Did Kendrick Lamar kill hip-hop?

Switched on Pop

Over the summer, the culture was shaken by the biggest rap beef this decade, between Drake and Kendrick Lamar. From “First Person Shooter” to “Not Like Us,” hip-hop listeners hung on each rapper’s every word and rebuttal, and for the first time in years, the genre felt exciting.

Months after the beef had “ended,” Lamar released a track on Instagram dubbed “Watch the Party Die,” in which he lamented that hip-hop, in its current state, has lost its way and – as the title suggests – needs to die. It’s interesting, coming from Lamar, the supposed winner of the beef, and begs the question: is hip-hop dead?

On this episode of Switched On Pop, engineer Brandon McFarland takes us on a journey over the course of history, to answer the question: can hip-hop ever truly die? And if this form of it is not sustainable, what’s next?

Tracklist:

Drake - First Person Shooter ft. J. Cole

Future, Metro Boomin, Kendrick Lamar - Like That

Drake - Push Ups

Kendrick Lamar - Euphoria

Drake - Family Matters

Kendrick Lamar - meet the grahams

Kendrick Lamar - Not Like Us

Kendrick Lamar - Watch The Party Die

Glass Animals - Heat Waves

Desiigner - Panda

Migos - Versace

Public Enemy - Bring The Noise

THE CARTERS - APESHIT

Ariana Grande - 34+35

Kendrick Lamar - Alright

Jay-Z - D.O.A.

Cher - Believe

T-Pain - I'm Sprung

Lil Wayne - Lollipop ft. Static

Kanye West - Heartless

Drake - Over

Travis Scott - Mamacita ft. Rich Homie Quan, Young Thug

Lil Yachty - Poland

DRAM feat. Lil Yachty - Broccoli

Charlie XCX - 360

Too $hort - Oakland California

Geto Boys - Damn It Feels Good to Be a Gangsta

Geto Boys - Mind Playing Tricks On Me

Blondie - Rapture

Playboi Carti - Magnolia

Playboi Carti - Rockstar Made

Lil Uzi Vert - New Patek

Lil Uzi Vert - Suicide Doors

Lil Uzi Vert - XO Tour Llif3

Juice WRLD - Lucid Dreams (Forget Me)

Future - Fuck Up Some Commas

Tyler, The Creator – Sticky

tisakorean - LET ME HEAR YOU SCREAM

Travis Porter ft. Tyga - Ayy Ladies

AgusFortnite2008, Stiffy & DJ Smokey – COF COF

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