Kamaiyah has come to Hip Hop’s defense after Tory Lanez critiqued the state of the genre in 2022.
In a series of tweets on Monday (August 8), the Daystar rapper questioned the quality of rap albums that have dropped this year, saying he hasn’t heard a project that has “moved” him like blog era mixtapes such as Wiz Khalifa’sKush & Orange Juice and Drake’sSo Far Gone.
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“For the first time in a long time ….. everything in music is MID right now … like I truly haven’t heard a project that has moved me in the last 8-9 months,” Tory wrote. “2022 what the fuck going on with u my boy lol.
“Like don’t get it twisted … we getting by off what out now … and u might have some heaters on every album here and there but … I kinda miss that ‘Kush and OJ’ …. ‘So Far Gone’ mixtape era when the body of work was more important than a fucking hit song.”
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Tory Lanez went on to praise Kendrick Lamar’sMr. Morale & The Big Steppers, Chris Brown’sBreezy, Lil Durk’s7220 and NBA YoungBoy’sThe Last Slimeto, but claimed this year’s rap albums have failed to move the needle like earlier releases from JAY-Z, Dr. Dre and Kanye West.
“The albums of 2022 I did like tho was Kendrick’s … breezy … Durk … NBA … and few more that I prolly can’t remember,” he added. “but I can’t really think of a 2022 version of like a REASONABLE DOUBT or THE CHRONIC or COLLEGE DROPOUT.”
After Tory’s tweet caused a stir online, Kamaiyah weighed in on the debate on Tuesday (August 9) with a slightly different take. Although she didn’t mention Tory by name, the Oakland rapper blasted those who criticize contemporary music yet don’t seek out “fire shit” beyond what’s heavily promoted.
She also challenged his theory about 2022 rap albums by pointing to Vince Staples’ critically acclaimed Ramona Park Broke My Heart.
Best Hip Hop Albums Of 2023 Recap
“Stop saying people aren’t making timeless music/Good music anymore, y’all aren’t even trying to discover fire shit just listening to what the media is pumpin in front of you,” Kamaiyah wrote. “The n-gga @vincestaples had one of the hardest projects this year and that needs to be acknowledged.”
Tory Lanez or Vince Staples have yet to respond.
Released in April as the follow-up to last year’s Vince Staples, Ramona Park Broke My Heart featured appearances from Lil Baby, Ty Dolla $ign, Mustard and more.
HipHopDX gave the album a 4.0 out of 5 score, praising Staples’ brutally introspective rhymes about his native Long Beach and its cohesive, G-Funk-era production.
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Ramona Park Broke My Heart also ranks as one of DX’sBest Hip Hop Albums of 2022 alongside projects from Kendrick Lamar, Pusha T, Future, Joey Bada$$, Benny The Butcher and more.
