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Damned with Praise: The Meaning of Kendrick Lamar

economist.com

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Re: Damned with Praise: The Meaning of Kendrick Lamar

#31

Post by bardworx »

perfmode wrote: post #17
bardworx wrote: post #14

This was fascinating. When I was 15 I read Tupac's The Rose That Grew From Concrete, which helped me understand my neighborhood (I was the only white guy). Kendrick Lamar brought similar feelings in me. The toughest album to listen to is Section 80; It’s not polished but it’s powerful. To find focus in this comment, I suggest that we all look for ways to improve our own understanding and compassion. If you've “made i…

Education is what moves the needle, so there’s something to that.

One thing to consider is that some folks don’t “trust” education. If you choose to volunteer, it will help with trust issues.

Disclaimer: I know this dude's cousin. Regardless, this is exactly what taking initiative looks like (with a large sprinkle of education). https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IH9AruhN4X4

Re: Damned with Praise: The Meaning of Kendrick Lamar

#32

Post by bardworx »

olalonde wrote: post #27
aantix wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Source?

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/16/upshot/effective-altruism... http://www.charityscience.com/blog/why-donating-may-be-bette...

While these sources main point is to research where money goes and argues against quitting your job to donate time it does not infer, imply, or make a case, for or against, volunteering vs giving money.

Yes, a donation is better then quitting your job to join the peace corps, if you are under qualified. [note: peace Corp does not take random folks. They look for specialized professionals. https://www.peacecorps.gov/volunteer/volunteer-openings/]

Please watch video I linked to above. Donations are great; So is volunteering a bit of your time in your community to educate, or at least incurage, folks to strive for betterment.

Re: Damned with Praise: The Meaning of Kendrick Lamar

#33

Post by team_america »

arionhardison wrote: post #10
perfmode wrote: post #5

the Jeff Dean of the rap game...

I 100% agree, and he is needed more now than ever as rap/hip hop are becoming diluted by non AA cultures. I remember the first time I heard To Pimp A Butterfly. I instantly got the feeling that this was made for us (AA). I have not felt that way since the first time I listened to "Makaveli". If anyone reading is not familiar with some of K.'s earlier work you should go checkout Hol Up, ADHD and rigamortis.

>diluted by non AA cultures

Your comment reminds me of a German leader who didn't like his race diluted. As a minority myself I always wonder what makes comments like this acceptable as long as it's not coming from whites.

Re: Damned with Praise: The Meaning of Kendrick Lamar

#34

Post by nanomoose »

alexashka wrote: post #8

What are people getting out of this article? For me, it read like a typical album review that has no point besides getting clicks from people who mistakenly look for insight from entertainment.

I don't know; I'm afraid it bored me and I didn't finish. I did read the lyrics of a few of the tracks recommended in other comments, but didn't see anything special. Maybe because I grew up in South Africa, the theme of "How much does a dollar cost" (but remove the grammar), although you might then suggest I might then be able to relate - that doesn't make it special. Maybe because rap does nothing for me. I usually can't stand it. The vocabulary alone is dire - "fuck, shit, nigga" all over the place. Each to their own I guess.

Re: Damned with Praise: The Meaning of Kendrick Lamar

#35

Post by lostgame »

ElonsMosque wrote: post #26
krrishd wrote: post #20

Super excited to see something hip-hop related at the top of HN, especially Kendrick. For anyone looking to understand why he's likely one of the best lyricists/storytellers of our time, here's some recommended songs from him: * Sing About Me, I'm Dying Of Thirst * Momma * Wesley's Theory I'd recommend checking out his projects as a whole (Section.80, Good Kid m.a.a.d City, To Pimp a Butterfly), but those songs disti…

Agreed, I would also add: Collect Calls The Art of Peer Pressure How Much Dollar Cost (Obamas fabourite song) Blacker The Berry FEAR

Up voting for ‘How Much A Dollar Cost.’ What a fucking track.

Re: Damned with Praise: The Meaning of Kendrick Lamar

#36

Post by alexashka »

snakeboy wrote: post #13
alexashka wrote: post #8

What are people getting out of this article? For me, it read like a typical album review that has no point besides getting clicks from people who mistakenly look for insight from entertainment.

Do you really think that there is no insight to be gleaned from art?

I said from entertainment - and the answer is yes, almost none, most of the time.

Every now and again, you get a movie like The Matrix, that's both entertaining and thought provoking. Those are entertainment unicorns, as evidenced by the sequels that had nothing thought provoking left, but were still somewhat entertaining.

When it comes to art - if you knew how much shit art gets made and never sees the light of day, you could argue entertainment and art are both equally devoid of almost any value, including insight, to anyone.

