Described as “Pakistan on every porch,” Lamar advises to “ go buy a chopper and have a doctor on speed dial, I guess. Each verse is rapped beautifully and details the influence of gangs in poverty-stricken Compton. Lamar’s breathless cadence sounds as if he is in immediate danger.
On this track Kendrick Lamar details the anxious nature of growing up in a surrounded by gangs. However, this song and others by Tyler the Creator received backlash from activist organizations for its references to violence against women. The song received positive reviews from critics and its video received MTV’s Video of the Year award. “I’m an overachiever, so how about I start a team of leaders and pick up Stevie Wonder to be the wide receiver?” B.O.B, Hayley Williams and Bruno Mars are all threatened on “Yonkers.” Tyler is a self-described “walking paradox.” Each bar directly contradicts the next. Like Eminem, Tyler sometimes crosses the line with his intentionally edgy lyrics. Tyler’s graphic, violent and paradoxical lyrics pull no punches. Rapper Tyler the Creator first broke out onto the scene with his song “Yonkers.” The epitome of an “R-rated” song, “Yonkers” does everything to shock its listener. Grimy and whimsical, “Magnolia” will remain a rap staple. “Magnolia” is a song that embodies this type of sound. These rappers prioritize harmonies and production quality over “lyricism.” Some see this as rap losing its “meaning,” while others appreciate the more experimental production and atmospheric themes. There’s now a cultural shift to more melodious rappers such as Kanye West, Chance the Rapper and Kid Cudi. Prior to 2008, a rapper’s impact was determined by their lyrical ability. Songs like “Magnolia” signaled an idealistic shift in mainstream rap. Every line is damn near iconic in rap lore.Ĭarried by a Pierre Bourne beat, Playboi Carti utilizes his Atlanta roots to the fullest. “6 Foot 7 Foot” is an extremely quotable song. Lil Wayne’s delivery complements the beat perfectly. The lyrics flow over a sped-up sample of the “banana boat” song. Bars like, “I think you stand under me, if you don’t understand me” and “Real G’s move in silence like Lasagna” are prime Wayne. That being said, “6 Foot 7 Foot” is Wayne at his best. His nasally delivery and occasional struggle bars can irk some. Lil Wayne is often the butt of jokes amongst smug rap critics. It’s really hard not to groove to this track. The self-described “Black Beatles” carry themselves with an infectious charisma. Backing vocals by Swae Lee flesh out this song, creating a haunting atmosphere. The music production on this song is gorgeous. Combining synth chords with southern trap drums, the southern duo Rae Sremmurd creates a somewhat genre-bending track.
“Black Beatles” is a song that’s hard to dislike. This was the era in which song production was crucial to success. This was also the era of the super-producer, larger-than-life characters who build beats, like Metro Boomin and Pierre Bourne. Mixtapes, music produced without a label, like Chance the Rapper’s “Acid Rap” and Travis Scott’s “Days of Rodeo” were treated and received like studio releases. The nation was introduced to the rap subgenre of “trap,” a minimalist trend that prioritizes melody and catchy beats over heavy lyricism. Nearly every genre, from pop to jazz, embraced instruments like the hi-hat and 808 drums.