Modern Qualifier 31 – Kendrick Lamar, A$AP Ferg, Frank Ocean, Killer Mike

Lead single from 2015’s hugely acclaimed To Pimp A Butterfly LP. Nominated by Lonepilgrim.
From Ferg’s 2013 debut LP, Trap Lord. A Bracket Balancer.
From 2012’s landmark debut Channel Orange. Nominated by Steffen R-M.
Single from 2012’s R.A.P. Music. Also a Bracket Balancer.

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Qualifier M31: KUNTA SHABBA SUPER REAGAN

KENDRICK LAMAR – “King Kunta” (YouTube)

A$AP FERG ft A$AP ROCKY – “Shabba” (YouTube)

FRANK OCEAN – “Super Rich Kids” (YouTube)

KILLER MIKE – “Reagan” (YouTube)

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Modern Qualifier 32 – CURATED by BaltimoreJacks

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j_e_l

19 May 2023 13:15

I enjoyed Kendrick, thought this was quite good. Voted Killer Mike as liked the power and the story-telling.

Tom

19 May 2023 16:49

Frank Ocean has great lyrics, great vibe, but there’s something vaguely laborious about the delivery. Maybe if he wasn’t up against Kendrick Lamar at his most dazzlingly acrobatic.

(I think the two BBs are masterpieces fwiw, will happily vote for either if they somehow get through)

vinnycrackers

19 May 2023 17:03

I voted for Kendrick, since A$AP Ferg is a bracket balancer, but he’s one of my favorite dumb rappers. “Short N* but my dick tall” is a great first line! Right? Killer Mike’s messy politics = I’m over him. Frank’s good too.

Just Rewarding

19 May 2023 22:46

Same on both counts, favorite songs from both albums

Hunter Felt

20 May 2023 09:00

A just fine A$AP Ferg track, my least favorite Frank Ocean track, a killer Killer Mike track that just depresses me given his recent political devolution… “King Kunta” in a walk.

Steffen Rayburn-Maarup ?

20 May 2023 13:27

I think Super Rich Kids is IMMENSE (and it’s my nom), one of the best things this century, so genuinely surprised at the lukewarm reception. Anyway, no shame in being bested by Kendrick (even though I haven’t really been fully onboard after Good Kid, MAAD City).
Glad to see Killer Mike doing well in the next qualifier.

therealbreadco

20 May 2023 17:15

…the two original members of Ocean’s 11…

katstevens

20 May 2023 18:05

I’m a bit allergic to the Benny & The Jets plod beat, sorry Frank. Whereas all the Payback nods in King Kunta are just *chefs kiss*

SmoothBrain

22 May 2023 02:13

King Kunta is enjoyable but I’ve heard it 20+ times and still don’t really know what it’s about (not that I’ve done any investigating, it’s just not obvious to me). Wheras the first time I heard Reagan I knew exactly who the object of Mike’s contempt is and why he feels that way. Love the closing line, love the ‘666’ bit, and absolutely adore the Reagan quote included, which is an absolute harbinger of the current era of truth being what you feel rather than what is.

RobertK

22 May 2023 19:06

Tough choice between Mike and Kendrick…ultimately I was glad I went with Killer Mike since he’s in a second-place knife fight with Frank Ocean and his is the better song.
I wonder if future generations of music fans are going to wonder why millennials revered Frank Ocean so much. He seems much more of his moment, which has maybe now passed(?), than he does a legacy artist, and the recent Coachella debacle helped hammer it home. I guess his legacy will be similar to Lauryn Hill’s, and there are far worse fates.