In the latest bit of promo for his new single “i,” Kendrick Lamar stopped by The Whoolywood Shuffle and spoke with DJ Whoo Kid about drawing inspiration from collaborations with Ronald Isley and George Clinton. During the sit down, Kendrick also addressed the state of Hip Hop more generally and fielded questions about new music.
Despite largely shrugging off questions about a perceived rift with Drake, Kendrick was quick to dismiss any possibility of working with the Toronto artist on music.
“We come from two different worlds, two different backgrounds,” he said. “I really don’t see that playing out as entertaining. Maybe to the people listening, but not for myself.”
Addressing the musical landscape of Hip Hop at large while speaking about the content contained within his own single, Kendrick hinted that the genre has lost a creative edge.
“The state of Hip Hop is wild,” he said. “It’s in a place where creativity is at a stagnant point, I feel personally. There’s a lot of records that I do enjoy, but at the same time it gets to a space where it look like we just stuck now. They ain’t giving us our respect because they feel that we ain’t out here representing the foundation of saying what you wanna say and how you feel rather than just listening to what the next man saying and what’s hot on the radio. Hip Hop was built on originality.”
During the interview Lamar also touched on working directly with Ron Isley to gain permission for an interpolation that appears on “i.”
“I went out there actually to get his permission for the record,” he said. “I had to fly [to] St. Louis, we went in the studio. You can hear him on the ad-libs on the record. But, hearing him on the mic, that dude sound just like how he [used to]. That inspired me to say, ‘Okay, it ain’t no time on this thing.’ If you got the creativity, if you got the work ethic, if you got enough mental stability to perfect yourself like that you could do it for ever.”
Opening up about his work with George Clinton as well as advice gleaned from Eminem, Kendrick explained wanting to perpetually manage expectations for his next record.
“People always ask me what to expect for the album,” he said. “Don’t expect nothing. Don’t expect anything. It’s just creativity, man. That’s life.
“I’m just in a space where I’m only doing things that I like,” he later said. “It’s very selfish. But I’ve done that with my mixtapes, I’ve done that with my debut, it’s just something I’m gonna continue to do. This is where my inspiration is drawn from.”
RELATED: Kendrick Lamar Says “i” Came From Depression & Insecurity
Wow, is it just me or does every entertainer just seem like they are just brain washed by the powers that be. They all have the same speechs and outlook that they going to do something that is so grand and revolutionary.
Speaking of powers that b when the hell part 2 coming out
But ain’t that the reason for being an entertainer in the first place? Music is suppose to uplift people, not tear them down and make them feel like shit!
Big Krit – Soul Food > Kendrick Lamar – I
Kendrick hasn’t done enough in hip hop yet to be talking about creativity being stagnant.
He’s still fairly new on the scene and talks like he’s a veteran on 10+ years.
I can see Kendrick hitting the ego heights of Kanye much quicker than Ye did, and honestly, I don’t think he’s anywhere near as talented.
Creativity has got nothing to do with how long he has been in the game. These new kids today that are blowing up (usually one hit wonders)all sound the same and have brought nothing to the table that can make someone go wow, that was a dope, be it lyrically or beat wise.
until I looked at the check of $8170 , I did not believe that my father in law had been actualey taking home money parttime from their laptop. . there moms best frend has done this 4 less than 9 months and just paid the mortgage on there house and purchased McLaren F1 . original site……..
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Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion. That’s what makes us different from one another and makes us who we are, individually. But just check Kendricks entire back catalogue of mixtapes and wait untill Kendricks new album drops and get back to me. Nothing else like him around at present and has the potential to be a great so lets encourage the future.
white boi understands ego & arrogance, but can’t shed any intelligence on the subject
can’t relate to the maturity of the person or respond to the criticism of creativity, because a follower is not a part of the structure
no need to respond to me, your original comment content said it all
What have you done for hip hop White Boi? Other than taking errant shots at those more accomplished than you?
“He’s still fairly new on the scene and talks like he’s a veteran on 10+ years.”
You would be too if all the veterans were championing you as the new king of rap.
kendrick hasn’t even accomplished a quarter of what drake did and yet his ego is twice as big. Before he talks all this preaching stuff he needs to get on drakes level which him and none of these rappers will never accomplish. Drake jumpstarted the week3nd party next door, 2 chainz, migos, and almost every other artists career that he had a feature with.
Don’t you get tired of repeating the same lies? They’re getting old.
nothing stagnant about what RUN THE JEWELS is bringing to the game..
I laugh at people that say shit like this just putting themselves in a box
Wake me up when this boring clown drops a single that is actually fire.
You must be talking about another rapper.
shout outs to Ricky Rozay, about to put out another uninspired mediocre album full of coke rap fairytales.
Nobody is daring in hip hop culture/black culture because they like for people to be clones and never do anything different.
He needs Ja Rule’s help for this new album
Drake runs rap. Kendrick runs nothing but his mouth.
You got that backwards.
I agree, rap has been so replicated, when one song gets hot, people try to do the same sound. The I song was cool, but Kendrick has to come with some straight fire after all that King of New York freestyle drama.
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he spazzed on Drake with out saying shit.. he said we aint the same type of nigga.. my real doesnt respect his real.. ill shit Kendrick u get a W
This interview is stagnant and unoriginal, sounds like something drake or nikki would say. The production might be good on this because dre will add g funk to the mixing process or production. It wont be original, but something that we havent heard in a while which is george clinton and dr dres touch and production. Hopefully they come out with an instrumental disc.
This dude needs to listen to hip hop and give props where its due. Of course main stream is tired and boring they can only BS for so long. Lots of creativity in the underground that mainstream will copy anyway.