With the 56th annual Grammy Awards set to take place in only a matter of months, Grammy.com recently sat down with Compton rapper and Grammy nomination hopeful Kendrick Lamar to discuss matters of inspiration, legacy, and more. Grammy.com’s interview with K-Dot comes only a matter of days after the September 30 Grammy nomination deadline.
While discussing what he hopes will become his legacy in both art and life, Kendrick commented on being a boundary-pusher and his constant desire to push the envelope just a little bit. The good kid, m.A.A.d city rapper also cited his Compton upbringing as he spoke on breaking away from the gangster rap mentality prevalent in the music coming out of his West Coast hometown.
“Someone that wasn’t afraid to push boundaries. Someone that wanted to step out the box and always challenge himself,” said Kendrick. “Coming from Compton I think in just the lifestyle in general it’s always been glorified as the reality of gangster rap. And that’s something I can’t escape. I was born and raised. I been in the lifestyle and it’s in my music. It reflect in my music. So, when I first stepped into it it kinda threw people off balance that I wasn’t glorifying everything that I’ve seen or actually done in the streets. So, that was a step from the box from the initial gate and that was me challenging myself to do something a little bit different. You know, represent myself. So, with that being the start I always wanted that to be something that you will remember me by. Someone that always challenged himself and not went towards other people’s standards. And just pushed the envelope a little bit more. Not just in art, but just in life in general.”
Kendrick Lamar Talks “good kid, m.A.A.d city” Inspiration
Although Kendrick says he drew inspiration for his major label debut, good kid, m.A.A.d city, from his days growing up in Compton, now that the album has been released almost a year, the West Coast wordsmith revealed that his inspiration has now shifted. According to Kendrick, his newfound inspiration is life.
“My first album, my inspiration came from me growing up in Compton. Just my neighborhood alone,” said the TDE emcee. “My album represents one day of me living in the city. You know, so it’s so many different stories that I wanted to tell on that album. And it trips me out that that inspiration comes from right there and the whole world can actually feel that and express their feelings from it. So, nowadays I wouldn’t say it comes from Compton or me being on the corner with my homeboy. On a more broader avenue it’d just be life in general.
“Now it’s just not me being in the streets. It’s about me having that balance with my music career and my family,” he added. “It’s about me staying true to myself and not getting caught up in the lights. It’s about me still being close to my spirituality and not being so tainted with the negatives of being an artist…Cause I can sit and talk to a five-year-old little boy and draw from a song from talking to him and seeing the innocence in his eyes that I haven’t seen in myself in a long time. That’s inspiration. Just life.”
Kendrick Lamar Speaks On Avoiding Tabloid Culture
With Hip Hop acts becoming more and more prevalent in tabloid culture, Kendrick was also asked how he’s managed to avoid that particular side of the industry. The Compton lyricist, who says he’s still learning as he goes, commented on keeping his circle limited to those he knows are genuine.
“Keep the most genuine people around you. Only a few,” he said. “Don’t let too many in the circle that wasn’t there since day one. That understands who you truly are and don’t see you as a celebrity or a figure or a dollar figure, putting a price on you. Keep those around you. And the toughest thing to do as an artist is to have that balance. But you have to try and navigate that. Your personal life and your music career. So, it’s something that I’m going through right now. Trying to figure. So, I can’t give you a straight up answer like I know it all. You know, I’m still growing and learning as I go. I think that’s my challenge right now.”
Although Kendrick’s last studio album was released almost a year ago, the rapper caused a minor uproar in Hip Hop due to his verse on Big Sean’s “Control.” In his verse, he goes on to call out a handful of rappers by name as he raps, “I got love for you all but I’m tryna murder you niggas/Trying to make sure your core fans never heard of you niggas.” The record and Kendrick’s verse in particular drew responses from Joell Ortiz, Papoose, Cassidy, Joey Bada$$, and a number of other emcees.
Kendrick’s currently scheduled to perform alongside fellow TDE spitters ScHoolboy Q and Jay Rock at this year’s BET Hip Hop Awards, and is also set to appear in a Hip Hop Awards cypher. The annual awards show is slated to air on October 15.
(October 11)
UPDATE: The Grammy interview video clips, which were reported on in HipHopDX’s October 11 news story, have been released. The videos can be viewed below.
RELATED: Kendrick Lamar Says “Control” Was Meant To Innovate Hip Hop
“Kendrick Lamar speaks on finding inspiration through life, comments on keeping his circle of friends tight.”
Yall should start rapping, HipHopDX writers.
truuuuuu.
i can see a hhdx mixtape happening. Danielle Harling got that flow.
