I see that King of NY line done hurt a lot of New York niggas feelings. I can empathize with ya'll as Hip Hop has changed since the NY glory days. I just watched that Maino video haven't read any other comments in this thread so I'll just respond off that video.
The reason NY is so up in arms is that NY thinks they are suppose to be the King of Hip-Hop because it originated there. Everyone knows NY is sensitive about that which is why Kendrick struck such a cord with that line. Heavy is the crown, so when you wear it everyone is coming for your head.
Also consider this. Even with Hip-Hop originating in NY in it's hay day. This didn't stop other regions from developing their own sound influenced by MC's from NY. I remember radio in Cali was heavy with NY rappers and a few Cali rappers too. This had no hamper on the Cali hip-hop. New York hip-hop has it's sound, every region pretty much has it's sound now. I think NY fell off like Maino said and just kind of lost its way. But I don't think it has a lot to do with NY hip-hop not being played on the airways enough but more to do with what Kay Slay said its a different vibe out there now with the club and party jams that appeal to a wider audience. NY is influenced by other regions now. And the sounds NY put out just don't appeal to other regions anymore.
NYC fell off because hip hop became infiltrated by bullshit.
Only true hip hop heads want to sit down and listen to lyrics, let alone complex lyricism.
I read a debate a few weeks on a different forum where dudes were debatin' NYC hip hop against other regions - how original - and some cat from Atlanta said, 'Man, people just want to have fun. Nobody tryin' to hear all that super lyrical shit.'.
That's fact, as far as I can see it.
NYC has always been about the boom bap and being a dope lyricist.
When that becomes irrelevant, NYC became irrelevant.
It's kind of like how jazz is like a sub-culture of people many deem stuck in a past era. While it's not the only music played in NOLA, it stayed true to it's jazz roots. If you love jazz, you'll be in heaven in NOLA. However, that's just not what's hot nowadays for the vast majority of people.
You can go to New York City right now, and find dope lyricists all over the place. I know this from first hand experience. Problem is...
...these dudes live and die by that shit, and think watering their shit down makes them wack. That's partially why a lot of these dudes will never blow.
As I said before, I don't think any other region demands lyrical ability to be considered 'top dog' more than the east coast. Even Diddy, a dude many deem largely responsible for the decline of hip hop/radio, on the low, likes to listen to lyrical hip hop. Dude be at these battles spazzing right along with the crowd. That NYC standard of lyrical excellence is still in his bones, it's just that money makes his blood flow.
There are dope lyricists all over the world, but the eastcoast/NYC see this shit as an artform, and not just something to get rich off of. That's why a lot of these lyrical cats are bitter as fuck...
...in their minds, skills should pay the bills, and they just DON'T.