i feel like it’s probably as simple as kendrick didn’t want to split his money with three labels anymore. he’s had a solid fan base for a minute who will support him without a co-sign, so he fulfilled his contractual obligations and decided to leave. also, punch just did an interview and talked about kendrick’s leaving. there was no bad blood.
He owns a share of the company, but he is not part owner. Creating his own label was always apart of the plan. He was never signed to 3 labels, the other two were distribution deals. He's publicly stated this in multiple interviews. There was never a beef, those were rumors. Dave Free and Kendrick own their own company together. Kendrick released his album the way he wanted, without all the hype built around it, no posts, or public advertisement. He added a link to his twitter and IG, for fans who had him on their radar. Everything ain't beef. That comes from speculation and people not paying attention. He wanted a quiet release. He didn't care about numbers. Also said it on the album, but clearly no one listens. Nice video though!👍🏾
Aftermath is not a distribution label lol he was definitely signed to three labels at once (it's clear on all his CD/album covers) but TDE is the parent label for his releases. Interscope is essentially the distribution label because they partnered with Dre and Aftermath for his releases. Until we have a full breakdown of the contract, TDE wouldn't let Aftermath and Interscope just eat off Kendrick for no reason (even with respect to Dr. Dre's influence) unless they had some form of business agreement. At one point, TDE had just Interscope for distribution of everyone else's music except Kendrick and SZA (RCA is the Interscope in her deal)
Kendrick doesn't ghostwrite for Baby Keem, he uses Baby Keem as a way to release songs he doesn't want to release as his own for various reasons. I think he was doing this at TDE with all of the artists but especially Q and Jay Rock(notice how their output has slowed in the post-DAMN era). Since hearing about the reference tracks I have gone back and listened to Keem's catalog a lot and I have come to believe it almost all comes from Kendrick. In other words, I hear Kendrick in most of Keem's songs. I also went back and listened to the song Big Shots with Travis Scott. This is a song I never listened to much but go back and listen to it, you hear Kendrick trying out some different stuff that will later become the Baby Keem style. It seems so obvious to me now that Kendrick mostly wrote Keem's part on Family Ties. I think what people need to think about is Kendrick is so creative and comes up with so much music that he has to work with other artists to release it all because it doesn't fit his particular style and career arc as well. This may not make sense to some but I think highly creative people will understand some people are actually capable of this much creative output and really this is the most intelligent way to release it all to the world. Framing it as "ghost writing" is misleading in a way because it brings to mind images of 2000's era rappers paying others behind the scenes to write their bars and this is actually quite a bit different and more complex than that.
I should add: I think any "beef" was over the fact that Kendrick was the creative engine of TDE and some of the artists knew that if he was leaving they would have to possibly work harder for their music because they wouldn't be getting song ideas and beats handed down from Kendrick anymore. I think Kendrick left because his creative aspirations exceed what he can do with TDE, both the artists themselves and with the music the label would be willing to drop. Kendrick clearly wants creative freedom. And I think Kendrick is very attuned to the new evolving styles in music and knows that music is going to continue to change over the next few years and I think he actually wants to be able to do more and more experimental shit, which he really wasn't going to be able to do with any of the artists on TDE, whereas with Keem he can use very experimental styles and do songs with artists like Uzi Vert and kind of explore different sounds that he couldn't before. For example, clearly Kendrick was in a bad place after DAMN. If he had released The Sound of Bad Habit as his next project it would have been incredibly polarizing. Some people would think he had just tarnished his career, and others would think it was amazing. But it would really put a mark on his public persona. It's so much smarter for him to just release the music through another artist when you think of it like that. Again, go listen to Big Shot.
Exactly! I don't see how people didn't see this. They probably also had a wait time between releases because I could see him dropping two back to back like Frank Ocean did but TDE probably stepped on it. Now that this one has died down he can drop the real one.
It became about business. Kendrick fulfilled his obligation now that he's established as a powerhouse Artist he has his own label and dictates his career. Not the definition of a beef at all.
Simple as that…And of course there will be initial shock maybe disappointment maybe upset feelings…what people seem to not understand…even when sza was snapping and all issues that have came up…TxDxE is a family before all else
Well put together video but definitely a reach. Q, Soul, Rock, Top and Punch was just at a few of Kendricks Big Steppers tour dates there in support. Also, Dave Free and Kendrick always wanted to head something together. That's why they created The Little Homies to direct videos and such. That transformed into PgLang as a creative company which they own together. Ownership makes sense for any creative who is willing to take on the task. I understand if it was beef it makes for great videos but there's nothing there lol.
