Kendrick Lamar is not my savior. Therefore, he won't disappoint me. He is a man struggling with his life, identity, and doing what's right like we all are. I don't expect anything from him.
Kendrick is a thought provoking artist. His compositions serve as a prompt for the listener. If nothing else, his worked has sparked rich conversatiins and threads on issues related to culture, the state of the art, personal responsibility for the one's self and community, etc. Kendrick's work has less to do with the man himself, as much as what his art inspires us to consider collectively.
You're not old cos of how you look F.D sir, you're old because you have that ability that all old people have of crushing hopes and dreams of the youth 😭
FD isn't saying KDot's going to put a disappointing spectacle. He's saying that if you're thinking KDot's gonna do some radical political messaging in it, you're going to be disappointed. (And he's absolutely right)
Idk who is even expecting that tho. Kendrick has never had radical messaging. His tone has always been more about self-confidence and positivity from within. And I don't think that's a bad thing. It's still an overall positive message. I think people just want him to be the savior that he isn't.
And yet FD Signifier also did a video trashing people criticising Kamala Harris and centrists from the left. Which is exactly what he's now doing with Kendrick.
what revolution would be started by making fun of drake? Makes no sense, most people don't even care that this happened, like rap/hip hop is not even that prevalent in pop culture anymore
Meet the Grahams was the surgery to remove the tumor. Not Like Us was the celebration of a successful surgery. Party Die was Kendrick telling us it’s time to start chemo. It was never about the tumor, it was about the cancer.
AND because"the boy" is who he is he thought this whole thing was all about him. Sure, parts of it was but ultimately he was just one tree in the forest that J. Cole may or may not be skipping through as I type 😅
@@RyomenAyeni225 nah he clearly plays into it, "to nipsey's killer i forgive you" while also saying hes not a savior to disolve himself from accountability. watch how thats gonna be ur guys excuse when he does some capitalistic crap in his half time show
All Kendrick did in his new song is make a commentary on the state of the industry. He echoed many of our sentiments about the state of the culture and rap music in general. We need moments like this in music. We can’t complain in one breathe that everything feels empty and vapid, then turn our noses up at someone whose using their platform to address those issues.
And at the moment, that platform is the biggest in rap. No one topping the interest Kendrick is generating right now, no one. He at the top, and he using that platform to spit truth. I wonder what NOT disappointing us would look like??
It's a strange dichotomy. On one hand you want to push promising influential people toward your cause. On the other hand you don't want to drive a wedge between your positions and people who are at least doing more than 99% do in terms of putting positive ideas in people's heads. Kendrick is not as revolutionary in his political positions as most of us would like, but he could've very easily just been another gangster rapper and black capitalist with no morals. We have to keep in mind that we can be an obstacle to progress by having an all or nothing attitude that largely encourages people to completely avoid our positions. What's ideal isn't always what's practical. Kendrick can at least be a bridge that encourages more artists to create more positive music, and I think ultimately that's a win for mainstream hip hop.
@@akiret3113 exactly. What more is he supposed to do? They say they are disappointed but will be tuned into superbowl. It’s getting boring at this stage. First they complain about the current brain rot in rap, then someone comes along to address that and it’s still not enough. I don’t want to be locked into the cycle of never being satisfied
@@F-N-Z-01 Kendrick is full of himself I was done with him after he let that European lady say the N word at his show and gave her the mic and then he cosplayed as Jesus with the fake blood on him
An artist is just normal a person who makes good art. I think you can maybe expect them to not be TERRIBLE, they might do some good stuff, they're just normal though, can't be surprised
Thinking Kendrick is a hotep I feel is the perspective of people who aren’t really fans of his. From what I know is considered hotep ideology, I can’t recall any of that from Kendrick’s music. He’s not hyper pro-black, he doesn’t have any strong adherence to responsibility politics, doesn’t drown us to death with talk about the white this, the white man that, he’s not preachy. I feel like that perception of him came from TPAB where some people who never really listened to it think it’s some black power album, when it’s really how Kendrick deals with his own experience as a black man in America. I never get a preachy vibe from him at all. It’s always personal. Also, duality has always been a theme in his music. It’s obviously an inner conflict within himself (and in all of us).
