Kendrick Lamar Earns High Praise From Rakim and Fat Joe Amid Rising Influence

Kendrick Lamar recently received a heartfelt shoutout from hip-hop pioneer Rakim, highlighting the respect the Compton legend commands within the rap community. On Clipse’s track “Chains & Whips,” Kendrick dropped a line that paid homage to Rakim’s lasting impact on hip hop: “Let’s be clear, Hip Hop died again / Half of my profits may go to Rakim.” The nod did not go unnoticed.

Rakim responded on Instagram, writing, “I salute you king. Thanks for the illest shout I heard in a long time, and keep up the incredible work my brother, you ain’t no joke!!!! Peace and blessings to you and yours.” This exchange confirms the mutual admiration between two generations of rap royalty.

Rakim had also previously praised Kendrick during his high-profile feud with Drake last year. He acknowledged the courage Kendrick and others showed by taking their artistry and competition into the mainstream spotlight. “You know, a lot of people in that position won’t accept no challenge, because they got too much to lose. So, it was dope that these brothers put the mainstream success down and said, ‘Yeah, let’s do it,’” Rakim said. He further emphasized the significance of the feud for hip hop’s integrity, noting that it helped educate younger listeners on what constitutes “real Hip Hop.”

Rakim’s admiration for Kendrick is echoed by other hip-hop heavyweights, including Fat Joe. On his podcast Joe and Jada, the “Make It Rain” rapper praised Kendrick’s dominance on West Coast radio. “What I can tell you is, boy, that Kendrick Lamar gets some spins in LA radio…” Joe remarked. “I was there last week. I’ve never seen nothing like that: Every single song, ‘Turn his TV off…’ What? It’s a fact. Kendrick Lamar gets played nine out of every 10 songs in L.A. right now. Not even Snoop Dogg, not even Tupac Shakur — nobody from L.A. has dominated the paint like this guy.”

Fat Joe went on to say that Kendrick has become a cultural force so strong in Los Angeles that many locals see him as the singular defining artist from the city. “If you’re from L.A., you probably think there’s only one guy on Earth, Kendrick Lamar. I’m just keeping it a buck with you.”

As Kendrick Lamar continues to cement his legacy, the accolades from legends like Rakim and Fat Joe only reinforce his position as one of the most influential voices in modern hip hop.