The artist formerly known as Kanye West has declared that Kendrick Lamar and Tyler, the Creator are neck-and-neck when it comes to lyrical skills. But he didn’t mean that as a compliment.
Ye shared his thoughts via X on Wednesday, just weeks after criticizing K.Dot and Tyler’s music. Ye accused the latter of failing to make a “memorable song” and “ripping off” his “whole language,” and slammed Kendrick’s contributions to Playboi Carti’s latest album, MUSIC.
Although he has worked with both artists on multiple records, Ye downplayed Kendrick and Tyler’s talent, claiming their bars were inferior to his.
“Kendrick and Tyler raps are about equal honestly,” he wrote. “Name one good Tyler, the Creator bar. Name an actual good Kendrick line. Like you really wish you had said that level bar… “
He continued, “Broooo Kendrick Lamar can not rap. [Lil] Wayne got waaaay more life bars. I got more bars. Kendrick doesn’t have one bar where I say I wish I said that. Kendrick and Tyler the two most overrated so called artist. Please order more security.”
The posts contradicted Ye’s previous claims about Kendrick’s musical work. In February, the Donda artist applauded K.Dot’s Super Bowl Halftime Show, saying it was his favorite since “the Michael Jackson era.”
“They did ‘Be Humble’—the way people’s heads were moving, I was just like shook,” he recalled. “This is like super fresh. The man’s voice control, all that. Then they build up the controversy on whether he’s gonna do the record [‘Not Like Us’].”
Ye previously declared that Kendrick “raps very good,” and suggested K.Dot was the victor in his legendary beef with Drake.
“If you rap against Kendrick, you will lose,” Ye said during an appearance on Justin Laboy’s The Download podcast. “If you rap against Kendrick Lamar, it’s a really difficult task. But perhaps it’s something … Unless you’re a psycho genius like me.”
While recording their 2015 track “Smuckers,” Ye recognized Tyler as a big inspiration for Yeezus, Ye’s 2013 studio album.
“I don’t think there would have been a Yeezus if it wasn’t for you,” he told Tyler in a resurfaced video. “You put that battery in my back.”
The disses of Kendrick and Tyler continue Ye’s latest string of eyebrow-raising social media posts, including his claim that he performed oral sex on his cousin when he was younger. The admission generated a slew of responses from other hip-hop figures who expressed everything from sympathy to skepticism.
Ye addressed the reactions earlier this week, saying the confession has led some to believe he was gay.
“Now that people think I’m gay am allowed to say f****t,” he wrote. “Everyone loves me now. Don’t worry. I’ll make you hate me again.”
