![]() ![]() For Kendrick, this was his moment of legitimacy, the moment he knew people would feel his hunger. The Compton rapper details the origins of TDE and the Black Hippy movement. He faces being named the Pac reincarnate, shouldering the weight of the expectations and wielding it in his pen. His voice is raspy as if he was screaming the paint off the studio walls. Over “Mother’s Theme” by Willie Hutch, the sensual synths and piano arrangements nearly bind to every word Kendrick utters. Before GKMC and after Dre’s endorsement, Kendrick released the third installment of “The Heart” series. Meticulous storytelling paired with sharp wordplay and delivery, this generation’s Nas was born. When Kendrick Lamar released good kid, m.A.A.d city, Hip Hop froze in time. During this time, Kendrick is about to breakout and is closer to finally buying his mom those Benzes. There’s a confrontation between Kendrick and spirituality his verses are becoming scripture but his relationship with God is distant. Kendrick writes from the confines of his mind, putting less emphasis on rap beef and more on the collapsing foundations of black America meant to trap individuals. Dot’s youthful glow has diminished, only finding solace within his pen. On the second installment of “The Heart,” the opening track on Overly Dedicated, K. The cymbals in The Roots’ “A Peace of Light” crescendo with snapping snares in the background while an out of breath Kendrick Lamar raps about the Illuminati and annihilation. Through verses, his face morphs into Black celebrities who’ve directly impacted the culture: Kanye West, Kobe Bryant, Will Smith and Nipsey Hussle to name a few. In the music video, Kendrick wears a white T-shirt and a black bandanna around his neck. “That’s the problem, our foundation was trained to accept whatever follows,” he raps with ferocity as he tackles hive mentality and cancel culture. The track is centralized around a critique of the culture and its many contradictions that drags down rather than elevates the cause. Kendrick understands the world has changed on his fifth installment of “The Heart.” He acknowledges his viewpoints may differ from his fans and listeners. Rap’s spirited competition stays lit inside Kendrick, with ego taking precedence over the growth of wisdom since TPAB.Ī lot changes in five years notorious presidential terms end, the world is damaged from a mutant virus, and societal norms evolve. The track shifts, the strings dirtied and the drums slown, with Kendrick being confrontational over the sonic forefather to “FEAR.” He allegedly throws shots at Drake and Big Sean before doubling down as the greatest rapper alive. He’s rich, thirty million richer since the XXL cover shoot in 2011. Part four finds Kendrick using jazz and neo soul influences for the first half of the track, reveling in his status as the savior of Hip Hop. The fourth installment of “The Heart” would come before his fourth studio album DAMN in 2017. Dot expanded the dialogue of Blackness in America and the dance with his own personal demons on To Pimp a Butterfly in 2015, releasing its sessions as Untitled Unmastered a year later in 2016. He holds faith in the power of Hip-Hop and wack MCs should stay clear of this renaissance. There’s a youthful hope in Kendrick’s writing here he holds a firm belief the world will change from the power in his pen alone. Cole’s place at the Freshman cover shoot. He reflects on networking at XXL and joking about taking a late J. Part One shows the young Compton rapper combing through meditative thoughts and proving his prowess on the iron mic. He raps along the pacing of the percussion like a city street performer. Over the hasty bassline and snapping snares of Mos Def’s “Umi Says,” Kendrick takes a less melodic approach than his predecessor. Kendrick, at the time 22, was feeling the embers of the generational torch passed onto him. The first installment of “The Heart” was released before Kendrick’s critically-acclaimed Overly Dedicated mixtape. Morale and the Big Steppers, HipHopDX takes a look and ranks each entry in “The Heart” series. But that vulnerable scope is the strength of that connectivity between him and his fans. “The Heart” is a reminder of Kendrick’s morality a reminder he bleeds, feels selfishness and endures moments of weakness. Dot is a mortal man given the hefty burden of being a generational voice that has guided millions through enlightened wisdom and shared experiences. “The Heart,” by design, is meant to observe the beating pulse behind his music. Each entry is personal, a moment away from the glitz and glamor of the album-curated songs. ![]() ![]() Throughout Kendrick’s career, he would create a hallmark tradition in releasing “The Heart,” a meditative song series. Related editorial Every Verse Kendrick Lamar Has Dropped Since 'DAMN.'
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