Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar’s compelling lyricism, virtuosic microphone command, and sharp conceptual vision have translated to a rare combination of continuous chart feats and critical acclaim, plus respect and support from the artists who paved the way for the rapper’s advancement. The Compton MC started as a teen in the early 2000s and hit his creative and commercial stride the next decade. The proper albums Lamar released by the end of the 2010s, namely the breakthrough good kid, m.A.A.d city (2012), Grammy-winning To Pimp a Butterfly (2015), and Grammy- and Pulitzer Prize-winning DAMN. (2017), displayed an unmatched mix of inventive wordplay and riveting narratives with assertion of artistic dominance, examination of internal conflict, and upliftment of community all centered. Remarkably, those qualities were exemplified in their Top 40 singles, including “Swimming Pools (Drank),” “i,” and the number one hit “HUMBLE.” among a total of seven the albums produced. Lamar’s screenplay-level detail of writing on those recordings was enriched by a shifting collective of producers, instrumentalists, singers, and rappers, many of whom — from inspirations Dr. Dre and MC Eiht to peers such as Sounwave, Terrace Martin, and Thundercat — likewise represent Los Angeles. The rapper’s cinematic and collaborative inclinations inevitably attracted the mainstream film industry, leading to an executive production role on Black Panther: The Album (2018), the source of three additional Top 40 singles. Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers (2022), fueled by intense self-analysis, became Lamar’s sixth consecutive chart-topping project despite containing his most challenging and confrontational work. A heavily publicized feud with Drake in 2024 yielded several diss tracks, including the chart-topping “Not Like Us.” Compton, California native Kendrick Lamar Duckworth grew up immersed in hip-hop culture and surrounded by gang activity. As a youngster, he gradually discovered an aptitude for writing stories, poems, and lyrics, which naturally led to rapping. He made a name for himself as K. Dot. At the age of 16 in 2003, he issued his debut mixtape, The Hub City Threat: Minor of the Year. While it merely hinted at the potential of the then-teenager, it was impressive enough to catch the attention of Top Dawg Entertainment and led to a long-term association with the label that steadily propelled his career. Training Day, the Jay Rock collaboration No Sleep ’til NYC, and C4, issued from 2005 through 2009, likewise preceded Lamar’s decision to go by his first and middle names. The last of the three was issued the same year he became part of Black Hippy, a group whose members — including fellow TDE artists Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, and ScHoolboy Q — frequently appeared on one another’s mixtapes and albums. The first tape credited to Kendrick Lamar was Overly Dedicated, released in September 2010. Also the rapper’s first commercial release, it reached enough listeners to enter Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. After XXL magazine selected him for the 2011 Freshman Class feature, Lamar released his first official album, Section.80, that July, and crossed into the Billboard 200, reaching number 113. With deeper conceptual narratives and sharpened melodic hooks, as well as comparative multidimensional development from primary producer Sounwave, the set acted as a kind of warning flare for Lamar’s mainstream rap dominance. In addition to the dozens of tracks he had appeared on by then, Lamar had the support of veteran West Coast stars as well. During a concert later in 2011, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and Game dubbed him “The New King of the West Coast,” a notion Dre endorsed more significantly by signing Lamar to his Interscope-affiliated Aftermath label. Lamar’s major-label debut, good kid, m.A.A.d city, was released in October 2012 and entered the Billboard 200 at number two. Three of its singles — “Swimming Pools (Drank),” “Poetic Justice,” and “Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe” — reached the Top Ten of Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart and went Top 40 pop. More significantly, the album showcased Lamar as an exceptional storyteller capable of making compelling concept albums. It led to Grammy nominations in four categories: Best New Artist, Album of the Year, Best Rap Album, and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration (for “Now or Never,” a deluxe edition bonus cut featuring Mary J. Blige). Miguel’s “How Many Drinks?” and A$AP Rocky’s “Fuckin’ Problems,” two tracks on which Lamar made guest appearances, were nominated as well. Rather than rest, Lamar remained active during 2013-2014, touring as well as appearing on tracks by the likes of Tame Impala, YG, and fellow Top Dawg affiliate SZA. The proud single “i” was released in September of the latter year, became Lamar’s fourth