Shyne shares regrets over Kendrick Lamar diss: “I made a mistake”
Former Bad Boy rapper Shyne once called Kendrick Lamar‘s good kid, m.A.A.d city album “trash.” However, now, over a decade after making the claims, he’s walking back on his harsh words, putting it down to his own mindset at the time.
Speaking on the My Expert Opinion podcast, Shyne admitted he was “obviously” proven wrong about K.Dot’s Aftermath debut, and went a step further by calling him one of the best artists alive.
“I would say I made a mistake about Kendrick Lamar. I will admit to that,” he said. “I think that was definitely a mistake. Lamar has obviously proven me completely wrong.”
He continued, “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.”
Shyne made his initial statement about good kid, m.A.A.d city, which is widely considered among the best rap albums of all time, on Twitter (now known as X) in 2012. He then appeared on the Cipha Sounds & Rosenberg show, reiterating his thoughts about Kendrick Lamar’s project, claiming the “trash” beats messed up his flow.
“We live in the United States of America, we don’t live in the United States of Aftermath. Jimmy Iovine doesn’t pay me, I can say whatever I want,” he said. “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.”
Shortly after the diss, Kendrick Lamar reacted to Shyne’s words during an interview with Vibe, saying, “That’s his opinion, but one opinion can’t stop how the world thinks.” He also referenced the comments on his song ‘The Jig Is Up (Dump’n)’, rapping, “I pray to God this beat is good enough for Shyne.”