Kendrick Lamar has been among the top artists in hip-hop for the last decade or so. The rapper, who hails from Compton, California, is a celebrity, award winner, and an icon in hip-hop culture. His music features inspirational themes, interlocked with some of the most vivid depictions of the streets he grew up in. After a long hiatus from the limelight, K.Dot came back to reignite his feud with Drake that has been going on for the better part of the 2010s. The two provided some of the most iconic moments in the genre as they went at it hammer and tongs.
In celebrating his win in the “beef,” Kendrick held a concert dubbed “The Pop Out: Ken and Friends,” in which he wore a red hoodie and cap. His reason for showing up to the stage like this was to pay homage to one of the legends from his coast, Tupac. The whole beef has generated such a buzz that you could not go a day without hearing Kendrick’s “Not Like Us,” which effectively cemented his win.
Did Kendrick Just Bring Back Hoodies?
We know Kendrick Lamar to be a grounded artist. Superstardom has never been something to get to his head. Musicians often have merchandise to go with their artistry, but not Kendrick—we have not seen him come out with any sort of merchandise for his fans, but they still take notice when he dresses a certain way. On the Pop Out show, Kendrick performed wearing a red hoodie and cap.
Of course, with Kendrick flying high, the rapper seems to have single-handedly made hoodies cool again. Merchandise stores are scrambling for wholesale hoodies because fans want a red hoodie like Kendrick’s. That he wore the cap with it paid homage to Tupac Shakur, as the West Coast legend wore the same outfit during the 1994 Source Awards. Lamar here wears a red hoodie and a white T-shirt with baggy jeans in his recent concert.
Tupac is also famous for wearing the same kind of half-red ensemble, as when he performed “Out on Bail” during the 1994 Source Awards. Knowing such fun, entrenched lore about Kung Fu Kenny’s outfit probably fuels fans’ interest in the hoodie. Still, this shows how much of a moment in Hip Hop the whole Kendrick-Drake beef was.
Early Life and Influences
Kendrick Lamar Duckworth was born on June 17, 1987. Growing up in the tough neighborhoods of Campton, California (with little in the way of distractions), Lamar would find an escape in music—and it wasn’t long before people realized his genius. The rapper cum hip hop legend traces inspiration to West Coast rappers like Ice Cube, Warren G, Snoop Dog, and Tupac. They would also be the rappers that would shape his style of rapping. Influences like these are why Lamar is always ready to throw it down and represent West Coast as a rapper to date.
Rise to Superstardom
Kendrick Lamar kicked off his career back in 2003, going by the stage name K.Dot. He also used the moniker Kung Fu Kenny, both of which he would later drop to use his real name. Still a senior at Compton’s Centennial High School, Kendrick would take any opportunity to freestyle and battle and churn out mixtape after mixtape.
In 2010, having made waves in the underground Hip-Hop scene, Kendrick would come to his complete form, adopting his real name, Kendrick Lamar, as his rap name. During this time, “Overly Dedicated,” his most critically acclaimed mixtape, was released. It had the industry take notice of all the good qualities Kendrick possessed in his raps.
With the whole industry behind him and fans anticipating more of the “fresh content” Lamar had to offer, it was time for the big leagues. He, not being one to let the fans down, released “good kid, m.A.A.d city,” around this time. The album would come out and become an instant classic. He put his excellent writing skills on display again when he put together another classic in “DAMN.”
A Pulitzer Prize For a Rap Album: The World Acknowledges Kendrick’s Genius
Having been at the top of rap for over five years, 2018 saw Kendrick hit yet another hallmark. His abilities on the mic would be recognized by a win no other rap artist can claim. He became the first rapper to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music, which was the preserve of classical and jazz musicians, for his album “DAMN.” Recognition of this magnitude was not just big for Kendrick but the whole genre of rap.
A Feud to End All Feuds: Drake vs Kendrick
Drake and Kendrick have been at each other’s necks for the better part of the 2010s. The feud first came to light when Kendrick did a controversial verse on Big Sean’s song “Control.” In the song, Kendrick comes fist rolling as he announces his intentions to become the top MC of his era. Drake happened to be among the rappers Kendrick mentions in his verse.
The gloves were finally off after Kendrick taunted Drake and J. Cole recently. Not being one to back down from a fight, Drake responded, and the two rappers fired diss tracks against each other. When the dust settled, the hip-hop community was in consensus about Drake losing the battle. Performing at The Pop Out, Kendrick was merely “taking a victory lap” and letting Drake know who the head honcho was.
Fans Itching For an Album Release
If we know anything about Kendrick, it is that he is often very calculated with how he moves in the industry. A feud like this could allude to a new album, and the fans are clamoring for it. With Kendrick being the “methodical” kind of rapper, the fans are likely to wait a little more for the classic that will be.
Throughout his career, Kendrick has proven that rap superstars can be a shining light for the community and still make it to the top of the charts. “All hail King Kendrick,” is what the internet is calling him after his decisive victory over Drake. As both rappers still have some years to go, it will be interesting to see what tactful approach each takes in the wake of one of the most heated rap beefs we have witnessed.
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