Cyrus Langhorne
Music veteran Raphael Saadiq recently shed some thoughts on chart-topping rap star Kendrick Lamar and explained why the Top Dawg Entertainment stud is in the biz for the long haul.
When asked if shows like “Empire” would help boost R&B’s mainstream status, Saadiq quickly pointed out K. Dot’s contributions.
“I think every little bit helps. But I think Kendrick helps a lot more than everybody because he’s talking about things happening in our community now. It’s real, poetic; it’s introducing people to a neighborhood again of regular, actual people. His movement along with Adrian Younge, Bilal, Ali Shaheed … that generation with Kendrick’s generation and other people? That will have offspring. I feel like we just haven’t had anybody to jump off another offspring of music.” (Billboard)
Raphael also explained the significance of artists like K. Dot performing at music festivals.
“The cool thing is these kids are going to be at festivals. That’s what I like about it the most. I love groups like Guy and the Tonys, but usually groups like that get packaged with seven other groups on one ticket. I feel our music needs to go out and be at Bonnaroo, at festivals around the world. Kendrick is doing that, Adrian Younge is doing that. To me that’s the future.” (Billboard)
According to reports this week, there is a K. Dot remix to rap star Kanye West‘s hit song “All Day” circulating online.
You’re about to hear what happens when two of hip-hops biggest rappers unite. A snippet of a Kendrick Lamar remix of Kanye West’s ‘All Day,’ the song he stormed the 2015 BRIT Awards with, has surfaced online. It might only be six seconds long, but the teaser gives hope that the full remix, which sounds pretty big, will emerge soon. (Capital Xtra)
Kanye recently shouted out Kendrick and credited him for providing inspiration.
https://twitter.com/kanyewest/status/577635990107394048
Kendrick actually makes dope music. The soundtrack in Empire is garbage, Timbaland should be fired.