All Hail King Kendrick

Icon? Untouchable? Beatnik? The greatest rapper alive? In recent years, much has been said about Kendrick Lamar and his prolific output. From humble beginnings on West-Coast cuts like ADHD to his politically-fuelled stylings on King Kunta, no one right now is carrying the torch for hip-hop as much as this man.

But what makes him so unique? Granted, a number of Kendrick’s contemporaries may match, or even supersede him, lyrically. But it’s his fusion of gritty, observational musings accompanied with the most exquisite production that truly sets him apart. Though Section.80 was packed with promise, this formidable combo first came to the fore on the 28-year-old’s breakout record Good Kid, m.A.A.d City – which saw him take on the role of social commentator and become the mouthpiece for a new generation in urban USA. Chronicles of fatal gang feuds, the tumbling economy and other hardships in his native Compton were all presented in this semi-autobiographical memoir. It also helped that it was chock-full of bangers; very much thanks to the executive production of Dr Dre. Tight-knit, layered beats anchored by the heavyweight hooks of hits like Swimming Pools and Money Trees quite rightly garnered universal acclaim. Such was the success of K-Dot’s second studio album that it was perched prettily atop many a critic’s end-of-year lists – as well as bagging a whole host of accolades. Greatness beckoned for the hip-hop’s prodigal son.

And it was on March 15, 2015 when Kendrick Lamar was elevated to newer, dizzying climes; for this was the release date of To Pimp a Butterfly. Put simply, it revolutionised contemporary hip-hop. Never had there been a rapper so aware of their artistry – with each and every nuance a turn of sheer genius. The attention to detail on singles like Alright and the more understated These Walls truly warrant repeat listens and a damn good audio system. So, how did he achieve such levels of perfection? Answer: By warping a stagnant genre. Instead of opting for synthetic, bass-laden backing tracks that seem to pollute today’s charts, Kendrick harked back to a golden age of music. Strands of jazz and funk infuse the record, undoubtedly inspired by the likes of Prince and George Clinton, while the wordsmith himself brings it all back to date by fiercely tackling political and social themes. When meshed together, these components gift the album a shelf life that ensures it will remain a relevant staple of hip-hop culture for decades to come. The release also saw Kendrick reoccupy the role of narrator, yet this time from an even more introspective viewpoint. He addresses the insurmountable hardships faced by young black Americans, revisiting Compton yet again. Erudite social commentaries like these litter the record, but the artist is at his most poetic when reflecting on his own life – candidly rhyming about the demons that consume him and the unspoken pressures of fame. Quite frankly, To Pimp a Butterfly is a masterpiece. As a body of work it is totally unparalleled – ushering Kendrick Lamar to the head of hip-hop’s pack.

Don’t just take my word for it. A plethora of legends have all waxed lyrical about K-Dot. Most notably rap godfathers NWA, who hailed Compton’s brightest star in an excerpt which can be seen below.

Before this gushing becomes a full-blown ode to Kendrick Lamar, I leave you with this live performance from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Clocking in at just over six minutes, dynamic fare is completely encapsulated. From his meticulous delivery of every single bar to quite possibly the most drilled backing group in the game, it’s truly a captivating sight to behold. Oh, and he’s still only 28 years old – giving him more than enough time to stamp an indelible mark of authority as the greatest rapper of all time.

All hail King Kendrick.

Doc Brown interview

You wouldn't blame anyone for being a little big-headed if they could act, rap and make people laugh but Doc Brown is determined to keep level-headed about his success.

"After every single show I stay behind with the fans and chat to everybody in the audience because I want to know how real people feel," says the 37-year-old Londoner.

"I consider myself one of their number," he adds.

"The first time I got on stage was when I was 30 years old so I had a life of anonymity before that."

After a year-long hiatus from stand-up, Doc Brown will return to Nottingham's Glee Club next month with his brand new show The Weird Way Round.

As an up-and-coming rapper he would regularly perform his trademark acerbic rhymes at venues like Rock City, but the performer, born Ben Bailey Smith, explains he has a special affinity with the Glee Club.

"It's got that party vibe, but at the same time there's always a discerning comedy crowd, so it's a perfect mix for me: smart people who like to get drunk, as opposed to stupid people who like to get drunk."

