The Connection Between Kendrick Lamar's "man at the garden" & Nas' "One Mic" |

[@LoonieGoon3r]

heart pt. 6 is the type of story Drake could never tell about his own life and come-up. "Not Like Us" FYI, the SWV song was written by Pharrell Williams and produced by The Neptunes.

[@navyvet2841]

I thought it was clever he used a neptunes beat for the heart pt 6 know drake used the name for a response track and how Kendrick defended Pharrell during the beef

[@MrKnicks718]

He had that Nas flow pattern on there. The Real will always win. Album on repeat 🔥🔥🔥

[@AuraJutsu]

Im team kendrick but i used to rock with the old drake, the beat actually reminded me of the type of beat he wouldve used in comeback season & drakes forte was always his introspectiveness. That version of drake has done stuff like this. For me his problem musically on for all the dogs (aside from it always being questionable what hes penning & not penning) is that A. he was trying to cater to the younger generation a little too heavily & B. He hasnt seemed to mature. Every other flaw ive grown to dislike about him is just how he moves off record.

[@kazihiseguy-fernand4637]

@@AuraJutsu nobody has a problem with the old Drake. He just festered at some point and lost himself

[@slickeno4117]

@@LoonieGoon3r drake did try on “away from home” but its not the caliber of the heart 6

[@Robert2B]

I lost count how many times I bumped GNX. It’s a classic!

[@alexmarquez5170]

At least 10 times by now

[@m.kmapachi4389]

Me too.

[@chiefnem]

@@Robert2B relax

[@Monei_selflove]

Lord I’ve listened a unhealthy amount of times so far

[@JA-mj9re]

Chill its not a classic 😂

[@SoundTasteLifestyle]

Kendrick is leading the pack right now and has been for a minute. Salute from Flushing, Queens NY

[@fixthesegames6303]

@@SoundTasteLifestyle ha you're from flushing? I'm right in college point. Salute 🫡

[@SoundTasteLifestyle]

@ Salute! This place is magical. Even when I leave it draws me right back!!!

[@nathangraham5438]

Nas the 🐐 Kendrick a 🐐

[@sharronjones1017]

I love the fact that Dot stays grounded & true to his craft! He refuses to rush his art, and we are glad to wait because it takes a lifetime to fully consume & appreciate real art. Bringing humanity back to hip hop instead of balling out & spiking the ball he continues to live his best life, love & appreciate his family, represent his family respectfully & continue sculpting more art without missing enjoying his children’s growing up. He refuses to sell out his family to brag by becoming a deviant! Thank God👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

[@boomdoxful2533]

Kendrick reminds me of Nas so much 👑

[@darrellwilliams9168]

Same. My 2 favorite rappers Nas then Dot so I loved the song

[@Put1demerede]

I've began considering Good kid, M.A.A.D City like the spiritual successor to Illmatic so it's not surprising to see this Kendrick Lamar and Nas link.

[@Shaun.is.typing]

@@Put1demerede 💯

[@jayell1761]

Agree. Glad i'm not the only one who feels that way. I don't know if Kendrick's perspective has changed because he's on record stating Jay and Em are his favorites, and Reasonable Doubt is better than Illmatic. But thematically in lyrics and also values-wise as far as how he moves through the game and addresses direct beef or the idea of indirect beef (if you tip toe around his name), Kendrick resembles Nas to me so much. On Ludacris' record, "I Do It for Hip-Hop, Nas says, "You call it beef, to me it's just a fv

[@boomdoxful2533]

@ Facts! They have so much in common. They also has the very similar musical and life outlooks!

[@michellemybell5608]

I DEFINITELY felt this gave 1 Mic!! & it came after saying Nas was the only 1 who congratulated him.. I said this on Twitter & I will say it here I think we are being "chipped by a throw away" this is NOT "the album"..

[@firstnamelastname4427]

One of his day one best friends said on Twitter that there's more coming.

[@atonscott]

@@michellemybell5608 boom

[@CurtissKingTV]

Appreciate you pulling up! Always a pleasure brotha.

[@cheychey_pronouncedShy-Shy]

The beat itself is damn a one mic sample…I heard it immediately

[@christinathein951]

Yes! I took me a minute but near the end of the song it’s blatant

[@theenlightmentchannel3842]

I listen to GNX in my truck and it was great!

[@GJones712]

First time I’ve heard that theory about All I Need and One Mic, but makes a lot of sense.