Re: Damned with Praise: The Meaning of Kendrick Lamar

#37

Post by lostgame »

nanomoose wrote: post #34
alexashka wrote: post #8

What are people getting out of this article? For me, it read like a typical album review that has no point besides getting clicks from people who mistakenly look for insight from entertainment.

I don't know; I'm afraid it bored me and I didn't finish. I did read the lyrics of a few of the tracks recommended in other comments, but didn't see anything special. Maybe because I grew up in South Africa, the theme of "How much does a dollar cost" (but remove the grammar), although you might then suggest I might then be able to relate - that doesn't make it special. Maybe because rap does nothing for me. I usually…

Wow. Way to completely miss all of context for the dressing.

I’m a white, late 20’s woman and I still have found an inability to ignore K.Dot’s wisdom through the medium. His lyricism and presentation is unparalleled in modern mainstream music.

I imagine you’re not a fan of Kubrick, either, because he makes his points with brutal violence?

Seeing past the medium into the message is the quintessential hallmark of being a true, educated critic.

Otherwise you’re just commenting on your taste, which is fine, but contributes nothing to the conversation.

Re: Damned with Praise: The Meaning of Kendrick Lamar

#38

Post by lostgame »

arionhardison wrote: post #10
perfmode wrote: post #5

the Jeff Dean of the rap game...

I 100% agree, and he is needed more now than ever as rap/hip hop are becoming diluted by non AA cultures. I remember the first time I heard To Pimp A Butterfly. I instantly got the feeling that this was made for us (AA). I have not felt that way since the first time I listened to "Makaveli". If anyone reading is not familiar with some of K.'s earlier work you should go checkout Hol Up, ADHD and rigamortis.

>> I remember the first time I heard To Pimp A Butterfly. I instantly got the feeling that this was made for us (AA).

I think, more importantly, it was also made specifically for white folks who needed to hear the message.

Sure, everyone I know in the AA community knows Kendrick...but they’re also already vehemently aware of the issues.

I’m glad TPAB had the reach it did. Not only is it, message-wise, one of the most important pieces of media in the last 10 years at least, but from a compositional, production standpoint, it still has yet to be surpassed. Many will try. I’ll be shocked if any succeed for the next decade.

What TPAB does, for white folk like me, who can’t directly relate to the message, is prove that we should be acknowledging these issues from the white community...as some of the most talented African-Americans in the world got together (Dr. See, Pharrel Williams, Flying Lotus, just to name a few?) to just project this hyper-clear message to everyone - the African-American community is intelligent, brilliant, socio-politically aware AF and are fully capable of putting forward a message in a far clearer way than I’ve seen most white folks do in the last decade.

I mean, let’s face it. Can we name one album from all the top 40 white producers or musicians that has meant half as much in the last ten years?

This is the most important message that TPAB brings.

For all the damage hip hop did to the AA image in the early 00’s, it’s worst era by far, TPAB is undoing.

Re: Damned with Praise: The Meaning of Kendrick Lamar

#39

Post by arionhardison »

lostgame wrote: post #38
arionhardison wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I 100% agree, and he is needed more now than ever as rap/hip hop are becoming diluted by non AA cultures. I remember the first time I heard To Pimp A Butterfly. I instantly got the feeling that this was made for us (AA). I have not felt that way since the first time I listened to "Makaveli". If anyone reading is not familiar with some of K.'s earlier work you should go checkout Hol Up, ADHD and rigamortis.

>> I remember the first time I heard To Pimp A Butterfly. I instantly got the feeling that this was made for us (AA). I think, more importantly, it was also made specifically for white folks who needed to hear the message. Sure, everyone I know in the AA community knows Kendrick...but they’re also already vehemently aware of the issues. I’m glad TPAB had the reach it did. Not only is it, message-wise, one of the most…

I was totally lacking this perspective. Thank you. As ignorant as it may sound I did not think white people would listen to TPAB. Especially not the HN/MAGA types. I grew up in the south and that formed the opinions that I project on people (mainly white people), thus I find your opinion on TPAB very refreshing.

Re: Damned with Praise: The Meaning of Kendrick Lamar

#40

Post by neocodesoftware »

perfmode wrote: post #17
bardworx wrote: post #14

This was fascinating. When I was 15 I read Tupac's The Rose That Grew From Concrete, which helped me understand my neighborhood (I was the only white guy). Kendrick Lamar brought similar feelings in me. The toughest album to listen to is Section 80; It’s not polished but it’s powerful. To find focus in this comment, I suggest that we all look for ways to improve our own understanding and compassion. If you've “made i…

Education is what moves the needle, so there’s something to that.

except when it is educationism? http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20171219-the-hidden-judgemen...
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