The sad part is even if he was preachy people are quick to have a problem with that but they can listen to an entire album with every track rapping about drugs sex and violence and won't complain at all
Kendrick is the black man who has lived the black experience and basically tells you ,he then says what he holds dear to his heart and what he loves and what he will fight and die for.Some people identify with this but most people dont want to look in the mirror .A majority want to live in fantasy not address reality and thing by doing or saying nothing things will get better.If Hip hop is what peole listen to copy follow and change lives ....Then this party needs to end !, burn it to the ground and start again!. Misogynistic rappers, drug and violence words in raps ,isnt art but a way of drumming negativity into the youth and what cultrue is perceived as!! The Industry has allowed being the distributor negativity to be put out about black people women and men ,and that's what our children our future absorbs. HOW CAN WE EVOLVE !!😢
We got to remember that Kendrick let go his savior complex at the end of Mr. Moral _"I choose me, I'm sorry"._ I highly doubt he's going to do some crazy activitism
@@relicreturns sometimes the most effective way to spread word against the industry is to utilize it when given the opportunity. Very few revolutions are born from scratch.
@@80s_graffiti I mean yeah... or just calm down on the preaching and enjoy the moment, you won the beef. Got the big show. Just put on a good show. If you arent a saviour, why are you trying so hard to be one.
“I’m hearing the comments the critics are calling me conscious but truthfully every shooter be calling me Compton, so truthfully only calling me Kweli and Common? Proves that ignorance is bliss” - Kendrick Lamar
People forget that as they were boycotting/protesting against the NFL on Kap’s behalf, he kept trying out for a position almost every year. As far as the Superbowl, if you’re looking for Kendrick to make a political statement you’re watching for the wrong reason.
@@CommodoreFluffywhat do you mean? The out of touch, wealthy 50-60 year old dudes complaining that the “kids today are too woke” isn’t great stand-up comedy to you? 😂
Kendrick knows now's the perfect time to do this. Ultimately we've reached the stage where only about half a dozen rappers are going to be big in any substantial way going forward, whereas 5 years ago, it felt like there were about 20 or 30 on that level.
My genuine interpretation of the giant American flag at first was “the superbowl is a big American event, therefore American flag” and that was it EDIT: not excusing Kendrick or the American flag as a symbol from criticism, just admitting that it was a very neutral thing for me before I started thinking about it
@@BoitumeloMarumo-tq4ioit's not necessarily the flag itself-or maybe to some it is-but rather what it represents. Basically a symbol of colonialism, imperialism, exploitation, etc all under the veneer of "one nation*" that asterisk is intentional btw iykyk
I'm a real Kendrick fan. While everyone is criticizing him, I don’t forget that he is his own lane and a singular voice. I don’t see any conscious YT'ers calling out 'the small hats.' But we're holding Kendrick to the highest of standards. No mention of the work he had to do, or the chances he had to take to get there. Every channel is 'poor Wayne' the legend, and I'm hearing no clear support for Kendrick, no pushback on the reigning narrative on social media. Where are Kendrick's real fans?😢 Our message to him is: I expect you to disappoint us. Ok. Noted.
Note: Most leftist rappers eventually leave the industry, for the most part. From Lupe to Andre. From Mos Def to Q-Tip. The game is not made for the ideology and those who truly hold some bit of it dear. You stay too long and you end up becoming Killer Mike.
Lupe just didn't leave the industry by choice. His record label screwed him over. He talks very highly of TDE probably because they allow you to be creative and do your own thing. If he had the same chance as Kendrick he would have taken it. He just didn't get the chance.
Hip hop is not black and white and a lot of people leaning on the political subject are struggling to draw the line between Kendrick's beliefs. There is a good reason he stays away from people. Lot of you are contagious. Hip hop is everything.
I think just the fact a black man with the care he does for the black community is going to be up there singing songs about black people loving themselves on that big of a stage is enough to make me proud/satisfied 🤷🏿♂️. Nothing extra necessarily needs to be done.
People who set unreasonable expectations will be disappointed and it will be entirely their fault. Let the man enjoy his moment and let those who enjoy his music enjoy it with him. That show is going to be amazing.
We complain that rappers today lack substance. We complain about the perceived excess and debauchry in the industry. Then we have an artist like Kendrick who comes along and at least TRIES to create some semblance of balance; and that’s still not enough. We hold him to standards many of us don’t hold ourselves to. Even if Kendrick wasn’t doing the superbowl the same Black people condemning him for taking that opportunity will be tuned in lol. It’s time to have a breather. Enjoy the art, enjoy the commentary and leave it at that. I for one at least appreciate his attempt to bring some semblance of balance to rap’s current landscape.
