Shyne Walks Back Kendrick Lamar Slander: 'That Was Definitely A Mistake'

Shyne has admitted that he regrets criticizing Kendrick Lamar back in 2012.

The rapper-turned-politician controversially called Kendrick’s widely acclaimed debut album good kid, m.A.A.d city “trash,” but has now walked back his words.

Appearing on Math Hoffa’s My Expert Opinion podcast, Shyne said: “I would say I made a mistake about Kendrick Lamar. I will admit to that. I think that was definitely a mistake [laughs].

“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 added: “He’s obviously proven to be one of the greatest musicians in our generation. That’s one I take back.”

Shyne caused a stir in October 2012, shortly after the release of good kid, m.A.A.d city, when he tweeted that Kendrick Lamar “is talented with a lot of potential but his album is traaaaash!”

He later elaborated on his statement in an interview with Cipha Sounds and Peter Rosenberg, saying: “We live in the United States of America, we don’t live in the United States of Aftermath. Jimmy Iovine doesn’t pay me, I can say whatever I want.

“I’m not talking reckless. I said the young boy got potential and I said he was talented, but the album is trash. That’s tough love. I didn’t attack him as an individual, I didn’t say anything disrespectful. It’s trash!

He added: “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.”

Kendrick responded to Shyne’s harsh comments in a red carpet interview with VIBE: “That’s his opinion, but one opinion can’t stop how the world thinks.”

He would later jab the former Bad Boy rapper on the J. Cole-produced “The Jig Is Up (Dump’n),” rapping: “Y’all pray to God this week I be putting out bombs / I pray to God this beat is good enough for Shyne / If not J. Cole, your shit is trash / But at least my opinion just made everyone laugh.”