The Game & D Smoke Commend Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” As Tribute To L.A. Gang Culture

The West Coast obviously has a lot to say about Kendrick Lamar’s Drake diss track “Not Like Us.” That’s not only because of their support of K.Dot in the battle, but because of how much the track pays homage and reference to Los Angeles gang culture in various forms and puts it in a different context. Cali rappers D Smoke and The Game recently sat down for an interview with Rocsi Diaz, during which they ranked out the best hits from the West and spoke on the Mustard-produced chart-topper in particular. Smoke started things off with a pretty solid summary.

“Kendrick has such a special place in the West,” D Smoke expressed concerning Kendrick Lamar and his “Not Like Us” diss track. “Because everything that gang culture established for the West, Kendrick, on one hand, continues the camaraderie element of gang culture, but he elevates it to this intellectual, loving, Malcolm-Martin kind of perspective.” “I think Kendrick does the best job possible at explaining who we are, what we are,” The Game added. “Even though we have this stigma on us as a culture, he does an amazing job at explaining to the world how and why they should understand why we are the way that we are.”

Read More: Hip-Hop Albums That Grew On Us The Most In 2024

D Smoke & The Game Speak On Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us”

“He’s not just one of the best rappers ever,” D Smoke added about Kendrick Lamar. “He’s one of the best artists ever. If you look at the intent behind his projects, the musicality, it’s not something you can do independent of the artist. If the artist doesn’t have that vision, the product won’t be what it is.” He and The Game agreed that “Not Like Us” is the fourth-best West Coast hit of all time, with some Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre classics plus Nipsey Hussle’s “Last Time That I Checc’d” landing elsewhere on their top six.

Still, this discussion around Kendrick Lamar is something that The Game admitted he feels left out of, as he doesn’t get the same amount of respect as other Cali legends. But he is much more focused on being a great father, something that he tearfully defended and emphasized during this interview. There is no greater joy.

Read More: How Hip-Hop Culture “Revived” Itself & Declared War On Its Leaders In 2024

[via]

The post The Game & D Smoke Commend Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” As Tribute To L.A. Gang Culture appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Lil Reese Flashed Gang Signs As A Toddler, Opens For Chance The Rapper

During his recent appearance on the No Jumper podcast, Lil Reese opened up about his early years. The Chicago-born performer revealed that he was exposed to gang culture at an extremely young age, even repping BD as a toddler. Lil Reese says older guys from his neighborhood had him throwing gang signs at as early as 3 years old.

“They looked at me like I was [their] son,” he described. “They used to make me shoot dice, all type of sh*t. For real.” He even started smoking weed in elementary school, sharing that he “hit the blunt” at only age 10. “My mom and them didn’t know though, like I was sneaking and doing that sh*t.” Though he was exposed to that as a child, Lil Reese claims that he doesn’t want his own kids to have the same experience. “I ain’t gonna let my son do no sh*t like that though,” he explained.

Read More: Lil Reese Donates To The Homeless Amid Water-Pouring Scandal

Lil Reese Opens For Chance The Rapper

It’s no secret that Lil Reese was up to no good as a kid. During an interview earlier this year, he revealed that he used to steal bikes with his friends, including the late King Von and Fredo Santana. “I used to take n***as bikes back then… All them n***as from 63rd, we used to go down on they block and beat them up and take they bikes, real sh*t. Catch them on the bus and up guns on them and sh*t. We used to torture them boys,” he explained. Though the rapper is open about the antics of his early day, it appears as though he’s making an effort to turn things around. Recently, he even returned a bike he stole from DJ Univercity.

Earlier this week, the artist also opened up for fellow Chicago native Chance The Rapper at one of his LA shows. In a new clip, he’s seen performing his 2012 track “Us,” as fans cheer him on. What do you think of Lil Reese throwing up gang signs as a 3-year-old? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates on Lil Reese.

Read More: Lil Reese Issues Apology After Friend Pours Water On Homeless Man

[Via]

The post Lil Reese Flashed Gang Signs As A Toddler, Opens For Chance The Rapper appeared first on HotNewHipHop.