that was a huge dumpster fire, you couldn’t even understand a word he wasn’t saying lmao
Ok, then...instead of empty broadsides and performative reactions, explain why the NFL should disassociate with Jay-Z.My eyes rolled so hard I saw the back of my head
You make it sound like Hip Hop just came out. It's been out for decades. Age has nothing to do with disliking monotonic droning over a short beat loop. The music presented at the half-time show was nothing compared to the likes of the legendary Public Enemy.He's not my genre but I can't deny his talent and... I don't get the strong grumpy-old-man vibes in this comment section. This place is usually more open-minded than this.
To those who say "this is not music NFL fans like"... no s**t.
NFL fans already watch the show, they want to attract different people. I'm european, nobody I know has ever watched a single football (american football) game, yet everybody talks about the Super Bowl because it's more than a game.
To those who say "kids this days..." just cut that. Unless you're into Bach or something like that, I can guarantee someone has thought the very same thing about music you like at some point. And you surely haven't changed your mind because nostalgic man told you to.
Are you usually able to understand words that people aren't saying? If so, that's quite impressive lmaothat was a huge dumpster fire, you couldn’t even understand a word he wasn’t saying lmao
Most millennials? Speaking as one, I had only heard his name in passing, never heard one of his songs, until I looked up the super bowl half time show. Getting excited for what might be in store, I went to Youtube and checked out some of his most popular songs. I had heard none of them before and I liked none of what I heard. Looking for more info on what brought this artist to super bowl level status, I turned to my kids who also had no idea who he was. I turned to my fellow millennials who again gave me blank stares when I inquired. It was only when I turned to my teen and early 20s nieces that I found someone familiar with Lamar. So it seems a very narrow age niche and definitely millennials are not part of that age group. GOAT seems an extreme exaggeration in general, but when talking about my age group, the word doesn't even seem to apply at all unless in a mocking manner.Sigh so many Macrumors comments are incredibly out of touch. Most millennials would consider Kendrick a GOAT. And even younger fans recognize Kendrick as both an incredibly technical and potent storyteller. I listen to other rappers but for anyone who's been on the internet, you know how big this moment and the messages Kendrick delivered to the nation and Drake.
What was the message? I guess it was lost on me?Loved it … the stage, the music, the lyrics … but most of all, the message he chose to reflect the current situation in the U.S.
Out of curiosity, do you know who (have heard of) Drake is?Most millennials? Speaking as one, I had only heard his name in passing, never heard one of his songs, until I looked up the super bowl half time show. Getting excited for what might be in store, I went to Youtube and checked out some of his most popular songs. I had heard none of them before and I liked none of what I heard. Looking for for more info on what brought this artist to super bowl level status, I turned to my kids who also had no idea who he was. I turned to my fellow millennials who again gave me blank stares when I inquired. It was only when I turned to my teen and early 20s nieces that I found someone familiar with Lamar. So it seems a very narrow age niche and definitely millennials are not part of that age group. GOAT seems and extreme exaggeration in general, but when talking about my age group, the word doesn't even seem to apply at all unless in a mocking manner.
While the artist wasn't for me, I can respect different taste than my own, music is not a formula and there are no correct answers. But as far as popularity and demographics, those things are real and numerical data. Lamar isn't there. He isn't a household name.
Drake is a household name. Yes everyone is aware of Drake. I don't listen to him.Out of curiosity, do you know who (have heard of) Drake is?
His last 5 albums debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 chart dating back to 2015. He's won 22 Grammys, including 5 at this year's awards earlier this month. These are fairly mainstream metrics of success. He's not quite Taylor Swift or Beyonce level, but is definitely one of the more successful artists of the last 15 years, and is about as household a name (maybe not your household in particular) as you'll find given the relatively fractured state of the music industry these days.Most millennials? Speaking as one, I had only heard his name in passing, never heard one of his songs, until I looked up the super bowl half time show. Getting excited for what might be in store, I went to Youtube and checked out some of his most popular songs. I had heard none of them before and I liked none of what I heard. Looking for more info on what brought this artist to super bowl level status, I turned to my kids who also had no idea who he was. I turned to my fellow millennials who again gave me blank stares when I inquired. It was only when I turned to my teen and early 20s nieces that I found someone familiar with Lamar. So it seems a very narrow age niche and definitely millennials are not part of that age group. GOAT seems an extreme exaggeration in general, but when talking about my age group, the word doesn't even seem to apply at all unless in a mocking manner.
