Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar Duckworth is a rapper from Compton, United States. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential hip-hop artists of his generation and wins the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Music, becoming the first musician outside classical and jazz to receive the award.

Early life and beginnings

Born in 1987 in Compton, California, Kendrick Lamar begins releasing music while at high school under the name K.Dot. He is the first child of Kenneth “Kenny” Duckworth and Paula Oliver, both African Americans from the South Side of Chicago who move to Compton as teenagers in 1984. He is named after singer-songwriter Eddie Kendricks of the Temptations. He is an only child until the age of seven, and later has two younger brothers and a younger sister, businesswoman Kayla Sawyer. His cousins include basketball player Nick Young and rapper Baby Keem.

He considers studying psychology and astronomy at college, but suspends those plans to focus on music. 2pac Shakur is his biggest influence, and Lamar describes himself as an “offspring” of Shakur’s artistry and political outlook. One of his earliest memories is watching Shakur and Dr. Dre film the video for “California Love” at the Compton Swap Meet with his father.

Career

Lamar signs with Top Dawg Entertainment in 2005 and co-founds the hip hop supergroup Black Hippy there. His debut album, Section.80, arrives in 2011 and establishes his alternative rap sound. He then signs a joint deal with Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records.

His second album, Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, draws on gangsta rap and becomes the longest-charting hip hop studio album in Billboard 200 history. He follows it with To Pimp a Butterfly, an album that blends hip-hop with jazz, funk and soul and becomes the first of five consecutive number-one albums on the Billboard 200. His fourth album, Damn, leans toward R&B and pop and includes the US number-one single “Humble”.

In 2015, he features on the remix of Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood”, giving him his first Billboard Hot 100 number one. He also curates original songs for the soundtrack to Black Panther, and “All the Stars” receives a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Song. His 2022 double album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers ends his run with TDE and Aftermath.

His sixth album, GNX, appears in 2024 and marks his first project after leaving Top Dawg Entertainment and Aftermath Entertainment. It includes collaborations with SZA, Roddy Ricch and emerging Los Angeles rappers, as well as production from Jack Antonoff. The record draws on elements of his earlier work and introduces a West Coast club influence. Songs from the album include “Like That”, “Squabble Up” and “Not Like Us”, the last of which becomes one of the most awarded songs in Grammy history with five wins, including Song of the Year and Record of the Year.

Style, public profile and recognition

Lamar is known for a low public profile, rarely discusses his personal life and generally avoids social media. His lyrics attract both praise and controversy, and his work is often discussed in relation to political themes and rap rivalries. After Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, some media describe him as a modern hip hop messiah, while others criticise the political content of his music. Lamar describes himself as driven by the need to challenge himself and prove his ability through each release.

He receives numerous honours, including 22 Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, a Brit Award, four American Music Awards, seven Billboard Music Awards, 11 MTV Video Music Awards and a record 37 BET Hip Hop Awards. Time names him one of the world’s 100 most influential people in 2016. Three of his albums appear in Rolling Stone’s 2020 revision of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Other work

Outside music, Lamar co-founds the creative company PGLang with his longtime collaborator Dave Free, and he also moves into film with Free. He is associated with Black Hippy and The Little Homies, and his label affiliations include pgLang and Aftermath Entertainment.