2007 Kendrick Lamar DubCNN Interview

In February 2007, DubCNN's Nima Etminan interviewed Kendrick Lamar, then performing as K.Dot, capturing a pivotal moment in the acclaimed hip-hop artist's development. During this period, Lamar was signed to the nascent Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) alongside Jay Rock, as TDE was gaining recognition through Jay Rock's single "Lift Me Up" receiving airplay on Power 106. The interview coincided with Lamar's preparation to release his mixtape "Training Day," representing one of his earliest documented projects before his evolution into one of hip-hop's most critically celebrated voices.Lamar's artistic identity during this formative period revealed the foundation of principles that would define his later career. He introduced himself as "K.Dot, straight out of Compton, Top Dawg Ent / Def Jam, getting it in. '07 to 3000, that's my slogan," establishing his connection to West Coast hip-hop's legacy while demonstrating remarkable foresight regarding his artistic longevity. When discussing his approach to music, Lamar articulated a sophisticated philosophy: "We're bringing the pure form of artistry to the music game... we ain't one dimensional. You can't put a label or a title on us, we're just being true to ourselves and expressing ourselves on these records." This rejection of genre constraints and commitment to authentic expression would become hallmarks of his later groundbreaking albums.The interview documented Lamar's early marketing strategy, which combined traditional grassroots methods with emerging digital platforms. He emphasized street-level promotion through "mixtapes, freestyles, hopping on everybody else's mixtapes, doing cyphers," while simultaneously recognizing the internet's transformative potential: "The internet is a big promotional tool... It allows you to broaden out your music instead of just keeping it boxed in locally. Everybody else can hear you all around the world instead of just your neighborhood." This approach was complemented by strategic collaborations with producers including "4th Quarter, Sounwave, LES, DJ Quik, Fredwreck," establishing the sonic foundations that would influence his early work. The interview also revealed TDE's strategic development plan, with Lamar's album scheduled to follow Jay Rock's July 2007 release to "keep the pace moving."*There may be errors on this page.