Entertainment
Kendrick Lamar Turns 29 Today: 5 Legendary Rappers Who Influenced His Style
- Daryl Nelson , Design & Trend
- Jun, 17, 2016, 09:00 AM
- d.nelson@fashiontimes.com
Kendrick Lamar turned 29-years-old today (June 17), so we wanted to focus on the rapper's musical style a bit.
Of course, cornrow Kenny has gone from being an Internet sensation after releasing his "Section 80" album, to one of the biggest rappers in the world and he did it by being different and turning his back on a number of hip-hop clichés.
What's also nice about Lamar's success is that it's not attached to anything but good music.
Ever since breaking on to the scene many years ago, he hasn't been involved in any senseless rap beefs, he hasn't had any relationship drama that's spilled into the public and he hasn't spewed any negative words about anyone in his songs, which some might find refreshing.
In the past, K. Dot has talked about some of his influences, and how he became the MC that many of us know and love today, and for his birthday we wanted to focus in on that.
Below, we've listed the five legendary rappers that we think we can hear in his style. Please let us know if you agree or not.
1. Kurupt
Kendrick's ability to mesh complex rhymes with vivid street tales could easily be linked to Kurupt, and the many incredible verses he's put together over the years.
And just like Tha Dogg Pound member, Lamar seems to pull from the best of West Coast and East Coast rapping styles.
2. Eminem
It's easy to hear Em's influence in K. Dot's bars, especially in songs like "Backseat Freestyle" and the "B---- Don't Kill My Vibe" remix, featuring Jay Z.
In fact, Lamar spoke about what the Detroit spitter meant to him during a 2012 interview. "I don't think nobody's matching him right now," he said. "Em definitely influenced a lot in my style."
#MM2014 in Atlanta A photo posted by Marshall Mathers (@eminem) on
3. Nas
Just like Mr. Nasir Jones, the Compton native is remarkable at third person story telling and documenting the activities in his neighborhood with a fresh perspective and positive spin.
4. Tupac Shakur
There's a number of similarities between Kendrick and Pac, like the TDE rapper's seeming desire to speak to inner-city youth through thoughtful poetry and vivid street tales.
Undoubtedly, Pac wanted to speak directly to those in society who many gave up on, and it looks like K. Dot wants to do the same thing.
@2pac attending AIDS Project Los Angeles Fundraiser #APLA A photo posted by Tupac Shakur (@2pac) on
5. Jay Z
The incredibly slick and inventive wordplay, the ability to perfectly shape flows around any musical backing and just being so prolific could have something to do with a Hov influence, for sure.
