HardKnockTV recently caught up with California up-and-comer Kendrick Lamar. The Compton native discussed how he changed his rap alias from K. Dot to his government name. According to Lamar, the decision came out of trying to grow as a lyricist and make more of an impact on the rap scene.
“I first started rapping when I was 13, and when I said I want to sit down and I want to perfect my craft, I really went after studying all the greats,” he explained. “[The name change] was just me basically developing myself. When people heard [the name] K. Dot, they were like, ‘The kid is dope, he can rap – but who is he?’ That went on for years – just another kid in the streets that can rap good, right? So I was like, ‘Y’know what? I want people to know who I am as a person and what I represent.’ So I woke up one morning and said, the best way to start is to give them me…my name change, my real name…the shit transcended to where I’m putting [my real name] on records and people are accepting it because they cane relate.”
Lamar also discussed his Compton childhood, describing himself as a “good kid in a bad city.” He said that while he did grow up in the notoriously crime-ridden Compton, he was fortunate enough to have a caring father who guided him through his childhood.
“Good kid in a mad city, yeah, that’s something I represent,” he explained. “I feel that we’re all good kids in a mad city. It’s just the circumstances that [are] around us that turn us…evil…whether it’s through gang violence, police brutality…drugs [or] women. It all stems from being a kid and just the shit you’re exposed to. I was exposed to it, too, but I was fortunate enough to have an active pops to show me the stepping stones and…what was right and wrong. Most of the friends I grew up with didn’t have a pops. If they did, they weren’t active.”
The full interview can be seen below.
i like how they referred to his real name as his “government name” lol
MC EIHT
SCARFACE
EIGHTBALL & MJG
UGK
ICE CUBE
WC AND THE MAAD CIRCLE
BROTHA LYNCH HUNG
TOO SHORT
GANGSTARR
JERU THE DAMAJA
THE PHARCYDE
MOBB DEEP
BONE THUGS N HARMONY
WU TANG CLAN = THE BEST
OUTKAST
KURUPT
TUPAC
BIGGIE
NAS
what was the point of making that list u dumb fuck
1. Cole
2. Kendrick
3. Meek
4. KRIT
5. Wale
for the artist about to break out rite now
Why is Wale on there? he’s already broke through. and put Cory Gunz on that
1. Kendrick Lamar
2. Big KRIT
3. J. Cole
4. Freddie Gibbs
5. Jon Connor
6. XV
7. Coolroy
Cory Gunz is on a sinking ship though…rap labels usually stay on top for 4-7 yrs and then fall off. Young money/cash money is close to that limit.
ths interview is mad oldd
This nigga has no flow or charisma, IMO he just isn’t an MC.
He’s a good producer but that’s it….
he has flow…it appaarently jus doesnt appel to u, idk y but he’s deff. an MC spittin bout real shit. waaay more than a producer. smh
Kendrick is gonna be one of the all time greats you watch
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Postedjust now
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FEEDBACK
DRAKE = TRACY MCGRADY
KENDRICK LAMAR = KOBE BRYANT
this nigga dont smoke weed??? he aint a g!!! i used to like him, now i dont. Real G’z smoke WEED!!!
1. KRIT
2. XV
3. Skyzoo
3. Kendrick
4. J. Cole
5. Meek
These dudes bout to break out F*ck the rest of fakes out there tryin to make it
top 5
gucci
wacka
slim dunkin
yg hootie
oj da jew man
Using your government name is corny unless you’re an R&B, Jazz, or Country Singer…The only cats that can do that are EPMD and their affiliates, because they set that off…
Nah having a fuckin’ ridiculous name like “Gucci Mane” and “Waka Flocka Flame” is corny as hell.
Detox Cover Art:
http://www.parodyhiphop.com/
2pac use his name but change the TU to 2