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[Korey]

Quit using the term Pop because it doesn't tell me anything. He was still doing "Black music" with duets with Mary J. Blige, Bobby Brown, Ashanti, Jennifer Lopez, Christina Milian, etc.. These songs were getting heavy rotation on R&B/Hip hop stations and Black clubs and venues.

What's weird is I'm looking at the music from early 2000 to 2010 and there's nothing like the current crop of pop singers. It's mostly Hip Hop and R&B.

So...an equivalent from back in the day would be like a rap feature in a Britney Spears or Christina Aguilera or Kelly Clarkson song I guess...which just did not happen.

Summer Songs 1958-2015: The Top 10 Tunes of Each Summer

 

[DOWN]

Pop music is pretty much phoned in these days. Pretty faces who have okay voices that are enhanced and play over catchy beats by the best producers and dj's and songwriters.

I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter
Dancing through the fire
'Cause I am the champion, and you're gonna hear me roar
Louder, louder than a lion
'Cause I am a champion, and you're gonna hear me roar!
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh

Above is Katy Perry lyrics for Roar.

Below is Rihanna and work which says the words out but she doesn't fully enunciate as she is trying to emulate the jamaican style of speech.

Work, work, work, work, work, work
You see me I be work, work, work, work, work, work
You see me do me dirt, dirt, dirt, dirt, dirt, dirt
There's something 'bout that work, work, work, work, work, work
When you a gon' learn, learn, learn, learn, learn, learn
Me na care if me tired, tired, tired, tired, tired, tired

This post is desperate and lame as fuck. As if selectively chosen songs and simple lyrics in them will make everyone think a genre has less value

 

[lightskintwin]

What's weird is I'm looking at the music from early 2000 to 2010 and there's nothing like the current crop of pop singers. It's mostly hip hop and r&b.

So...an equivalent from back in the day would be like a rap feature in a Britney Spears or Christina Aguilera or Kelly Clarkson song I guess...which just did not happen.

Summer Songs 1958-2015: The Top 10 Tunes of Each Summer

Exactly. Hip Hop and Contemporary R&B was not pop in the 90's. There was a very Pro Black vibe to it. You would be viewed as a sell out, if you made a song with Celine Dion back then.

 

[Sadsic]

this is probably the most phoned in feature of all time, considering Karen O seems to ACTUALLY be recorded off a phone:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nzHpFDixWo

 

[metalslimer]

Actually I take it back, if you count Never Catch Me as a feature, that was awesome.

 

[Maengun1]

I like Kendrick a lot, but yeah that's weak and I vastly prefer the original version of The Greatest because of it.

I like rap, and I like pop, and it's certainly possible to do a good blend of the two, but the overall trend where like 80% of pop singles have a rap feature shoved in Just 'Cause often irritates me.

 

[ClayKavalier]

No, there is nothing serious in my post to indicate that. Are you at that point in your 20s when you think your taste is better than everyone else's?

No, but come on man. Taste is subjective sure, but preferring Chingy to Kendrick is like preferring Spam to... any actual food.

And the fact that your favorite artists are over a decade past their prime clearly indicates that. =P

 

[shiftplusone]

His features this year have been mediocre for the most part with exceptions on Really Doe and Sidewalks. He may be my favorite rapper, but even I can admit he been shit on features. Yet, on The Greatest it's decent.

I like him on conrad tokyo a lot

 

[Sun Drugs]

His features this year have been mediocre for the most part with exceptions on Really Doe and Sidewalks. He may be my favorite rapper, but even I can admit he been shit on features. Yet, on The Greatest it's decent.

I also really liked him on Isaiah Rashad's Wat's Wrong.

 

[toastyToast]

Kendrick's features are all over the place

 

[SMG]

Sean Paul on that baby song ruins the whole thing.

 

[hughesta]

Tell me, what's next?

Spoiler

alien sex

 

[Banglish]

So what are some examples of good rap features on pop songs..

 

[Eos]

Expect rappers to put in effort on pop song features brehs

 

[Switch Back 9]

Who gives a fuck? Pop music as a genre is literally the definition of phoned in trash. If the homie wants to make a quick buck with some half assed verse then go for it. So long as he takes it seriously on his own shit and spits real.

Expect rappers to put in effort on pop song features brehs

This.

 

[fisheyes]

It's so cringeworthy. Reminds me of Jay-Z's verse on Monster.


Listen on YouTube

Lyrics:

"My bounceback was special"?

The no's and "nah" sprinkled into the chorus are just icing on the cake.

My girlfriend (who really likes Sia) and I (who likes Sia and Kendrick), were having this exact conversation just recently. Its the "no no" line that gets me every time, I can't help but mock it when I hear it.

Sia tracks with tacked on rap verses are shit anyway.

 

[CloudWolf]

So what are some examples of good rap features on pop songs..

As much as I hate to say it, Iggy Azaelia on Problem and Nicki Minaj on Bang Bang.

They feel part of the songs, not just Song (rap remix)

 

[Fevaweva]

In my opinon, Kendrick is overrated. I know 99% of people will disagree with me and they are entitled to their opinon as well but music is personal and I don't think he has any songs I want to listen to more than once.

I 300% agree.

So what are some examples of good rap features on pop songs..

They are rather old nowadays but Kanye West on American Boy and Kanye West on Knock You Down

 

[Gastone]

I feel like this goes for the majority of songs that has a rapper come in and sing some bullshit that completely ruins the song.

 

[lightskintwin]

In my opinon, Kendrick is overrated. I know 99% of people will disagree with me and they are entitled to their opinon as well but music is personal and I don't think he has any songs I want to listen to more than once.

Couldn't agree more. People putting his name near any of the greats gives me the vapors. KRS would straight clown Kendro any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

I 300% agree.

