Reincarnated is so amazingly weird and high concept. Thinking that a song that ends with a dialogue between god and the devil is actually just a Drake dis is deranged lol
I’ve always felt like the entire song is written from the devil’s perspective and is talking about his various reincarnations as famous artists, the most recent one being Kendrick.
The point is Kendrick had his entire career to want to make a song like this but conveniently rolls one out right after a moment where drake infamously disrespects tupac and the west in an effort to get at Kendrick. It's very hard to listen reincarnated and think it's all just a coincidence, even though this doesn't necessarily mean that every single idea in the song specifically has drake in mind or anything like that.
@@Yourveryowncarrot … and he HAS touched on it before. The entire framing device of TPAB is him considering how he should carry forward the legacy of Tupac, Damn speaks to being punished and needing to atone, and he begins past-life discussion on Mr Morale. This is exactly the moment in that progression where he would come full circle on those themes, regardless of any outside context.
Reincarnated pays off on themes from father time, samidot and tpab. It's probably the most isolated song from the beef on the album.@@Yourveryowncarrot
@TheRonnieaj my interpretation of lucifer and the fall of man is that humanity as one is literally the fallen one so he is speaking as everyone who has ever lived and the collective myth we live rejected from heaven for thinking we can do better than God
Yep, in my opinion they practically ruined indie rock 25 years ago with this same BS (back when a Pitchfork review could single-handedly make or break a band). I always get the sense that the writers are grappling with whether liking something makes them cool or not, much more than they are grappling with the music itself.
Alphonse is notorious for being an insufferable contrarian. This is par for the course for him, and my only grievance is that anyone at Pitchfork let him within 100 miles of this review. If anybody else reviewed it and gave it a 6.6, don’t care. I’m sure there opinions are thoughtful and genuine. Pierre seems to take all of his linguistic pleasure in saying what’s going to piss people off the most.
Yeah he seems insufferable honestly. I’ve read multiple reviews from him that made me cringe. Idc if you hated the album or not, but the writing gives me the ick
to be honest I think most of the time his criticism would be fine if he didn't have to constantly insert how much he *really doesn't care about this at all* in every negative review.
I generally don't dislike his writing and I must say I love hearing critiques of albums I myself like but Alphonse has probably missed with every review I've read from him
he is, absolutely, and Mike getting the 'Armand White' feeling is spot on. but just FYI, the reviewer doesn't rate the albums at p4k.. i won't go into it, mainly bc I've no idea exactly how they do it now that it's on its 10th corporate iteration, but for a long, long time now the critic hasn't determined the rating. i know ppl who've written for them (before and) after Conde, and there were plenty machinations in the early days after the move, so i can't imagine what kinda corporate politics derive those scores now
Alphonse Pierre has been hating on both sides of the beef all year. He did not think Euphoria was a good song. He is committed to his hating enough to be worth hearing out, but he has been hating on Kendrick all year to be sure.
Really confused about the Reincarnated take. How is it paranoid? He barely talks about other people in that song, he is very much confronting himself. The whole song is him questioning his own feelings, worrying about his own legacy and if he will end tragically just like all the people he admires. If he's paranoid it's about himself and his motives. Kendrick says "I'm trying to make peace in LA" and God responds "but you love war...How can they forgive when there's no forgiveness in your heart?" Like, he is very clearly questioning this victory and if he is doing this for his community or for his own legend. I don't understand how this critic's main point can be that he's worried Kendrick is going corporate or being a hypocrite while also not catching the very unsubtle message of the song he deems "unlistenable". There's a difference between unlistenable and just straight up not listening.
Facts. Also a great interpretation of the song. Reincarnated has some of the best writing Kendrick has ever put on a song period. It’s extremely deep and I have heard so many different, yet valid takes on the song. So much meat to chew on a conversations to be had about this one song in particular. I think it really shows how whoever this guy was that wrote the review, he was the wrong guy from the get go. He don’t get it
I'm glad that you mentioned Armond White because that's exactly who I was thinking about when this review came up. If you don't know (or too young to remember), Armond White was a film critic who gained notoriety for (at the time I think) keeping Toy Story 3 from getting a 100% rotten tomato with a incredibly critical review. From there, the man kept doing this thing where he'd basically just shit on every popular film with the most ludicrous reviews, often going on insane tangents and bringing up movies that have nothing to do with the film being reviewed. White took a lot of pleasure taking down films, and I think now he writes for the National Review where he's gone full on alt-right. I don't think a reviewer should agree with everyone, and I think there is something to learn about a review that isn't just repeating what everyone is saying. But I think there's also instances where the critic seems to delight in being a contrarian so much that it gets in the way of an honest review.
What makes White shitting on Toy Story 3 so funny is that he was comparing it to Metropolitan by Whit Stillman and getting so many facts about that movie wrong.
Look I'm definitely in the camp of thinking critics are needed part of any artform. Contextualizing each release within the cultural climate while also being historians for art. Finding an eloquent persuasive critic that can point you in the direction of music to check out (even if you don't agree with them) is invaluable. Sometimes it could be gatekeeping, but gatekeeping isn't necessarily a negative thing. That said I don't know how Pitchfork keep getting the wrong people to review certain albums. It doesn't have to be all glowing reviews from fans, but there's definitely a wrong person for the job when it comes to certain projects.
They review so many albums completely fairly and in line with popular sentiment, people just freakout at the handful of times when they don't, which sucks because what would be the point of a review website looking for people who intentionally just agree with what everyone thinks always. This GNX review gave me way more to think about than if they found someone who just told me "yeah the beats go hard and kendrick raps good, the end. 10/10" there's zero value in that and you can already find that everywhere.
@@Yourveryowncarrot It'd be fine if he cared about the album as much as the context; and that'd be fine if he correctly connected the context to the album (which he didn't) or if he even got the basic facts of the context right (which he didn't)
Agreed, I think my issue is actually with this Alphose that did the review. It is valid to like what you like. But he seems to not care about lyrics, which makes him instantly wrong for rap for me. I just skimmed a few of his reviews, and he it seems like he cares mainly about the beats. If it doesn't turn up he isn't interested. So it makes sense that Sexxy Red has glowing reviews and an 8, and he hated Euphoria. It makes sense, and it also means that I instantly don't care about his opinion. If you hate listening to lyrics and interpreting them you should not be a rap reviewer. You are a "pop with hard beats" reviewer, and that is fine, but take up space somewhere else.
@@hakka3he’s openly admitted to never effing with Kendrick in the past. I don’t disagree with your statement in a vacuum but Pierre is a card-carrying Kendrick hater, he doesn’t hide that fact in his work/activity online.
@@socalledbutton the problem is he is too predictable then, before i saw the score and the review i heard he wrote it and knew he would dislike it, he hated on every diss track during the beef
@@hakka3I agree. But if you read the actual review he just plain doesn’t do a good job at explaining what it is doesn’t like about the music itself. He keeps talking about anything, everything but the actual music.
You're unintentionally implying that art only deserves to be reviewed in the exact same way as household appliances or random crap, music is really meaningful to people. It's weird that someone would be confused why a writer would want to put their heart and soul into the criticism of music instead of just treating it like a yelp complaint or something.
@@Yourveryowncarrotpeople passion are different, some people passionate about their music some people others things. You just mold all the people have the same passion to music. Some people have passion for vacum too. Me for instance, I love my music but I love my fishing rod even more.
@@Yourveryowncarrot You're missing the critique here -- it's not that they're being artful in their review, it's that they're bringing up points that are entirely irrelevant, hardly touching on the real subject matter at all, in the name of being "artful" with it
I wanted to comment on your point about Kendrick contradicting himself. I think that’s one of the central themes of his music across albums. On Mr. Morale, he raps, “They like it when I’m pro-Black, but I’m more Kodak Black,” acknowledging the tension between societal expectations and his personal identity. On To Pimp a Butterfly, he reflects on the “evils of [the devil]” surrounding him, while on Reincarnated, he admits to being consumed by temptation and creating the “devil’s music.” These contradictions highlight the inner conflict he feels-the pull to be “a bad person” and the daily struggle to heal, much like an addict in recovery, facing each moment as it comes.
