Kendrick Lamar doesn’t utilize social media like many of his peers, making a post from the Top Dawg Entertainment golden child a rarity. But on Friday (August 20), the exalted 34-year-old MC shared a post to his Instagram account with a link that led to a statement from Kendrick.
And it appears to be an end of an era. As indicated in the post, Kendrick will deliver one final album for TDE and then call it quits with the label.
“I spend most of my days with fleeting thoughts,” he begins. “Writing. Listening. And collecting old Beach cruisers. The morning rides keep me on a hill of silence. I go months without a phone. Love, loss, and grief have disturbed my comfort zone, but the glimmers of God speak through my music and family. While the world around me evolves, I reflect on what matters the most. The life in which my words will land next.”
He continues, “As I produce my final TDE album, I feel joy to have been a part of such a cultural imprint after 17 years. The Struggles. The Success. And most importantly, the Brotherhood. May the Most High continue to use Top Dawg as a vessel for candid creators. As I continue to pursue my life’s calling. There’s beauty in completion. And always faith in the unknown. Thank you for keeping me in your thoughts. I’ve prayed for you all. See you soon enough.”
Signs of potential trouble in the TDE camp have been starting to pop up over the last couple of years. Speaking to HipHopDX in October 2020, Kendrick Lamar’s fellow labelmate REASON hinted there’d been some internal growing pains, explaining at the time the label was “going through a weird time.”
Former TDE president Dave Free stepped away in 2019 after 12 years in the role, according to an inside source who told Rolling Stone he’d already been a free agent for several months.
Free, a gifted producer, met K. Dot when the two were in high school and later played his music for TDE founder Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith while attempting to fix his broken computer. From there, it’s been a steady grind to get TDE the rock solid credibility it has today with artists such as Kendrick, ScHoolboy Q, Isaiah Rashad and SZA on its roster.
Kendrick Lamar Album Chatter On Overdrive After TDE Announces Cryptic Release Date
In a 2018 interview with Vibe, Free explained how timing was everything.
“None of the tactics we used back in the day to break Kendrick, Ab-Soul, Jay Rock or Schoolboy would work now,” he said at the time. “It’s a whole new game. Blogs were very influential back then and I’d have to build a lot of relationships with blogs and now it’s just more about streaming. You have to have the relationships with the streaming sites and it can’t just be a fake relationship.”
Fans, of course, have been waiting on a new Kendrick Lamar album since 2017’s Pulitzer Prize-winning album DAMN. There’s been several indications he’s been hard at work though — from video shoot sightings around the Los Angeles area to cryptic posts on social media.
However, there’s still no official release date — yet.
He said final TDE album, not that he’s retiring.
Read between the lines. He and his label don’t have problems. Furthermore, no one cares if you’re on a label or not in this era. He hasn’t made shit in years. He’s about to hang it up.
He and his label do have problems though lol… still he could be retiring/doing more behind the scenes work- overall looking forward to the next project.
I think he’s about done with rapping. Seems to be more where he’s leaning these days, and this will be his last proper album although he’ll probably go the Andre 3000 route and never officially say so.
I hope not. Shit I’m still waitin’ on Andre 3000 to come back…LOL…I know I know…wishful thinking.
If it is his last tde album he should def feat all of his teammates who been there from the start. Tde albums always drops with to less tde feat.
These trash cat-in-the hat ass rappers can’t eat when Kendrick drops. I’m excited
He should’ve saved Damn as the name of his final TDE effort. Because that’s how I’m feeling right now. Oh well, I’m sure Post Malone can sign him and get him back on track to greatness.
Well since Top Dawg and Punch manage this label like dicks leading each of their artists to release material every 3/4 years, it’s a smart move from Kendrick to leave the label and begin something new. I hope Ab-Soul and Jay Rock would follow his lead since their career has been managed like shit!
Jay rock had a good run
Thank God. More Kenny on the way!! He ain’t hardly done rapping. This n-ggas resignation letter is lyrical masterpiece. Better than any of these whack azz rappers 16 bars! Kendrick all mofo day!!
Kendrick definitely one of the better artistes of the last 10-15 years. He’s like the type of rapper who would win on Star Search or a show like that. Very theatrical flow. Clever use of puns and just wordplay. If he doesn’t feel like dropping records all the time or being a rap star that’s on him. Seems like lots of big time rappers lose interest once they release 5 -7 albums.
I doubt this is his last album. He knows the impact his albums have just took some time off. Nas, Jay Z and other greats take years off, they didnt retire just taken care of other things in life. I could see Kendrick going to Def Jam or Roc Nation
It’s his last with the label. If you noticed he’s been doing a new project of his own. Which looks to be his own label.
That is great ?? Id love to hear what he has in store If his own label is going to be his new endeavor
I thought he wAs already apart of roc nation tho. I hope he does go that route as well!
When!??
I wish it was just his last album period.
Oh I’m so mysterious and I disappear for years…where have I seen this this fool ain’t Nas lol but I’m still waiting on that album. Kendrick is in the discussion of the greats. Just my opinion
Whats the deal with k.dot doing another collaboration with his cousin charlie Is>om aka ammo the rap war powerhouse
Charlie Is.om k.dot older cousin ammo tha warchild when the next collaboration