You mean you wouldn't want to listen to this song more than once?

Kendrick Lamar 'HiiiPOWER'

 

[Cipherr]

Who are you comparing him to tho? I think Drake tops all but I don't fault an artist for his features, I fault him for his album music and his discography is superb

I don't compare him to anyone. I'm just judging the music based on the music itself. Bothering to bring another artist in for comparison just muddies the discussion anyway and veers it off into something completely irrelevant. An artist can craft decent albums and be bad on features. Kendrick is living breathing proof of it.

I wouldnt call him a bad artist all around, its just that this thread specifies features. And he lacks in that area except for one sole bright spot IMO.

 

[Auctopus]

All of Kendrick'a features have been pretty phoned in since TPAB. I'm sure he'll bring the heat for his next record.

 

[Lamel]

Rap features on pop songs aren't really the bastions of quality.

 

[Switch Back 9]

pop songs aren't really the bastions of quality.

FTFY

 

[CrimsonSquall]

I don't compare him to anyone. I'm just judging the music based on the music itself. Bothering to bring another artist in for comparison just muddies the discussion anyway and veers it off into something completely irrelevant. An artist can craft decent albums and be bad on features. Kendrick is living breathing proof of it.

I wouldnt call him a bad artist all around, its just that this thread specifies features. And he lacks in that area except for one sole bright spot IMO.

We must be very specific here. Kendrick doesn't give his best work on POP features. Which to me doesn't mean shit. Why would u bring your best bars on a pop track, considering how many soccer moms would prolly be upset considering how raw it would prolly have to be to be looked at as dope?

Pop features mostly are kaka. Some exceptions, but it's pop y'all. Kendrick still the goat, he hits the beat and floats and kills his rap features which is much more relevant to his career

 

[RBelong2Us]

theyre still out there and exist which is the sad part.

 

[Cerity]

His feature on wat's wrong is amazing.

I'm still listening to the suns tirade daily.

 

[Ivan 3414]

Expect rappers to put in effort on pop song features brehs

That justifies Kendrick's shitty features how

 

[The Ummah]

Kanye killed that Estelle track, wheewwwww! That song never gets old.

 

[Lemaitre]

lol at someone counting a posthomous B.I.G. or Pac feature.

They don't count because they had no say about it.

As for Lamar phoning it in yeah he is but greater exposure for Untitled/To Pimp a Butterfly/etc ultimately.

 

[Erv]

Most nicki minaj pop features were actually done through the phone with the studio gussying then up at a later date. Absolutely unbearable.

Also his part on the song with Taylor Swift was dreck also.



Couldn't agree more. People putting his name near any of the greats gives me the vapors. KRS would straight clown Kendro any day of the week and twice on Sunday.

Clown him how? I assume you mean a battle? I know that KRS SUPPOSEDLY writes battle raps for others just to have them ready but he style is outdated. Kendrick would demolish him.

 

[CrimsonSquall]

That justifies Kendrick's shitty features how

It's pop

 

[Ivan 3414]

It's pop

Is pop not music? Is Kendrick not an artist?

 

[Lemaitre]

Is pop not music? Is Kendrick not an artist?

Not that there cannot be masterpieces in pop but usually pop is just to have fun & unwind.

Relax mang.

 

[CrimsonSquall]

Is pop not music? Is Kendrick not an artist?

Pop being music may be subjective, yes

 

[Rad-]

Kanye on E.T.

Bad lyrics but the way he raps fits the song imo. I like that version more than the one without Kanye.

 

[SomedayTheFire]

The version of Cheap Thrills without Sean Paul that they play on adult contemporary stations is incredibly flat and hollow; sometimes a song is built around a feature.

What? The original version is the one without Sean Paul.

Edit: maybe I misunderstood your post

 

[Via Purifico]

nah man Snoop Dogg is king of shitty features


he literally phones them in, like on this monstrosity of a song. Doesn't even show up in the video, probably never showed up in the studio either. Everyone involved with this song should be put in prison.

Oh god that is so bad..

 

[Log4Girlz]

Yeah, its not the greatest, that's for sure

 

[CrimsonSquall]

Juicy J was actually a really good feature for Katy Perry on dark horse if we're just throwing random shit out there

 

[Smooth Operator]

Big and Mase did on 112's Only You


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D30u9m-nEoo

i miss Mase.

 

[Trey]

All of Kendrick'a features have been pretty phoned in since TPAB. I'm sure he'll bring the heat for his next record.

The boy snapped on tHat part remix.

 

[brawly]

It's such a terrible part in a great song. They even cut it out of the music video.

 

[Brazil]

It's pop

It's rap



Wow, I feel so nihilistic right now.

 

[Glin]

His part has brought no added value to the song aka it is bad.

 

[DesertEater]

I was just thinking about this the other day.

I love kendrick. He's easily one of the most talented rapper right now. Hearing him on Sia songs though, it feels like he's trying to make a point he's only there for the money. I can't imagine those lyrics took him more than five minutes to write. Can't hate him for it though. I mean he could but some effort in it and make something actually good. It feels so forced. Same with Bad Blood. I just can't imagine Kendrick and TS being buddies.

 

[Galang]

Jay-Z on Drunk in love. So bad. Can tolerate him on monster somewhat

 

[QuantumSquid]

well one thing's for sure, cheap thrills is way better without sean paul.

him going "mo den diamond mo den gold" every 5 seconds does nothing for the song, at least in my opinion.

 

[Robot Pants]

It's bad but nothing is Jay-z monster bad

 

[MANUELF]

Love the song but I have no idea why he's on the track.

Why is he doing pop tracks (ex. Taylor Swift, Sia, etc)?

Those features pay the bills

OT: nothing is more phoned in than Jay Z on Rihanna Umbrella