Kendrick is my favorite rapper but this rant is irrelevant to everything that FD has been saying. 1. If your rant is about this video then let’s be specific. People are looking for rappers to deliver a radically subversive,fiery, political message. Kendrick touches upon political themes but that isn’t what’s driving his music right now and that’s ok. Just don’t expect him to do it at the superbowl and you won’t be disappointed. 2. No one is complaining that Kendrick isn’t enough. FD certainly isn’t and Kendrick fans are happier than ever. Again, FD is cautioning us to not expect a huge political spectacle from Kendrick’s Super Bowl halftime show. And honestly, that’s good advice isn’t it?
It’s not like fd doesn’t appreciate Kendrick though he said he loves his music in the video, he just wishes he doesn’t do some stupid shit, not that he does something revolutionary
While I hear where you’re coming from, in terms of Dot’s performance at the SB being a kumbyah ass performance, his most recent behavior, at least with this song, seems to be very pointed and angry. Like talking about watching the party die, the eerie and admittedly…violent vocals, it just wouldn’t make sense to go from that to then be like “hey everything’s gonna be okay and we’re all one tribe!” Dot sounds kind of fed up and I have hope that that translates into something transgressive come his performance.
meet the grahams to NLU wasnt a weird tone switch to you? you dont think its odd to use pedophillia and trafficking as a joke in a rap beef? it should be obvious by now his gimmick is fake
@@Z4NKA1 Just because he doesn't always follow the script, it doesn't mean that K. has no idea about what the audience wants. He knew that beating Drake in his "own arena" aka the numbers game would seal his victory. And he could only do that with an easy to listen record. As amazing as MTG is ain't nobody playing it in the clubs.
Anyone can disappoint you, but Kendrick may just be doing what you do, F.D. Censor yourself to an extent on the bigger platform in order to get a larger audience on the platform you feel freer to speak. In your case that's Curiosity Stream, in Dot's place it's "Alright" and perhaps this new album. You of all people should get that.
If people are expecting K-Dot to be on an activist vibe at the Superbowl, they haven't been listening. He literally said, "Kendrick made you think about it, but he is not your saviour." Stop putting that on him.
His last post on his Instagram burner account says a lot about how he was feeling before the battle. I also believe he responds based on how he’s feeling at the moment.
Yea I love FD but ever since he made his amazing video about this beef I feel like he’s been trying to do this well actually shit, shadow boxing with himself and shit. Bruh, just take the W.
As a hardcore Kendrick fan I’ve accepted the man’s hypocrisies, it’s just the way of life. I see him more as a philosopher than a political and social figure these days
Philosophy, politics, and society are not mutually exclusive. It's like when you go in to a discord or reddit or whatever and one of the first rules is always "No politics". You cannot discuss life, living and society without politics either being directly or indirectly involved. Same goes for philosophy. Everything is interconnected and entangled. Anyone who avoids that reality, is doing so for selfish reasons in one way or another. Either for money or power or whatever. That's why corporations will pander to public sentiment (the Pepsi Kardashian commercial comes to mind) but in the background they'll fund any politician (overwhelmingly republicans but democrats aren't innocent in that regard either) that will only benefit themselves even at the expense of their very own customers and society as a whole. Always assume someone who is wealthy to fall within that example in one way or another. There's NO such thing as true altruism and anyone (especially someone who is wealthy) who presents themselves as "doing good" is definitely guilty of that behavior. The MORE they present their "good deeds and altruism" the more you can guarantee they're guilty of that. It's like compensating for a tiny penis with a big truck or for terrible actions/behavior by pretending to be religious or righteous.
@@Smokingman25 No one is perfect, you can either talk on the side or be direct. I respect people who are direct, speak your mind.... The amount of people you can change with words is crazy. Let's not play the devil's card. Kendrick makes music for normal people. Of course he'll get rich because his type of music is high on demand. People have put a lot of their hopes on a mortal. He will disappoint you. No one is perfect
I get the wariness but I also find it hard to believe someone who would do a coopted substance-less halftime show, would also drop that Instagram song basically the day after he was announced for it
@yTV-x6q Hot take, but I think Kendrick doesn't even have diss Drake anymore by playing NLU He solo-headlining at the SuperBowl is more than enough, and if he follows the patterns of his pop out concert and NTU vid, all he has to do is empower the people and community that cares about hip hop.