Mannn k.dot can suck my dick overrated ass nigga with no facial hair…
lol why u care if the dude have no facial hair? that your type homie.
looks like facial hair to me in that pic above, mind you he dont got no freeway beard but he would probably look dumb with that shit
first u tell him suck ur dick then u diss him on how he looks with no facial hair.. GAAAAAY
Most of these niggas just wanna push sterotypes
This big earred dude needs to zip it.
Somebody’s jealous.
you know you gay when you’re more concerned with a mans appearance than whats hes saying or or the music
he’ll be remembered, that’s for sure
Kendrick is that dude,if he keeps it like this then he is gonna last in the music industry, no need for him to get caught up in battling rappers and all that WWE
I heard his album this morning, such an inredible piece of work, I now understand the crazy hype about him
best rapper doing it right now
and eminem bitch
he is doing what need to be done for the culture
great read, hopefully his next album is as amazing as gkmc/s80
thought he was overrated.. not anymore… dude is one of the most complete artists I have heard these last years, props for that
ja rule about to dead his career.
He will push that cream puff Drake right out of hip hop.
Kendrick is Drake’s errand boy.
No, that’s the tax write-offs signed to OVO Sound.
king kendrick !
he reminds me of pac, a lot… I need to give his albums a listen tbh
start with section 80 then check out GKMC
Yes listen to Section 80 first definitely then move on to GKMC like the guy above said. Then start checking out his mixtapes (they aren’t that good though tbh).
So much truth here.
Is he going to do that ear surgery he was talking about?
Hate flows in your veins. You need to go outside more.
he speaks the truth, i might become a fan after all, dude looks like a legit artist
he wishes he could hold drakes jockstrap.
Why would he? Drake ain’t shit.
drake is wack lol
Y’all should checkout thegrandreport, they got good videos on there too
he’ll do great things, dude is already sitting on 2 fantastic albums, it’s crazy
props for that interview, he seems really cool
Incredible artsit and great person, hmmm
he is slowly making it into my top 10 tbh
I’m not a fan but hip hop needs this dude.
Gotta Respect This Dude…I Cant Remember The Last Time He Dropped A Song ANd Hes Still Gotta Bigger Buz THan Most Of These Rappers Droppin Albums….If Kendrick Drops A Song Anytime Soon That Shit Will Blow Up For Sure…
Kendrick gonna do big things to this genre believe that.
until I looked at the paycheck four $4162, I have faith …that…my sister could truly erning money in there spare time on there computar.. there mums best friend had bean doing this 4 only 17 months and as of now repaid the dept on their appartment and bought a great new Mazda. their explanation http://smarturl.it/1uhz77
Another overhyped artist….Like Drake all over again.Aint no boundries left to push in hip hop.After 20+ years everythings been done by somone,somwere.Except mabye a openly Gay rap artist.I think Kendrick could probly take that one
Nope. Drake’s taking the openly gay spot.
Ok. Who is better than Kendrick besides the already established rappers who are considered the best in the game?
Drake is Lebron. Kendrick is Lamar Odom.
Only in your dreams.
lol
Kendrick is what hip hop needed
incredible artist, I’ll probably buy his album tomorrow, he deserves it
king kendrick, leader of the new school
this man is officially BRILLIANT
And you’re officially brain dead.
No, that’s you.
listening to his album right now, I now understand the hype, it’s groundbreaking
the new king of hip hop !
kendrick runs shit bar none.. that em/kendrick collabo still got me giddy i feel lke a groupie lmao.. waiting for the asshole replies..in 3..2..1
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he is slowly making it into my top 10 of all time tbh
These kind of artists are the kinds that i cant stop listening to because theyre just trying to make good music, help people through situations in life, and make a difference. Kendrick is just one of those artists, but damn, respect.
So Kenwack’s your crutch? Pathetic.
You’re a sad hater.
anyone who calls him kenwack is pathetically lame
not a big fan but he is the best doing it right now imo, and he is doing good things for the culture, I respect that.
Dying for a new Kendrick album now…
honestly he surpassed tupac in my eyes
I need to give hi ma listen, his recent guest features were amazing
if his next album is as good as gkmc/s80, I’ll consider him as the goat.
good for you. what are you 15?
Ignore this anonymous guy. 2 more classics and he’s the GOAT.
nobody is touching him right now, thats for sure
Drake is destroying him in sales and popularity. Are you blind?
nobody cares about popularity and sales, he is talking about skill, better albums and talent, are you blind idiot ? drake will never be taken seriously because he sucks
great interview
Drake and Kendrick are both super talented and dope. Why the fuck do you guys have to always compare shit and say someone is better than someone else? Music is art. An artist puts out a body of work, and you either like it or you don’t. Y’all need to grow the fuck up.
Hip hop is competition. Rappers will always be compared with each other no matter what.
