Kendrick Lamar is widely considered to be the best active rapper in the music industry. To get to his royal status, he's had to come up with some great verses--here a few of his best.
1. "i" (single version) Verse 2
Kendrick's second verse from his 2014 single "i" delivers a powerful meaning with a cheery, rhythmic, and funky presentation. The lines flow beautifully into one another, and Lamar's delivery is perfect. He discusses the importance of pride and self-worth in the face of oppression, hate, and destruction.
Best lines:
"They wanna say it's a war outside, and a bomb in the street, and a gun in the hood, and a mob of police, and a rock on the corner, and a line for the fiend"
"Dreams of reality's peace, blow steam in the face of the beast, the sky could fall down, the wind could cry now, the strong in me, I still smile (I love myself)"
2. "Yeah Right" (Kendrick's verse)
For this verse, Lamar hops onto Vince Staples' loud anthem, "Yeah Right". His verse starts slow, but transitions to a hard-hitting, jaw-dropping pace. This transition is accompanied by a vicious bass drop which may cause earthquakes if played too loud.
Best lines:
"211, got bread on me! K-Dot twilight the zeitgeist, Roll like fried rice and tempura shrimp"
"Swang like new Dana Danes, I ride dirty, Paid like two Damon Wayans, retire early"
3. "That Part" (Black Hippy Remix) Verse 2
Kendrick utilizes several simultaneous rhyme schemes to create one of the most impressive and downright baffling verses of his career. The amount of rhymes within the verse is mind-boggling. It's the verse that, for me, acts as a reminder as to who the most talented lyricist in rap is. (Hint: it's Kendrick)
Best lines:
“My ID say my eye don’t rest
My IV qualify T-Rex
Society kept my IQ vexed
Deny me from an Ivy School
Applyin’ me to the street I slept”
4. "Control" Verse 2
Lamar establishes that no rappers are safe from his wrath as he ascends to rap stardom. In the verse that, for many, demonstrated his dominance over other MC's for the first time, Lamar takes control of the entire song. It's shocking, vulgar, and demonstrative of the fact that Kendrick is King.
Best lines:
“I’m Makaveli’s offspring, I’m the King of New York,
King of the Coast; one hand, I juggle 'em both
The juggernaut's all in your jugular, you take me for jokes"
If you weren't aware of what all the hype was about when it comes to Kendrick Lamar, you should know now. He is immensely talented, and his lyrics rarely disappoint. There's clearly a reason he won the Pulitzer Prize for Music--he's simply that good.
