Kendrick Lamar has a series of questions he likes artists to answer before he decides whether he wants to work with them or not, according to Saviii 3rd.
Speaking on The Justin Credible Podcast, Saviii revealed that Kendrick sent him a text with five different questions, and his answers would decide if he would work with the up-and-coming Los Angeles rapper. Saviii admitted he felt the pressure when he got the text, but it was something he knew he had to do.
“I took those questions so serious,” Saviii 3rd explained. “One of the questions was: ‘Do you want to make music for your section, or do you want to make music for the world?’ Another one is: ‘What do you think your biggest flaw is when it comes to anything blocking your creativity?”
He continued: “With this one, he put: ‘This is the one’ in parentheses, and he said: ‘What do you think is stopping you from being an ultimate superstar? Be truthful with yourself.'”
Kendrick Lamar assessing the creatives that come his way should come as no surprise given how tight-knit he likes to keep his team and output.
This isn’t the first time someone has revealed what Kendrick is like behind the scenes. Earlier this month, Thundercat reflected on a hilarious studio session with K. Dot when they were recording “These Walls” off his 2015 album To Pimp A Butterfly. According to Cat, the song’s suggestive lyrics put him in a funny predicament with his collaborators.
“My favorite studio session that I was in, gotta be honest: it was probably singing ‘These Walls,'” Thundercat told HipHopDX. “And a lot of my friends at the time didn’t realize that I sang. And so, my friends were just staring in my face like, ‘What is he doing right now?’ And I was like, ‘Can you guys leave the room so I can… I don’t wanna be looking in my friends’ eyes singing about these walls.’
“It’s just looking at Terrace [Martin] in the eyes, singing in my highest Michael McDonald voice. Terrace is smiling like, ‘What about these walls, Steven?’ And I’m like, ‘Stop it!’ I couldn’t pause because the track is gonna keep going, so I gotta keep singing. There is no pause, it’s just continually me singing these walls and harmonies.”
He continued: “And my friends looking down my throat. Don’t look at me like that. I’m a grown man, I pay taxes; I’ve been to jail. Don’t do that!”
Kendrick has become the most pretentious douchebag in the industry. Sad, considering he was so humble from 2009 to 2013.
The problem today is people don’t want to be their best. The artist who work with Kendrick don’t he is not humble. Every artist who has worked with Kendrick has been positive about the experience. The artist in this story was not critical of Kendrick. The people who are critical of Kendrick are not artist who has worked with him. I am feeling some jealousy on your part.
It seems like Kendrick needs to check his ego! Success got to this motherfucker’s brain.
How Sway?
There is a reason WHY EVERY kendirck album has a different sound, production, messaging and content… unlike Drake which every album essentially is the same thing… kendrick is the GOAT of this generation
Eh. Kendrick has sounded horrible to me the past 2 albums. He has a high pitch, whiny voice now. He originated as a very west coast rapper. A fresh retake on the old Westcoast hiphop. Listening to him today, I wouldn’t even be able to guess he’s Westcoast. He sounds like every other skinny jean wearing radio rapper today. Sure, he has good ideas and writes good verses, but his delivery nowadays is the exact opposite of why I once idolized him. He was once the mono tone, occasionally scratchy voice spitter who was just killing it in old hiphop fashion. Dope hiphop beats, killer flows, good lyrics. Now it’s more like he sounds like the Quavo Lil Baby types. Which I can’t stand. It’s headache music to me. Go back to OD, Section 80, gkmc… my God he was so solid. Someone both tbe kids and adults could equally enjoy.
Sounds like Quavo & Lil Baby in what way? You need to get your ears cleaned. Plus, that GKMC bs ain’t coming back, let it go. That was a decade ago.
I used to feel like that but then when I listened again to the record, I realised that he has evolved.
He can’t be rapping about the experiences of a decade ago. That’s growth🙌🏾
Yeah, and Eminem “grew” as well lol. That’s what people say to cope with the fact that an artist has passed their prime.
I think we found someone more full of themselves than Kanye…
I think we found an airhead who can’t read
So, Kendrick treating his peers like it’s a job interview. No good. I like Em’s approach better, lock you in a studio with him and watch you write your own bars.