After a third consecutive highly regarded studio album and a host of accolades, many — including Vince Staples, 2 Chainz, and members of our squad — feel like Kendrick Lamar is the best rapper alive. But is he the greatest rapper of all-time?
He believes so. During an interview with LA-based Big Boy TV, co-host Ayydé asked him whether he considered himself the lofty “G.O.A.T.” Big Boy — a hip-hop media personality of 20+ years, likely spoke for traditionalists when he quickly interjected “not at all,” but Kendrick humbly said “I got to,” and noted “what’s the point of doing it if you don’t want to be the best?”
In an era of “I’m not a rapper” rappers, content with enjoying the trappings of stardom, it’s refreshing to see Kendrick admit he views himself as the best to ever do it — and he certainly has more claim to the title than anyone who’s debuted since 2008 or so.
It may seem like a premature discussion because Kendrick is regarded as an artist with so much more to offer, but he’s been in the game for seven years — consider just how few artists mentioned in G.O.A.T. discussions have had a seven year run like Duckworth. This isn’t to say that he is the G.O.A.T. (at all), but with each dope album he releases in succession from this point, it becomes more of a credible talking point for his diehards.
