Kendrick Lamar recently scorched his competition with a searing verse on Big Sean's "Control (HOF)," but having the verse of the summer isn't the only accolade the 26-year-old notched this year. According to a new report from Songkick (via NME), the rapper spent more time on festival stages than any other performing artist or band.
The Compton standout topped 46 hours -- or 2760 minutes -- performing at summer festivals, according to data the gig-tracking website studied from hundreds of events. Two Door Cinema Club (41 hours) was in second place, with Of Monsters and Men, Local Natives and Major Lazer rounding out the top five, and perennial favorites Phoenix, Vampire Weekend, The Vaccines and Calvin Harris also notching tallies that were not to be messed with.
As we previously reported, Lamar's "Control" verse was seen as perhaps the distinct hip hop moment of the summer, if not the year:
By putting everyone on notice, Lamar solidifies his place as not only one of rap's most gifted lyricists, but positions himself as a defender of the culture, inspiring his peers to put in more effort into their work. By doing so on a song that includes two of the rappers he's ripping, Lamar also once again reminds his fellow artists and fans that while he has plenty of emotional, "conscious" tracks, he's also here for the competition.
Lamar's debut studio album, "good kid, mAAd city," was one of 2012's highest-rated releases, and the not-very-tall rapper's ability to command giant festival stages has earned him plenty of new fans this year.
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