Drake, J. Cole, and Kendrick Lamar were three of the best-selling rappers of the 2010s. They released their debut albums in succession (2010, 2011, and 2012), and the age difference between the iconic emcees is only two years. Each of the thought-provoking recording artists has Grammy awards on their resume, with legions of fans who will vouch for their superiority as lyricists. However, when it comes to the writers and editors at the New York Times, they have determined that Kendrick Lamar reigns supreme, which is an accomplishment considering that media outlets on the East Coast, whether they're hip-hop based, pop culture magazines or daily newspapers, have historically heaped such praise on rappers in their region, for the most part.
The Compton, California native was recently interviewed by New York Times alongside his long-time collaborator, Dave Free, who has been instrumental in the creative and aesthetic aspects of the rapper's music videos for nearly a decade. Among the topics that were broached were their working relationship and the new direction of Kendrick Lamar's artistry.
It's been nearly a decade since Kendrick Lamar crowned himself "King of New York" on a song called "Control (HOF) by Big Sean. The crown sits firmly on his head as his work evolves and his music catalog expands well into the 2020s.
Source: New York Times
