The Cypher Revealed – TDE

See who reps for the West Coast label.

Top Dawg Entertainment vs. GQ - Kendrick Lamar was named GQ magazine's Man of the Year in 2013, and was featured on the cover and billed to perform at the annual Man of the Year event, but the TDE MC opted to not take part in the festivities. Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith, the CEO of the label, explained via a press release that the label felt that the article was biased and portrayed his company "in a negative light." The part of the interview that irked Tiffith the most was the writer's "shock" at TDE’s "discipline." GQ was apparently shocked as well — at Top Dawg's reaction to the article. The magazine released a counter statement praising Lamar and explaining the situation as they saw it. (Photo: Maury Phillips/WireImage)
Best: Kendrick Lamar Claims the Throne - The West Coast rapper became the biggest name in hip hop with his debut album good kid, m.A.A.d city, but then decided to blow the roof off of the industry with his guest verse on Big Sean's track "Control." Besides dissing virtually every rapper on the Billboard Hot 100, Compton native Lamar crowned himself the King of New York.    (Photo: Maury Phillips/WireImage)
ScHoolBoy Q - ScHoolBoy Q is the ultimate running back, nimble with his lyrics, fearless (he picked a fight with OG 40 Glocc), and thoughtful (he sparked the idea of forming the supergroup Black Hippy). He's next up on the schedule with a major label release, Oxymoron.(Photo: Maury Phillips/WireImage)
Ab-Soul - Ab-Soul looks like Eazy E and sounds like Thelonious Monk. He's so far released two independent albums, Longterm Mentality and Control System.(Photo: Maury Phillips/WireImage)Jay Rock - You ain't got to like him, 'cause the hood's gon' love him. Jay Rock is firmly rooted in Watts, with the gruff of a Brooklyn MC and the nonchalance of a No Limit soldier in the '90s. (Photo: Maury Phillips/WireImage)

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Kendrick Lamar - Kendrick Lamar, the golden boy quarterback who knows girls like Sherane and Tammy, is slowly, steadily transcending his way to pop stardom with his independent releases, like Section .80 and his major label debut, good kid, m.A.A.d. city, which climbed its way to platinum with well timed hits like "Swimming Pools," "Poetic Justice" and a video featuring Mike Epps.(Photo: Maury Phillips/WireImage)

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