I don't think him censoring himself changes the power of his music. You still know what he's saying & the original message. You still understand what it means
FD himself censor his videos on youtube to get paid and reach a bigger audience lmao like how are you criticizing Kendrick when you're doing the same shit
Like when people are so quick to yell "industry plant" despite the fact that there isn't a single successful artist in the history of successful artists that made it without the help and cosign of people in the industry already. Not one.
@@cantu7214it doesn’t have to be that esoteric weird shit, but selling out can easily be defined as just going against your morals or principles to gain an advantage somewhere.
@@saucemandela ok but oftentimes people misunderstand what someone's morals and principles are. They project what they hope the person represents, when in reality, the person's morals and principles are no different than they were from the beginning.
@@chrisjfox8715in that sense, this is when I would propose another meaning. Sometimes people sell out their morals, and sometimes they instead sell out their community, regardless of their own moral compass.
It’s time for us to be adults. Stop projecting ideas of perfection onto Kendrick. He’s an artist and entertainer. He has used his art at times to speak to and address his people, like many other Black artist have in the past. However, he alone is not going to fix all the issues in his community. If you look at him through the lens of him being someone who makes commentary on where the world is at you’ll find it easier to come to terms with him being just like you and I. He is not your saviour.
People are just too desperate for a savior. I can understand why, but it's an unfair expectation for anyone. I wish people were more willing to appreciate that someone who could've easily spent his career selling black trauma to the masses by playing the gangster rap image chose to promote a more positive message. Kendrick gets more hate for doing what he's doing than other artists do for just promoting the gangster rap image. And then we wonder why so many just don't bother with trying to make more positive music.
@@ZiyadDyingtricycleKumbaya? I'm not sure why some people feel the need to police what a grown up person would do. If we are afraid Kendrick won't do it maybe we should put together a team and do it. He has done more to represent a black person than a lot of us and we still need more. Maybe wes should help him.... Instead of putting him on a pedestal
Thank u for shouting out for sudan I'm from there and rapid forces are doing war crime against my people and nobody is talking about it so thank u for speak up ❤❤
FD, just a movie nerd here to talk about the Patton speech for a sec The opening speech was meant to be ironic. Not from Patton's POV, but from the writer of the movie, Francis Ford Coppola. He's a guy who's always been pretty critical of America, right after Patton he went and made The Godfather, the whole point of which is to put the mafia and capitalism right next to each other and basically play a spot-the-differences game. (They're the same picture) The whole opening speech was turning up Patton's jingoistic attitude to the max, and him talking about how America can never lose a war, but the audience was watching it in 1970, when America was in the middle of losing a war in Vietnam. When Patton is saying "you don't win a war by dying for your country, you win the war by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country" the only real logical thought to have as a moviegoer in 1970 would be "How's that strategy working out for us in Vietnam?" Most of the movie is pretty straight down the line bio-pic stuff because Coppola took the writing job for the money, but that opening scene was definitely him putting in his own two cents, I think. What this means for Kendrick's usage of the symbolism there, I don't know
Mafias are a perfect example of capitalism, because that’s actually what they are, they are a capital driven entity that prioritizes gains over anything else, including rules, laws, lives, sustainable growth, demand, health, etc. they are concerned with only the logic of profit and will murder their rivals if that means reducing risks of losing market shares and thus more profit.
When I was a teenager I remember seen guys in their 40s walking around with rock and metal band t-shirts. Now the 40-year-olds are walking around dressing in Tupac's and Biggies' shirts.
Okay... I'm about to blow your mind here. Many of the 40 year olds was bumpin Tupac and Biggie in their teens (and early twenties/in their college years) back when they were both STILL ALIVE. It's not that odd that they're wearing the shirts now. Js.
