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.
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.”
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.”
“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.
“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.”
Not for me. Loved all his work from 2009 to maybe 2014 or so… but more so loved it like crazy 2009 to 2012. Last two albums I disliked and still dislike. Damn is meh. Last album sounded sonically horrible to me. Ppl always say “but the lyrics!”. Yeah, good lyrics are great and all, but it needs to SOUND good or I can’t enjoy it. Same reason I can’t stomach Eminem nowadays. Some good lyricism, sure. Sound wise? Sounds like nails on a chalk board to me. Both kendrick and em love to sound whiny and rough now. And Kendricks bear choice nowadays is so…. mainstream sounding. No longer the Westcoast hiphop sound of the past. Really, all of TDE fell off. Absoul can never touch Control System. Jay Rocks redemption was his worst to date, made for the Spotify listeners. Crash talk was Qs only bad album honestly, all the rest are actually fantastic.
Jay Rock’s redemption was his worst lol smh. You lost me with that one
Stop writing essays on here bro, nobody’s reading all your bullshit 😂
Yep. He’s terrible actually making songs, and those weird voices don’t make sense. Dude can really rap. I have no idea why he barely does that. Like rap like Nas does and make good songs. I only have heard a handful of his songs over the years where I wanted to replay it.
I read it. Maybe you retards here take more than 12 seconds to read that, and prefer to spread ideas via emojis and 3 words, but for the rest of us, actual conversation is the norm.
Idk. I agree with Jay. Redemption is worse than Follow Me Home and 90059.
My bad. I’ll use ebonics in the future my fellow brother in Christ.
‘Kendrick doesn’t make good music’ gotta be the biggest lie of the century
it helps if you could actually read. i can guarantee you text and tweet with emoji’s instead of words. you don’t have knowledge of sentence structure. you also don’t have the brain development to form your own thoughts, so you have faces do it for you.. keep emojing my guy.
These 2 would make one sexy ass couple. I’d gladly be the cream in that Oreo sandwich
Kendrick is so overrated its wild. No sonic value just a bunch of over huped lyrics by stupid people.. best of a bad era
Why did you bother commenting then if you don’t like it, fuckin clown
@ dominic that’s like saying “oh, you DISAGREE with and dislike this political? Why even say anything? Just vote and stay silent if you have nothing positive to say!”. It’s called an opinion. You’re the “fuckin clown” for getting offended that people have different tastes for music than you do.
Kendrick is like 1 of the rappers that can make another classic after 2 weak albums.
Drake did more to boost his career than dr dre ever did. Drake actually gave a guest spot on take care and appeared on kendrick’s album when dre didn’t do shit but be on songs even the kdot stans didn’t like
The way Kendrick is living in the heads of Drake’s fans rent free. It’s giving obsessed at this point
Many things.. including kendrick homosexuality. Yes its true this pansy takes it up the wazoo. He is a major pillowbiter.