While the artist wasn't for me, I can respect different taste than my own, music is not a formula and there are no correct answers. But as far as popularity and demographics, those things are real and numerical data. Lamar isn't there. He isn't a household name.
I love rock. It was the first genre that sparked my love of music. My favorite bands/artists of all time are majority rock acts.In all seriousness, is rock even relevant?
No. Chris Martin sang a Coldplay song, but it was with a string section, so I don't count it.Was there even one rock band who played the Grammys?
Exactly.Who would play to satisfy the rock crowd? Look at this list of 25 most popular rock bands in 2024. They’re ancient.
No.Tame Impala is rad but are they “rock?”
It is.It’s a serious question. Rock seems to be niche now, tbh.
I had no problem understanding the lyrics. Were you listing through your TV speakers? On cable or satellite? I have to believe this was an audio calibrating/compression issue, along with the fact that you may not have been familiar with the songs and not know what what lyrics to expect. The brain will perceive familiar lyrics to be clearer-sounding.that was a huge dumpster fire, you couldn’t even understand a word he wasn’t saying lmao
Most millennials? Speaking as one, I had only heard his name in passing, never heard one of his songs, until I looked up the super bowl half time show. Getting excited for what might be in store, I went to Youtube and checked out some of his most popular songs. I had heard none of them before and I liked none of what I heard. Looking for more info on what brought this artist to super bowl level status, I turned to my kids who also had no idea who he was. I turned to my fellow millennials who again gave me blank stares when I inquired. It was only when I turned to my teen and early 20s nieces that I found someone familiar with Lamar. So it seems a very narrow age niche and definitely millennials are not part of that age group. GOAT seems an extreme exaggeration in general, but when talking about my age group, the word doesn't even seem to apply at all unless in a mocking manner.
While the artist wasn't for me, I can respect different taste than my own, music is not a formula and there are no correct answers. But as far as popularity and demographics, those things are real and numerical data. Lamar isn't there. He isn't a household name.
Being a "major star" means you are a household name. He is not. Using an award show that is no longer relevant to point out how relevant an artist is weird. The Grammys for decades averaged 30 million views. Most of the views at the time came from inside one country (USA) and at a time when that country was 1/3 smaller than it is now. It was water cooler talk back then. Being featured at the Grammys in that era actually meant something for relevance. Take that data into context today, where the Grammys are globally viewable, the USA has a larger population and the global population has doubled... and the Grammys in the last 5 years have had viewership between 9 and 15 million. The Grammys are irrelevant in regards to artist relevancy. In 2021 the ratings dropped to 2.1. Rated so low they no longer even track is these days. The Grammys themselves are irrelevant now, let alone boosting anyone featured.The idea that Kendrick Lamar isn't a "major star" is downright laughable.
Dude has 22 Grammys, and he just won 5 of those this year.
His latest album has 1,587,970,343 streams on Spotify.
You and many others may not like him, but anyone who doesn't think he's a star might've been in a coma for the last 15 years, even if that coma was only cultural and figurative.
Important clarifying question: are the people in your immediate family/circle people who listen to rap/hip-hop in general at all? Or any more than on an extremely casual, incidental basis? Beyond a few hit songs they might hear while on an algorithm playlist?But as far as popularity and demographics, those things are real and numerical data.
Lamar isn't there. He isn't a household name.
Being a "major star" means you are a household name. He is not. Using an award show that is no longer relevant to point out how relevant an artist is weird. The Grammys for decades averaged 30 million views. Most of the views at the time came from inside one country (USA) and at a time when that country was 1/3 smaller than it is now. It was water cooler talk back then. Being featured at the Grammys in that era actually meant something for relevance. Take that data into context today, where the Grammys are globally viewable, the USA has a larger population and the global population has doubled... and the Grammys in the last 5 years have had viewership between 9 and 15 million. The Grammys are irrelevant in regards to artist relevancy. In 2021 the ratings dropped to 2.1. Rated so low they no longer even track is these days. The Grammys themselves are irrelevant now, let alone boosting anyone featured.
Drake, Bruno Mars.. these are major stars. All demographics know of these people. Lamar however is known only to a niche set of people who obviously hold him highly and maybe are confused that their bubble doesn't reflect the world around them.
Okay, forget the Grammys completely—I didn't see this post of yours before writing my last one. Grammy's completely aside, my point stands.Lamar however is known only to a niche set of people who obviously hold him highly and maybe are confused that their bubble doesn't reflect the world around them.