When people come wit the "contradiction" critique, it's always a DEAD GIVEAWAY that they don't actually listen to (or comprehend) Kendrick's music!!! But let me chill because they love to call you pretentious & arrogant if you bring up the comprehension point... LoL
This!! "Your horoscope is a Gemini, two sides"... so much duality in everything he does. good kid/m.A.A.d city, butterfly/caterpillar, DAMN./reversed DAMN, Mr. Morale/Big Steppers. He's always arguing with himself lol
@@Alx1116 i think the writer Paul Thompson was coming from a genuine place and would laugh @ you the original author of the 7.5 review hasn’t written for pitchfork in almost 20 years and wasn’t a score far off from most other critics at the time even tho i very much disagree with it
I gotta say, I LOOOVE Mr. Morale. A lot. That album came out at a time where I had just begun therapy and ut seriously put my own feelings against a mirror. Ahit was a revelation at times, and really helped me solidify my goals and enjoy the process more. Plus it just sounds really good to me. This album, GNX, is a well earned victory lap, but also a stop-gap for his discography. He can't JUST make therapy music or diss tracks forever.
agree with it feeling like a stop gap. plus heart singles usually drop before a big project. i wonder if there is another project on the way since a heart track dropped on this project that feels a bit less considered and polished than his others
never truly understood why so many people put that album at the bottom of their list. i’m from the meet ppl where they are camp. that being said, i listened to that album (as i do with many other albums) not necessarily looking for answers, but to hear perspectives and insights from the artist. i give Dot a lot of credit/respect for making a pretty dense album that attempted to tackle some pretty interesting/ heavy topics… as the great Phonte of LB said “why they won’t let the music be what it is, is anybody’s guess” …
@@ChrisLewisjusChris exactly. Don't isn't meant to give anyone any answers (he is not your savior), he is just looking for his own. Like he said on Section.80: "See I spent 23 years on this earth looking for answers Until I realized I had to come up with my own I'm not on the outside looking in I'm not on the inside looking out I'm in the dead fucking center looking around [...] I'm not the next pop star I'm not the next socially aware rapper I'm a human motherfucking being Over this DOPE ASS instrumentation KENDRICK LAMAR!" - Ab-Souls Outro
From what I've read by Alphonse Pierre he's into hyper-local/hyper-regional artists who fit much more into the post-Soulja Boy, post-Young Thug, post-Lil Uzi Vert hip hop landscape, and he often portrays the rappers he likes as unique and exciting but when I actually listen to them they all sound very throwaway and similar with only very minor differences between them (that could just be me, though). He's also always seemed pretty down on Kendrick, so I'm guessing Pitchfork published his review just for the clout.
I feel like what you mention here is incredibly common in music critiques, too, though. Whenever I try to have a conversation about almost any album, there is this weird preoccupation with trying to view the context of the artists' life in a way that, to me goes well beyond the purview of the album itself. Especially as someone who isn't really locked in to the scene or the lives of these creators, it's really disconcerting to try to have a conversation about a song or album and have the entire conversation pivot to some interview that I've never seen or to some weird belief that is being held about the artists' personal life. I feel like the parasocial aspect of music consumption and critique is kinda eating itself. People are getting so keyed-in on things that they believe about how the artist should or shouldn't act in their life that it is beginning to take away from art critique, rather than enhancing it.
I kinda agree but also Hip-Hop is about truth. If you rap about something it has to be true to be impactful or at least you need to believe it. If Kanye made a song about how humble he is it would be bad because we know who kanye is. The discussion around the person's life should be connected to the themes of the art being discussed.
Alphonse Pierre has changed the landscape of Pitchfork. He has his own column on the website and always has very hot takes with very outlandish reasoning. Sometimes he knocks it out the park by putting readers onto some pretty obscure and awesome rap music that doesn’t get the exposure it deserves and sometimes he seems to be extremely contrarian - which I think is perfect for Pitchfork. Pitchfork doesn’t mind being bold af in their reviews and scores and honestly Pierre fits the bill, even if it means unpopular takes. The issue is his musical perspective seems limited and from a place of contrarianism even if not intended lol People have complained about him all the time and I think Pitchfork loves the engagement so we’re stuck with these reviews
Is not that the contrarianism isn't intended, it's just cynical. He doesn't have to be like that and is, for no reason. The typical "underground" rap fan is out of touch with reality of the genre a lot of times, i know because not only i am one, but i talk to them too much. Obscure, experimental and boundary pushing hip hop IS good, but doesn't mean that bread and butter is bad. Hip hop at large is still the Hood's music, is still the gangsta rapper image etc. and no amount of praise to Kanye weirdo antics or Playboi carti refusing to RAP as a rapper will ever change that. The crowd wanted a more relatable Kendricks, bops to play in the car and in the club, HE GAVE THEM THAT. For people like Alphonse, Kendrick is only relevant when he portrays anti stereotypical version of himself on songs.
@@Felipe-kh6cgI feel like this album should be right up his alley. Maybe it’s just pure distilled contrarianism to the point that he’s willingly going against his own tastes but this album has a lot of experimental production (for the rap world), genre fusions, great and unique flows, and goes against much of the typical Kendrick grain. So I was kinda taken aback by the score since it seems like something he, and pitchfork in general, would love. I mean they gave DAMN a 9.2 lol which kinda makes me think this is just typical pitchfork being contrarian for engagements sake.
i wasn’t expecting the album to get more than a 7.5 from pitchfork, but the aura around the review was just so sinister and, as you said, haterish. as a daily pitchfork reader and self-admitted kendrick stan it was hard to get through.
Also i think Kendrick has been very verbal of stop making me your savior or hero while at the same time he’s a hip hop purist and doesn’t want the craft to get treated just like anything on the shelf. Personally, i wouldn’t be shocked given where he’s from and the time period he grew up in L.A if he’s still dealing with his own contradictions
I read a lot of that Squabble Up video as a shot at consumerism, a theme reappears throughout the video is of everyday household decorations and how most of those things have a price tag, you're purchasing "your culture" and then define yourself by what you purchase and then you fight "for your culture" but it's all standard mass produced, migh5 as well come with the price of a household.
@@BourgeoisBoys so underrated! everything you’d want from an album! Lazy production, lazy vocals, a terrible attempt to rap (but not really bc it’s about the vibes man😎🤙) no effort to change artist material, no cohesiveness, no story to tell, and just straight out fckin boring! Motel 6 has some really good art for you in their waiting room🔥
@@BourgeoisBoystake it from someone who primarily listens to electronic music, everything on honestly nevermind sounds like tracks you'd find on page 15 of beatport's house charts. the kinda tracks you'd hear in a live set but would never id because they're so bland. literally the only reason people cared about it was because it had drake's name on it. imo this underrated/overrated dichotomy doesn't work with honestly nevermind, the album just sucks. it could only ever be underrated by people who know next to nothing about house music.
@@Ccherrumbi Lol Get the broom out your a** bro. YES! Some of us are also here for VIBES 😎 and that whole album is hella hella VIBEY! Give it another spin when you not so uptight, you might be lucky enough to catch the "VIBES" too.
Tried getting acquainted with Alphonse Pierre by reading some of his other reviews, just to see what he tends to like and not like, which I think is the best way to understand a critic and use them as a 'consumer guide'. He has some interesting records he likes, 3rd Shift by J.U.S. that I hadn't heard of before, which is a rowdy, strangely experimental record and some others... But then I read his review of Euphoria with Kendrick and the headline read "It’s hard to live up to Pusha T’s “The Story of Adidon,” especially over some of the worst beat switch-ups you’ll hear all year." and I was like, a'ight i'm out.
6.6........ interesting choice pitchfork. God is love. Stay strong out there.(this album is waaaaaay deeper than it appears on the surface, as was the beef and everything else going on rn)
I'm so glad someone else is talking about this writer. It seems like he's become one of pitchforks go to hip hop writers, and i think you hit the nail on the head with the Armand White comparison. Using the word "unlistenable" to describe reincarnated is wild considering some of the stuff he's praised in the past.
I completely agree, though I make like the album more than yourself that article was a reach and very petty imo. The fact it took him so long to discuss the substance of the record and than once he did that critiques were so off base was very telling. Calling my favorite song unlistenable! P.S. it's not Drake-E-O the Ruler 😂 P S.S. I'm a huge fan of your art!