Top 40 single, and won Grammys for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song. Still rolling, he announced in early 2015 that his third album, To Pimp a Butterfly, would be out in March with tracks featuring Snoop Dogg, Bilal, Thundercat, and George Clinton. A technical error caused the digital version to be released eight days early, but the LP nonetheless topped the Billboard 200 with sales of 325,000 copies within its first week. It made numerous best-of lists at the end of the year and won the Grammy for Best Rap Album. The defiant and life-affirming “Alright,” which was quickly adopted by the Black Lives Matter activist movement, along with another single, “These Walls,” took awards for Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. Riding high on his wins and a striking Grammy ceremony performance, Lamar followed up in March 2016 with untitled unmastered., consisting of demos recorded during the previous three years. Like the preceding release, it debuted at number one, and seamlessly synthesized beatmaking and traditional musicianship from the likes of Sounwave, Terrace Martin, and Thundercat. Within a month, Lamar added to his ever-lengthening discography of featured appearances with his contribution to Beyoncé’s “Freedom.” Led by “HUMBLE.,” his first number one pop hit, DAMN. arrived in April 2017 and likewise entered the Billboard 200 at the top. Remarkably, all 14 of the album’s songs entered the Hot 100, and it was certified multi-platinum within three months. Among the contributors were Rihanna and U2, but at this point, the supporting roles were beneficial more for the guest artists than they were for Lamar, whose artistic clout was unrivaled. He snagged five more Grammys: DAMN. won Best Rap Album; “HUMBLE.” took Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, and Best Video; and Best Rap/Sung Performance went to “LOYALTY,” the Rihanna collaboration. Another number one hit followed in February 2018. The soundtrack Black Panther: The Album featured Lamar on every track. Its three singles — “All the Stars” (with SZA), “King’s Dead” (with Jay Rock and Future), and “Pray for Me” (with the Weeknd) — eventually hit the Top 40. That April, DAMN. won the Pulitzer Prize for Music. It was the first time the judges recognized a work outside the genres of classical and jazz. Months later, “King’s Dead” made Lamar a 13-time Grammy winner when it took the award for Best Rap Performance. “All the Stars” alone was nominated in four categories, while Black Panther was up for Album of the Year. The film itself was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. After some time away from music that included an acting role in the fifth season of the Starz network series Power, Lamar resurfaced in August 2021 on cousin Baby Keem’s “Family Ties.” The single, a highlight of The Melodic Blue, Keem’s album debut for Lamar’s new pgLang label, won Best Rap Performance at the following Grammys. Lamar then performed at the Super Bowl LVI halftime show alongside hip-hop royalty that included Dr. Dre, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, and Mary J. Blige. In May 2022, Lamar issued “The Heart, Pt. 5” as a ruminative prelude to his fifth full-length. An emotionally complex and raw double album, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers landed later that month and went straight to the top of the Billboard 200. In addition to Keem, the likes of Sampha, Kodak Black, and Portishead’s Beth Gibbons made featured appearances. It was named Best Rap Album at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards, where “The Heart, Pt. 5” took the awards for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance. Also in 2023, he was featured on Beyoncé’s single “America Has a Problem.” In 2024, Lamar was part of a well-publicized feud with Drake and J. Cole. After Cole had named the three as the “big three” greatest rappers in modern hip-hop, Lamar asserted that he was the only one during his guest verse on Future and Metro Boomin’s song “Like That,” which topped the Billboard Hot 100. Cole then criticized Lamar on his song “7 Minute Drill,” which was met with a poor reception; Cole apologized for the song and removed it from streaming services. In April, Drake released two diss tracks against Lamar, “Push Ups” and “Taylor Made Freestyle.” Lamar responded with the vitriolic “Euphoria” and a track posted to Instagram titled “6:16 in L.A.” Drake’s “Family Matters” appeared in May and was promptly followed by Lamar’s Alchemist-produced “Meet the Grahams,” in which he addressed members of Drake’s family and accused Drake of being a pedophile. The next day, Lamar’s party-ready “Not Like Us,” produced by Mustard, continued these topics, and Drake responded with “The Heart, Pt. 6,” refuting Lamar’s claims. “Euphoria,” “Meet the Grahams,” and “Not Like Us” all charted high on the Billboard Hot 100, with “Not Like Us” topping the chart and breaking single-day streaming records. ~ Andy Kellman