@@thomaswright17 Is that what the previous comments were about? Because the comment below it seemed to discount the ages of those who have been into Hip Hop since teen years during Pac and Biggie's actual career. And the third comment was another dude reminding that grandpas are the original Hip Hop heads, which is totally TRUE. In fact, if Tupac and Biggie wasn't taken from the world too soon, both would be granpas today (53 and 52 respectfully), the same age as Snoop... who's also a grandpa, btw. But I apologize if that was what the original comment meant, noting that the generation is now unc age (as well as mine). As well as the second one about wearing cardi shirts. My b. I just didn't want grandpa above me to feel like anyone was pushing him out and I had his back. 🙏
Won't disappoint me, I don't see him as a savior or renegade. He's an artists who makes music with generally better messages than most. The hope, though it's damn near subterranean level of hope, is that more follow suit and we can get more variety of messaging in hip hop. Also, having more talented artists start to climb to the top more frequently would be hopeful as well. I just want better gatekeepers basically. Also, Kdot's censoring himself wouldn't be any different that Signifier posting youtube videos where he censors himself in order to funnel viewers to his paid content off of youtube.
Exactly. It's not the revolutionary change we want, but even incremental change is better than falling further down the rabbit hole of degenerate clout chasing that is tarnishing rap culture right now. It's not necessarily about Kendrick overhauling rap singlehandedly, but moreso his success and presence and the praise he's getting incentivizing newer generations to adopt more positive messaging. It's nice to have a mainstream hip hop act that doesn't solely operate off of selling the black gangster image to white people. If we get a wave of more conscious mainstream rap artists I see it as a big win for rap music going forward.
Kaepernick has been trying to get back into the league for years. Why is it a problem for artists to perform the halftime show? These guys expecting Dot to be their version of perfectly radical is crazy. The guy is human and he's gonna move in the space he's in, accordingly.
@@ZiyadDyingtricycle in what way he does? he just makes music. he never claimed or did anything outside of being an artist. sure, like any good art, his art reflects a lot of topics but it has nothing to do with actual political activism - something Kendrick never did or claimed to do
Another way of viewing this performance is that a rapper is headlining the halftime show for the first time EVER! A genre that many have said is in decline; both in quality and sales. Yet, the genre has been given an opportunity to be centred on one of the largest platforms in the world. Who better at this time to take that opportunity other than Kendrick? He gives great live performances and with PG Lang directing that’s also a huge opportunity for Dave Free. If you love rap this should be a moment you enjoy.
There's a brilliant line in John Martyn's song 'Don't Want to Know' off his 1973 'Solid Air' album. Where the first verse he finishes with "all around the gold is glistening, making sure it keeps me down to size" and the second verse he finishes with "all around the gold is glistening, making sure it keeps me hypnotised". Essentially about how the money is designed to make you feel small and powerless when you don't have it and designed to make you feel surrounded and mesmorised when you do. Both times you're equally held in place by it.
Kendrick won't disappoint me. Why because I don't worship celebrities. Thus when they do something bad or not do something they should I am not disappointed by them. People need to stop this hero worship. All people are flawed.
Best comment yet. If you’re looking at other humans to be your moral compass you’re already lost. I’m just looking forward to a great halftime performance
@@DubhghlasMacDubhghlas alright then he shouldn’t act as if he’s pro black, he literally doesn’t have to make any statement, but we’re worried he might.
@@DubhghlasMacDubhghlas why we’re acting as if he said anything yet😭 He literally doesn’t have to say anything, there is still many months left it’s not as if it’s already happened
I felt it was cognitive dissonance to look at somebody as anti industry when they’re performing at the most industry, corporate, commercial event of the year. Like what part of the industry is against him? Apple Music? Roc Nation? The NFL? Amazon? 😂 it’s like make believe.
nga Kendrick ain't fkn with the direction the industry been pushing hip hop in, that don't make him anti industry still!! smh y'all the ones with the cognitive dissonance here, two things can be true, you can be apart of something and still disapprove some parts of it. Besides, That whole make believe narrative y'all be on is utter bs lol "i'm hearing the comments the critics are calling me conscious but truthfully every shooter be calling me Compton, so truthfully only calling me Kweli and Common? Proves that ignorance is bliss” - Kendrick Lamar.
