Both the East and West Coasts have been turning out great names in hip-hop since the birth of the genre back in the ’70s. From Dr. Dre and Tupac to the Notorious B.I.G. and Jay-Z to a recent wave of fresh faces, New York and California have proven to the country that there is no shortage of talent from either state. Two of the most notable individuals who have recently graced the hip-hop scene are A$AP Rocky and Kendrick Lamar. These rising rappers have captivated an audience that is now watching their every move, and no one is planning on looking away anytime soon.
A$AP Rocky, born Rakim Mayers, reps Harlem and is part of the A$AP Mob. Named after rap legend Rakim, A$AP chose to go by a different moniker in hopes of leaving behind his own legacy. After picking up momentum from his self-released mixtape ”Live. Love. A$AP,” the rapper received nominations for MTV’s Europe Music Awards as well as the BET Hip-Hop Awards. His first full-length album, produced by Rocky himself and fellow Mobster A$AP Yams, dropped on Jan. 15 and debuted at No. 1. The album features the certified platinum single “F**kin’ Problems,” which has a little help from Drake, 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar, while the album as a whole has other guest appearances from ScHoolboy Q, Santigold, Joey Bada$$, Yelawolf, Danny Brown, Action Bronson and Big K.R.I.T. Rocky managed to sell out his LONGLIVEA$AP tour prior to his album release, and getting ranked No. 8 on MTV’s Hottest MCs in the Game is also on his long list of accomplishments.
Rocky has received recognition for his multifaceted role not only as a rapper, but also as a producer and up-and-coming fashion icon. His looks have already been captured for the cover of Vogue, a revolutionary feat — Rocky is the first rapper to make the cover of the magazine. In a recent interview, Rocky told Power 106, “I never thought they would put a black kid from Harlem with gold teeth and braids on the front of Vogue.” The rapper also mentioned in the interview that he prefers a larger crowd; his lack of stage fright is sure to come in handy since his number of fans is only going to grow.
Hailing from Compton is Kendrick Lamar, formerly known as K. Dot. This 25-year-old has already finished four projects under TopDawg Entertainment, leading up to his efforts to complete “good kid, m.A.A.d city.” Lamar’s debut album was released back in October and has sold over 700,000 units to date, which means it’s well on its way to becoming certified platinum. Noted for Lamar’s complex lyrics and unmistakable vocals, the album tells the story of young black males battling with Compton’s poisonous environment. Lamar was named MTV’s No. 1 pick for Hottest MC in the Game and kept up appearances by making a cameo on Saturday Night Live in January. His hit single “Swimming Pools” and collaborations with The Game, Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg, Little Brother, DJ Quik, Scott Storch and Cool & Dre have helped to expand his fan base even further. Lamar’s unique artistry will only keep us guessing what he’s capable of next.
A$AP Rocky will be touring until May 8 and is on the lineup for the 2013 Bonnaroo Music Festival in June. Lamar will also be at Bonnaroo, and is performing again at The Governors Ball and Firefly this summer.