[@AsterisqBeats]

How have I listened to both of those albums religiously not made the connection?? Mind blown.

[@supwithit]

This is for sure a classic. Like, it gets thrown around for almost every/any album, but this has the formula that some of your classic 90s rap albums.

[@nubius]

we'll see in 4 years.

[@sanjayd7]

I’m trying to not listen to the album too much because i absolutely kill Kendrick albums for the first 3 weeks then always had to take a break. I always try to figure out everything he says. Album sounding amazing.

[@jay3414]

😂😂😂sounds like my wife, and she never makes it through a single song without starting it over once or twice 😅 So a 44-minute album turns into 2 plus

[@igweofart]

Kendrick is this generation Nas

[@nkm11tbm]

@@igweofart good kid maad city is the modern version of illmatic

[@igweofart]

@ I’m about it make a video about that 👀

[@nkm11tbm]

@@igweofart cool man let us know when it drops I’ll check it out

[@jkbzz]

Absolutely!!!!!!

[@jkbzz]

I think Kendrick is Nas but with an entire coast behind him and with the backing of Dr Dre. Plus he took his craft seriously. All from Kendrick's albums are dope, even Mr Morale. He puts in the effort and you cannot complain about the quality of the music even when you don't necessarily agree with the direction (per Mr Morale). Nas + Rakim are my #1 but Kendrick right now is my #5. He takes his legacy seriously, He takes his craft very seriously. Nas you can argue on Nastradamus, Streets Disciple, Hip Hop is Dead, Untitled, Nasir probably didn't take those too seriously. But Kendrick you can never never argue. His concept albums are on point. His other non-concept albums are on point. We need to appreciate Kendrick Lamar, eventually I feel he will be everyone's undisputed #1 and he will have deserved it. This guy does exactly what in my mind, I expect a real rapper to do.

[@sassyears9573]

Man at the Garden - In honor of Nas’s excellent Madison Square Garden Performance, & generally honoring his Hip Hop ‘kin-twin’.

[@adonisadonis5025]

exactly

[@DonKangolJones]

I burned through this album IMMEDIATELY! And best believe, i had the open-air Sennheisers in my bag and ready when I did! I'm enjoying the music. I'll leave the experts to break down the lyrics and themes.

[@TeeWreh]

I'm in more than 10 full album listens plus a few reactions of the full album..

[@alexanderanahata4496]

i fucking knew that these two songs were linked, i was so surprised no one else caught it. thanks! i was going crazy!!!

[@artheals8869]

You gotta listen through the phone speakers, on a Bluetooth speaker, with the headphones on, and in the car for the full experience. 😂

[@armenkhatchatrian8748]

The album has a HEAVY Nas influence. The homage to One Mic, the shoutout to Nas, and I feel like Gloria is very similar to I Gave You Power. I always describe Kendrick as a mix of pac and Nas.

[@oso1165]

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MENTIONING AUDIO QUALITY AFFECTING LISTENING EXPERIENCE What you listen to music on matters!! Too many people put a new album on while going 70 on the hwy in their 4 speaker corolla with the speakers aimed at your feet and thats all they use to form their opinion

[@nathangraham5438]

The cadance and build up is pure one mic 🔥

[@ThoughtsofSAND]

That Jay parallel was genius

[@MrFrunk1]

Its crazy when i had that couple with the fact on the first track Dot mentions that Nas was the only one who congratulated him on that.

[@TatendaChitima]

This is such an awesome take

[@kamau506]

Gloria is an "I Gave You Power" tribute. The pen even says it

[@boomdoxful2533]

@@kamau506 Exactly! I knew it after the first listen

[@navyvet2841]

This was Kendrick’s Stillmatic

[@boomdoxful2533]

@@navyvet2841 Exactly!

[@ess-pee-arr]

This was one of many great takes from the collab reaction live stream.

[@SecondWindStories]

Grace and peace. I believe that Kenny did this "One Mic" sample Justice. I will also say that I think that this is not an official album, for 3 reasons. #1. He has hidden features (which was dope by the way). I think that if this was an official album, he would credit the features in the song's title. #2. The 1 minute visualizer that he released is a song NOT on this unofficial album. #3. On his twitter account he only stated "GNX" with a link that takes you to where you can play/listen to the tracks....for free, along with an email sign-up. This gives me the feeling that he's using this unofficial album to aquire an email list of his audience so he can possibly sell his official album directly to those on the email list in the future. I think we'll either see an album right before or right after the SB and he's going to end up running laps again in 2025.