One thing that has always drawn me to Kendrick's music (beyond just the fact that his music makes me feel something, which in my opinion the best art should always do) and one reason he's one of my all time favorite artists, is that much of his music has a musical and lyrical density that I appreciate. That said, it's also a valid critique to make that one shouldn't necessarily have to strain themselves in order to enjoy the music. Music that is more straightforward and accessible can be just as artistically valid. For example, Miles Davis' Bitches Brew is a far more musically dense album than say Kind of Blue. I wouldn't fault anyone for preferring the latter, but also can understand someone finding enjoyment in the complexities and unpacking/discovering something new with each listen of the former. Or for a movie reference, something like Memento or Vanilla Sky vs Predator or Die Hard. Some may not find much enjoyment in a film that requires multiple watches to understand, instead preferring a more straightforward film. However one enjoys their art, I won't judge. I tend to find enjoyment in both approaches. As for Mr. Morale, the fact that Kendrick doesn't cross every T and dot every I in his execution of his personal trauma/thoughts/themes throughout the album actually gives the album a much needed humanity that can be missing in a lot mainstream music. He never assumes to have all of the answers to his own issues (let alone that of world), hence why he seems to go out of his way to shed his savior complex (though not completely). The messiness is what actually connects me to Mr. Morale given my own personal issues (he also seems committed to a certain set of principles he wishes to uphold and stand on, even if he falls short through contradiction/hypocrisy, again making his art very human and relatable for me). To the extent that GNX is a polarizing project, it seems one group is critiquing the fact that the album lacks the lyrical and musical density of past albums like To Pimp A Butterfly and Mr. Morale and others seem relieved that GNX is not as heavy as those other projects. I must say that given how heavy Mr. Morale and TPAB was (and even Damn lyrically), I'm perfectly okay with this album being a West Coast slapper album (his pen game is still elite throughout, especially on Reincarnated and Gloria). I thoroughly enjoyed the album. I don't doubt that down the line he'll give us an album that's more aligned with his typical artistic palette.
“Hatin-ass beef” like why is the writing so limp wtf. The whole thing lmao. He’s just salty before he even sat down to start it thank you for making it tolerable.
the "work vs enjoyment" point you raised early in the video is super interesting, especially because (to me) this feels like the most enjoyable Kendrick album, maybe ever? i've listened to it every day since it dropped & haven't grown bored of it yet
That's a much fairer critique of the review than the writer gave the album. That was more of a frustrated Kendrick takedown than an album dissection. I enjoyed GNX, listened to it with a grin the whole time. But, I could list valid criticisms the review didn't touch on. Like, it felt a bit rushed and unfocused whereas his albums can often feel the opposite. His references to his influence weren't very nuanced either. I ate it up though. I felt the deep reverence for West Coast hip-hop. It's an imperfect love letter.
I can understand not liking the sound of reincarnated. I think it's a cool ass song concept though. Plus i don't think the earlier verses are musical influences, I dead ass think Kendrick believes he was those artists and that he's reincarnated on this earth for over 100 years. "Last year did past life regression that really fcked me up" leads me to believe that. I've done past life regression before and it's insane haha.
Just got done reading it. As a Dot fan I tried not to be bias, but he didn’t really do a good job explaining what he didn’t like about the album. I mean I get he might have thought Kendrick should’ve gotten other producers. But that doesn’t tell me what he thinks about the work of the producers Kendrick had. He was way off base on his thought on “reincarnated”. And the critique that the main reason he made an album with a west coast feel, is all about Drake? Idk it just was weird. I get not liking the album, but his explanations didn’t give me much🤷🏿♂️
White writer? No offense but why do they always assume black people are mad when we say something? Did Kendrick say he was mad at Wayne or snoop? Or did Kendrick just spit facts? And you’re spot on about Mr morale feeling like a (film more than a statement)(edit), there are some atmospheric sequencing that is more abstract and less linear- therein making statements that are more artistic in merit and less didactic- nevertheless, spending time and giving awareness to experiences of marginalized populations is revolutionary in itself
It sounded like that writer was trying to put himself and his opinions over as much as (if not more than) reviewing that album. If I were editorial, I woulda send that shit back but I guess they thought they could get more clicks out of this half cooked "the politics of being Kendrick Lamar" than actually reviewing the album.
bruh it's not that hard to understand Kendrick's has all of them in himself the good, the bad, the ugly but what makes Kendrick different is that he says everything in his songs the good side of him and the bad side of him.
What I learned is critics don't like the West Coast And I'm fine with it, I'll push the line with it Kendrick really does have lyrics for everything. GNX is a West Coast album through and through.
So my problem with this isn't the criticism, although some of it definitely seems unnecessary, it's that this isn't an opinion piece. If you will. Will. This is an album review. You don't really need to put anything into context or recap the entire situation with Drake, or give personal feelings on the artists in question. You just need to tell people whether or not the album is good or not Bryson till one point you straight up said there were five paragraphs in and hadn't read anything about the actual album and, real talk, if I were in editorial I would probably have made them rewrite it to get to the point significantly faster.
I think musicology and cultural context are important, but some critics seem to they're all music is. Maybe it's just me, but I'm more interested in the sound, then lyrics, THEN necessary contexts and influences, etc. This dude goes on for a paragraph about Kendrick's business then gives one sentence like "punched up by a Luther vandross sample," for one of the songs. Sample of what song? The reader has no clue if it's never too much or link in his chain! Is it the drums, Luther's voice, a fucking backup singer? He mentions the sample melting into orchestral flourishes I guess. 1-2 sentences and that's it for that song. What's the point in writing about music if the music is tertiary to its context? Constant mentions of other artists, the writer's perception (which seems totally made up half the time) of Kendrick's attitudes, other songs, the Drake beef... It's like music writing for people who don't give a shit about the music itself but just want to be involved in popular culture on some level. Sorry this comment drones on if anybody made it this far lol.
"Theres an aspect of a kendrick album that feels a little bit like work than enjoyment." To hear something like that from Open Mike Eagle is absolutely HILARIOUS. Kendrick isnt even that wordy. Lololol
Good video, agree with a lot of the points. Don't think Alphonse Pierre is too similar to Armond White, though. He's mostly enthusiastic about regional rap and positively covers small artists that don't get attention anywhere else so it makes sense that he'd be underwhelmed by the established rappers making stuff for more general audiences. Highly recommend checking out his writing for The Ones or his weekly column to get a better idea of what he's about, it's not all just hating
Syndicated magazines commenting on culture is always a seedy fracturing of sincere reviews. Pitchfork, Rollingstone, IMDB etc. At some point, the corporate unterest takes over how the people are truly experiencing art & culture. There is a massive disconnect. As an artist, better not get reviewed by shndicated groups or organisations where corporate interest leverages bias. #scarecrowzw
6.6 isn't quite as dramatic, but this reminds me of their 0.0 Sonic Youth review that was pretty much just an essay about how much the writer hates New York.
Thank you so much for your commentary on the beef. As an Indie artist, it's refreshing as your can be more impartial. One of the side items regarding the editorial control of the review and the score; I think if this reviewer has been known to be critical, then putting him on the album is a move in and of itself. I.E. we know this dude trashes everything, we don't need to do anything other then feed the record to him. As to my take, it's not a bad record. A little mid, and definitely not challenging to Kendrick or the listener, but fun. I think we have a higher bar collectively for Kendrick beyond fun (which may be unfair) but there are some fun songs on it.
Kendrick takes lots of listens. I'm just now thinking Mr Morale is much closer to the quality of his older albums. He doesn't fit the the constant content model we're all stuck in.
Pitchfork is back on their bullshit. I remember about 20 years ago pitchfork did a review, I can't remember the artist but they gave the album a scathing score and then wrote the review from the POV of a fan of that artist blasting them for giving that score. Instantly, that told me everything I needed to know about Pitchfork. I couldn't take them seriously; they weren't in it out of s genuine passion for music, they wanted to be some self-appointed cultural vanguard. Funny how shit changes. This is the first I've heard of a pitchfork review in years, no one will remember what they scored this album but everyone will remember Anthony Fantano gave it a 9. 🤷
This makes my blood boil more than Drake's insane lawsuits tbh lol They hired a Certified Kendrick Hater to review the album, he prob listened to it ONCE, purposely misinterpreted the album then wrote a review...to be cheeky?? TERRIBLE journalism to allow someone so biased to cover a topic. The album gets better with every listen. It hasn't even been a full week! Damn!!!
I’ve never been able to make it through one of Alphonse’s Kendrick reviews I’m biased as a Kendrick fan but he’s honestly so Venemous towards Kendrick for no reason. Which is wild to me because he has so much empathy and open minded ness towards other artists that are written off whole sale.
Yeah, this one was good but I think a 7 - 7.5 is fair. Kendrick will always be dope but you can't stay on top and have every album be 8.5+ forever. The Tupac Debbie Deb and SWV homages were cool, but yeah, just don't know how often I'll be coming back to those tracks. For an old head like myself who is completely washed to what the kids find dope these days, Kendrick is like one of the only younger artists that I got into while being old. And he ain't even that young anymore!!
