Charlamagne Tha God says Kendrick Lamar “will never match up” to Tupac Shakur.
During an interview with Montreality, radio host Charlamagne Tha God was asked about the frequent comparisons between Kendrick Lamar and the late Tupac Shakur. The self-proclaimed “architect of aggravation” immediately shared his belief that the two artists aren’t on the same level.
He then criticized those who feel the need to compare the new guys in Hip Hop to “ghosts,” artists who have already solidified their status as legends in Hip Hop, whether dead or alive.
“No, they will never match up,” Charlamagne said while discussing Kendrick and Tupac. “And we need to stop doing that to the new guys. We have to stop putting them on the same level as ghosts. And what I mean by ghosts is guys like Tupac, guys like The Notorious B.I.G., guys like Jay Z, Dr. Dre. Those are legendary figures who have already done it. They’ve been through every door that any of these new guys could possibly even think of going through.
“You gotta think about all the different circumstances that surround somebody like Tupac Shakur,” he added. “Tupac Shakur is a mythical figure…In order to get to the level that Tupac is, Kendrick would have to go through similar situations or situations greater than that, in death…Kendrick should be working on being the first Kendrick.”
Prior to speaking on Kendrick, Tupac, and the ghosts of Hip Hop, Charlamagne was asked to name the artist he believes is the biggest rapper in the game right now. He referenced Kendrick, Drake, and J. Cole in response to the question, but was unable to name a rapper he felt is the most influential.
“I don’t know if there is one particular answer because you can say Drake, but then you can say Kendrick,” The Breakfast Club co-host said. “You could say Cole. Everybody’s got these different, cult-like followings. And their fan bases love them tremendously. Like I said, just when I think that somebody like Drake might be the most influential, then Kendrick comes and does something like what he did at the Grammys. Or drops the untitled unmastered album and gets everyone in a frenzy…I don’t think it’s one supreme individual who is the most influential in the game right now.”
Video of Charlamagne Tha God addressing comparisons between Kendrick Lamar and Tupac Shakur, can be found below.
For additional Kendrick Lamar coverage, watch the following DX Daily:
Let not forget about Nas now Charlamagne…
nas & pac are god fuck u haters
PAC was a Eal street ELT rapper. He did t for the Hood, used his life experiences to reach the ppl. If you hate on PAC then you must be from the protected community
You my friend need to lay off the drain-o…k thanks.
u ain’t nothing but a bitch nigga str8 up
No one listens to Coohie Man unless your ignorant and live in the south and sip lean otherwise no one gives a fuck about COOHIE MAN that dude sucks
I cosign not comparing because most of the new cats are already much more better than BIG or Jay-Z ever were. On the other hand 2Pac was a good MAINSTREAM mc who invented nothing, wasn’t revolutionary in any means, wasn’t a poet, and last but not least wasn’t a god, however – I repeate – he was a good entertainer and still can give me a feeling with his attitude. I think Kendrick is one of the most artistic rappers in hiphop history, and on a mainstream level he does everything that he can.
What a pussy you are. You were obviously born with these retards in the 90s
What a pussy you are. You were obviously born with these retards in the 90s
The only point he was right with is comparing artists to ghosts. Pac meant something to some, but face it, he died before he even had a chance to see his career come to its full potential. Memories don’t live like people do. In death, they big him up far beyond what’s realistic because he’s dead. Pac didn’t go through nearly as much as he CREATED, but that fact is often ignored to celebrate him. Kendrick is fighting an uphill battle that hip hop fans are missing: He’s trying to bring consciousness to a time that currently hugely celebrates the ratchet. His success is huge in more ways than one for hip hop and a people.
nigga u out ya mind thinkn Pac aint go thru shit .. bein set up at Quad studios, tha sexual assault allegations bs media.He had wrk out tha ass plus 4 movies. Tho his career wasnt in full fruition cuz he wuz only 25.
And Birdman is his OG!!!
And Birdman is his OG!!!
Birdman for president!!!
Next time u meet pac,biggy and Nas don’t forget wizzy and kendrick………..
True Charlamagne. Straight to the point nigga.
Fuck you bitch nigga I hope you get cancer mother fucker 2pac is the greatest of all time
Ain’t this little alien looking Nikkah like 23 years old? What the Fucx does he know about Pac and the Westside? Lil bitch! He is from Carolina or some shitzu. Why does anyone care about what this troll thinks. He obviously hasn’t caught enough beatings yet.
Tha nigga is 35 you Dumbass bitch
I hope you DIE! 2pac is the king of hiphop
kendrick and tupac are nothing alike.. i know kendricks this pro black guy now but back when 2pac was doing it it was different times.. real racism..not this oh the old white lady looked at me weird racism. kendricks just trying to immulate a style..hell prob never reach tupac level
“white lady looked at me racism?” Go to the hood and say that sh*t.
lol yeah let go schedule a day off from work so i can go to where bums are all day killing eachother and doing drugs lol ok good idea
lol yeah let go schedule a day off from work so i can go to where bums are all day killing eachother and doing drugs lol ok good idea
Y’all act like muthafuckas don’t use or sell drugs in prodominately in white neighborhoods newsflash they use and sell drugs in the suburban neighborhoods at the same rate as any urban ghetto in americanamerican. And not all blacks are killing each other in the hood…Stop it with stereotypical bullshit.
Y’all act like muthafuckas don’t use or sell drugs in prodominately in white neighborhoods newsflash they use and sell drugs in the suburban neighborhoods at the same rate as any urban ghetto in americanamerican. And not all blacks are killing each other in the hood…Stop it with stereotypical bullshit.
Does anyone else wish this guy would go jump ! Not sure how he still has a job might be the worst on air personality acting like his opinion matters! Can’t wait till Birdman and Young Thug catch him curtains for once ????
Is he tho? Fuck no
Then hes not tryting to rap either…so fuck you. kendrick overrated as fuck
fuck!!Charlamagne
I think people are trying to put the new people in lanes because they are lazy and don’t let the new artist be the new artist. It’s like Nas, when he came out everyone was saying he was the next Rakim. Well he surpassed Rakim. Drake himself has all but admitted he is trying to take Jay’s spot. Kendrick though is not in any of these boxes. He’s different, and he needs to be different and the fans need to allow him to be different. I’m an old head, and I think K Dot is something really special. J. Cole can try to be the southern Nas, when his career is over he’ll be a top 5 southern rapper of all time, up there with Scarface and 3 Stacks. But Kendrick is NOT the new 2Pac. To me the Game was the new Ice Cube, he was that dude. But I can’t place K Dot, and that’s a good thing. Just let me be.