[@Dabklyn27]

South Bronx native GNX🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 from track 1 to track 12.

[@artemiscephei1339]

BX let's go.

[@badrobotNG]

"Onye ruo, ya rie" A proverb from eastern Nigeria. "Let the man that has put in the work eat..." Kendrick at this point might have back ache from carrying the culture. Salute from 🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬

[@doptimusdx743]

As a relatively new Nas fan (been slow to expand my musical taste, my bad) I really appreciate the context of contrasting One Mic with Jay Z’s materialism. That’s why I come to y’all for the breakdown!

[@TecobyHines]

I’ve always seen Kendrick as the leader of the pack fr. Never looked at Drake as a leader

[@EayuProuxm]

Kendrick is the undisputed G.O.A.T It's no debate anymore

[@ClarkeIllmatical]

He's the GOAT of your generation.

[@JA-mj9re]

Nas is the greatest. The 🐐

[@Shaun.is.typing]

Man at the garden brought me to listening to One Mic. I’m now a fan of this song

[@sharronjones1017]

Well said, gentlemen💯💯💯👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥 thank you for your service& example 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@cynthiachieke4126]

Curtis I felt your energy the other day don't let them do it keep your power and your faith you are fire and they know it truth fiasco whatever his name is a hater too keep pushing you are 💯

[@Jiu-Jitsu_David_Hulk_Smash]

I’m so happy you guys are discussing this. I thought the same thing. This song sounds like One Mic

[@HaleemaSy]

It’s all happening! Hey Justin 👋🏾 I can’t help it, I just keep listening over and over again 🤦🏾‍♀️

[@jammedhands]

I gave the album a first listening on my iPad while making breakfast Friday morning. First listen of man at the garden: no way this wasn’t a one mic homage. Didn’t even need to put on my good headphones for this. Or synch anything.

[@philiptaylor8223]

He even does the crescendo with his third verse. A clear homage and there was never any doubt in my mind.

[@MaLi-re6re]

One Mic Dropped after 9/11 and I was in NYC. EVERYBODY was Bumpn OneMic and the whole Stillmatic Album is still 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@cynthiachieke4126]

You are a MAN with power just like Kendrick they all know it believe me they are weak with fear of your truth and Kendrick's you put in the work too

[@adonisadonis5025]

the title Man at the garden is literally a refrence to Nas Madison Square Garden concert

[@christianokami2220]

The chord progression definitely was inspired by Phil Collins. You can sing “I can feel it coming in the air tonight” over “man in the garden”.

[@kamau506]

I went back to One Mic for my 9 and 13 yo.

[@dynamic9016]

Thanks much for this video.

[@DLG1077]

Thought of this connection and thank you for being the only non blind homies who put it together🤝

[@scotxhbonnick1046]

Soon as I heard it and straight away I knew it…and the homage he paid to Pac, Biggie and Nas but also his sample choice

[@Irene_Marie_]

Nas just posted to IG, ya never guess which song he used.

[@darrenwilson83]

Yo they got the same manager now Anthony Saleh so they on the same team per say so it makes sense that they in tune alot more now I guess

[@GMC3027]

Thanks for keepin everything real ya be the guys that kendrick with i bet

[@loiswhitley5879]

Love this ❤

[@jkbzz]

Kendrick deserves to be on that Superbowl stage above anyone in this present generation. Finally we get to fully appreciate a true artiste. The biggest rappers before now in my view were always been commercial sellouts, except for Kendrick, Eminem, DMX and 2pac who stayed true to whatever they wanted to do. We need to put alot of respect on this man's name and appreciate him in the moment. He is better than his peers and its not even close.

[@kevinmaultsby8300]

Great commentary💯🎯👑🐐Kendrick

[@yugfus]

The 3rd verse of "man at the garden" is the verse of the year to me! The inflection, rhyming pattern, storytelling, delivery, and that powerful ending bar was immaculate! The verse was just straight fire.

[@tekluasqualu8341]

@The company man🙏 I guarantee you @ man at the garden is one of the greatest rap songs ever made. The more I listen the more I obsessed with. Uncommonly deep!!!

[@joemommapapapete4824]

I was just telling my lil bro yesterday right when album dropped that man at garden is kendricks one mic as well!!

[@loiswhitley5879]

It's the approach 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@danteparks4779]

I instantly peeped the nas "One Mic" flip.

