The production is why I listen. Take 03 Greedo's "Sweet Lady" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iE3v7nSnHN4), for instance - this flips a hip-hop convention on its head by mixing the vocals lower than the sample, giving it a faraway quality I'd argue is innovative within genre constraints.
The other factor is that I feel like the West Coast is in a general slump right now compared to even five years ago. The Bay Area sound is played out; the YG/Nipsey (RIP)/Game modernized-classic gangsta rap sound hasn't had any good projects for a while; and Kendrick himself hasn't released anything since the Black Panther OST two years ago.
The other factor is that I feel like the West Coast is in a general slump right now compared to even five years ago. The Bay Area sound is played out; the YG/Nipsey (RIP)/Game modernized-classic gangsta rap sound hasn't had any good projects for a while; and Kendrick himself hasn't released anything since the Black Panther OST two years ago.