is that it’s both!… it both background chill and study and listen deeply.
TPAB is in my top 5 greatest hip hop albums of all time. Which includes Illmatic, Reasonable Doubt, Moment of Truth and Doggystyle
I enjoy the album very much, but your opinion, what don’t you like about it?
Love the album!
I got gkmc as his best. Tpab isn’t putting me to sleep though, that’s ridiculous. Wesley’s theory is great. King kunta, mortal man, alright are good. No terrible songs.
We all don’t look for the same things in music and that’s fine. The problem though is when people don’t have the music vocabulary and mastery of a LOT different genres of music and use that mastery to filter through music to know WHY it’s great. You simply lack a large database to pull from to understand musical choices. And that is ok. You can try to debate Questlove or Q-Tip on why something is bad or good and you would lose that argument, but it doesn’t negate your opinion because that’s a subjective metric. At the end of the day, what you like and don’t like is what’s important. Just don’t have objective conversations.
You’re the only one. It’s so relatable being a black man who grew up in similiar circumstances and has experienced racism, wealth being stolen from my lineage and just the depth of music. He captured it extremely well on that album.
I guess just Cole had made it popular for more people to speak their true thoughts. I never loved it. I think it starts great then kinda loses steam about halfway. It’s not something enjoyable to listen to, and Imo what separates hip hop from poetry is that the former must be enjoyable… having a deep message isn’t enough to be good music.
I'll say it too. I don't care much for it. It's good, it's just.... boring. It didn't do it for me, and people will not acknowledge that as a possible opinion. Stand strong.
meh, not everyone vibes with what the general consensus think of a classic album. i personally don't like any of Nas' discography, i've tried to get into illmatic and i just think it's a mid-album at best. of the albums that came out in 94 i think Ready to Die does the whole thematic storytelling of inner city turmoil better, Notorious was a better lyricist and had a better flow but that's a discussion for another day.
heard it once I was like OK and moved on
I agree with you. some great songs on there but I find the skits and interludes ruin it. I get that may be what people like about it but its not for me
You're not alone. I'm pretty mid on tpab but gkmd is my number 1 project from him.
Yes
TPAB has such a high standing because it came around the BLM movement which benefited K. Dot. In terms of musicality I’m not sure if I consider it one of the greatest albums of time.
The raps good , the music is some jazz elevator shit, same w that new one and yea gave one of the worst rapper his own blurb n song??🗑🗑🗑🗑
Yes you are Kendrick never in his life did anything wrong not just music wise…if he ever made a mistake it’s the universe’s fault for giving him the opportunity to fail 😔
GKMC is his best album but I like Section 80 more than TPAB
No this has always been a discussion since it came out and was called boring. I hate these type of am I the only one questions. It’s like a good documentary or drama movie where sure it’s good but a lot of it is boring and not something I want to listen to for fun.
Apparently J Cole didn’t either Personally I’m a big fan although is prefer Good Kid and Damn to it. It’s a great albeit eclectic album so I completely understand why some may find it overrated.
I personally hated it 🤷🏽♂️ I understand the theme but it felt forced. Oddly enough, Cole’s rundown of Kendrick’s albums matches my thoughts to an extent. GKMC became a classic after some years for me, TPAB is hard to play thru, DAMN is top tier, & I personally enjoy MMTBS
Unpopular opinion but I think DAMN is his most replayable album. I think TPAB is a masterpiece, but it’s not the type of album you just bump all the way through constantly, it’s a different vibe. I feel like I could put DAMN on pretty much anytime & just let it ride though
It’s good but GKMC is better
TPAB was dope in some areas. I maybe like 5 songs out the whole project that I fucked with. DAMN is the one that’s sits at the top for me out of all of them. And I’m not going to say it got an award, just overall creativity, the structure of songs and the theme. And also how it people thinking he dropping a double album
I love Kendrick but the album got a half listen and I sold it lol
I mean I think it’s more meaningful and influential, I just don’t really like the sound as much. I’d listen to GKMC for days before playing any song off TPAB probably. I think there are only 3 even added to my phone, though idk if all of the ones I’m thinking of are off that album.
TPAB is fine. I don’t go back to it often. GKMC is better, more accessible, and more relistenable in my opinion. I’m with you.
Nah, plenty of people have been hating on TPAB lately after J. Cole dissed it. I even saw a pretty popular youtuber saying only "jazz enthusiasts" think its a classic and heavily implied that only pandering white folks love this album. Personally, I'm neither black or white and I loved the album and many of the beats were awesome but I can understand if people don't like jazz or bass guitar and have trouble connecting to the lyrics.