I agree wholeheartedly with your take on Mr Morale. It's felt like one sided therapy session where Kendrick analyzes himself, his shortcomings, his family, love, masculinity, trauma, generational trauma, generational bigotry, religion, his love for his transgender family members and how hateful behavior can be normalized (beautiful song, felt kind of out of place on the album but wtv especially in these insane times it was one of the most necessary songs on the album imo,) his struggle with his savior complex and basically any other topic relative to him that people (particularly black men) can learn from. To me it felt very unfocused because I think Kendrick tried to bite off way more than he could chew in one album. I love the themes and messages, his reflections on himself and the people in his life made me think about myself from a different angle and when (being white) the subject matter didn't exactly apply to me I feel like it gave me a window into issues I didn't previously have context for, helping me empathize better. There are core themes but it still felt like he could have been more focused and stuck to a more cohesive narrative without losing the meaning he was going for. He touched on topics that could have entire albums dedicated to them, it's hard to get the full picture on just one song.
you can be a hater, whatever, but when it is so obviously like that, why is he the one they choose to review the album? they have a whole staff of writers and they give the review to this guy? knowing that he will fail to engage with the work when it is literally his job and fail at providing the service they are theoretically claiming to offer? when rolling stone lost the plot as a music review service, it felt (to me at least) like it was because they were old and confused and the music world passed them by. eventually they righted the ship somewhat but they had lost their throne and become bloated and outdated in their construction. with pitchfork, the drop-off seems more malicious. it's as though it's been gutted and things are more done for maximizing clicks as part of a for-profit machine. this guy was purposefully selected to create controversy because they knew exactly what he would write. they aren't reviewing music, they are making clickbait now it seems.
Stuff like this is why I don't care about Pitchfork, even if they do put on some good artists from time to time. Calling it now, they will retroactively change the score of this album to a higher rating down the line.
theres a very simple explanation for Kendrick collaborating with whatever musician with a negative public image. though we dont know the details kendrick actually constantly alludes to himself being a bad person; we just dont know his story. so for him from his perspective to apply some kind of double standard onto other musicians would be, well, unfair. so he just works with whomever, trying to find good in people or whatever the question then arises, why is he doing all this public moralizing towards drake? that explanation is ever simpler -- they're in a rap beef and anything goes! they couldve kept it rap and drake decided to play with the family. as if that ever worked out for him.. at the end of the day, anyone disliking the fact that kendrick might or might not be a POS is free to not listen to him and not take that gamble. because doing otherwise would be .. also its very apparent not enough people heard his unreleased song Prayer where he pretty much acknowledges any possible 'but kodak black but dr dre' criticism
Hadn't actually read the contents of this article, i think your take on it is spot on. I personally didnt really like GNX (it was okay), My main issues stem from finding his voice sounds really odd (on everything recently). But if other people are liking it - all good.
What Mike said for Kendrick is how I feel about him and Lupe. I can’t tell if I make myself like them because I listen so much, but I do end up liking them but don’t go back to them unless I’m on a road trip and it crosses my mind. That said. I mostly go back to a batch of probably 20 albums so maybe I’m not the measuring stick. Brick Body Kids was my sh*t though.
I also think it's weird to allow five paragraphs of set up and only six paragraphs about the music. I'm fine with all the set up, but maybe the music could've gotten ten paragraphs so the points could be explained better? I don't know. Short form music writing has always been hit and miss for me.
I like the attitude here when approaching this “review of a review” concept. Great video. Nonetheless, I don’t agree with certain statements about what a reviewer should do with his review or not. Specially in 2024 when you can find thousands of reviews with the press of a button. I actually dig quite a bit when reviewers get away form the basic “track to track” mentality. Sometimes the context that an album offers is more interesting that the actual run of the mill musical review.
I would give the GNX album a 7.6, as of today, but there are at least two tracks that are perfect 10s to me. Comparatively, Good Kid MAAD City and To Pimp a Butterfly were both like 9.8 at time of release, so fresh and so hot by comparison, as full albums.
pitchfork consistently gives mid scores to great hip hop albums . When it comes to reviews I’m not saying they are all completely meaningless but music, movies and art in general is so subjective that I don’t put that much stock in any individuals opinion but sometimes the consensus opinion can mean something..
Oh wow, I haven't heard Armond White mentioned in a long time til now, but he used to be the only film critic that I sought out the reviews of, just cuz he was always guaranteed to have a wildly different take than any consensus formed elsewheres. Plus he had that kid nda acerbic wit when he felt strongly about things.
I didn't love this record but I mostly enjoyed it for the most part, although I don't find myself having a strong enough desire to return to it after my first couple attempts to get through it on its entirety. But in my limited interaction with it, and without diving off the deep end into the lyrics, it didn't feel like a victory lap to the beef more so than the next phase in Kendrick's career with two or three jabs just to make sure Drake's corpse is on fact still dead.
Great video. I personally do not buy into or believe this idea that Kendrick is coming at Drake for how he moves with women. I do think he took that angle, but moreso because the shoe fit. Generally do agree tho about niggas taking accountability 💯
Yeah, Kendrick hates Drake bc of their opposing views of hip-hop culture and values. Drake still seems to think it was about record streams and popularity. Drake's misogyny was just an obvious personality defect to go after. Like you said, it wasn't the root of Kendrick's disdain and contempt.
"it's just thoughts everything is criss crossed, gotta be cool with complex and pitchfork if I want to get my shit off" -Joe budden asking eminem why tabloid media is even in the conversation
I dont read a ton of pitchfork, but i saw that Alphonse wrote a really negative track review of Euphoria. So when I saw his name on the GNX review i just knew it was going to be negative.
The reason he feels this way is because he doesn’t think Kendrick seriously meant what he said, and doesn’t believe that his actual purpose in all of this is to destroy Drake and his form of influence upon culture.
Thanks for the shout brother 🙏🏿
Justin’s here!
Heyoooooo. I miss your reviews on DX:(
Reincarnated is so amazingly weird and high concept. Thinking that a song that ends with a dialogue between god and the devil is actually just a Drake dis is deranged lol
I’ve always felt like the entire song is written from the devil’s perspective and is talking about his various reincarnations as famous artists, the most recent one being Kendrick.
The point is Kendrick had his entire career to want to make a song like this but conveniently rolls one out right after a moment where drake infamously disrespects tupac and the west in an effort to get at Kendrick. It's very hard to listen reincarnated and think it's all just a coincidence, even though this doesn't necessarily mean that every single idea in the song specifically has drake in mind or anything like that.
@@Yourveryowncarrot … and he HAS touched on it before. The entire framing device of TPAB is him considering how he should carry forward the legacy of Tupac, Damn speaks to being punished and needing to atone, and he begins past-life discussion on Mr Morale.
This is exactly the moment in that progression where he would come full circle on those themes, regardless of any outside context.
Reincarnated pays off on themes from father time, samidot and tpab. It's probably the most isolated song from the beef on the album.@@Yourveryowncarrot
@TheRonnieaj my interpretation of lucifer and the fall of man is that humanity as one is literally the fallen one so he is speaking as everyone who has ever lived and the collective myth we live rejected from heaven for thinking we can do better than God
"Oh, you worried 'bout a critic? That ain't protocol"
Kendrick Lamar - N95
"Pitchfork Sucks..." Quote from me a longtime Pitchfork reader.
Yep, in my opinion they practically ruined indie rock 25 years ago with this same BS (back when a Pitchfork review could single-handedly make or break a band). I always get the sense that the writers are grappling with whether liking something makes them cool or not, much more than they are grappling with the music itself.
Pitchfork tries to be bad on purpose, it seems
Alphonse is notorious for being an insufferable contrarian. This is par for the course for him, and my only grievance is that anyone at Pitchfork let him within 100 miles of this review. If anybody else reviewed it and gave it a 6.6, don’t care. I’m sure there opinions are thoughtful and genuine. Pierre seems to take all of his linguistic pleasure in saying what’s going to piss people off the most.
Yeah he seems insufferable honestly. I’ve read multiple reviews from him that made me cringe. Idc if you hated the album or not, but the writing gives me the ick
His push for trying to be the tastemaker while also being contrarian will do nothing but further his bad reputation.
to be honest I think most of the time his criticism would be fine if he didn't have to constantly insert how much he *really doesn't care about this at all* in every negative review.
