Shyne Barrow just can’t leave the news cycle these days. Not only has he been speaking up on his past relationship with Sean “Diddy” Combs, but also his past criticisms of other notable rap figures, such as Kendrick Lamar.
During his recent appearance on the “My Expert Opinion” podcast, Barrow admits to being wrong about his initial impression of the respected Compton MC, saying, “I would say I made a mistake about Kendrick Lamar. I will admit to that. I think that was definitely a mistake.”
He continues, “I think Drake is nice, Drake is incredible and Lamar has obviously proven me completely wrong, but everybody got it at the time but I was dealing with whatever I was dealing with and I didn’t understand it, I didn’t appreciate it. He’s obviously proven to be one of the greatest musicians in our generation. That’s one I take back.”
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The Belizean politician is referring to a tweet he wrote in October 2012, shortly after the release of Lamar’s major label debut, “good kid, m.A.A.d city.”
He wrote, “[Kendrick Lamar] is talented with a lot of potential but his album is traaaaash!”
Even at the time, this was considered a hot take, as Lamar’s album was considered one of the best albums of the year and a beautiful example of how to make a conceptual album.
But Barrow only doubled down on his take during an interview on Hot 97, saying, “I’m not talking reckless. I said the young boy got potential and I said he was talented, but the album is trash. That’s tough love. I didn’t attack him as an individual, I didn’t say anything disrespectful. It’s trash!”
He added, “Beats is trash, number one. And once your beats are trash, you’re finished because you can’t handle a good flow. I don’t really want to hear what you gotta say. I’ll go buy Dr. Cornel West’s album if I want to hear someone talk.”
He made these comments just three years after he was released from prison in 2009, allegedly taking the fall for Diddy in the 1999 club shooting that resulted in him serving a 10-year prison sentence.