![]() None of which makes “The Heart Part 5” an obvious move. ![]() If we have to wait a half-decade between albums, well, that’s the time classics take. But whereas their minimalist output over the past two decades implies a lack of urgency, Kendrick’s feels like a dedication to craft. Kendrick avoids these pitfalls by making himself scarce, with a release schedule closer to fellow left-of-center icons like Q-Tip or André 3000. Few rappers have done well when burdened with such expectations: Nas ran away from them after Illmatic, 2Pac was murdered living up to them, and Jay-Z cannily channeled them towards lucrative ends while losing popular support. Like Marvin, Stevie, or Prince, the name Kendrick is now a shorthand for Black excellence, a responsibility that once threatened to derail him as he made To Pimp A Butterfly, but one that he now carries with humility and grace. The Marvin Gaye connection is key, tying Kendrick’s music to that of previous generational talents that once anointed themselves as voices of the people. ![]()
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