Every artist has a particular starting point in their musical career and in Hip Hop that point usually begins with the release of a mixtape. During his interview with VEVO Lift, Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar spoke on the impact his mixtapes have had in his career and even commented on being inspired to drop a mixtape thanks to 50 Cent’s projects.
“Mixtapes for me is really the start of my career,” Kendrick revealed. “And this goes all the way back to when I was 16 and I was at my homeboy Dave’s garage. We was looking at what 50 Cent was doing and seeing that no money was behind these tapes and they was just getting buzz where they was from. Not only New York, but it came all the way to the West Coast. We wanted to follow that recipe, ‘Let’s do it too. Let’s put 12 tracks on a CD and burn ‘em up and pass ‘em in the city and see what it do.’ It wasn’t no super big scale, but it was the start.”
Later in the interview, the rapper again reiterated his goal to help other artists as well with the release of his debut album good kid, m.A.A.d. city.
“The name of my new album is good kid, m.A.A.d. city. I really wanted to reflect on where I come from,” said Kendrick. “If I’m gonna be at the forefront of this whole movement I want to expose other talent cause I think that’s what’s gonna help take us to the next level and not be so selfish and keep these people in these neighborhoods…I always wanna bring that out to the table and be able to get a collective of art. Not only my life, but other people lives and other people’s experiences.”
Kendrick’s good kid, m.A.A.d. city album is currently set for an October 22 release date.
RELATED: Kendrick Lamar Explains Why He Signed To Aftermath & Interscope
SALUTE 50 always an inspiration for new rappers. fucc da mainstream 50 still da king
50 INSPIRES PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD REAL SHIT
Wait…..K.Dot….say that ONE MORE TIME so these herbs hear it….who…..50? Inspiring? REALLY? Behold you crab haters, the BEST new kid on the block GAVE CREDIT WHERE IT’S DUE. Like the two cats below me said, 50 is an inspiration around the PLANET. PS, I’ll be coppin that K.Dot joint.
50 inspired a whole generation. thank you
That “Power of a Dollar” tape and “Guess Who’s Back” were pretty official.
God’s Plan, 50 Cent is the Future, and No Mercy No Fear too, shit’s are all classic
yeah but Ja Rule inspired 50 cent, so this nigga should thank Ja Rule and should list Ja Rule as his inspiration
Ja rule inspires niggaz left and right
LMAO @ left & right
someone should tell this nigga the real inspiration in our lives, JA RULE.
Ja Rule is our messiah, and therefore is our inspiration
Inspired by Ja Rule, for better tomorrow!
Ja Rule should inspire this nigga
Ja rule inspired 50 cent, so he indirectly inspired this nigga too
Ja Rule inspired that thug lovin’
Ja Rule inspired a whole bunch of niggaz to mesmerize
Ja Rule could inspire this nigga to death
yeah but Ja Rule inspired 50 cent, so this nigga should thank Ja Rule and should list Ja Rule as his inspiration…
well I see some one got paid by ja rule to hate on Fif, this is 2012 and not 2002, the beef is dead so stop promoting some fake shit
Ain’t no fake shit when you talk about Ja Rule. I sense some fakeness in yo comment nigga. Mentioning a snitch, DAMN
Ja Rule the king.
50 and G-Unit started that whole mixtape game! Now is everybody is talkin about their own mixtape props to 50 for seeing the future. Props to K Dot because he is on Fire!!!!!!
shut the FUCK up bout Ja Rule down there
No way nigga, ja rule is where it’s at.
Ja Rule started the rap game, everyone is a fan now.
wtf you talkin bout ja rule this nigga is irrelevant here you just piss me off
HEY…
THIS FOR YALL HIPHOP NERDS…
WHAT THE 2 CAPPED A’S IN THE TITLE MEAN?
WHAT ILLUMINATI DO TO YALL NIGGAZ THIS TIMES??
Kendrick and 50 Cent are bitches. da mixtape/free album concept was Lil Wayne’s idea. swag
Ja Rule could inspire the shit out of this nigga
Ja Rule is an inspiration for us all. We all live a lot better when we have some JA RULE in our lives.
Ja Rule is practically our GOD.
50 cent the classic one always rocks… “Check out Obama’s New Anthem, Here [Link],” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgHnqcq4eS0
Give up with the Ja comments. This site has some of the worst trolls.
i kinda have to admit, ja rule did do alot for the black community, and he ended slavery
Ja Rule knows exactly what to do with medicare and the health insurance crisis, fuck all that debatin, just ask ja rule to dip his pubes in the coffee cream, it’ll ease the back pains that way