My own little world is back and forth on both coasts of the US living in a multinational all generation household, with kids who have no idea who he is, their friends don't know who he is, my peers don't know who he is (both locally and abroad). He is obviously big with a certain age group, but he also not as big as his fans or perhaps the age group he pertains to, think he is. Believe me I know what is going on, it happened to my generation too (and every generation before and since). People claiming artists in my generation were as big as Elvis, the Beatles, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, etc. When they were huge with my demographic, featured in awards shows and played non stop on the radio, but not known well with other age groups, only to fade to history as my group aged and new artists replaced the people we thought were so popular, but in reality were never household names. That is obviously what stage Lamar is in right now. The comments here are evidence and make that clear. Things could change in the future. The super bowl spot may have already made that change. But we shall see. As of right now he is a star, not a super star.Weird. You must all live in your own little world.
He's in the top ten most streamed artists on Spotify, your talking like the NFL booked a Hungarian folk singer for the halftime show.
For context Usher and Alicia Keys did last year and they aren't in the top 50
He is niche. He is a star. With the bubble comment I was saying in a bubble he is a super star to those inside the bubble. To the world he is not a super star and isn't that well known. Getting hyped up by 17th most streamed artist, is a bubble. Most people globally have no idea about what goes on in the most streamed artist lists. This isn't stuff most age groups are following. Just like back in my generation, the world didn't care who was topping the radio charts (a lot of forgotten artists most people can't name today). There were a select few artists from my generation that carried on their name and are household names. That happened every generation. Those are super stars. Bruno Mars is a super star of today. Lamar is not yet at that status. He is a star. He is relevant to people who follow the pop charts, the teens and early 20s. Being 17th on that list is actually a dead give away he is not a household name.Okay, forget the Grammys completely—I didn't see this post of yours before writing my last one. Grammy's completely aside, my point stands.
Again, you are claiming that the 17th most streamed artist in the world is a "niche", "bubble" artist.
That's a hell of a niche bubble! We'll agree to disagree.
Interesting. UMG did a really good job, and I guess that makes it more obvious as to why he is suing them.Drake is a household name. Yes everyone is aware of Drake. I don't listen to him.
Of course hip hop is a valid genre. But that performance was sleeeeeeeepy.Hip-hop is a valid genre. Not for everyone, but no less filled with creativity and talent than any other genre. The performance was pretty good, if you ask me, even though I don't gravitate towards that genre myself. I did enjoy it!
My own little world is back and forth on both coasts of the US living in a multinational all generation household, with kids who have no idea who he is, their friends don't know who he is, my peers don't know who he is (both locally and abroad). He is obviously big with a certain age group, but he also not as big as his fans or perhaps the age group he pertains to, think he is. Believe me I know what is going on, it happened to my generation too (and every generation before and since). People claiming artists in my generation were as big as Elvis, the Beatles, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, etc. When they were huge with my demographic, featured in awards shows and played non stop on the radio, but not known well with other age groups, only to fade to history as my group aged and new artists replaced the people we thought were so popular, but in reality were never household names. That is obviously what stage Lamar is in right now. The comments here are evidence and make that clear. Things could change in the future. The super bowl spot may have already made that change. But we shall see. As of right now he is a star, not a super star.
He is niche. He is a star. With the bubble comment I was saying in a bubble he is a super star to those inside the bubble. To the world he is not a super star and isn't that well known. Getting hyped up by 17th most streamed artist, is a bubble. Most people globally have no idea about what goes on in the most streamed artist lists. This isn't stuff most age groups are following. Just like back in my generation, the world didn't care who was topping the radio charts (a lot of forgotten artists most people can't name today). There were a select few artists from my generation that carried on their name and are household names. That happened every generation. Those are super stars. Bruno Mars is a super star of today. Lamar is not yet at that status. He is a star. He is relevant to people who follow the pop charts, the teens and early 20s. Being 17th on that list is actually a dead give away he is not a household name.
Couldn't care less about the super bowl, but I like Kendrick's music so I watched it. Thought it was great. Read an article on the symbolism (well probable symbolism, it's literally been less than a day) and watched it again. Personally I think it was genius.
EDIT: I should point out, I watched it after the fact on Youtube where, apparently, the sound issues were fixed. From what I've heard, if you saw it live on anything other than Tubi, the sound was terrible.
Speaking as a middle aged dude, there seem to be a bunch of middle aged (and older) dudes in this thread desperately dismissing one of the biggest musicians on the planet right now because they think they're still young and cool and don't want to admit that they're not.