@@memyselfandi3288They are not really smart or either mad af cuz it's Kdot biggest year lol the most they can do is create some fantasies in their heads and comment corny jokes. It's hilarious to me cuz Kdot is just silent and he still gonna do whatever he wants to. Kdot never cared for fake outrage.😂🎉
@@memyselfandi3288Kendrick is a hypocrite, get over it. Every single angle he used to attack Drake (pdf, deadbeat father, money problems) can apply to people in his circle. Like bro calls Drake a deadbeat while collaborating with Future 😂😂😂😂😂😂 and that’s pretty tame compared to his other hypocrisies
American flag is used ironically in media all the time. And people act like they never seen it before. Beyonce literally had a song called America Has A Problem with the flag on the cover
Any Bro to be honest we gotta stop calling Kendrick a Hotep that’s crazy to say after you just admitted you never stopped watching football, and you essentially work for RU-vid though your messages is pure and radical so are some of Kendrick’s messages your having unrealistic expectations and you should know that in this world as a black man you have to move a certain way and you can do that and absolutely get your message across if Kendrick is a hotep so is everyone
Bro, I think you’re being too hard on Kendrick, respectfully. The fact that he performed “Alright” at the bowl at all was BRAVE. Editing the po-po line is small potatoes. We all filled in the blank. Kung-Fun Kenny!!
9:25 the fact that ppl heard it as a Drake diss speaks volumes and exposes what a lot of people assume Drakes values and impact on the culture and the public at large to be. The fact that much of the topics and critiques in the songs can easily be applied to Drake is why many people misheard this song as another diss.
I really appreciate you front-loading the extremely algorithm-friendly video with an invitation to do real street level work. I'd love more popular creators on this platform to do that.
Respectfully FD you said you didn’t think the Like That verse would get a reaction and then you said you thought Dot would lose the beef commercially and in the court of public opinion so
I won’t be disappointed, all I want is a good show.. Folk’s are doing too much including you right now.. He was chosen to do the halftime show, sit back, and enjoy, stop the pressure let dude do himself please .
tbh I'd hope kendrick defy all superbowl rules, and do something great. That's something I'd hope he do. He really will be immortalized for better or worse during the superbowl. The song sounds like a funeral or some world burning away.
Im not expecting him to do some kind of revolutionary halftime show where he shits on the establishment or anything. But i do think its a win for the perception of hip hop broadly to have an artist with a more clean cut image and a catalogue full of more positive and uplifting messaging. It'll be significantly more difficult for guys like Ben Shapiro to do his racist "look at his criminal record" thing on Kendrick. Even though I'd like to see a more powerful stance from him than i expect, i do think he is still the best mainstream representation of hip hop that you could get on a national stage, and that's a silver lining.
im crying the fact you had to make this a video is hilarious but very true. many people gonna try to politicize this event, whole time kenny just gonna play his bangers to get more views and disappear and thats 100000% okay
Respectfully, I disagree with your Black panther take. I didn’t get “All lives matter vibes “ I got, “I could be doing more for my people” vibe. But I could be wrong, I don’t see Kendrick doing an “All Lives matter” thing. I’ve never gotten that from Him. He likes His city unified, but I don’t see him particularly caring about “All Lives” . At least not this Kendrick. He’s also tapping into His spiritual (Christian Side, but I’ll leave that alone)
How many ppl were negatively influenced BY NWA & gangster rap in general only to find it they was acting or selling you an idea then masking by saying we street reporters.
People seem to forget about how we got here. Kendrick even performing the superbowl is just as bad as rihanna performing it after she said she wouldn't. Or hov having tons of verses about the superbowl only to say "we done kneeling " in a room full of white people for the bag 😂 At this point eminems knee is more radical than any of the black artist's performing 😂 Kendrick will keep it VERY SAFE. This ain't bet 🤷🏿
The thing that I'm disappointed in is that the NFL haven't changed their practices with how they racially pay out for CTE, choose their coaches and what they call the plantation dynamic of players. To see Jay Z say we are done with protesting now (since when did he speak for all African Americans) and Kaepernick not getting recognised for what he did in all of this by Jay Z, or the NFL charity contributions not going to a legit AA organisation is definition of capitalism. Making himself the figurehead of the Superbowl Half Time. I thought Kendrick would've known better. At the very least I hope he brings out Janet for Ppoetic Justice.
All Jay Z did was use a Basquiat painting to hustle Tiffany diamonds to millennials, and break picket lines to host an Oscars party. Everyone forgets those two facts.
Your stance on the American flag surprises me. Since his major label debut, Kendrick has provided personal and consistent themes of patriotism. We tend to confuse criticism with contempt - which, in Lamar’s case, can be easy to do for the average listener. Having said that, if you are a close and avid listener of Kendrick’s albums, the flag backdrop is not a surprise.
