Kanye West Continues to Criticize Kendrick Lamar, Despite Past Collaboration

Kanye West has been vocal about his thoughts on Kendrick Lamar recently, and his criticisms show no signs of stopping. In fact, West’s latest comments, which take aim at Lamar’s performance at a Louis Vuitton event in 2023, have ignited further tension between the two artists.

Kanye’s Disdain for Kendrick’s Louis Vuitton Performance

Earlier this month, a video surfaced on Instagram showing Kendrick Lamar performing his track “Count Me Out” at the prestigious Louis Vuitton menswear show during Paris Fashion Week. Kanye, who has never been shy about expressing his opinions, did not hold back when reacting to the performance. On his social media platform X (formerly Twitter), he simply wrote: “I hated this so much.”

This is just the latest in a series of public criticisms from West, who has been targeting Lamar in recent weeks despite their history of collaboration. The two have worked together in the past and even toured together, but Kanye’s recent remarks suggest a growing animosity.

Frustration Over Kendrick’s Carti Feature

West has expressed his displeasure not only with Lamar’s performance but also with his recent work. One of the key issues appears to be Kendrick’s involvement in Playboi Carti’s album Music. Kanye was particularly irked by Lamar’s feature on the tracks “Good Credit,” “Back00r,” and “Mojoi Jojo.” On X, Kanye wrote: “I DONT LIKE KENDRICK LAMARS MUSIC. HE RAPS VERY GOOD BUT I DIDNT NEED TO HEAR HIM ON CARTI ALBUM.”

Kanye’s disdain for Kendrick’s feature didn’t stop there. He also took issue with Lamar’s song “Not Like Us,” a diss track aimed at Drake. Again, Kanye did not mince words, posting: “I HAAAAAATED NOT LIKE US.” These comments reflect Kanye’s frustration with Lamar’s recent musical choices, particularly his collaborations with artists outside of Kanye’s preferred circle.

Challenging Kendrick’s Status in Hip-Hop

Beyond specific songs, Kanye has been outspoken in downplaying Kendrick Lamar’s place in hip-hop. In a series of tweets, West boldly proclaimed: “KENDRICK WAS NEVER KING… MAYBE KING OF THE WEST COAST, BUT NEVER KING OF THE WORLD.” This statement comes as part of Kanye’s broader attempt to challenge Lamar’s status as one of the top rappers of his generation.

Asserting his belief that he, rather than Kendrick, deserves the title of “Rap King,” Kanye went further by sharing his own list of 12 “Rap Kings,” which included icons like JAY-Z, Eminem, Nas, Biggie, 2Pac, Lil Wayne, and Drake. Kendrick, however, was noticeably absent from the list.

Kanye’s Mixed Feelings on Kendrick’s Super Bowl Halftime Show

Despite his consistent criticism, Kanye has offered some praise for Kendrick Lamar’s performances in certain contexts. For instance, Kanye recently shared his thoughts on Kendrick’s Super Bowl halftime show, calling it his favorite since Michael Jackson’s iconic 1993 performance.

In a video posted online, West said, “A few people have been asking me what I think about the Kendrick halftime show. I really loved the show. It was my favorite halftime show since the Michael Jackson era, which I can barely remember, I just be seeing clips of it.” Kanye went on to compliment the simplicity and creativity of the show, including the visual elements during “HUMBLE.” He even marveled at Kendrick’s vocal control.

While Kanye West’s criticism of Kendrick Lamar has been relentless and personal, it’s clear that there is still a level of admiration beneath the surface. Kanye’s praise for Lamar’s halftime show indicates that despite their differences, he acknowledges Kendrick’s undeniable talent. Whether or not this public feud will escalate or eventually resolve remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Kanye is determined to make his opinions known when it comes to Kendrick Lamar’s place in hip-hop.