Thought that was dead and only for the irrelevant street rappers but I guess kendrick’s trying to bring that back. Hope he doesn’t stoop too low because I know Drake won’t be taking part.
kendrick is not the king i bet he wouldn’t be saying that shit if 2 pac was still alive
shut the fuck up with your “if 2pac was alive” guess what he isn’t so stop bringing him up every which way where he isn’t even mentioned.. you 2pac nuthuggers are on something else
Big Krit > kendrick
Definitely.
big krit is not seeing kendrick and I hate kendrick
kendrick is the best doing it right now
Most of you are some brain washed fags..why do you care so much about these these faggot as rappers and weak messages in thier music..is it really beneficial to your life ? while u on they dick they fuckin your wife.
KENDRA LAMAR. This clown gonna come out of the closet soon. His gay fans wanna know.
you one of them right?
best rapper I have ever heard
I have never heard someone passionate like him, I’ll probably buy his albums because I have to admit, this decade belongs to him
safe to say he is already better than nas according to a critical and objective point of view ?
HAHAHAHAH
Nas sold millions. Kendrick ain’t there yet.
I need to support that guy, he is the future of hip hop
“nobody cares about popularity and sales, he is talking about skill, better albums and talent”
Popularity and sales are what the industry uses to gauge whose the best. Skill? Kendrick sounds like 100 other rappers, and his tough talk makes him look insecure. He’s had one official album, and while it had a few ok songs, the rest was overrated filler and you know it. Stop riding the bandwagon and letting critical acclaim make your mind up for you.
You are what’s called a mainstream fanboy. The industry doesn’t know anything about talent at all. Kendrick does not sound like 100 other rappers; he has his own style that makes him stand out. He doesn’t sound insecure at all. He’s got two albums and they’re both great with no filler. Of course, you wouldn’t know since you listen to garbage music. Stop letting the industry tell you what’s great.
“Popularity and sales are what the industry uses to gauge whose the best.”
So by that flawed logic, MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice are the best since they sold millions, Justin Bieber’s the best since he sells millions and has the most followers on Twitter, etc. Yeah, you sound stupid.
this guys listens to Birdman, dont waste your time aguing with him
he is bringing hip hop back
I wonder if his album will be topped this decade
damn dude is already sitting on a classic and he is still has that hunger
thx god we have kendrick who can release classic albums !! cause that idiot of drake is still trying to make a decent album ahaah
Amazing album. When I listen to it, it was more than music, it was a story of a person just like me with dreams, fear, dangers, trouble, happiness, adolescence and maturity. He stayed true to his roots he kept it original but different. God bless Kendrick Lamar and hip hop.
heard his album this morning… jesus what a masterpiece !
Good god, I havent heard an album like this in a GOOD minute. I will actually purchase this rather than download it. If hip hop artist pumped out more stuff like this, labels could move units like it was ’98.
One of the best artists I ever heard!! Point Blank!!
This album will go down as one of the best albums of all time for any genre just like Illmatic, Reasonable Doubt, Ready to Die and the other rap albums that are considered the best of all time. When those albums came out we didn’t understand how great they because were very young at the time. Now we have a chance to witness a classic and a legend in the making. The storytelling is amazing. It’s like a movie. You can’t just listen to a couple of songs or skip through. You have to listen straight through from beginning to end.
You need serious help, kid.
The only person that needs help is you.
this man is ahead of its time. dude is completely miles ahead of trash artists like drake, big krit, french montana etc
2 classics under his belt and he is still trying to bring something more, impressive
i co-produced biggies first album and fucked trannies. #GOODTIMES
Ok…over
“So by that flawed logic, MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice are the best since they sold millions, Justin Bieber’s the best since he sells millions and has the most followers on Twitter, et”
Judging by the fact you keep bringing those names up, you’re jealous they sold millions. Gimmicks or not, they did what very few have been able to do, and it boils your troll blood.
Nope. I don’t care about them. I bring them up to make a point. You just love riding their dicks.
they did what Rick Ross could never do
“Kendrick does not sound like 100 other rappers; he has his own style that makes him stand out. He doesn’t sound insecure at all”
And what style is that, Kendrick supporter? You could easily mistake him for anybody on Strange Music. He has absolutely zero presence, and sounds like a clown when he swears. I read where everytime he swears he has to call his mom and apologize lol He won’t even go through an intersection if it’s yellow. He’s that PC… ladies, gentlemen and trolls.
Yep. You’re a hater making up lies.
“He has absolutely zero presence, and sounds like a clown when he swears. I read where everytime he swears he has to call his mom and apologize lol He won’t even go through an intersection if it’s yellow. He’s that PC… ladies, gentlemen and trolls.”
Congratulations. You just described Drake.
dude doesnt even listen to hip-hop dont mind him. he thinks birdman, pitbull and rick ross make the best music. he watches miami vice and the pauly d show!