[@tmsmith30]

The livestream was fantastic! I appreciate @thecompanyman and @curtissking's perspectives and honesty. Listening to two music aficionados elevates the experience.

[@seanism2011]

Kendrick did what the Canadian should have done post beef, he rapped. The Canadian has been playing social media games.

[@Itsmykool]

Yesss. And Wacced out Murals reminds me of NAS - “if it ruled the word”

[@navyvet2841]

Huh? lol how?!

[@iraford5788]

Sounds nothing like if I ruled the world to me.

[@JihiTheMusicGeek]

Okay. Y'all both made FANTASTIC points...but there's one piece I feel everyone has overlooked in this that's a slight shot at Cole, connects to the title, and sets the scene for the entire song. This is an overt tribute to Nas' One Mic...but this is ALSO a connection to Teddy Roosevelt's speech "Citizen of the Republic" AKA "Man in the Arena". Here's one of the biggest quotes from it. "It is not the critic who counts, not the one who points out how the strong man stumbled or how the doer of deeds might have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena. Whose face is marred with sweat and dust and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again. Who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worthy cause. Who, if he wins, knows the triumph of high achievement and who, if he fails, at least fails whilst daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.” This speech IMMEDIATELY came to mind as a slight call out to Cole, a man who's trying to stay out of the "arena" and play both sides of this feud in an effort to create peace and serves as Kendrick's response essentially stating the GOATs stand on their side and put in the work to become the best and positvely impact those around them.

[@doodoo5594]

i literally searched for the song just so i could check the comments to see if people were hearing the same thing i was hearing, and this video just confirmed it for me 😂😂😂

[@antoinefilms_]

Thats crazy i was thinking ONE MIC all the way.....then confirmed when i see Nas repost the song shouting out Kendrick. he coulda picked any song to shout him out. lol

[@Blazermusic3000]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@mira3422]

I instantly knew this song was the one, at least for me. All do respect but no matter what headphones you wear, when you know, you know !❤️😎

[@dannyavila910]

immediately heard one mic when listening to man at the garden. Kendrick was the right guy for the job

[@raheem-t8u]

Nice

[@BluesMinorSwing]

This is my favorite

[@goldyfreeman]

Phil Collins is in the background also. Dot doing his thing.💪⭐️

[@mohammedsuleman9286]

I truly believe kdot really has 2pacs blessings he did say he had a dream wen pac came to him my god im blown away this guy has morals specially with all that temptation that is a real man with big dreams but for the people

[@lalto11]

I first thought of 1 mic but also Warren G’s I want it all.

[@Hiii_Power_Cuban]

Ey ey even on my cheap my headphones is 🔥 stop mr. curtis sir 😂.

[@Phished123]

the point about speakers and headphones is a good one. People dont realize how badly tuned a lot of expensive headphones epecially earbuds are. Beats stuff often sounds very muddy and overpowering on the low end. I always suggest to people to invest in a decent pair of speakers for their computer so they at least are sure they have one higher quality set to listen to music on. I have a really nice pair of Creative speakers that sound amazing considering i got them for like 70 bucks on sale.

[@J4CDW]

I knew I wasn't trippin when I heard that on first listen. I'm glad that y'all pointed out how similar Kendrick and Nas are in some respects. I didn't think about that and now I'm gonna be thinking about it all day. Question: is this full breakdown posted anywhere?

[@aligaines8476]

Thanks for reminding me, going to Family Dollar to get 50th pair now... and wireless at 5 Below.

[@Casual_Drew]

Gotta play it in the car

[@royblue87]

I always start new albums in the car

[@weyproductions1656]

I literally played One Mic after hearing Man at the Garden

[@demetriusbryson1706]

“ITS ALL HAPPENING…!!!” Goooooood Morning My Brother’s Justin Hunte 👑 & Curtiss King 👑 …..!!! One Love & Yall Enjoy This Weekend….I had about 5 Great Listens Yesterday, I’m Going To Double That Today….It Was Kendrick & 🆎-Soul(Soul 🍔) Yesterday….!!! We Got “SQUABBLE UP”…..What An Amazing Surprise & Gift 🎁 For Our HIPHOP CULTURE….”SQUABBLE UP” at The Skating Rink Is Going To Be Crazyyyyyyyyyyy….!!! Thank KANG KENDRICK, I Know We Got GNX + Another LP On The Way For THE SUPER BOWL HALFTIME SHOW….I SEE TWO FUTURE NUMBER 1 ALBUMS JUST 2 1/2 MONTHS APART…I SAW 2 RARE CLASSIC BUICK INTERNATIONALS 2 OF THEM FUTURE CLASSICS

[@crimeunearthedHQ]

The way he take his craft seriously it reminds me of Kanye. Ye will never release an album unless he feels it's perfect

[@nathangraham5438]

@crimeunearthedHQ Kanye releases multiple albums with do overs and changes all the time now! He can't release a project without changing it.

