Lupe Fiasco Says He’s a Better Lyricist Than Kendrick Lamar, But Not a Better Artist
The Chicago wordsmith got into a heated debate over his past comments regarding the Compton superstar.
Lupe Fiasco performs at the Don Julio Derby day after party at Society Melbourne on November 01, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia.
Photo by Sam Tabone/Getty Images.
Lupe Fiasco is once again voicing his take on Kendrick Lamar. During an appearance on KoalaTea Reacts' livestream on YouTube Saturday, June 27, Fiasco was asked about K. Dot, and when host Rob mentioned Fiasco regularly referencing Lamar, the Chicago emcee elaborated on his stance when it comes to Kendrick.
“Somebody’s just going to jump in because all they’re here for is to hear me say ‘Kendrick Lamar.’ And you know I didn’t mention Kendrick at all,” when Rob pushes back, Lupe goes further. “No, you mentioned Kendrick. I didn’t mention him at all. Your fans who are here because they like to hate on n***as who have an opinion on Dot. They are going to take that and they’re going to run with that. They’re not going to give a f**k about anything else that we say.”
After some back-and-forth, Fiasco went on to give Lamar praise as an artist–but doubled down on stating that Fiasco is the superior rhymer.
“He’s a better artist than me. He makes better albums. He has a better team. He has better beat selection. He has better production. He has all these better things. When it comes down to lyricism, when it comes down to these lyrics and bar for bar for bar? No. Everything else? For sure," Lupe said definitively. “100 percent. More personal. Better narratives. More feeling. I don’t want to share my feelings with n***as like you.”
This isn’t the first time Lupe has mentioned Lamar’s lyricism. Back in 2018, Fiasco dismissed K. Dot’s infamous “Control” verse.
“[The] only issue that the world thinks I have with K. Dot and I actually do is that I think his ‘Control’ verse was wack and super overhyped to be a verse claiming you are the best rapper,” he tweeted at the time. “It was very weird. I was told it was just bait, but still.”
In 2024, Lupe shared that he actually admires Kendrick and loves the impact he’s had.
“I’m a Kendrick fan for more than his music,” Lupe said to a fan during a Twitter Spaces Q&A. “I like his creativity and conceptualization. And the decisions that he makes. I also like his impact into the culture for Black folks. I like that he inspires Black folks. That’s why I never said I don’t like him.”
Subscribe to Okayplayer newsletters and get more music and culture news delivered directly to your inbox. Join here.
