How Much A Dollar Cost?
Although I had heard Kendrick before, and sang along to the songs on the radio, How Much A Dollar Cost was when I became a genuine fan.
Really, what had happened was... I saw Obama's list posted on Reddit, and one of the commenters said "Can you imagine if Obama had put King Kunta on the list instead". I went to listen to the song, and whoever that random redditor was - it formed a core memory and I still chuckle sometimes thinking about Obama rapping King Kunta word for word. It's perfect.
However! How Much A Dollar Cost got me turn on the albums and really listen.
I've been berated for giving people a dollar.
Berated by people who would never miss it for a second.
The Snapping Turtles of Judgment.
Just absolutely DISGUSTED that I would enable someone like that.
"They're drug addicts..." Mind you, they were blackout drunk 4-5 nights out of the week, borrowing money from their parents whenever their choice of intoxicant got them in a jam.
Born into privilege, patting themselves on the back for achievements, not understanding the safety net that bolstered their confidence wasn't personally earned. They walked a plank and looked down on those who had to walk a tight rope.
The type to think it's a flex to put a picture of their own mother on the cover of their album as a backhanded diss to Baby Keem, while putting a song called "STFU Janice" out as well. Congratulations Clarence with the real nice parents, you really showed your strength and grit with that.
The type who has no problem stealing from the people they judge and deluding themselves into thinking they are brilliant when really it's a lack of empathy, lack of integrity, and heaping dose of entitlement.
Anywho! Watching how 50 moved during the beef, and the clear shot from GNX:
"50 on me, don't die trying and shit"
It made me wonder if Kendrick's role on Power was done in the same energy as Poetic Justice Theory... Given a role but the intention behind it was to make it disrespectful.
If it was? Big backfire, Kendrick killed that shit. Because he takes his work seriously.
The Iceman Episode 4 featuring the dancing man that was clearly meant to shit on Kendrick, tying into "trying to get the slaves freed" energy, mocking him for humble beginnings.
Cross reference that with the Keem imagery from his listening party intro... There's a mime, an actor without a voice. Going through the motions and wanting a handout because he wore the make-up and did a few moves.
In all actuality, these type of people are the biggest bums. They steal from others shamelessly and take the credit while projecting their insecurities out to everyone. They can perform the actions to LOOK a certain way which does attract certain worldly things - popularity, money, etc.
But, when you engage beyond the surface of these types, you don't find much organic substance.