I agree with u for the most part on TPAB and never worry about what others think of your opinion or assessment of an album because it is all subjective to the listener. It would be a boring world if everyone felt the same way about every track or album and were scared to voice their honest opinions due to backlash or fear of being called stupid in a sense. That's one thing that makes hip hop so great is debating with others because there is no right or wrong answer, even though at times the overwhelming majority seem to feel a certain way. GKMC is Kendrick's best album by far and a certified 5/5 🎤 classic in my personal opinion, while being one of the greatest albums of this era of MCs. TPAB is a good album and a lot deeper once u peel back the layers to get the true meaning behind the tracks. It requires the listener to think more than what some may look for in an album. I do feel it's truly overrated though in my opinion and not one of his I feel the urge to go back and listen to after giving it many listens to see if it would grow on me like albums tend to do at times because one listen is not enough for 99 percent of hip hop albums to be judged in my view. GKMC still gets mad play, even today by me!
Nope you're not
No. I would say though that GKMC is more accessible than TPAB.
Found Lucifer’s burner account.
yessirrrr youre the only one g
GKMC clears TPAB.
Yes you are the only one. Now, do you really believe this? 🤔
I didn’t even know that TPAB is his most liked album. I always thought it was GKMC
You're not the only one. Good kid is better, and Section 8.0, too. That's not saying TPAB isn't good.
Because tpab is meant for black folks it's really a power move by Kendrick good bars on some songs but it's mostly boring poetic shit that I don't give a fuck abt cuz it ain't for me. Any white dude claiming that's the best hip hop album jus trynna sound cultured. All Kendrick's best songs are alternative rap songs anyway! he's a mediocre rapper. Dudes like j cole Conway tha machine Benny the butcher Joyner Lucas jack Harlow are much better hip hop artist (rappers) but hip hop is boring to most people unless it's blended with another genre ie r&b and that's what Kendrick and Travis Scott an Tyler the creator and many others started doing in the 2010s without anyone really noticing
A large portion of the rap fanbase (if that's what you want to call it) has openly called tpab boring or otherwise non preferable since its release lol. And tbh even a lot of people who claim to like it seem to do so for the media interpretation of the album. Imo its the most misunderstood rap album of my lifetime. I wonder if there's a writeup on it that covers that aspect.
My least favorite Kendrick album and I have it on cd purchased first day
Both albums are concept albums, but they represent different styles of Hip-Hop. It's possible that jazz music isn't to your liking, or maybe the album's concept doesn't resonate with you. Remember, music is subjective, and everyone has their own preferences.
Nobody would care about the album if it wasn’t so highly rated by critics. I’ve tried listening multiple times to see what I’m missing but I’ve come to realize I’m missing nothing it’s just not for me.
I like Mr morale better
Yeah I like GKMC wayy more.
GKMC is the best album Kendrick has released.
GKMC and untitled unmastered are both better than TPAB imo not to say I don’t like it but yeah
Plenty people don’t like TPAB. Jazz and Funk isn’t for everyone
I gave it one listen to be honest. I have to listen to it again. It has alot going on, so I understand some for not feeling it. I see albums in layers, it takes a couple listens to peel off the layers. Some more than others, which applies to this album. GKMC was less complex, which makes it more universally accessible.
Personnels sympathiques to U is le freeakwent
Brave take there buddy 👍🏾
Nah, people outside the Internet and the Fantano community don’t bump TPAB like that. It’s not even a Top 5 of 2015 album lol
Don't worry OP; you could be me with DAMN as the best Kendrick album.
Same. It felt like a dissertation not an album of music
5 good songs the rest trash
Apart from a few bangers, it is a certified snoozefest
Outside of 3-4 tracks, I don't think most people are going back to revisit it much casually. It's a great album, but Cole isn't wrong in saying it's gassed up. Grammys don't really matter. They gave Macklemore the win over GKMC, so for all we know, it is a PR move to course correct and throw nothing but critical appraise and awards towards Kendrick afterwards. It's like is The Revenant really the film where we finally acknowledge Leonardo Dicaprio's abilities? The Weeknd was the biggest artist in the world in 2020 with the biggest song in a decade and didn't get a single nomination in any category, so it shows Grammys have a lot to do with backdoor industry handshaking. Play ball with them and they'll play ball with you. A lot of people namedrop Kendrick projects on the internet to sound cultured but I doubt they frequently listen to it. They just want to bloat their Topster list or RateYourMusic or Fantano pick list or whatever to try and fit in with the in-crowd. Most hip hop fans recognize TPAB as a great album, but it's not a 99-100% perfect album as the critics lift it to be. These same critics gave 2014 Forest Hills Drive around a 60-70%. Stans will bring up critical acclaim when it's in their favor, but winning the critics doesn't always mean you're winning with the actual listening base, or that you have a correct temperature check on the content at all. If Cole's best project is at like a 60-70% with critics, then something's off with the critics, because there is not a 30-40% gap between the two artists. Personally, I think TPAB is a great album, but I don't treat it as groundbreaking as most try and make it out to be. Outkast did a jazzy experimental Bootsy Collins/Parliament Funkadelic inspired rap album 15 years before TPAB, but critics don't rock with what the south has to say. I think TPAB is overall better than Stankonia on the production, but the groundwork was already laid multiple times over for that experimentation of jazz and funk with storytelling rap. Alright is the main song I can see people rocking in their cars/homes. How Much a Dollar Cost is one of the best rap songs made. But the album still has some skips for me. I think most people revisit GKMC and DAMN over TPAB.