I generally don't dislike his writing and I must say I love hearing critiques of albums I myself like but Alphonse has probably missed with every review I've read from him
he is, absolutely, and Mike getting the 'Armand White' feeling is spot on.
but just FYI, the reviewer doesn't rate the albums at p4k.. i won't go into it, mainly bc I've no idea exactly how they do it now that it's on its 10th corporate iteration, but for a long, long time now the critic hasn't determined the rating. i know ppl who've written for them (before and) after Conde, and there were plenty machinations in the early days after the move, so i can't imagine what kinda corporate politics derive those scores now
Alphonse Pierre has been hating on both sides of the beef all year. He did not think Euphoria was a good song. He is committed to his hating enough to be worth hearing out, but he has been hating on Kendrick all year to be sure.
Hey your vids are sick! Nice to know you have good tastes in music too.
alphonse pierre is good for finding underground and regional artists, but i don't really need to hear his thoughts on established acts
Really confused about the Reincarnated take. How is it paranoid? He barely talks about other people in that song, he is very much confronting himself. The whole song is him questioning his own feelings, worrying about his own legacy and if he will end tragically just like all the people he admires. If he's paranoid it's about himself and his motives. Kendrick says "I'm trying to make peace in LA" and God responds "but you love war...How can they forgive when there's no forgiveness in your heart?" Like, he is very clearly questioning this victory and if he is doing this for his community or for his own legend. I don't understand how this critic's main point can be that he's worried Kendrick is going corporate or being a hypocrite while also not catching the very unsubtle message of the song he deems "unlistenable". There's a difference between unlistenable and just straight up not listening.
Facts. Also a great interpretation of the song. Reincarnated has some of the best writing Kendrick has ever put on a song period. It’s extremely deep and I have heard so many different, yet valid takes on the song. So much meat to chew on a conversations to be had about this one song in particular. I think it really shows how whoever this guy was that wrote the review, he was the wrong guy from the get go. He don’t get it
"A victory lap on a mobius strip" is an absolute bar, tho
I'm glad that you mentioned Armond White because that's exactly who I was thinking about when this review came up. If you don't know (or too young to remember), Armond White was a film critic who gained notoriety for (at the time I think) keeping Toy Story 3 from getting a 100% rotten tomato with a incredibly critical review. From there, the man kept doing this thing where he'd basically just shit on every popular film with the most ludicrous reviews, often going on insane tangents and bringing up movies that have nothing to do with the film being reviewed. White took a lot of pleasure taking down films, and I think now he writes for the National Review where he's gone full on alt-right.
I don't think a reviewer should agree with everyone, and I think there is something to learn about a review that isn't just repeating what everyone is saying. But I think there's also instances where the critic seems to delight in being a contrarian so much that it gets in the way of an honest review.
He's a prime example of taking pride in your hating personally, and elevating the art of hating in general.
What makes White shitting on Toy Story 3 so funny is that he was comparing it to Metropolitan by Whit Stillman and getting so many facts about that movie wrong.
Look I'm definitely in the camp of thinking critics are needed part of any artform. Contextualizing each release within the cultural climate while also being historians for art. Finding an eloquent persuasive critic that can point you in the direction of music to check out (even if you don't agree with them) is invaluable. Sometimes it could be gatekeeping, but gatekeeping isn't necessarily a negative thing.
That said I don't know how Pitchfork keep getting the wrong people to review certain albums. It doesn't have to be all glowing reviews from fans, but there's definitely a wrong person for the job when it comes to certain projects.
They review so many albums completely fairly and in line with popular sentiment, people just freakout at the handful of times when they don't, which sucks because what would be the point of a review website looking for people who intentionally just agree with what everyone thinks always. This GNX review gave me way more to think about than if they found someone who just told me "yeah the beats go hard and kendrick raps good, the end. 10/10" there's zero value in that and you can already find that everywhere.
@@Yourveryowncarrot It'd be fine if he cared about the album as much as the context; and that'd be fine if he correctly connected the context to the album (which he didn't) or if he even got the basic facts of the context right (which he didn't)
Agreed, I think my issue is actually with this Alphose that did the review. It is valid to like what you like. But he seems to not care about lyrics, which makes him instantly wrong for rap for me. I just skimmed a few of his reviews, and he it seems like he cares mainly about the beats. If it doesn't turn up he isn't interested. So it makes sense that Sexxy Red has glowing reviews and an 8, and he hated Euphoria.
It makes sense, and it also means that I instantly don't care about his opinion. If you hate listening to lyrics and interpreting them you should not be a rap reviewer. You are a "pop with hard beats" reviewer, and that is fine, but take up space somewhere else.
Alphonse shouldn't be harrassed or doxed obviously, but the man needs to be told straight to his face that he sucks at his job.
a lot of folks apply under this banner
Being willing to swim against the tide/holding someone to their own (earlier) high standards doesn’t sound like sucking at their job to me
@@hakka3he’s openly admitted to never effing with Kendrick in the past. I don’t disagree with your statement in a vacuum but Pierre is a card-carrying Kendrick hater, he doesn’t hide that fact in his work/activity online.
@@socalledbutton the problem is he is too predictable then, before i saw the score and the review i heard he wrote it and knew he would dislike it, he hated on every diss track during the beef
@@hakka3I agree. But if you read the actual review he just plain doesn’t do a good job at explaining what it is doesn’t like about the music itself. He keeps talking about anything, everything but the actual music.
Pitchfork writer reviewing a vacuum on Amazon:
“I was a wide-eyes 17 year old when I first experienced true injustice in the world…”
😂
they were reviewing from the perspective of a dog
You're unintentionally implying that art only deserves to be reviewed in the exact same way as household appliances or random crap, music is really meaningful to people. It's weird that someone would be confused why a writer would want to put their heart and soul into the criticism of music instead of just treating it like a yelp complaint or something.
@@Yourveryowncarrotpeople passion are different, some people passionate about their music some people others things. You just mold all the people have the same passion to music. Some people have passion for vacum too. Me for instance, I love my music but I love my fishing rod even more.
@@Yourveryowncarrot You're missing the critique here -- it's not that they're being artful in their review, it's that they're bringing up points that are entirely irrelevant, hardly touching on the real subject matter at all, in the name of being "artful" with it
The review called my favorite track “unlistenable”.
Someone posted a collage of this writer’s social media posts where he is straight up hating on Kendrick so this is an incredibly unsurprising review.
I wanted to comment on your point about Kendrick contradicting himself. I think that’s one of the central themes of his music across albums. On Mr. Morale, he raps, “They like it when I’m pro-Black, but I’m more Kodak Black,” acknowledging the tension between societal expectations and his personal identity. On To Pimp a Butterfly, he reflects on the “evils of [the devil]” surrounding him, while on Reincarnated, he admits to being consumed by temptation and creating the “devil’s music.” These contradictions highlight the inner conflict he feels-the pull to be “a bad person” and the daily struggle to heal, much like an addict in recovery, facing each moment as it comes.
Precisely 😎
When people come wit the "contradiction" critique, it's always a DEAD GIVEAWAY that they don't actually listen to (or comprehend) Kendrick's music!!!
But let me chill because they love to call you pretentious & arrogant if you bring up the comprehension point... LoL
This is also why he mentions being a Gemini so often
Exactly. Duality and inner conflict. has always been a deliberate theme in his music. Just direct them to listen to Ab-Soul’s outro lol
This!! "Your horoscope is a Gemini, two sides"... so much duality in everything he does. good kid/m.A.A.d city, butterfly/caterpillar, DAMN./reversed DAMN, Mr. Morale/Big Steppers. He's always arguing with himself lol
They gave mm food a 7.5, they lame
They tried to fix it with the anniversary reissue.
Do you truly think the same Pitchfork writers from 20 years ago are still writing at Pitchfork
they gave it a 9.0 in a reissue review posted literally last week.
@ reissue, fake love
@@Alx1116 i think the writer Paul Thompson was coming from a genuine place and would laugh @ you
the original author of the 7.5 review hasn’t written for pitchfork in almost 20 years and wasn’t a score far off from most other critics at the time even tho i very much disagree with it
I gotta say, I LOOOVE Mr. Morale. A lot. That album came out at a time where I had just begun therapy and ut seriously put my own feelings against a mirror. Ahit was a revelation at times, and really helped me solidify my goals and enjoy the process more. Plus it just sounds really good to me.
