Historical Figure
Kendrick Lamar
b. 1987
American rapper and songwriter (born 1987)
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Biography
Kendrick Lamar Duckworth is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Rooted in West Coast hip-hop, Lamar's music features conscious, introspective lyrics, with political criticism and social commentary concerning African-American culture. Journalists have referred to Lamar as one of the greatest rappers of all time.
Timeline
The story of Kendrick Lamar, told in moments.
Born Kendrick Lamar Duckworth in Compton, California. He grew up on welfare. As a kid he watched Tupac and Dr. Dre film the "California Love" video from his father's shoulders.
Good Kid, M.A.A.D City dropped. It became the longest-charting hip hop studio album on the Billboard 200. Rolling Stone later named it the greatest concept album of all time. He was 25.
To Pimp a Butterfly fused hip hop with jazz, funk, and soul. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. He recorded parts of it in South Africa. The album opens with a poem he reads to Tupac's ghost.
Won the Pulitzer Prize for Music for Damn. He was the first musician outside classical and jazz to receive it. The committee called it "a virtuosic song collection." He was 30 years old.
Headlined the most-watched Super Bowl halftime show in history. His Grand National Tour with SZA became the highest-grossing co-headlining tour of all time. He holds 27 Grammy Awards, more than any rapper ever.
In Their Own Words (10)
My focus hold these thoughts and dreamsControl this pen (look over your shoulder)Boldest lines in rhymes and thingsDevote my time and mind it seemsSupposed to shine, remind I'm kingProvoke the blind and bomb the fiendsThe pro's the con's, the diamond ringsThe forward time, but I'ma bringThe soul divine and cross betweenWhat's your's and mine's, the gold, the greenThe roads that show just what it meanThat grabbed Shakur and by the wingAnd fly before my vocal scream
Look Over Your Shoulder (2020)., 2020
What gives me an advantage in my upbringing is the duality of seeing one of the most beautiful moments of me being 6 years old, to the most tragic moment of being 13 or 14, and make that connection so the person [listening] can really see the conflict. It was a mindfuck, for sure. I would wake up one morning, and it would be cartoons and cereal and walking back from school. And at 4 P.M., we’d be having a house party ‘til 11 P.M. . .. and people [were] shooting each other outside the door. That was my lifestyle. And it’s not only mine; it’s so many other individuals.’ And I wanted to tell that story.
As quoted in "The Gospel According to Kendrick Lamar" in Vanity Fair (2018-06), 2018
[Africa] just felt like a place where I belonged. It was as simple as that. You hear about the land and you hear untold truths about it, and now you’re old enough to witness it yourself. It just gave me a whole other perspective on where I’m from. What we’re doing in the city of Compton and how the world is just so much bigger than the city of Compton.
As quoted in "The Rolling Stone Interview" in Rolling Stone (2017-08-09), 2017
Now, in a perfect world, I probably won't be insensitiveCold as December, but never remember what winter didI wouldn't blame you for mistakes I made or the bed I laidSeems like I point the finger just to make a point, nowadaysSmiles and cold stares, the temperature goes thereIndigenous dispossession, feel like we belong hereI know the walls, they can listen, I wish they could talk backThe hurt becomes repetition, the love almost lost thatSick venom in men and women overcome with prideA perfect world is never perfect, only filled with liesPromises are broken and more resentment come aliveRace barriers make inferior of you and ISee, in a perfect world, I'll choose faith over richesI'll choose work over bitches, I'll make schools out of prisonI'll take all the religions and put 'em all in one serviceJust to tell 'em we ain't shit, but He's been perfect, world
2017
Hail Mary, Jesus and JosephThe great American flagIs wrapped and dragged with explosivesCompulsive disorder, sons and daughtersBarricaded blocks and bordersLook what you taught usIt's murder on my street, your street, back streetsWall Street, corporate offices, banksEmployees and bosses with homicidal thoughtsDonald Trump's in office, we lost BarackAnd promised to never doubt him againBut is America honest or do we bask in sin?Pass the gin, I mix it with American bloodThen bash him in, you crippin' or you married to blood?I'll ask again—oops—accidentIt's nasty when you set us upThen roll the dice, then bet us upYou overnight the big rifles, then tell Fox to be scared of usGang members or terrorists, et cetera, et ceteraAmerica’s a reflection of meThat's what a mirror does
2017
Artifacts (8)
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