Kendrick's New Project Is Full Of Disses

Hopefully you are done freaking out over the new Kendrick Lamar album untitled unmastered. and are ready to have a rational discussion about how awesome it was. But before that happens, I must address some of the shade he threw on this album. it wouldn't be a Kendrick Lamar release without some cleverly placed disses at other stars, cultural phenomenons, and, well, the world. Lamar's lyrics are the epitome of wordsmithing at it's finest, and that means more than a few sly slights. He didn't go Kanye West level diss-mode, but, the disses are still very much a part of Lamar's new songs.

But before I get ahead of myself, I should clarify what I mean by "disses," because in Lamar's music, they are a lot more clever and nuanced than the average diss. Lamar's style is less of an in-your-face shade toss, then it is a genius remark or poignant reference to something or someone else without directly saying it. Like I said, he is a wordsmith in the truest sense of the word. In this new album, he leaves no stone unturned with his words of wisdom. If there was some kind of lyrical Grammy for simply being very cunning and forthright with your music, then Lamar would win it every single year.

1. "I can put a rapper on life support/ Guarantee that's something that none of you want"

I really love when rappers talk trash other rappers and say they are the G.O.A.T. I don't know why, but it never fails to amuse me. However, this may be the clearest case of someone being very right about their greatness.

2. "Evidence all around us the town is covered in fishes/ Ocean water dried out, fire burning more tires out/ Tabernacle and city capital turned inside out/ Public bathroom, college classroom's been deserted."

This is that time he threw shade at the state of our educational system, and basically our entire world. He's just telling it like it is.

3. "I lost a lot of love for missionary/ This the first time I confess/ Me and Top is like a Kobe and Phil"

Soooo I'm not going to go into too much detail on what this means, but I'm sure you can deduce what he's talking about. I just think it's hilarious that he had to pull Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson into it.

4. "(What the white man say?)/ A piece of mines/ That's what the white man wanted when I rhyme/ Telling me that he selling me just for $10.99/ If I go platinum from rapping, I do the company fine/ What if I compromise? He said it don't even matter"

I don't think I need to explain this one to you.

5. "They say the government mislead the youth"

Agree or disagree, this was a straight up diss.

6. "Might tell Obama be more like Punch"

I'm gonna be very honest, I'm not sure if this was a diss, but anytime you mention the president in a rap song it can't be all good.

7. "A rapper chasing stardom, how can I fast forward?/ My accolades better than all them."

Again, telling other rappers you are better than them just never gets old. I could listen to a whole album of Lamar just going on and on about why he's the best.

See, not only is Lamar funny, but he also gets straight to the point. I could listen to this album all day, and if I'm completely honest, I probably will.

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