Dr. Dre has heaped high praise on Kendrick Lamar, hailing him as a special breed of talent he calls a “forever artist.”
Dre signed K. Dot to Aftermath Entertainment in 2012, bringing him onto a label that’s been home to classic albums from the likes of Eminem, 50 Cent, The Game and the Doctor himself.
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During a recent appearance on Kevin Hart’s Hart to Heart talk show on Peacock, Dr. Dre spoke about how it feels to have watched Kendrick Lamar grow into the global artist he is today.
“I can’t take credit for Kendrick Lamar,” he said. “Kendrick Lamar is a real muthafuckin’ artist, the true definition of the word. The only thing I can take credit for is opening the door for him because he’s done everything himself — him and [his manager] Dave Free.”
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He added: “We have a fantastic relationship. He’s amazing, man. Kendrick is one of those artists that we call ‘forever artists.’ He could disappear for fucking five years or something like that and come back and fuck our heads up, you know?
“Some artists feel like, ‘I have to do something all the time so I won’t be forgotten.’ That’s not him. He can disappear and come back with something that’s shocking, that’s amazing and everyone’s gonna tune in and listen.”
Dr. Dre also included Snoop Dogg and Eminem in that elite class of “forever artists” in Hip Hop, in addition to Michael Jackson and Prince.
Kendrick Lamar previously explained why he signed to Dre, crediting the N.W.A legend for “understanding the vision.”
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“When Overly Dedicated came out, we were shopping because that’s when the money wasn’t a factor — the numbers were crazy,” he told CBC in 2012. “So it was about who understood the vision. And Dre and Jimmy Iovine understood.
“They were just banking off talent, like Eminem. They understand how the growth of an independent company, like Aftermath, can develop into something that becomes its own Interscope, and that’s what we’re doing with Top Dawg Entertainment.
“We want to develop artists and put out solid albums like Eminem did with The Marshall Mathers LP and 50 Cent did with Get Rich or Die Tryin’ — they’re records that stood the test of time. They understood that.”
While Dr. Dre has a rich history of helping turn up-and-coming artists into superstars, the legendary producer also admitted in his chat with Kevin Hart that he isn’t too fond of what Hip Hop’s current generation are churning out — although he clarified he’ll never “hate” on young artists.
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“Hip Hop is what it is,” he said. “Anybody that’s talking about the state of Hip Hop right now, when talking about it from a negative place, sounds like somebody’s fuckin’ grandfather. This is just what it is. Hip Hop is evolving. If you don’t like it, don’t listen to it, you know what I’m saying?”
He continued: “I’m keepin’ it all the way 100 with you. Some of this shit, most of this shit, I don’t like. I don’t listen to a lot of that shit. But I’m not hatin’ on it. I’m never gonna hate on it.”