[@crimeunearthedHQ]

@nathangraham5438 That's what perfectionist do and Ye is that!

[@brandithomas6684]

I tweeted this as soon as it came out 😂🤣😂

[@Ms_Kymm]

I get a weird vibe from Curtiss King 🥴But I REALLY appreciate finding "The Company Man" 👀 when watching one of his videos during the battle.

[@ChipKaffmen]

i googled "Man in the Garden One Mic" and it brought me here

[@Tkin1000]

Same 😂

[@DeeMaxum]

This kendrick album is dope. But it is not for everybody in my opinion. It has some joints to balance things out, to Get everybody engaged.... But to me, it's primarily a west coast album. And that's a good thing there's nothing wrong with that at all. I'm a native brooklyn new yorker.... And I appreciate what kdot is doing for the west .... That's what he's supposed to do. I don't know why people are hating. At this point, kendrick has already checked most boxes and he can go in any lane he feels like. Salute to the west... It's dope to see album releases from both ice cube and kdot Recently. That new snoop album up next. Once again as a Brooklyn new Yorker, I'm happy to see the resurgence of the west back in hip hop right now

[@daniela5748]

@@DeeMaxum I agree . It’s very West Coast yet at the same time he pays homage to East Coast rappers like Biggie and Nas . He still brings togetherness. It’s a dope album . One of my favs is Dodger Blue - super west coast lol and I’m a Bk girl through and through ❤️ Happy Holidays!

[@RighteousFollwer]

its definitely one mic. I heard it immediately

[@grahamdennis737]

haven’t seen the other interview clips so i’m not sure if this gets mentioned, but to me reincarnated has some strong late career eminem vibes. He’s got kind of a recovery era flow on that song and the track ends with him talking to his own voice. even the beat seems kind of something em might use.

[@navyvet2841]

It’s a 2Pac beat

[@grahamdennis737]

@@navyvet2841yeah i just found this out. makes a ton of sense. gotta be wrong sometimes

[@alexmarquez5170]

1:00 wut do u mean? These beats BUMP I HAVNT EVEN LISTENED TO IT ON THU 12s yet but imma tell u it’s all Cali bro Thu beats SLAP!

[@ILLAILLS]

When the beat started I got the One Mic vibes off rip

[@WilliamGone]

One mic

[@six8thegr8]

Definitely one mic

[@Nowrongwayzion]

I BET YALL DIDNT GO LOOK UP ISAIAH 14😂😂😂 KDOT IS THE PROPHET. THE SPOKE IN PARABLES. THATS WHERE THE WORD RAP AND BARS CAME FROM!

[@the77th]

I’m looking at this as a mixtape…… as a mixtape it’s a 8.5/10! If it’s an “album”, it’s a 6/10 imo! I feel like this is a prelude to something .

[@stephmarie1111]

Are you 🤦🏾‍♀️ Post your album so we can compare and really hear what a 10 sounds like? 🤷🏾‍♀️🤡 I’ll wait🥱

[@drea4360]

@@stephmarie1111 he won’t do it cause he a 🤡 4real talking bout 6/10 🤦🏽‍♀️

[@alexisaguirrevideos]

@@drea4360 aye don’t kill bro for having his own opinion. I may not agree with him but that don’t mean he’s a clown. Everything ain’t for everybody

[@the77th]

@@drea4360 emotional for no reason 😂 you stressed? 🤦🏾‍♂️ all that emotion can be put to better use aunty!

[@Emerson-lx6rv]

Did anyone hear put your hands where my eyes can see in the beat as well or is it just me😮

[@Mic-100]

Here we go again, Company Man.. Jay's all I need off the Blueprint is a bought song from the group out of philly named Naam Brigage.... stop forcing those Jay narratives like he was original or something.

[@eddietheunggoyslayer3904]

I don't like how Curtis talks, it's like he's trying to make everything he says more profound than it really is.

[@tylerstravis]

Come one, man, you don't even have decent headphones on :D

[@danteparks4779]

Tupac flip on Reincarnated.