This album, GNX, is a well earned victory lap, but also a stop-gap for his discography. He can't JUST make therapy music or diss tracks forever.
agree with it feeling like a stop gap. plus heart singles usually drop before a big project. i wonder if there is another project on the way since a heart track dropped on this project that feels a bit less considered and polished than his others
never truly understood why so many people put that album at the bottom of their list.
i’m from the meet ppl where they are camp.
that being said, i listened to that album (as i do with many other albums) not necessarily looking for answers, but to hear perspectives and insights from the artist. i give Dot a lot of credit/respect for making a pretty dense album that attempted to tackle some pretty interesting/ heavy topics…
as the great Phonte of LB said “why they won’t let the music be what it is, is anybody’s guess” …
@@ChrisLewisjusChris exactly. Don't isn't meant to give anyone any answers (he is not your savior), he is just looking for his own. Like he said on Section.80:
"See I spent 23 years on this earth looking for answers
Until I realized I had to come up with my own
I'm not on the outside looking in
I'm not on the inside looking out
I'm in the dead fucking center looking around
[...]
I'm not the next pop star
I'm not the next socially aware rapper
I'm a human motherfucking being
Over this DOPE ASS instrumentation
KENDRICK LAMAR!"
- Ab-Souls Outro
From what I've read by Alphonse Pierre he's into hyper-local/hyper-regional artists who fit much more into the post-Soulja Boy, post-Young Thug, post-Lil Uzi Vert hip hop landscape, and he often portrays the rappers he likes as unique and exciting but when I actually listen to them they all sound very throwaway and similar with only very minor differences between them (that could just be me, though). He's also always seemed pretty down on Kendrick, so I'm guessing Pitchfork published his review just for the clout.
I feel like what you mention here is incredibly common in music critiques, too, though. Whenever I try to have a conversation about almost any album, there is this weird preoccupation with trying to view the context of the artists' life in a way that, to me goes well beyond the purview of the album itself. Especially as someone who isn't really locked in to the scene or the lives of these creators, it's really disconcerting to try to have a conversation about a song or album and have the entire conversation pivot to some interview that I've never seen or to some weird belief that is being held about the artists' personal life. I feel like the parasocial aspect of music consumption and critique is kinda eating itself. People are getting so keyed-in on things that they believe about how the artist should or shouldn't act in their life that it is beginning to take away from art critique, rather than enhancing it.
I kinda agree but also Hip-Hop is about truth. If you rap about something it has to be true to be impactful or at least you need to believe it. If Kanye made a song about how humble he is it would be bad because we know who kanye is. The discussion around the person's life should be connected to the themes of the art being discussed.
Alphonse Pierre has changed the landscape of Pitchfork. He has his own column on the website and always has very hot takes with very outlandish reasoning. Sometimes he knocks it out the park by putting readers onto some pretty obscure and awesome rap music that doesn’t get the exposure it deserves and sometimes he seems to be extremely contrarian - which I think is perfect for Pitchfork. Pitchfork doesn’t mind being bold af in their reviews and scores and honestly Pierre fits the bill, even if it means unpopular takes. The issue is his musical perspective seems limited and from a place of contrarianism even if not intended lol
People have complained about him all the time and I think Pitchfork loves the engagement so we’re stuck with these reviews
He got his column idea from POW, and they still do it much better.
alphonso burner account
Is not that the contrarianism isn't intended, it's just cynical. He doesn't have to be like that and is, for no reason. The typical "underground" rap fan is out of touch with reality of the genre a lot of times, i know because not only i am one, but i talk to them too much. Obscure, experimental and boundary pushing hip hop IS good, but doesn't mean that bread and butter is bad. Hip hop at large is still the Hood's music, is still the gangsta rapper image etc. and no amount of praise to Kanye weirdo antics or Playboi carti refusing to RAP as a rapper will ever change that. The crowd wanted a more relatable Kendricks, bops to play in the car and in the club, HE GAVE THEM THAT.
For people like Alphonse, Kendrick is only relevant when he portrays anti stereotypical version of himself on songs.
@@Felipe-kh6cgI feel like this album should be right up his alley. Maybe it’s just pure distilled contrarianism to the point that he’s willingly going against his own tastes but this album has a lot of experimental production (for the rap world), genre fusions, great and unique flows, and goes against much of the typical Kendrick grain. So I was kinda taken aback by the score since it seems like something he, and pitchfork in general, would love. I mean they gave DAMN a 9.2 lol which kinda makes me think this is just typical pitchfork being contrarian for engagements sake.
@@basedgawd6090 lol you think i support Pierre? nah i just understand why pitchfork gives him an outlet
i wasn’t expecting the album to get more than a 7.5 from pitchfork, but the aura around the review was just so sinister and, as you said, haterish. as a daily pitchfork reader and self-admitted kendrick stan it was hard to get through.
Also i think Kendrick has been very verbal of stop making me your savior or hero while at the same time he’s a hip hop purist and doesn’t want the craft to get treated just like anything on the shelf.
Personally, i wouldn’t be shocked given where he’s from and the time period he grew up in L.A if he’s still dealing with his own contradictions
"how much do you enjoy watching him take lap after lap?"
Yes.
🎉🎉🎉🎉
I read a lot of that Squabble Up video as a shot at consumerism, a theme reappears throughout the video is of everyday household decorations and how most of those things have a price tag, you're purchasing "your culture" and then define yourself by what you purchase and then you fight "for your culture" but it's all standard mass produced, migh5 as well come with the price of a household.
Fun fact: Alphonso gave Drake's Honestly, Nevermind a 6.6 as well back in 2022...
Wtfff
@@badbadgilead2552 Drake's Honestly, Nevermind is criminally underrated, sorry not sorry.
@@BourgeoisBoys so underrated! everything you’d want from an album! Lazy production, lazy vocals, a terrible attempt to rap (but not really bc it’s about the vibes man😎🤙) no effort to change artist material, no cohesiveness, no story to tell, and just straight out fckin boring!
Motel 6 has some really good art for you in their waiting room🔥
@@BourgeoisBoystake it from someone who primarily listens to electronic music, everything on honestly nevermind sounds like tracks you'd find on page 15 of beatport's house charts. the kinda tracks you'd hear in a live set but would never id because they're so bland. literally the only reason people cared about it was because it had drake's name on it. imo this underrated/overrated dichotomy doesn't work with honestly nevermind, the album just sucks. it could only ever be underrated by people who know next to nothing about house music.
@@Ccherrumbi Lol Get the broom out your a** bro. YES! Some of us are also here for VIBES 😎 and that whole album is hella hella VIBEY! Give it another spin when you not so uptight, you might be lucky enough to catch the "VIBES" too.
appreciate the topic OME. I can't stop listening to GNX
Tried getting acquainted with Alphonse Pierre by reading some of his other reviews, just to see what he tends to like and not like, which I think is the best way to understand a critic and use them as a 'consumer guide'. He has some interesting records he likes, 3rd Shift by J.U.S. that I hadn't heard of before, which is a rowdy, strangely experimental record and some others... But then I read his review of Euphoria with Kendrick and the headline read "It’s hard to live up to Pusha T’s “The Story of Adidon,” especially over some of the worst beat switch-ups you’ll hear all year." and I was like, a'ight i'm out.
😂😂😂😂
Open Mike Eagle is one of my favorite wordy guys
I'm one of the best wordy guys for sure
@open_mike_eagle Appreciate you Mr. Eagle 🦅❤️✊👊
@@open_mike_eagle oh indeed
6.6........ interesting choice pitchfork. God is love. Stay strong out there.(this album is waaaaaay deeper than it appears on the surface, as was the beef and everything else going on rn)
I'm so glad someone else is talking about this writer. It seems like he's become one of pitchforks go to hip hop writers, and i think you hit the nail on the head with the Armand White comparison. Using the word "unlistenable" to describe reincarnated is wild considering some of the stuff he's praised in the past.
I completely agree, though I make like the album more than yourself that article was a reach and very petty imo. The fact it took him so long to discuss the substance of the record and than once he did that critiques were so off base was very telling. Calling my favorite song unlistenable! P.S. it's not Drake-E-O the Ruler 😂
P S.S. I'm a huge fan of your art!
Whoever wrote this article probably prefers their hotdog with no MUSTARDDDDDDDD!!!!!!