Not gonna lieeee… TDE been moving funny a lot over the years. I’m a fan of Kendrick, Ab-Soul, and most definitely SZA. I’ve been Sza fan for yearssss and they been doing my sis dirty despite having huge success of her recent project SOS. They (the label) kept pushing back her album for 5 years and she been wanted to release it. TDE needs new management asap. It’s driving away big name people that keeps them relevant 😢.
And also the record company wanted her to release next year in January in 2023. They didn’t want her to fight hard with the Christmas songs which is true but she pushed them to do it now and I’m forever grateful she did.
I love MMATBS and think it contains real genius. It feels fresh. It's subtle & nuanced, and really grows on you.. I won't be surprised in the future if it's considered a classic, and a gamechanger.
nah bro there’s no beef, i was at the ab-soul music video shoot for FOMF and they were blasting kendrick and baby keem’s stuff. it’s all good kendrick wants to do his own thing.
Not necessarily if the own the masters to the song sampled, not to mention kendrick prolly don't have issues with the label mates, just the label itself so features and samples would be cleared by him
The only way there can be a beef between Kendrick and the is if tde doesn't want to see Kendrick reach his highest point. There's no other possible reason for a beef. Kendrick is just trying to do him, the best he can. If u have a friend that's achieving his dreams, you would be happy for him. You would only be unhappy if you saw your enemy achieving their dreams
At the fomf music video shoot for AB Soul, they were playing Mr morale and the big steppers for us plus the other black hippy members shout out kendrick on his departure Definitely a management issue, tde had a problem with Sza until her project finally dropped this month
Ghost writing… as it pertains to “reference tracks”, this doesn’t necessarily equate to “ghost writing” or “writing for someone”. A reference track can also be mainly about cadence and flow, melodies/harmonies and verse order to a song that the artist already wrote. Ie., Keem might’ve written all the lyrics for the verses and hook, recorded his own version, and Kendrick helped with HOW to say things, voice inflections, vocal animations etc. that they’re both known to do, quite similarly (which I’m sure Dot influenced Keem). It doesn’t necessarily mean Dot wrote just because he did a reference track -instead he could’ve guided the sound and tone of the record, without ever actually writing a single word of the song. Reference track and ghost writer are not directly synonymous
There's no beef. The members don't talk about each other when they drop an album anyways. Ab Soul last album was 6 years ago. He has nothing but good things to say about Kendrick. He helped out on Herbert. Q and Kendrick are super close. Q dropped Crash Talk and everyone was shook with the death of Mac and Nip. I don't see them beefing. Jay Rock is the silent assassin. There's no beef, just Kendrick doing his own thing. Fulfilled contract. They did the Championship Tour with all the TDE members except Zay and SZA. Mr Morale is very much Kendrick vision. Punch even said the team was hands off with the album. And he came out with the black panther album, which is the closest thig n youll get to a TDE album. And toured. He had writers block for 2 years. No phone and Therapy. There's no Beef. Just an artist going his own way.
My biggest question has always been what tf happened to Black Hippy?? They did so many records together before they all got on. Now, you barely hear any of them on a track or an album together. The only exception since they got established was really Jay and Dot on the Black Panther album and Jay’s last project
😂 since they was droppin blk hippy remixes they whole career where you been plus yeen gettin no blk hippy album if that’s what you really seeking fo.. they said it’s corny idea bacc in 2013
@@blaheedsimmons2226 you’re missing my point. I meant these niggas never do features together anymore despite how great they were together in the past. I’m not asking for all of the members to do that album mentioned eons ago. However, how long do we have to wait on another Q and Dot track?? Or Soul and Q, Jay with Soul, etc.
@@blaheedsimmons2226 they were doing all of that black hippy shit before they all blew up. I’d think now would be the best time when all of your names are more known
@@Honeydippin95 yeah it seems like they'll never do a track together. Kendrick an Ab-Soul who are supposedly brothers have only one feature on album together and that's on Kendricks section 80 back in 2012. I bet Kendrick wouldn't put Ab Soul on a project these days because of politics. Kendrick being so much more known and his music being much easier to digest than that of Absoul. The likelihood of them getting together for a song especially now that Kendricks left the label is pretty non existent. Kendrick just got way too big and it always just seemed to me there was little space for his peers to adjust. I don't get why baby keem seems to be getting so much support and hype and is being pushed to the front as much as he is. Not saying that he's a bad artist or anything, but I expected more than to hear the nigga rapping "the girl of your dreams to me is just a fan" on a Kendrick feature to be slapped on the forefront of the label over the OG's. All in all I think it boils down to individual problems only someone like Ab-Soul could ever bring light to 🤷 Hollandaise?
