Instigator / Pro
24
1417
rating
158
debates
32.59%
won
Topic
#2252

Kendrick Lamar is the best rap artist of the last decade

Status
Finished

The debate is finished. The distribution of the voting points and the winner are presented below.

Winner & statistics
Better arguments
0
18
Better sources
12
12
Better legibility
6
6
Better conduct
6
1

After 6 votes and with 13 points ahead, the winner is...

BearMan
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Parameters
Publication date
Last updated date
Type
Standard
Number of rounds
3
Time for argument
Two days
Max argument characters
10,000
Voting period
Two weeks
Point system
Multiple criterions
Voting system
Open
Contender / Con
37
1615
rating
16
debates
93.75%
won
Description

because "best" can be subjective, let's say we count influence/success, quality of songs (flow, message, rhythm, rhymes), critical reception, so on and so forth.

rap: musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular", which is performed or chanted in a variety of ways, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment

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@Crocodile

Yeah, I know he raps well. But it's not that interesting. No one will be talking about MTBMB it in a year. GKMC, on the other hand, was released in 2013 and it is still a very talked about album. It's because there's more to rap than just being able to spit bars.

"Far greater" no. Kendrick's last three full length albums have always been hailed as the greatest albums of their respective year, for good reason. Kanye's not as consistient, but he has plenty of great projects.

Drake not a chance. I am fairly confident that there is not a single "great" Drake album. Maybe some hot singles. Bu Drake projects as a whole are very middling.

drake as well.

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@Username

have you heard music to be murdered by?

godzilla is literally solid evidence that eminem is still a god.

plus kanye has a far greater legacy than kendrick.

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@Username

To each their own, I guess

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@MisterChris

But kendrick wins discography, depth, variety, versatility...

Eminem is an extremely impressive rapper, don't get me wrong; MMLP is one of my favorite albums. But ever since The Eminem Show, Em's lyrical talents have never been put to use in any very significant way. Most modern Eminem music is just him rapping well, which is fine because that's what a lot of rappers do and he does it better than most of them, but I'd honestly rather listen to Playboi Carti than Eminem in this day and age because his music is just more entertaining and he hasn't been doing more of the same for the past 20 years.

Kendrick is good for a different reason then Eminem. Unlike the short "pop" you get after Eminem says something clever, Kendrick's music makes you think far past the length of an Em verse. Take this early Kendrick song (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2n5r6N7grNA) for example. Even when he's just rambling, his incredible sense of confidence, understanding, and depth is put on full display.

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@Username

If we're talking about sheer contribution to hip hop? Eminem easily wins dude.

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@MisterChris
@seldiora
@Crocodile
@Intelligence_06

I have to question how anyone could come to the conclusion that Eminem is a better rap artist than Kendrick this decade.

I also have to question how people could think that Juice WRLD or J. Cole are even close.

To be clear, Kendrick Lamar is basically a "living legend". When he dies we'll remember him much like we did Big and Pac. Putting Kendrick Lamar on a list with any new school rapper is just silly until one of them makes the accomplishments neccesary to do so.

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@Crocodile

I listened to both and I like eminem's music better, but it feels less consistent message wise (Eminem's album have not been such a massive influence as Pimp Butterfly)

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@seldiora

Ok first off Eminem.
Next, Kanye.
Upcoming artist Juice WRLD passed away, but he was a far better rapper in terms of free style. :(
J. Cole he has superb lyrical ability.

then again, I don't see how you can defend kendrick when the first two are far better in literally everything.

Eminem had rap god godzilla venom and other hits in the past decade. godzilla was released less than a year ago and it was straight fire.

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@MisterChris

im just basing off of the songs and the success they had in the last decade; it seems lamar's impact is greater than eminem. Though overall yeah I feel m&m has better impact

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@Intelligence_06

He is my pick too. FAR better than Kendrick. The absolute GOAT. Problem is, I'm not sure if Seldiora is trying to cut off who we can debate with by when they began their careers or not.

What about eminem? I just think so but I know too little rap to be confident at winning this.

You should make it "since 2000." Lamar started at about 2004