One thing that has always drawn me to Kendrick's music (beyond just the fact that his music makes me feel something, which in my opinion the best art should always do) and one reason he's one of my all time favorite artists, is that much of his music has a musical and lyrical density that I appreciate. That said, it's also a valid critique to make that one shouldn't necessarily have to strain themselves in order to enjoy the music. Music that is more straightforward and accessible can be just as artistically valid. For example, Miles Davis' Bitches Brew is a far more musically dense album than say Kind of Blue. I wouldn't fault anyone for preferring the latter, but also can understand someone finding enjoyment in the complexities and unpacking/discovering something new with each listen of the former. Or for a movie reference, something like Memento or Vanilla Sky vs Predator or Die Hard. Some may not find much enjoyment in a film that requires multiple watches to understand, instead preferring a more straightforward film. However one enjoys their art, I won't judge. I tend to find enjoyment in both approaches.
As for Mr. Morale, the fact that Kendrick doesn't cross every T and dot every I in his execution of his personal trauma/thoughts/themes throughout the album actually gives the album a much needed humanity that can be missing in a lot mainstream music. He never assumes to have all of the answers to his own issues (let alone that of world), hence why he seems to go out of his way to shed his savior complex (though not completely). The messiness is what actually connects me to Mr. Morale given my own personal issues (he also seems committed to a certain set of principles he wishes to uphold and stand on, even if he falls short through contradiction/hypocrisy, again making his art very human and relatable for me). To the extent that GNX is a polarizing project, it seems one group is critiquing the fact that the album lacks the lyrical and musical density of past albums like To Pimp A Butterfly and Mr. Morale and others seem relieved that GNX is not as heavy as those other projects. I must say that given how heavy Mr. Morale and TPAB was (and even Damn lyrically), I'm perfectly okay with this album being a West Coast slapper album (his pen game is still elite throughout, especially on Reincarnated and Gloria). I thoroughly enjoyed the album. I don't doubt that down the line he'll give us an album that's more aligned with his typical artistic palette.
Calling Luther "good enough" and a "lullaby", and calling reincarnated a drake diss should get this mans credibility ERASED.
“Hatin-ass beef” like why is the writing so limp wtf. The whole thing lmao. He’s just salty before he even sat down to start it
thank you for making it tolerable.
the "work vs enjoyment" point you raised early in the video is super interesting, especially because (to me) this feels like the most enjoyable Kendrick album, maybe ever? i've listened to it every day since it dropped & haven't grown bored of it yet
That's a much fairer critique of the review than the writer gave the album. That was more of a frustrated Kendrick takedown than an album dissection.
I enjoyed GNX, listened to it with a grin the whole time. But, I could list valid criticisms the review didn't touch on. Like, it felt a bit rushed and unfocused whereas his albums can often feel the opposite. His references to his influence weren't very nuanced either.
I ate it up though. I felt the deep reverence for West Coast hip-hop. It's an imperfect love letter.
Love the way you think about every detail critically and carefully. Thanks for that
I can understand not liking the sound of reincarnated.
I think it's a cool ass song concept though. Plus i don't think the earlier verses are musical influences, I dead ass think Kendrick believes he was those artists and that he's reincarnated on this earth for over 100 years. "Last year did past life regression that really fcked me up" leads me to believe that. I've done past life regression before and it's insane haha.
Why is Kendrick meant to have a complete idea around complex matters? It's down to other artists attempting to apply their take on the matters.
Thank you sir, my new favorite channel. I appreciate the thoughtful and unbiased analysis
Just got done reading it. As a Dot fan I tried not to be bias, but he didn’t really do a good job explaining what he didn’t like about the album. I mean I get he might have thought Kendrick should’ve gotten other producers. But that doesn’t tell me what he thinks about the work of the producers Kendrick had. He was way off base on his thought on “reincarnated”. And the critique that the main reason he made an album with a west coast feel, is all about Drake? Idk it just was weird. I get not liking the album, but his explanations didn’t give me much🤷🏿♂️
They had a bunch of tweets from him hating on Kendrick and glazing Drake. I knew he was in the wrong when he only gave Wu-Tang Forever an 8.2
White writer? No offense but why do they always assume black people are mad when we say something? Did Kendrick say he was mad at Wayne or snoop? Or did Kendrick just spit facts?
And you’re spot on about Mr morale feeling like a (film more than a statement)(edit), there are some atmospheric sequencing that is more abstract and less linear- therein making statements that are more artistic in merit and less didactic- nevertheless, spending time and giving awareness to experiences of marginalized populations is revolutionary in itself
despite his name, Alphonse Pierre is indeed Black
@ Alphonse wrote this? Seems like he is baiting
It sounded like that writer was trying to put himself and his opinions over as much as (if not more than) reviewing that album. If I were editorial, I woulda send that shit back but I guess they thought they could get more clicks out of this half cooked "the politics of being Kendrick Lamar" than actually reviewing the album.
bruh it's not that hard to understand Kendrick's has all of them in himself the good, the bad, the ugly but what makes Kendrick different is that he says everything in his songs the good side of him and the bad side of him.
Breaking News: Pitchfork accuses an artist of selling out. In other news, water is wet.
The depth of thought presented in this video has me considering that patreon option
The Pitchfork critic reviewed the context instead of the content.
The comparison to Armond White is very apropos.
What I learned is critics don't like the West Coast
And I'm fine with it, I'll push the line with it
Kendrick really does have lyrics for everything. GNX is a West Coast album through and through.
So my problem with this isn't the criticism, although some of it definitely seems unnecessary, it's that this isn't an opinion piece. If you will. Will. This is an album review. You don't really need to put anything into context or recap the entire situation with Drake, or give personal feelings on the artists in question. You just need to tell people whether or not the album is good or not
Bryson till one point you straight up said there were five paragraphs in and hadn't read anything about the actual album and, real talk, if I were in editorial I would probably have made them rewrite it to get to the point significantly faster.
This is like when you’re the best employee and get judged differently than the laziest worker because of the fact you raise the bar
This was a fantastic video! I loved GNX and Mr Morale but all your points made so much sense!
I think musicology and cultural context are important, but some critics seem to they're all music is. Maybe it's just me, but I'm more interested in the sound, then lyrics, THEN necessary contexts and influences, etc.
This dude goes on for a paragraph about Kendrick's business then gives one sentence like "punched up by a Luther vandross sample," for one of the songs. Sample of what song? The reader has no clue if it's never too much or link in his chain! Is it the drums, Luther's voice, a fucking backup singer? He mentions the sample melting into orchestral flourishes I guess. 1-2 sentences and that's it for that song.
What's the point in writing about music if the music is tertiary to its context? Constant mentions of other artists, the writer's perception (which seems totally made up half the time) of Kendrick's attitudes, other songs, the Drake beef... It's like music writing for people who don't give a shit about the music itself but just want to be involved in popular culture on some level. Sorry this comment drones on if anybody made it this far lol.
Been lurking for a couple months, subbed today, sorry for that delay, loving your work here.
"Theres an aspect of a kendrick album that feels a little bit like work than enjoyment." To hear something like that from Open Mike Eagle is absolutely HILARIOUS.
Kendrick isnt even that wordy. Lololol
Calling Reincarnated unlistenable is crazzzyyyy
Reincarnated is cringey
The way this guy framed this review was so strange
Good video, agree with a lot of the points. Don't think Alphonse Pierre is too similar to Armond White, though. He's mostly enthusiastic about regional rap and positively covers small artists that don't get attention anywhere else so it makes sense that he'd be underwhelmed by the established rappers making stuff for more general audiences. Highly recommend checking out his writing for The Ones or his weekly column to get a better idea of what he's about, it's not all just hating
Syndicated magazines commenting on culture is always a seedy fracturing of sincere reviews. Pitchfork, Rollingstone, IMDB etc. At some point, the corporate unterest takes over how the people are truly experiencing art & culture. There is a massive disconnect. As an artist, better not get reviewed by shndicated groups or organisations where corporate interest leverages bias. #scarecrowzw
6.6 isn't quite as dramatic, but this reminds me of their 0.0 Sonic Youth review that was pretty much just an essay about how much the writer hates New York.
This fr the most simple Kendrick album.
Alphonse can kick rocks
Thank you so much for your commentary on the beef. As an Indie artist, it's refreshing as your can be more impartial. One of the side items regarding the editorial control of the review and the score; I think if this reviewer has been known to be critical, then putting him on the album is a move in and of itself. I.E. we know this dude trashes everything, we don't need to do anything other then feed the record to him. As to my take, it's not a bad record. A little mid, and definitely not challenging to Kendrick or the listener, but fun. I think we have a higher bar collectively for Kendrick beyond fun (which may be unfair) but there are some fun songs on it.
