Summary
Introduction
The transcript captures a conversation between NBA legend Kobe Bryant and hip-hop artist
Kendrick Lamar, moderated by Jinx from Complex News during the second year of Complex Con in Long Beach, California. The interview explores both artists' career journeys, creative evolutions, and philosophies on greatness.
Career Evolution and Identity Shifts
Kobe's Transition: From #8 to #24
Kobe describes the clear distinction between his two jersey numbers as representing "almost two different people." He explains that #8 was characterized by "headhunting" and establishing himself in the league, while #24 represented maturity and a shift from self-domination to helping others grow and leading a group to success.
Kendrick's Artistic Development
Kendrick similarly outlines his evolution from "K.Dot" to "Kendrick Lamar," describing his early focus on technical skills and wordsmithing. He says his transition involved mastering songcraft while maintaining his technical abilities, allowing him to connect with people globally rather than just in the studio.
Defining Moments of Self-Recognition
Kobe's Practice Revelation
Kobe shares a pivotal practice scrimmage when he was 18 years old. After losing a tied game when teammate Cory Blount missed a shot, Kobe "flipped tables" in anger while teammates dismissed it as "just a game." This moment made him realize he cared about winning "a little bit more than everybody else," which he considers his moment of "arrival."
Kendrick's International Connection
Kendrick describes performing in London and seeing fans "reciting these lyrics as if they wrote the verse" despite being from a different country. This experience transformed his understanding of music's reach and impact, showing him his words connected with people he'd never met, which fueled his continued dedication.
The Nature of Greatness
Both artists discuss the characteristics that define true greatness:- Kobe emphasizes a certain "stubbornness" in greatness and challenges the perception that greatness is an "easy world" of hard work leading to automatic success- Both discuss using negative experiences (fear, anger, darkness) as fuel rather than obstacles- Kendrick highlights the importance of curiosity and the drive to overcome challenges- They agree greatness requires maintaining hunger and compassion throughout success
Current Inspirations
Kendrick explains he's still inspired by the same things but "magnified," particularly maintaining his connection with day-one fans. He mentions sometimes returning to smaller venues where he can see fans "hanging on the banister" which continues to drive his hunger.Kobe, now retired, states his simple mission: "these next 20 years need to be better than the previous 20." He considers it a failure if basketball remains the best thing he's done in his life.
Kobe's Final Game
Kendrick describes attending Kobe's legendary final NBA game, where he scored 60 points. He and his friend Schoolboy Q were amazed watching the performance unfold, seeing it as demonstrating extraordinary hunger and commitment. Kendrick called it "a life lesson...for everybody that was in that building."Kobe shares his perspective on the game, describing how he missed his first several shots but kept going, eventually finding his rhythm as "the crowd disappears and all you see is the schematics of things."
Future Challenges
Kendrick identifies his biggest challenge as "keeping the music 100% first but not being stagnant" while exploring other creative avenues.Kobe discusses the difficulty of "letting go of what was" to focus on building what's to come, including his studio and content company. He acknowledges it would be easier to build upon his basketball legacy but emphasizes the importance of moving forward and making "these next 20 years greater than the previous 20."*There may be errors on this page.