Kendrick Lamar Gets West Coast Hip-Hop's Torch

Snoop Dogg passes down the torch of West Coast rap to Kendrick Lamar a few months after Section 80 released.Kendrick would later talk about the pressure of all of the expectations on him when he is seen "as 'Pac reincarnated" in The Heart Part 3.

Media Analysis

LA Times and Complex describe a significant event at the Music Box Theatre in Los Angeles in August 2011, where established West Coast icons Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and The Game publicly endorsed Lamar as their successor. This moment came shortly after the release of Lamar's acclaimed "Section.80" project, which the LA Times described as "one of the year's finest," positioning the then 24-year-old Compton native as the rightful heir to the West Coast throne.

West Coast Hip-Hop's Succession History

The LA Times article provides extensive historical context absent from the Complex coverage, detailing the complex lineage of West Coast hip-hop royalty. It traces the succession from Ice-T and Ice Cube in the late 1980s to Snoop Dogg's emergence under Dr. Dre's tutelage in 1992, noting that while Tupac Shakur had a claim to the throne, his non-California upbringing complicated his status. The article then chronicles The Game's rise in 2004 as the inheritor of the Death Row/Aftermath legacy before Kendrick's coronation, characterizing West Coast succession as "less 'Glorious Revolution,' more 'War of the Roses'" compared to the clearer East Coast lineage from Notorious B.I.G. to Jay-Z.

The Coronation Ceremony Details

Complex's coverage provides more intimate details of the torch-passing ceremony itself, featuring Snoop Dogg's firsthand account of the emotional moment. Snoop recalls being in the audience with Dr. Dre during Kendrick's performance before being invited onstage, where he definitively declared, "This n*a's the king." The article uniquely mentions that Kurupt was also present at the ceremony and captures Kendrick's emotional reaction, noting he "broke down in tears" upon receiving this recognition. Snoop's testimony emphasizes the organic nature of the decision, stating, "it was no discussion that we had three weeks ago. That shit happened right there."

Kendrick's Future Prospects

The LA Times article concludes with forward-looking analysis not present in the Complex piece, questioning whether Lamar could maintain his artistic integrity while achieving commercial success. It specifically wonders if "a smart, uncompromised rapper" could "earn national radio play and go gold without having to change the style that got him there," especially given rumors of his Interscope deal and the commercial climate favoring pop crossovers. This skepticism about the music industry's influence contrasts with Snoop's unequivocal endorsement in the Complex article, where he praises Kendrick's subsequent career trajectory: "I see all the work he put in before he took the crown and after he got the crown. He is a true king."Sources: LA Times and Complex*There may be errors on this page.