Kendrick takes lots of listens. I'm just now thinking Mr Morale is much closer to the quality of his older albums.
He doesn't fit the the constant content model we're all stuck in.
Pitchfork is back on their bullshit. I remember about 20 years ago pitchfork did a review, I can't remember the artist but they gave the album a scathing score and then wrote the review from the POV of a fan of that artist blasting them for giving that score. Instantly, that told me everything I needed to know about Pitchfork. I couldn't take them seriously; they weren't in it out of s genuine passion for music, they wanted to be some self-appointed cultural vanguard. Funny how shit changes. This is the first I've heard of a pitchfork review in years, no one will remember what they scored this album but everyone will remember Anthony Fantano gave it a 9. 🤷
GNX took me a couple listens, but it's become one of my favorite albums of his
Pitchfork is only good for finding new music. Their reviews are nonsense.
This makes my blood boil more than Drake's insane lawsuits tbh lol They hired a Certified Kendrick Hater to review the album, he prob listened to it ONCE, purposely misinterpreted the album then wrote a review...to be cheeky?? TERRIBLE journalism to allow someone so biased to cover a topic. The album gets better with every listen. It hasn't even been a full week! Damn!!!
I always add two points to urban music with pitchfork reviews! I don’t really understand the method or madness 💐
I’ve never been able to make it through one of Alphonse’s Kendrick reviews I’m biased as a Kendrick fan but he’s honestly so Venemous towards Kendrick for no reason. Which is wild to me because he has so much empathy and open minded ness towards other artists that are written off whole sale.
Mr. Pitchfork and the Bait Journos
Yeah, this one was good but I think a 7 - 7.5 is fair. Kendrick will always be dope but you can't stay on top and have every album be 8.5+ forever. The Tupac Debbie Deb and SWV homages were cool, but yeah, just don't know how often I'll be coming back to those tracks. For an old head like myself who is completely washed to what the kids find dope these days, Kendrick is like one of the only younger artists that I got into while being old. And he ain't even that young anymore!!
I agree wholeheartedly with your take on Mr Morale. It's felt like one sided therapy session where Kendrick analyzes himself, his shortcomings, his family, love, masculinity, trauma, generational trauma, generational bigotry, religion, his love for his transgender family members and how hateful behavior can be normalized (beautiful song, felt kind of out of place on the album but wtv especially in these insane times it was one of the most necessary songs on the album imo,) his struggle with his savior complex and basically any other topic relative to him that people (particularly black men) can learn from. To me it felt very unfocused because I think Kendrick tried to bite off way more than he could chew in one album. I love the themes and messages, his reflections on himself and the people in his life made me think about myself from a different angle and when (being white) the subject matter didn't exactly apply to me I feel like it gave me a window into issues I didn't previously have context for, helping me empathize better. There are core themes but it still felt like he could have been more focused and stuck to a more cohesive narrative without losing the meaning he was going for. He touched on topics that could have entire albums dedicated to them, it's hard to get the full picture on just one song.
you can be a hater, whatever, but when it is so obviously like that, why is he the one they choose to review the album? they have a whole staff of writers and they give the review to this guy? knowing that he will fail to engage with the work when it is literally his job and fail at providing the service they are theoretically claiming to offer? when rolling stone lost the plot as a music review service, it felt (to me at least) like it was because they were old and confused and the music world passed them by. eventually they righted the ship somewhat but they had lost their throne and become bloated and outdated in their construction. with pitchfork, the drop-off seems more malicious. it's as though it's been gutted and things are more done for maximizing clicks as part of a for-profit machine. this guy was purposefully selected to create controversy because they knew exactly what he would write. they aren't reviewing music, they are making clickbait now it seems.
Just remember pitch gave ice spice debut the rating as chromotopia and Mr morale…..
Comparing this guy to Armand White is diabolical. (And correct)
Stuff like this is why I don't care about Pitchfork, even if they do put on some good artists from time to time. Calling it now, they will retroactively change the score of this album to a higher rating down the line.
theres a very simple explanation for Kendrick collaborating with whatever musician with a negative public image. though we dont know the details kendrick actually constantly alludes to himself being a bad person; we just dont know his story. so for him from his perspective to apply some kind of double standard onto other musicians would be, well, unfair. so he just works with whomever, trying to find good in people or whatever
the question then arises, why is he doing all this public moralizing towards drake? that explanation is ever simpler -- they're in a rap beef and anything goes! they couldve kept it rap and drake decided to play with the family. as if that ever worked out for him..
at the end of the day, anyone disliking the fact that kendrick might or might not be a POS is free to not listen to him and not take that gamble. because doing otherwise would be .. also its very apparent not enough people heard his unreleased song Prayer where he pretty much acknowledges any possible 'but kodak black but dr dre' criticism
22:02 jesus christmas 😂😂
Hadn't actually read the contents of this article, i think your take on it is spot on. I personally didnt really like GNX (it was okay), My main issues stem from finding his voice sounds really odd (on everything recently). But if other people are liking it - all good.
What Mike said for Kendrick is how I feel about him and Lupe. I can’t tell if I make myself like them because I listen so much, but I do end up liking them but don’t go back to them unless I’m on a road trip and it crosses my mind. That said. I mostly go back to a batch of probably 20 albums so maybe I’m not the measuring stick. Brick Body Kids was my sh*t though.
I also think it's weird to allow five paragraphs of set up and only six paragraphs about the music. I'm fine with all the set up, but maybe the music could've gotten ten paragraphs so the points could be explained better? I don't know. Short form music writing has always been hit and miss for me.
I think part of the conversation is also saying fuck off to these institutions. They have no say or understanding of this culture.
I like the attitude here when approaching this “review of a review” concept. Great video. Nonetheless, I don’t agree with certain statements about what a reviewer should do with his review or not. Specially in 2024 when you can find thousands of reviews with the press of a button. I actually dig quite a bit when reviewers get away form the basic “track to track” mentality. Sometimes the context that an album offers is more interesting that the actual run of the mill musical review.
I would give the GNX album a 7.6, as of today, but there are at least two tracks that are perfect 10s to me. Comparatively, Good Kid MAAD City and To Pimp a Butterfly were both like 9.8 at time of release, so fresh and so hot by comparison, as full albums.
I got it at like a 8.6.
When you look up a recipe and get a life story. Buddy really needed to hit that word count.
Thank you for your work. For the headphones not the end zone👌🏻
pitchfork consistently gives mid scores to great hip hop albums . When it comes to reviews I’m not saying they are all completely meaningless but music, movies and art in general is so subjective that I don’t put that much stock in any individuals opinion but sometimes the consensus opinion can mean something..
Any respect that I had for pitchfork has fallen straight the f*ck away.
Oh wow, I haven't heard Armond White mentioned in a long time til now, but he used to be the only film critic that I sought out the reviews of, just cuz he was always guaranteed to have a wildly different take than any consensus formed elsewheres. Plus he had that kid nda acerbic wit when he felt strongly about things.
I didn't love this record but I mostly enjoyed it for the most part, although I don't find myself having a strong enough desire to return to it after my first couple attempts to get through it on its entirety. But in my limited interaction with it, and without diving off the deep end into the lyrics, it didn't feel like a victory lap to the beef more so than the next phase in Kendrick's career with two or three jabs just to make sure Drake's corpse is on fact still dead.
Great video. I personally do not buy into or believe this idea that Kendrick is coming at Drake for how he moves with women. I do think he took that angle, but moreso because the shoe fit. Generally do agree tho about niggas taking accountability 💯
Yeah, Kendrick hates Drake bc of their opposing views of hip-hop culture and values. Drake still seems to think it was about record streams and popularity.
Drake's misogyny was just an obvious personality defect to go after. Like you said, it wasn't the root of Kendrick's disdain and contempt.
"it's just thoughts everything is criss crossed, gotta be cool with complex and pitchfork if I want to get my shit off"
-Joe budden asking eminem why tabloid media is even in the conversation
I dont read a ton of pitchfork, but i saw that Alphonse wrote a really negative track review of Euphoria. So when I saw his name on the GNX review i just knew it was going to be negative.
Mf Doom or Kendrick Lamar? both of my favourite rappers ever and 2pac
Zero misses on ts
The reason he feels this way is because he doesn’t think Kendrick seriously meant what he said, and doesn’t believe that his actual purpose in all of this is to destroy Drake and his form of influence upon culture.
Dark Comedy 10 year anniversary vinyl arrived today, woohoo!