Doc finds it difficult to describe his stand-up style, but says ultimately he's a storyteller who likes to talk from an honest and personal place. This is because he finds true stories tend to be the funniest.

"It's like I'm the last one to arrive in the pub. Everyone's already there and I sit down and go: 'listen to what just happened to me'."

The comedian has always been issue-led and The Weird Way Round delves deeper into recurring themes such as racism and sexism.

"Having two daughters, I'm always thinking a little bit more about the place of women in modern society," he says.

"I find a lot of different angles on it, but they can still be consistently funny."

Doc's amalgamation of comedy and hip-hop has earned him a reputation as a unique entertainer.

"Hip-hop is a street culture – it's rugged, raw and DIY," he says.

"Stand-up has a lot of similarities with that. It has the same kind of brashness that hip-hop encourages."

He notes that his penchant for all things funny came thanks to his comedy-buff father who he'd sit down with to watch Porridge, Monty Python and the like.

Despite his love for these shows, and comedic stalwarts such as Harold Lloyd and The Marx Brothers, Doc claims his inspirations as a performer are much closer to home.

"I'm just constantly influenced by my friends and family. I like keeping my ear to the ground even though I exist in a showbiz world," he says.

"I don't hang out with people like James Corden – I hang out with all the same people as before."

Many will recognise Doc from his work with Ricky Gervais' character David Brent on Equality Street, the hit charity single which went viral.

Doc has had a very healthy working relationship with Gervais since his early days as a fledgling comedian and describes their collaborative work as a constant learning experience.

"He really doesn't have any fear when it comes to his ideas – he just goes for it," he says.

"That kind of bravery has created some of the best comedy work over the past ten years or so and it's awesome to watch."

Even though plenty of fans turn up to see the comedian perform the Comic Relief song, he insists it's not going to happen.

"A joke is rarely funny twice," he insists.

"My fan-base wants to see new material and want the night to feel special and unique – which is obviously what I'm going to provide in Nottingham."

Outside of the stand-up world, Doc recently landed one of the biggest roles of his career as leading character DS Hawkins on ITV's Law And Order: UK – a childhood dream come true for the multi-talented entertainer who used to make guns out of sticks as a child and pretend to solve crimes.

He has also been busy working with Paul Whitehouse on upcoming comic-drama Nurse, but there is another exciting project on the cards which is a true departure for the performer.

Adding another string to his bow of many talents, Doc has just signed a two-book deal with one of the UK's biggest publisher of children's books.

It puts him in the same world as his award-winning novelist sister Zadie Smith.

"She's always telling me about the publishing world and how difficult it is for writers, but mine's a totally different side of the publishing world," he says.

"The children's picture-book industry is thriving, while adult book sales are dwindling.

"Kindle and tablets have undercut everybody and it's really hard for new authors to make it."

Does he see his future as a writer?

"My immediate future is definitely in acting," says Doc.

"After this tour I'll take another sabbatical from comedy because the more intense the work gets, the less time I have to drop everything and write an hour of stand-up.

"I'm gonna do one thing at a time from now on."

Live Review: Mac Miller @ Rock City [29/09/13]

At only 21, rapper Mac Miller has had a meteoric rise to success from unsigned freestyler to international superstar, and on Sunday night he brought his unmistakable hip-hop stylings to Rock City.

The bashful Pittsburgh lyricist, promoting his sophomore studio album, Watching Movies with the Sound Off, opens the show with a newly acquired intense, aggressive sound.

                                                                                                                                 

Mac constantly gees the predominantly teenage crowd during tracks like latest single, Goosebumpz, which showcases both his trademark flow and progression as an artist.

However, it’s not until around the halfway point when the fun really starts as the rapper treats the adoring audience to a flurry of early fan-favourites. Accompanied by his DJ, Mac Miller has the crowd under his charming, juvenile spell with triumphant renditions of frat party anthem Knock Knock and infectious smash hit, Donald Trump.

There are inevitable lulls when some weaker cuts see light of day, but Mac ensures the track-heavy set ends on a high by inciting a mass a capella sing-a-long of Objects in the Mirror.

Amongst an ocean of young talent, Mac Miller has defied odds and proven himself as one of rap’s hottest properties. Judging by this, he shows no signs of stopping.