Pusha T: Best Rapper Alive?
In terms of Hip-Hop, few written publications have the same respect as Complex. From the way that it sources the community to the way it presents its findings, Complex tends to be the go to for a lot of Hip-Hop heads. However, they peaked my interest last year when they named Pusha T the rapper of the year in their collection of best rappers per year. The elements that gave him this honor was a Grammy nomination for the Daytona project, the best rap album of the year as well as 'The Story of Adidon'. I don't agree with it all. In the immortal words of Justin Hunte, let's break it down.
To begin, I've talked extensively about how Grammy's don't matter to the genre (see Grammy 2019: Hip-Hop vs. The Recording Academy) . A product of the establishment can not represent what is inherently anti-establishment. Nevermind that simple concept, Daytona's nomination shouldn't be an element used to put him as the best rapper of the year. Why? Because the question of Or "where do you put Cardi B?" can be asked as she won the award. While her album was tentative and overall tame, it still left Los Angeles with the trophy. In the eyes of the Grammy voters, it was a better album than King Push's effort. So, let's not congratulate Push for second place in a competitive game.
In my humble opinion, Cardi B's Invasion of Privacy is nowhere near the project that Daytona was, but Pusha T's project isn't great either. 2018 saw good projects being pushed, such as Nipsey Hustle's Victory Road, Mac Miller's Swimming or Eminem's Kamikaze, that all deserve the award of best album of 2018 well before Daytona. Those efforts were much more complete and thought out than the scatter brained Kanye produced project. As well, due to its inability to stay consistent in its meager seven tracks is the replay value of the previously discussed albums exceed whatever Pusha attempted, with the only listenable track a year after its release is 'Infrared' - if only for the Drake lines.
In conclusion, I don't hold any hard feelings towards Complex because we hold differing opinions. If anything, I encourage it. It's conversations like these that help grow the community into a fruitful and educated one at the forefront of society. Let's keep these conversations going for at least as long as Pusha T has had braids.
I won't say that Drake should've won the award, mainly because he never released a direct response to the 'The Story of Adidon'. And he didn't have to. From someone outside of the fray of the culture, to not respond was an act of cowardice. But those of us on the inside saw it differently, with what King Push doing being out of line. It doesn't matter if Drake referenced his wife Virginia Williams: to speak of the children and the ill is out of line. It's why I don't respect certain aspects of Tupac Shakur's 'Hit Em Up'. There's a respect for those two groups, no matter what. Biggie and Drizzy both saw successful careers after those atomic diss tracks because of sympathy over time. Pac attacked a man with sickle cell and Pusha attacked someone with multiple sclerosis. That's some underhanded nonsense that has no place in the genre.
Don't one of you n***** got sickle-cell or somethin'?
You're fuckin' with me, n****
You f*** around and have a seizure or a heart attack- Tupac Shakur , "Hit Em' Up"
In conclusion, I don't hold any hard feelings towards Complex because we hold differing opinions. If anything, I encourage it. It's conversations like these that help grow the community into a fruitful and educated one at the forefront of society. Let's keep these conversations going for at least as long as Pusha T has had braids.
Who should've won the award for the best rapper of 2018? In my opinion, Cardi B. Chart success was there. Grammy win was impressive in a tough class. As well as a clear lyrical and tonal upgrade from the previous year. To not give it to Cardi is an insult to her accomplishments during the calendar year. She isn't the best technical rapper or the best chart topper, but she brings enough of both to make it credible to give her the award, unlike other artists who don't have one or the other yet still cracked the honorable mentions in previous years (ex: Ja Rule, Danny Brown, etc.). It was an obvious pick, like picking Giannis Antetokounmpo in the 2013 NBA Draft.
In conclusion, I don't hold any hard feelings towards Complex because we hold differing opinions. If anything, I encourage it. It's conversations like these that help grow the community into a fruitful and educated one at the forefront of society. Let's keep these conversations going for at least as long as Pusha T has had braids.