Conscious Hip-Hop fans, check this one out!
I've been listening to the 24 year old, Compton based rapper, Kendrick Lamar, almost exclusively for the last few days since I heard him on Game's song "The City" off his new album when it leaked. I ended up buying the CD and it is excellent, however I can't stop listening to Kendrick Lamar. Give this guy a chance... I'm going to provide everyone with some reference points.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7ALTFeijSM&feature=relatedLamar provides the hook on this song as well as the final verse which he delivers a cappella. I consider this the best song on the album and one of Game's best songs ever. Game provides a lot of great lyrics on this song too but he's easily overshadowed by K.Dot. I don't think Game really minds being overshadowed by Kendrick Lamar though... this next video will show you why.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T8aWtAsQHsIf you chose to skip that video, I'll let you know what happened... Game, Snoop Dogg, Kurupt, and others joined Kendrick Lamar to pass the torch and crown him the new king of the west.
This next video is some of Lamar's best work in my opinion... and it's only a promotional song in which he rhymes over a Childish Gambino beat.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5eT6TaEtPIKendrick Lamar's debut album, Section. 80, was released in July I believe. I think it's on iTunes exclusively because I couldn't find it in any record stores yesterday while I was purchasing Game's album. Anyway, I downloaded it and it is amazing... virtually unskippable. Well-known acts involved with the release include RZA, GLC, and J. Cole.
This next video is a song from his album... the video was actually released earlier today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEIkwH9STCcThe next few videos are just my 3 favorite songs off of his album...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvST0Vu-nVwhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5yb2H7Fqi8&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKHPCNmZmYQThis last video features lyrics mostly from Ab-Soul who is in a group called Black Hippy along with Schoolboy Q, Jay Rock, and Lamar. I really enjoy Ab-Soul as well, I don't really like Jay Rock, and I haven't heard enough of Schoolboy Q yet to have formed an opinion.
Enjoy!