Kendrick Lamar has revealed what inspired his epic 2024, which saw him defeat Drake with a blitzkrieg of diss songs and drop his sixth (and arguably hardest) album GNX.
On Thursday (February 6), the Compton rap star sat down for a rare interview with Apple Music’s Ebro Darden and Nadeska Alexis ahead of his Super Bowl halftime show this weekend.
Though he didn’t mention Drizzy by name, he did say that his ferocious output last year was driven by a desire to inject some “grit” back into the rap game, as well as his love of battle rap.
“My intent, from day one, was to always keep the nature of [Hip Hop] as a sport. I don’t care how muthafuckas look at it as far as a collaborative effort. That’s cool, too, but I love when artists grit their teeth,” he said.
“I still watch battle raps, I still watch Smack/URL, from Murda Mook to [Loaded] Lux to Tay Roc to my bro Daylyt. This has always been the core definition of who I am. I don’t think it was a thing for this year; I think it was just a continuation [of what I’ve been doing].”
He added: “What I will say about this year, it was more from a space where I think a lot of people were putting rap to the back and you didn’t see that grit, you didn’t see that bite anymore.”
Elaborating on the inspiration behind GNX, which features a slew of combative hits like “Squabble Up,” “TV Off” and “Hey Now,” Kendrick said: “My [inspirations] were like DJ Quik and [Dr.] Dre, so I always had that DNA. You heard that DNA a little bit on good kid, m.A.A.d city, but I wanted to tell my story first.
“Fast forward to GNX, I just felt it was a perfect time because not only was the energy lost, but it was an energy that was bubbling inside of me as well.
“I wanted to go back to the forefront of just the bite and the grit of rap. Just all raps and hard-ass beats. That’s the basics for me. I thought about what I used to like when I was a kid: hard raps and good beats that’s smacking.”
The pgLang co-founder also described his pivot from Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers to GNX as a “necessary” one.
“It was a great transition from Mr. Morale because that was my most intimate album. I wanted to go inside of my own psyche and my own personal withdrawals and see how it connects with the public and see who could relate,” he shared.
“So this time around, I think it was necessary to come out of that cocoon and feel like, ‘I can spread my wins and show every state of who I am.'”
Later in the chat, Kendrick opened up about his recent success at the Grammys, where he took home five awards — including Record of the Year and Song of the Year — for his hit Drake diss “Not Like Us.”
“I was just thinking about the culture,” he said when asked about his reaction to his historic trophy haul. “It’s always that for me — I’m not even bullshitting. When people talk about rap, the conversations I hear, they think it’s just rap and not an actual artform.
“So when you put records like [‘Not Like Us’] at the forefront, it reminds people that — they forget that this has even been going for 50 years and kinda belittle it,” he said. “So I love to see that it gets that type of recognition for straight raps, from awards to the Billboard [charts], all that.
“‘Cause this is truly just as big as an artform and a genre as any other genre. And I feel accomplished being able to do that.”
Super Bowl LIX goes down this Sunday (February 9) in New Orleans, and will see the reigning champions Kansas City Chiefs face off against the Philadelphia Eagles.
After previously performing at the big game alongside Dr. Dre in 2022, Kendrick will become the first solo rapper to headline the halftime show.
🪦⚰️ Drake and Ovo
How long before greg makes comments, likes them and talks to himself to pretend people agree with him.
He’s on now. Wherever there’s gayness, there will be greg.
That guy has touched more sack than a Mediterranean grain merchant. He’s like the homo version of BeetleJuice but you only have to say his name once and then he’s here quicker than you can say ⏸️
@lulz the real question is when are you going to ask Greg to marry you? All you do is talk about him, daily, for literally the past year. And you definitely like your own comments. Nobody thinks your funny. You’re just another gender confused gen Z.
@Fygz He’s right about that fruitcake, he’s an obnoxious overbearing homo. Can’t be mad at him stating the obvious. I guess you’re dad didn’t love you enough and you’re projecting your own insecurities on a group of people who did nothing to you. Get some counseling before you bash anyone else, hypocrite.
You’re the same person commenting over and over again, according to OpenAI
Stop with the bullshit AI claim. This is why other countries look at us as a joke because of dumbass people believing dumbass theories. Turn Your TV Off 📺
This clown uses AI instead of his brain. What a fucking moron.
@Fygz I am gay. I just love Drake’s cock like F$gs like greg does. And why would you want us to get married when you clearly want to butt fuck both of us as soon as possible? Whatever me and greg do is our own business but you clearly want to bust on both of our chests before we finally put the ring on you gay ass cock sucking homo 🤤🤤🤤
Gay Jay 😂
you a f8ggot🤓benderick you always gone be a f8ggot dude.🫵🏿 Every cocksucker that support this will be dealt with. if rap got to be over FUCK RAP MUSIC 💥📉
Back to getting bent over and butt fucked like the f8ggot I am. I’m such a 🐔🍭 and love being pounded to all the songs from Drake’s last album.
Back and gayer than ever
whoever paid for this campaign is the one on here posting for Benderick, 🤓They have the fake gay clown🤓 impersonating me🫵🏿 then the “smh” dude that posts laughing emojis,🤓 both yt – that’s it. that’s all benderick can muster after 8 months straight of f8ggotry.💥📉
Whoever pays for gay sex is retarded when I give up my cheeks for free. I want 👨❤️👨 and be impregnated. I will drink your ♂️ 🥛. 9 months later and our Drake love child will be born out of my rectum 🏳️🌈📈 . Got my vibrator 🔋🔌.
You’re the reason why nobody likes this site.
Nah you’re just easy to clown. We would make fun of you no matter what because Drake fucking sucks and his fanbase even more pathetic.
Kendrick sucks
And you swallow
Drake is gay AF and so are his fans
I’m not sure that’s all it was lol!! But hey I love it GNX was super dope and I can’t wait to hear drake. This is what I’m talking about!!
didn’t realize rap music was all f8ggots 🤓until this benderick situation 📉never listen to their cocksucker noise ever again🙉, benderick ruined rap forever turned super bowl into a f8ggot club🤢. not watching any of it 📉📉📉YOU WILL NEVER HEAR RAP MUSIC AGAIN📉
Kendrick you going to go have a meeting with Trump?
Nah, next time trump and Elon want to diddle kids on an island, drake will buy their way.
Wasnt aware being gritty means calling someone a pedo just bc UK it’s a trigger words for people w no proof 😆 weird
Here comes Kenny thinking he’s a deep philosopher lol…
Bruh you called the man pedo, like what sport you playing? This isn’t 2003.
stop it gay greg. Drizzy ain’t going to let you eat his Glizzy until he jizzies and you swallow until your dizzy.
Kendrick used cancel culture and weaponized it against another man. There’s never been anything lower than that in hip-hop history. Cancel culture has many false allegations. If Drake really is into minors, he should be executed. But if he’s not really into that, and this was all false, it really shows you the power of cancel culture and how it can destroy a mans’ life. California and Hollyweird liberals love cancel culture, even when the man is innocent. Kendrick doesn’t care about the real struggles of the modern day man, he’s wealthy. How could he know? It’s all a joke.
kendrick starting shit with drake drake a pedo but where are the victims the evidence where are the police if someone a pedo the whole neighbourhood has to know otherwise its about making money and this is all shit because it ain’t true its just about money