After his second major label album To Pimp A Butterfly was released prematurely in the early hours of yesterday morning (March 16), Kendrick Lamar spoke with The New York Times about a variety of topics regarding his latest project, including the album’s cover art.
During the conversation — which took place at a Santa Monica studio where most of the new album was recorded — K. Dot first spoke on the influence he has on his listeners and fans.
“[For many fans], I’m the closest thing to a preacher that they have,” the 27-year-old artist says. “I know that from being on tour — kids are living by my music. My word will never be as strong as God’s word. All I am is just a vessel, doing his work.”
Shortly afterwards, the Compton, California rapper offered his take on today’s state of Hip Hop music.
“You know the songs that are out — we all love these songs,” Kendrick says. “They sell a lot of singles and make these record labels a lot of money. But those ‘really living’ in the streets don’t want to hear boasts about murder and drug dealing. They want to get away from that. If it comes across as just a game all the time, the kids are going to think it’s just a game.”
Continuing, K. Dot says, “From my perspective, I can only give you the good with the bad. It’s bigger than a responsibility, it’s a calling.”
Speaking on the album’s cover art, Kendrick says it represents taking things “to the next level.”
“Taking the same things that people call bad and bringing them with me to the next level, whether it’s around the world or to the Grammys or the White House,” he says. “You can’t change where I come from or who I care about.”
However, labeling To Pimp A Butterfly a “political record” would be “shortchanging it.”
“It’s a record full of strength and courage and honesty,” Kendrick Lamar says. “[But also] growth and acknowledgment and denial.”
Kendrick Lamar adds: “I want you to get angry — I want you to get happy,” he said. “I want you to feel disgusted. I want you to feel uncomfortable.”
To read the full interview, visit The New York Times.
For additional Kendrick Lamar coverage, watch the following DX Daily:
Kendrick’s forgetting his place again. Without Drake, Dumbo would never have a career. It’s the same thing with breezy. If he had not watched degrassi and see drake’s performance, he would never get that far.
Stay off the drugs for real man,or at least go get some pussy,do something productive with your time and stop this trolling B.S.
I get pussy everyday. I work hard during the day and get laid at night.
teethboy is back with his lies. Without Aubrey, Kendrick’s career would still be in the same place it is now. And Chris Brown’s career did not happen because of Degrassi amd Aubrey, his career happened before that. And no, you don’t get any pussy or work hard. No need to overcompensate for being a troll.
1. K Dot did not become popular until drake put him on one of his songs.
2. Chris Brown literally ripped off his moves from degrassi. He may have made major first but he was clearly inspired by drake (not so much the loving women though.)
1. Kenrdrick was alredy popular before Aubrey hopped on the bandwagon. 2. Aubrey doesn’ even have any moves on Degrassi, so no, Chri Brown never copied him, he was inspired by Michael Jackson.
His moves? The guy plays a cripple in the show, I’m pretty sure you’d be unable to dance.
Brown watched drake’s offscreen interviews where he showcased his dancing and singing. As drake was still looking for a label, brown decided to rip him off.
That is a lie. That never happened as Aubrey didn’t dance or sing at all. Chris never ripped off Aubrey at all, he got his moves from Michael Jackson.
That’s a lie as that never happened. There is no interviews of Aubrey singing or dancing and Chris never ripped him off. His got his moves from Michael.
Again, Chris didn’t watch Degrassi, Aubrey never danced or sing, and Chris never ripped him off at all.
He did a rap on degrassi. And brown was a huge dickrider of drake. Michael Jackson had nothing to do with it. Why are we even talking about the child molestor anyway?
Even today’s music from chris brown is trying to ripoff drake with the rapping and singing. Good thing he can’t get a hit without help since the rihanna incident.
No, you’re the huge Drake dickrider, not Chris. Michael Jackson is obviously a huge influence on Chris Brown, to say otherwise would be moronic (Michael isn’t a child molester, BTW, it’s been proven he’s innocent.).
Again, Chris isn’t ripping off Drake. Many rappers rap and sing before Aubrey. And Chris never needed help to mak hits.
You sound stupid af. “If it wasn’t for Drake”. You act like Drake taught Kendrick how to rap. If it wasn’t for Wayne introducing Drake to the world he wouldn’t be on. We can keep talking this if it wasn’t for so and so BS all day.
What hits did chris brown have by himself then? And Drake made it on his own. Birdman saw his ways and signed him. Though wayne participated, it was revealed he was a bitch ass hoe wanting more money than he deserves.
Look it up. There’s Yeah, Beautiful People, Turn Up The Music, Don’t Wake Me Up, Fine China, etc. And no, Drake didn’t make it on his own. Wayne basically put him on and it was Birdman who’s was the bitch ass hoe wanting more money than he deserves.
Who are you and why do you keep replying to me all these years?
OVO you need to sit down somewhere. What has Drake done with his movement that has impacted the world besides his music sounding good with melodies? Drake is slick with words but he isn’t LETHAL! Kendrick is LETHAL! Eminem is LETHAL! Lupe is LETHAL!
It was nice your OVO savior Drake had him on the Paradise Tour and all that good stuff. But Drake needed Kendrick just as much as Drake. Kendrick’s movement was bubbling already without Drake.
Drake is good and in terms of money, he is great. But in terms of leaving a legacy down as one of the best that did it, Drake is in the background. Kendrick is in the lead with leaving a Nas, B.I.G, Pac, level impact. Drake can be Jay all day to me, Jay’s success was never his talent, it was his hustle. Hustle is key but It’s just something special about the talent.
Stop riding Drake and recognize that Kendrick dropped a classic album! Smh
Its actually Dr. Dre who made him who he is. Drake has nothing to do with this
get a life
Dr Dre didn’t do shit other than hop pn his bandwagon (started by drake).
You obviously don’t know anything. It’s common knowledge that Dr. Dre discovered Kendrick. He worked with him, signed him to his label, and executive-produced his albums. Drake just hopped on the bandwagon when his buzz was increasing.
Pretty sure a lot of his suburban fans have actual preachers they hear every sunday or atleast on special occasions.
Dumbo is just an egotistical prick. Drake is humble every day.
^ You got it backwards. It’s Kendrick who’s humble every day while Aubrey is an egotistical prick.
kendric sure aint humble in his control verse.
This guy is such a confused egomaniac now. I don’t know what offended me more, his fake interview with Tupac, him comparing himself Mandela or him defending child molester Michael Jackson.
Nothing about Kendrick says “confused egomaniac.” He’s not making ridiculous statements like Kanye. And Michael Jackson is not a child molester and he’s been proven innocent.
Agreed. He’s losing it. To pimp a Yeezus
@anon. sorry but as a K Dot fan he has made ridiculous statements like everyone one else.You forget Kanye has said a LOT of real shit you choose to ignore.
Ego Trip much?
jeez, Kendrick’s the rap messiah now?
please stop!!!
I think kendricks music should be taught in universities. Because it touches on info that is passed over. Almost as if it’s non existent , yet we all know it is.
having a message in your music is good. but to deliver it in a manner that catches the attention of a universal audience through melodic notes and catchy good music is what separates a great project from the masterpieces. your flow and production is as important as the message. tpab is pretentious.
…..This guy is seriously delusional. What every drugs he serves himself really REALLY are good.