Belizean politician and former rapper Shyne wasn’t a fan of Kendrick Lamar’s debut album, good kid, m.A.A.d city, when it was released in 2012. The 46-year-old at the time gave a blunt response, saying that the album was “trash.”
But during a recent appearance on the My Expert Opinion podcast, the former Bad Boy Records signee, whose real name is Moses Michael Levi Barrow, backtracked on those comments and admitted he “made a mistake” about the Grammy Award winner, VIBE.com reported.
Shyne reflected on his initial comments when the topic of Kendrick Lamar’s beef with Drake came up. “I would say I made a mistake about Kendrick Lamar, I will admit to that. I think that was definitely a mistake [laughs],” Shyne said.
“I think Drake is nice, Drake is incredible and Lamar has obviously proven me completely wrong, but 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.”
After the release of Lamar’s critically acclaimed debut album, Shyne took to social media to register his disapproval of it. At the time, the Commission rapper stated that though Lamar was “talented with a lot of potential,” he did not like the album.
“His album is traaaaash!” he reportedly wrote in his 2012 post on X. Shyne also doubled down on his sentiments during an interview with Cipha Sounds and Peter Rosenberg, VIBE.com reported.
“I’m not talking reckless. I said the young boy got potential and I said he was talented, but the album is trash,” Shyne told the radio hosts at the time.
“That’s tough love. I didn’t attack him as an individual, I didn’t say anything disrespectful,” Shyne continued. “It’s trash! 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.”