For real. There's a saying here in Brazil which literal translates to "who pays the band chooses the music". Even if Kendrick was set on a radical left political not co-opted statement for his performance on the main stage of a sports competition structured on the foundation of a white supremacist extreme US nationalism, there's NOTHING stopping Kendrick from being "fired", okay? Like, he either loses the job as the man who was too radical for the superbowl or he conforms in certain aspects, watering down hard any indication of radical political thinking he could aim to perform at his SuperBowl halftime, so he can actually make some sort of statement on this major US stage (just a reminder that, even though there are people around the world who watch the NFL or just the superbowl halftime *cough cough* imperialism *cough cough* it does not have a major worldwide audience, what happens in the NFL only really affects the US and more in a cultural sense than anything else, the halftime isn't as big of a thing as the US-centric way of thinking would suppose). So, in my opinion, if Kendrick would like to make a statement more genuine to his world view, he should limit his performance to explore the theme of culture versus industry that he has been focused on for these last few months and, at best, at more common sense social and political ideas (like, I don't know, some homage to Kaepernick would be more broadly accepted and would serve NFL's interests very well, cause while he would be making a very subtle political point against police brutality that wouldn't necessarily offend the extreme US nationalist part of the NFL audience, it would give the impression the matter has been resolved by the presence of black artists on the halftime shows, which it hasn't but, you know), as a way of avoiding touching on implications about US patriotism that would lead either to his performance being canceled or having it be heavily co-opted (what would be more likely to happen). The huge US flag in the back of his announcement doesn't look promising in that sense of avoiding to, because of the capitalistic context of being able to perform at the superbowl halftime show, fall on the kind of rhetoric such as the "reclaim the flag" icky stuff. In the end, what I expect is, at most, subtle political statements that go over the heads of the majority of the audience and aren't really radical at all. And I expect that not because I think Kendrick wouldn't want to push back on watering down his message (I don't think that at all), but because it's about more than an individual choice and moral dilemma, it's because who has the money and makes the final choice knows it's not profitable for them to allow radical political points to be made at the main stage of the freaking NFL of all things. It's bigger than an individual's action, even if we're talking about the individual actions of the performer, it's about the structural aspect of the logic of profitability that guides the social, political and economical system we live under - that is, capitalism.
That’s my only issue with this, mfs who don’t actually care about these issue are already running around using that to help they fav win a rap battle smh.
Let The Party Die is the beginning of the schism among us newer Kendrick fans like myself between who’s here for his genuine musical talent and who’s a tourist who just enjoyed the blood sport of shitting on Drake
Kendrick always gave me the vibe that he really just wants the rawness of rap back but without the trauma attatched lol. I think that mindfulness gets him in that kinda hotep category with how he navigates his raps. I would love a good moment with Kendrick on that stage but I know he understands his limits also, he's definitely a slow burn. I hope his strategy is to get in the mix, make small waves, then disrupt the system within, I hope he's just making sure he's all the way in first. haha.
What if he doesn't want to change the industry, but just inspire people to step their game up? Kind of like how Tupac said he doesn't want to change the world, but he's going to inspire the next generation of minds that will... Significant change is definitely a slow burn and takes generations of good work
Bro...it's every other album with K. Dot....He experiments...he gets his hardcore audience...then he experiments some more....then he comes back for his core...it's his cycle...he's smart
I dont feel like hes gonna pull a Sinead O'Connor but i feel like hes atleast holding onto something. Hes intelligent enough to figure out how to use that platform without losing it
What I do is fast forward to the conclusion, find a quotable line and include it in my instantaneous response often with a one-word criticism ie “trash” Always keep people guessing.
Thank you for bringing up Cop City. Even among my fellow Georgians it feels like talking about the protests has slowly died to the point no one is aware it is still happening. Even the average person is unaware of all the legislation that passed earlier this year around heavy restrictions on bail because they didn’t like we were bailing out protestors that judges deemed could be bailed out. They are almost always furious that it happened but if I didn’t randomly bring up it they would have never known
It's funny cause in the TPAB era, when he was in his deepest "I am the reincarnation of 2Pac" phase, it seemed like it might be true, since he spoke so much about the poor. But then them interviews of him doing respectability politics came out and it was pretty clear it was not the case. He still talks about "capitalists" as bad, but he probably doesnt have a deep understanding of anti-capitalism.
@@otherperson I think Kendrick thinks "capitalism" means "greed." He's basically a bog-standard liberal. "We lost Barack and promised to never doubt him again" shows you how shallow his understanding of politics is.
