“Quantum physics could never show you the world I was in. When I was ten, back when nine ounces had got you ten and nine times out of ten, ni**as don’t pay attention and when there’s tension in the air, nines come with extensions” - Kendrick Lamar
So is it wrong for me to put him on the level of Nas, Em and Jay-Z? I don’t think so.
I thought it was pretty generally accepted that Kendrick is on that level.
In my experience whenever his place in the rankings is brought up he is usually said to be the best of this era (since Wayne) but isn’t exactly a GOAT yet. Think of LBJ as many people can compare him to Kobe and Jordan but the widespread conversation of “is he” and a consensus that he’s one of the greatest hasn’t arisen yet. Hopefully that’ll change with his fourth album. Assuming it’s on par with Section .80, Good Kid, M.A.A.D City and To Pimp A Butterfly he would have enough material for that conversation to take place.