Kendrick’s Manichean Struggle for the Soul of Hip-Hop: “Watch the Party Die” analysis

Is everything intentional, or not? So what does it mean that the song was released on 9/11? Whoooooo-weee fun birthday video. @kendricklamar

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[SType]

Post Malone being your Drake has gained you a subscriber

[komugemon]

'Watch The Party Die' is what Jesus had playing in his headphones when he was kicking the moneychangers and merchants out the temple.

[bluntedshaman]

“Terrorist attack or no, I was getting my new Jay-Z” is hard as fuck.

[nrgao]

“Don’t gamble on sports. It’s class war on you”

Bravo sir. I love the random, thoughtful message.

[drogfour]

Kendrick breaks the internet whenever he drops now.

[HeatleyBros]

BLEW MY MIND WITH THE AIRFORCE ONE PRESIDENT PLANE REFERENCE🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯

[jamesthomas]

Kendrick going to therapy was the worst thing for the industry lol

[ComptonFunk]

#AVAA

The connection between Tupac Shakur and Kendrick Lamar is deeply poetic, almost fateful, and radiates a melancholic beauty. Tupac, who never lived past the age of 25, died before he could realize the full extent of his potential. And yet in that short time he burned like a beacon, a restless spirit who thought deeply about social justice, life and humanity. He fought with all the passion of a man who knew he had little time left, and his music was a mixture of anger, pain and unconditional love for his community.

Kendrick Lamar, born into a world that still carries Tupac's spirit, has grown older than Tupac was ever allowed to. This paradox - that Kendrick is more successful today and carries on Tupac's legacy - is both beautiful and tragic. While Tupac took on the role of a martyr who couldn't fulfill his dreams in death, Kendrick has the privilege and burden of carrying those dreams forward.

Both are on a journey together, but with different fates. Kendrick was inspired by Tupac's work, he grew up listening to his songs, absorbing the energy, pain and hope that Tupac put into his lyrics. In Kendrick's music you can hear the echo of Tupac's voice, the urge to think beyond individual destiny and address the deep wounds of an oppressed community. Songs like "Mortal Man" reflect this connection - they're almost like conversations between two spirits living in different times but fighting the same battles.

It's bittersweet that Kendrick walks in the path of his hero, yet experiences a kind of success that Tupac never could. Every step Kendrick takes on his musical journey seems to pay homage to Tupac - not only in the topics he covers, but also in the spiritual connection he feels to him. It's as if Tupac paved the way, and Kendrick is now walking on it, into a future that Tupac wished for but never saw.

There is something beautiful in this tragedy: Kendrick lives not only for himself, but also for Tupac. While Tupac became a myth, a figure who could never age, Kendrick has the responsibility to keep his hero's legacy alive, but also to outgrow it. The thought that Kendrick is now older than Tupac ever was is a painful one, because it reminds us of how much was taken from us by Tupac's untimely death. And yet, in every new Kendrick song, in every further stage of his success, Tupac lives on, not as a lost soul, but as an eternal inspiration.

This contrast - Tupac's tragic end and Kendrick's ongoing journey - is the essence of a story that is both sad and beautiful. It is the story of two souls who have never met, but are forever connected through art.

[LittleMakwa]

I 100% thought you were joking about Taylor Swift and Post Malone beating Not Like Us for song of the summer with a song called Fortnight. Hopefully I forget it exists again. AVAA

[TuchNGoh]

The presidents airplane is called Air Force one, you just fukd my head up with that

[Max-nw]

Any hip hop review that mentions semiotics and manicheism is an instant classic AVAA

[cardenasadataco]

It’s always a good day when Tim Roth talks about Kendrick

[nrgao]

Thank you. He is definitely being an anti hero and not a villain. That is Kendrick’s entire identity and has been from his industry debut. That’s why I get so mad at Akademiks and others who say he’s always had this “Rosa Parks, front of the bus” (AKs words) gimmick. Did he not listen to Good kid, Maad city or Section 80? It’s about being inherently good and heroic but having to DO morally questionable things due to the environment and engineered culture around him. That is the entire driving factor of his music.

[camm]

unc this thumbnail wild 😭

edit: finished the vid, avaa and hbd 🥳. love seeing the prevalence of older voices on hh youtube recently keep it up

[r.awilson]

Black Air Force 1️⃣’s is the Ghetto Mascot, him using them was a Bat Call to the hood

[papadrow]

OMG i love this guy he doesn't get on here and act like he knows things and he is going to let you know that it's not for me it's for the black American culture i love his takes i really enjoy his breakdowns and his humor i found him during the beef and I've been rocking ever since I went back and watched a lot of his content i appreciate you my guy BTW the thumbnail is out of here!!!!

[carlcoetzee]

Another layer just hit me. Kendrick dropped on 9/11, which is a significant day for obvious reasons, but also intersects with many important dates in hip-hop. Firstly it was the release date of Jay Z's "The Blueprint". It was also the day that Kanye and 50 Cent dropped Graduation and Curtis, respectively, in 2007. Since Kanye having outsold 50 Cent is widely viewed/percieved to be a fulcrum change in hip-hop that (to be INSANELY reductive) ultimately resulted with Drake and the culture shift Kendrick seems to be lamenting, this could definitely be another layer, especially when we know how careful Kendrick is about dates. This could be a total "Pepe Silvia" moment but Kendrick dropping on 9/11 also reminded me of how many other big dates in hip hop history have seemed to fall on September 11

[TheModernAlchemix]

The level of hate for Post Malone being verbalized by you on such a petty level is hilarious, warranted and appreciated 😂😂😂😂😂 This essay was brilliant, specifically the jihad portion. Thank you for so eloquently reflecting on this art form. It was about time we all let the party die ❤

[gilrosario]

I was born in Spanish Harlem and raised in the Bronx USA. This guy is tuned in.

[MissNevaeh]

oh maaaan! I had to take several deep breaths during this video. I’ve been waiting for it, but this was heavy! So so soooo accurate! I just read the nominations and winners for the VMAs and wow! The racism is so overt at this point! You’re right about Ye too! He’s been right for a long time.