@@SCriBBledUpMinD Keem and Soul have very different styles that bring a different audiences to the table. Baby Keem its getting the hype cause he's a very innovative modern producer that know how to construct a song... maybe you just know family ties and thats ok, but songs like trademark usa, issues, stats, orange soda, show his particular style and obviously he is a not a wordsmith like soul but his rapping fits perfectly with his more melodic or hyped style. Younger people love it. So now, if your label has a releatively experimental modern guy that young people love that has "The melodic blue" and a lyrical and complex guy that is loved and respected by other people with the great "MM&TBS" then you have covered a huge section of the industry. They are missing a SZA type of r&b star tho.
If the rest of TDE is mad at Kendrick for leaving it’s because the he is the big star name that draws mainstream interest to TDE. Mr Morale, and the big steppers is probably a metaphor for what TDE has become.
Good video, tde was always a fam but when new recruits came along that’s when the music slowed. Ab soul was being held back, Jay Rock slowed down, Q kept having bad times, and Kendrick slowed for various reasons as well
It’s business don’t over-weirdo it. It happens creative and business differences. Adulthood… the all respect each other though. It’s different than beef
Ab-soul dropped to tour and make some $$. If you’ve paid attention to his rollout and interviews - the mere fact that nobody knew he attempted suicide is purely amazing.
I felt like soul should of been the first one to leave years ago and do his own thing. The fact that he’s never signed to a major meanwhile everyone else is that’s crazy. Now he’s starting to move different cuz he sees the type of money he’s been missing out on. When Charlemagne asked why he never signed he basically said he follows whatever punch says so basically that’s tells me he’s not really good with business.
NY Times article Kdot said he not speaking on it unless it’s in music so I imagine there was an issue. Left w his day 1 to carry out their vision, it happens.
If you're someone like Kendrick that takes a less is more approach when it comes to music, it makes sense to stop releasing music when at war with your label, but if you're Post Malone or say Lil Uzi Vert, you DO NOT stop dropping when having label issues because you'll lose all the momentum you built up over the years. Uzi could be 5x bigger than he is today. Look at how Drake played the game; he signed a bad deal with Young Money because the exposure you would get from Lil Wayne giving you a platform at the time was literally priceless, and even when Wayne had fell off and Drake became the biggest rapper in the world, Drake didn't start fighting with the label, he got them to put all their resources put behind him and kept dropping music building more and more momentum on a bad deal - and when that deal was up, because he never let his foot off the gas, he signed the best deal one could ever get in the music industry, all while building his personal brand making huge money off of endorsements and building generational wealth...
To add on to your point Kendrick is the Sun compared to the rest of the artists on TDE. His impact is monumental and the newer artist won't get their time to shine with KDot still on TDE. Look at his numbers then his label mates during that time, only Q came close and maybe SZA.
I don't see any issue. I think it's simply Dave and Kendrick wanting to go do their own vision. They still family. It's just that they don't go into specifics, but they have been saying they still family and people haven't been listening. People always have a lot to say about TDE tho
I wonder if it has anything to do with keem not signing to tde. feels like the tension/disagreements might just be business related. Kendrick definitely wanted to do his own thing and as established as he is you can’t fault him for that. Both his closest peers have their own companies they run and with keem being his cousin he probably wanted him on his label. doubt there’s any animosity beyond that.
I been tryna tell people that last album was fire it just wasnt promoted like that. But sheeple love to follow narratives. Even the first single was a bad choice imo. Silent hill should have been the first single for sure.
Tbh them new TDE niggas sound like mainstream artist, the OGs of the clique just Chillen, and Soul the only one that can fuck with Kendrick lyrically. Time for Kendrick to count his bread on his own. Top and them dudes some real niggas and trust me they don’t do fake internet controversy.
Yo! these are my peoples, we are family of the same village, just as we are here at LBVISIONS ENT. are reinventing, TOP DAWG ENTERTAINMENT is going through GROWTH as GOD provides blessing for his for those who have been enslaved children.
Kdot and TDE are good. They got too much history and struggle. Top Dawg / Q / Soul etc went to his Mr. Morale tour . If it was a issue ion think Top Dawg would’ve shown up
Do you think it could also play into the fact that Kendrick said he could have dropped hits but didn’t and they were angry at that? I don’t really think that myself but hey who knows 🤷♂️
He said that after TPAB released and it was to take shots at Drake. He then dropped DAMN. And it was the first album to have every single track get certified. And then in just one year every song on that album was Platinum. He literally proved he could "easily" drop an album of nothing but hits. Drakes the "King" and that mfer can't put more than 4 good songs on an album at a time lmao
From another RU-vidr perspective, I appreciate your marketing and the use of music to make people want to subscribe, movie like editing bro keep it up🫶