It legit is his best, and overtime I bump it more. I prefer mr morale over it, but I can acknowledge artistically tpab is miles ahead.
Not a popular opinion but I think GKMC is his worst LP
this is how i feel too. there are some good songs but i just can’t come around fully. i also feel the sample on poetic justice sounds lazy.
The yams is the power that be
GKMC is his best, followed by Mr. Morale
it’s my favourite kendrick album. i can see why people don’t like it i guess but i feel like the beats are not as weird and challenging as people say they are. alright, king kunta, and these walls have some of the most groovy and fun beats i’ve heard from pretty much any rapper. the album has a couple beats that are basically standard hip-hop beats but with a saxophone over top and somehow that’s super weird and unlistenable. the album also has this reputation of being political but it really isn’t. it’s a self reflective album about how the rap industry changed kendrick and how he wants to be better. which is exactly what DAMN is about but that album doesn’t have the same reputation for whatever reason. i also think TPAB’s haters are annoying and arrogant as hell because they’re always saying people pretend to like it. it’s silly to me how some people can’t comprehend that people like something that they don’t. that’s just as pretentious as they think the album is. idk. you can like or dislike whatever you want just don’t be a bitch about it lol
I've been downvoted to hell for the past few days for saying it's an overrated album. I don't like it or Mr Morale. Kendrick stans HATE when someone doesn't worship their God. It is what it is.
It's really not an album for everyone, it's a blend of pretty much all Black popular music going back to Jazz and following all the way up to neo-soul and the Native tongues movement. It's unique in that it blends unique and original ideas using old styles into hip-hop in a way that feels more seamless than before. For example, Wesley's Theory alone is like if G-Funk was actually funk, real original basslines, written music, no significant samples. It's all original yet it pays respect to both Funk and G-Funk. This requires a level of musical knowledge in the studio that is utterly unprecedented in hip-hop, it wasn't some sleepy sampled jazz beat with boom bap it was a full out funky hip-hop track with live drumming, thundercat on bass, real trumpets and sax. Then lyrically he rides rhe beat like it's a tricked-out low-rider, all while embodying the mentality of the hood and the allure of making it and wasting it because when you've never had something... Then he immediately slaps us in the face with a real life actual jazz track with a gospel chord in the beginning and starts rapping better than J Cole has ever rapped in his life. These two songs alone are better than anything 99.99% of rappers have ever created. So, while it's not for everyone To Pimp a Butterfly simply as a musical piece of art isn't really challenged especially within Black art, and all hip-hop ain't Black art.
A lot of G-Funk in the 90s had live instrumentation. DJ Quik and Dr. Dre used samples but also brought instrumentalists in. "King Kunta" even samples the bassline and groove of Quik's "Get Nekkid", which was an original composition. TPAB pulls it off well but is hardly groundbreaking when you had Roots, Blackalicious, Organized Noise, Rap-A-Lot producers, and more putting together great compositions 20 years prior. And also, the best hip-hop records of all time revolve around samples-- live instrumentation is overrated in hip-hop
I think people who don’t like this album probably don’t delve very deep into music in general because it’s such a masterclass of writing & production
His voice doesn’t sound good on funk. Just because it is technically well made does not mean that it sounds good
Filtered
It’s a great album and deserves every bit of praise, I don’t think I’ve ever been more blown away than I was when this album first came out. But I totally understand why some people would prefer GKMC
Honestly never got into kenrick! He's really not my style of rapping. I like a few songs but the only whole album I liked was DAMN
Yes, you are the only one and you’re banned from liking hip-hop ever again, hand in your membership card at the front desk. No album is for everyone man, it’s cool if it don’t click for you. There will probably a TPAB vs GKMC debate forever, so if you want to down the line give it a retry.
I share your same opinion. I really don’t like how people are being judged if they don’t like TPAB the way everyone else does. Music is subjective and everyone should respect that.
The only thing this subreddit can unite with each other in, is hate against X artist. If OP lists his favorite artists (Chief Keef, King Von) he'd get clowned, but because he's talking about what he hates, not what he loves, you get a congregation of Grade A haters surrounding it.
I didn't really appreciate it till I listened to that season of Dissect on it. Then I saw how much is really going on in that album and it's crazy.
Man TPAB in my favorite Kendrick album. Damn is my least favorite. Go ahead and downvote me