Kendrick Lamar Explains What He Thinks Hip Hop Needs

    Kendrick Lamar recently stopped by 107.5 WCGI’s The Morning Riot to discuss everything from his relationship with Lady Gaga to the discussion of old versus new in Hip Hop. During the interview, K. Dot, who said his dream collaboration is with Erykah Badu, spoke on what he thinks Hip Hop needs, stating that artists need to tightrope between having fun and writing raps with meaning.

    “I just think it needs the proper balance,” he said. “Sometimes, things will get a little over the edge and corny, but it’s cats like myself that put depth in the game and still have fun and bring that fun energy and have something to say. So once it continues to have that balance, it’ll be cool.”

    Watch the full interview below (via FSD)

    RELATED: Kendrick Lamar Cites DMX As An Influence & Discusses Learning From Dr. Dre’s Mistakes

    62 thoughts on “Kendrick Lamar Explains What He Thinks Hip Hop Needs

    1. Gaga is the new Dr. Dre as far as Kendrick interviews go. Thats about to be the new subject that gets repeated 50 times.

    2. “I wake up in the morning with my dick on hard/didn’t know why till I said fuck all y’all” – Wackest Kendrick rhyme ever…

      1. that was a homage to pac’s fuck the world. “I just woke up screaming fuck the world” . kendricks rhyme its still wack as fuck regardless.

    3. Lil Wayne is this guy’s mentor. Drake took him on tour. Kendrick is like fam down here at YMCMB. He’s stopped by to kick it with Birdman before. Can’t hate on YMCMB, we are bringing hiphop back!

      1. Please shut the fuck up. I don`t hate on Young Money but they are definetely NOT bringing hiphop back. It never left.

      1. can someone list a few Kendrick songs where he talks about having fun/fun subjects and where he brings fun energy to the track?

      1. No because that’s what makes thing fun, having two three people compete with each other and who does it better. Obviously there’s the chance that a certain thought is furthered to the point of absurdity, But! That’s inevitable, have dude’s bite each other but have enough dudes offer variability.

    4. This elf looking kermit speaking rapper is the reason why Hip-Hop is dead. Talking about drugs, sex and violence like every other rapper. Jin invented Hip-Hop but this bastard ruined it. Fuck Kendrick Lamar

      1. yu jus mad coz u cant get no pussy and yo dadda still in jail. fuck u fuck kendrick im sayin diggy simmons is where its at yall jus a bunch of hoe azz niggaz who dont no shit bout anythin. learn how to spell ya chunmp.

    5. 1. Intro
      2. Money Treez (Produced by Digi+Phonics)
      3. Secret Rivals (Produced by DJ Khalil)
      4. The Recipe feat. Dr. Dre (Produced by Scoop DeVille, add. Dr. Dre)
      5. Unspoken Word feat. J. Cole (Produced by J. Cole)
      6. Poetic Justice feat. Drake (Produced by T-Minus)
      7. Cheraine (Produced by Dr. Dre, co. Dewaun Parker)
      8. You’ll Never Know (Produced by J. Cole)
      9. Dying of Thirst (Produced by Digi+Phonics)
      10. Swimming Pools (Drank) (Produced by T-Minus)
      11. Righteous Way feat. KiD CuDi & Kelis (Produced by Hit-Boy)
      12. Partynauseous feat. Lady Gaga (Produced by Terrace Martin)
      13. Lovely Lady feat. Pharrell & Snoop Lion (Produced by The Neptunes)
      14. Second Coming (Produced by Digi+Phonics)

      Deluxe
      15. Now or Never feat. Mary J. Blige (Produced by Dr. Dre, co. Dewaun Parker)
      16. Tears feat. Jhene Aiko & Ab-Soul (Produced by Digi+Phonics)
      17. Get Down (Produced by Mr. Porter)
      18. Hungry feat. Black Hippy (Produced by Digi+Phonics)

      1. LOL this dude does tracklisting for everyone..but all the tracklist u do would be dope as fuck.but yh u still got time of ur hands g

      2. those features better not be true, i had a feeling drake was gunna be on that album, MORE black hippy and west coast artists!!!!!

      3. I have no idea if this tracklist is real or not? But I do know that unfortunately Drake is on the album. I was at the Toronto show on the 19th, and he brought out drake, who talked about the single on the album. SHITTY

    6. “its cats like myself that put depth in the game and still have fun and bring that fun energy and have something to say. So once it continues to have that balance, itll be cool.”

      Lupe totally forgot the latter part of this sentence.

    7. Niggas will find anything to hate on. I mean like really how can you find it within’ yourself to hate on this man. Nigga will str8 eat any nigga out right now it’s not even close. I just heard that toca tuesday freestyle and man that shit blew ah nigga away and I could give ah fuck bout what the next nigga is doing but shout out to Kendrick man dude is ill fuck ah hater for real yo suck ah dick and choke on it

    8. Hip-Hop needs the Good Kid, Made City album! He needs to have songs on their like his deep songs like HighPower and Terrorist Threats, those are 2 of his best. Oh yea, hip-hop needs the Black Hippies album! I’m so bummed it’s not gonna happen. But what hip-hop didn’t need was that dumb Slaughterhouse album. Only good ones in their is Royce and yellow wolf, the rest suck. Hip-Hop fans need more weed and need to get down with the High Power movement, if you don’t smoke now, start! It changed my life, thanks to kendrick and high power. That’s what I think hip-hop needs

      1. u seriuosly cant say roYce and yella r the ONLY good ones on SH.HAVENT U HEARD JOE BUDDEN AND CROOKED I….NIGGA U SUCK

    9. Who cares what KL thinks about hip hop. What is he like 20? C’mon man ask RZA, Cube, Jay what it needs, then write a column about that.

    10. GIVE ME A CHANCE
      Youtube is all about finding new artist, & though I been rapping for a while im still consider a new artist. I just want my music heard thats all, im not looking for no record deal, getting famous ‘r anything like that. I do music to help change the lives of others so what you’ll get from my music is all POSITIVITY! so please just spare a few sec
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az9kWMdFmKs

    11. GIVE ME A CHANCE
      Youtube is all about finding new artist, & though I been rapping for a while im still consider a new artist. I just want my music heard thats all, im not looking for no record deal, getting famous ‘r anything like that. I do music to help change the lives of others is what you’ll get from my music is all POSITIVITY! so please just spare a few sec
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az9kWMdFmKs

    12. GIVE ME A CHANCE
      Youtube is all about finding new artist, & though I been rapping for a while im still consider a new artist. I just want my music heard thats all, im not looking for no record deal, getting famous ‘r anything like that. I do music to help change the lives of others what you’ll get from my music is all POSITIVITY! so please just spare a few sec
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az9kWMdFmKs

    13. GIVE ME A CHANCE
      Youtube is all about finding new artist, & though I been rapping for a while im still consider a new artist. I just want my music heard thats all, im not looking for no record deal, getting famous ‘r anything like that. I do music to help change the lives of others what you’ll get from my music is all POSITIVITY! so please just spare a few sec
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az9kWMdFmKs

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