The debate over who truly wears the crown of hip-hop's king has been long disputed. While few argue with Nas's 1994 dominance, or Jay Z's in 1996, the prestigious position is coveted, and often vehemently debated, by all emcees. Many considerations are taking in naming this unofficial, if even uttered out loud, hierarchy. However, eventually a consensus is reached, and most can agree on one rapper to rally behind as the true "king." 2015 was a particularly tough year to determine hip-hop's reigning monarch. While Future had enormous commercial and critical success, and Drake's voice was nearly ubiquitous on every street corner, Kendrick Lamar caught the public's attention once again with his probing, insightful, and brutally honest To Pimp A Butterfly. Although many will argue that Drake is more popular, featured on more songs, and an overall bigger celebrity than Kendrick, few can deny the Compton rapper's remarkable ability to spread his message through poetry and music. Among the many admirers of Lamar is the President of the United States, Barack Obama, who said that he felt K. Dot was superior to Drake.
Barack may have been biased in his decision, given Kendrick's recent visit to the White House, but he was unambiguous in his choice of the more talented rapper among the two. "You gotta go with Kendrick," President Obama told YouTube star sWooZie. "I'm just saying. I think Drake is an outstanding entertainer, but Kendrick...his lyrics. His last album [To Pimp A Butterfly] was outstanding. Best album I think [that came out] last year."
Kendrick's visit to the White House prompted the rapper to reflect on the similarities between the president and himself. "I sat down with President Barak Obama and shared the same views, topics concerning the inner cities, the problem, the solutions and furthermore embracing the youth," Lamar said in the widely publicized video. "Both being aware that mentoring saves lives. Sometimes I reflect and think back: Where would I be if I didn't have the presence of an older acquaintance telling me what's right and what's wrong, telling me the pros and cons of every move I was about to make, telling me the best way to plan success for my future?"
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