Short Summary
Kendrick Lamar Duckworth (born June 17, 1987), known professionally as Kendrick Lamar, revealed crucial insights about his artistic development in a December 2010 hardknocktv interview that captured the Compton rapper at the threshold of stardom—following his "
Kendrick Lamar EP" and "
Overly Dedicated" mixtape, which peaked at number five on iTunes, and before his mainstream breakthrough; during this conversation, Lamar discussed his transition from the "K.Dot" moniker to his birth name representing authentic expression, introduced the "good kid in a mad city" concept that would become his
major-label debut album title, detailed his emerging relationship with Dr. Dre (confirming talks with Aftermath Entertainment), mentioned studio collaborations with
J. Cole, articulated his philosophy of creating "human music" addressing universal experiences rather than materialistic themes prevalent in contemporary hip-hop, described his position within the Black Hippy collective (alongside ScHoolboy Q, Ab-Soul, and Jay Rock) contributing to a West Coast hip-hop renaissance, and expressed his commitment to using his platform for positive community impact in Compton, demonstrating the thoughtfulness, integrity, and vision that would establish him as one of hip-hop's most significant and critically acclaimed voices of the 21st century.
Long Summary
Early Career Insights from Kendrick Lamar's 2010 Interview
In December 2010,
Kendrick Lamar sat down with hardknocktv for an in-depth interview that captured the Compton artist at a critical juncture in his career. This conversation occurred after the release of his "
Kendrick Lamar EP" and "
Overly Dedicated" (O.D.) mixtape, with the latter peaking at number five on iTunes according to Lamar himself. The interview provides a rare glimpse into Lamar's mindset before his meteoric rise to become one of hip-hop's most acclaimed artists.
The Transition from K.Dot to Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar began his rap journey at age 13 under the moniker "K.Dot." During the interview, he explained that his initial focus was on technical proficiency: "When I said I want to sit down, I want to perfect my craft, I really went out there studying all the greats: Biggie, Tupac, Jay-Z, Nas." While people recognized his talent as K.Dot, Lamar felt they didn't know him personally: "The kid is dope, he can rap, but who is you?"The decision to use his birth name represented a deliberate shift toward authenticity: "I woke up one morning and said the best way to start it off is giving me my name, my real name, something my mother been calling me for years, and this is who I am." This transition marked a significant evolution in his artistic identity that would inform his subsequent work.
"Good Kid in a Mad City": The Genesis of a Concept
During the interview, Lamar referenced the phrase "good kid in a mad city," which would later become the title of his
major-label debut album. He explained this concept as representing not just his personal experience but a universal condition in Compton: "I feel that we all good kids in the mad city. It's just the circumstances that surround us turns us to the evils that the world puts upon the adolescence that's growing up in a city where there's gang violence, police brutality, drugs."Lamar credited his father's active presence as crucial to his development, unlike many peers: "I was fortunate enough to have an active pops in my life to show me the stepping stones and show me what's right and wrong. Most of the friends I grew up with had no pops." This parental guidance helped him navigate Compton's challenges while maintaining his core values.
The Dr. Dre Connection
One of the most significant revelations in the interview was Lamar's budding relationship with Dr. Dre. He recounted the moment he learned Dre had mentioned him on Power 106 radio: "I got thirty missed calls early in the morning, radio show Power 106, seven in the morning... and text messages saying Dre shout you out... Dr. Dre said my name on the air."Lamar described this recognition as transformative: "Me coming up in Compton, he's like a God." He detailed their subsequent studio sessions, with Dre either selecting specific beats for him or allowing him to choose from hundreds of instrumentals. Lamar emphasized Dre's hands-on production approach: "He'll be behind them boards and coaching me... that's real producing, it's not just making a beat."When asked about potentially joining Aftermath Entertainment, Lamar confirmed discussions were underway: "It's definitely in talks, in the works. He sat down with me and said he'd love to work with me at Aftermath, so it's definitely in the works."
Collaboration with J. Cole
The interview revealed Lamar's early collaboration with fellow rising star
J. Cole. According to Lamar, they had recorded several tracks together in the studio: "We just got up and locked in the studio for a day and came out with a few bangers." He mentioned they were considering expanding these collaborations: "It might be a full project, it might be just some good songs thrown out, but nevertheless, it's good music."Lamar noted that he and Cole deliberately avoided discussing industry politics during their creative sessions: "We don't like to really get into the political side of it because if you think too much on that end of the business, you're gonna funk your whole creative process up."
Musical Philosophy and "Human Music"
Lamar articulated a clear artistic philosophy centered on creating what he called "human music" – authentic content addressing universal experiences: "Whether it's love, hate, pain, death, life, all that shit." He criticized the predominance of materialistic themes in contemporary hip-hop: "Music's been so restricted because niggas always talking about ice and glamour and shit all the time."He emphasized the importance of representing everyday struggles: "Everybody's not rich... you got people out here that's struggling on welfare every month trying to make ends meet, Section 8. That's how we grew up anyway." This commitment to authenticity would later characterize his approach to storytelling throughout his career.Lamar expressed admiration for artists maintaining artistic integrity, specifically mentioning Kid Cudi and Rick Ross as his favorite artists of that year. He appreciated Cudi's rebellious, uncompromising sound: "It's him and he ain't trying to compromise for nobody."
Personal Habits and Authenticity
In a candid moment, Lamar revealed that unlike many of his peers, he rarely smoked marijuana: "I smoked weed few times, but I never really got the high that everybody always talked about." This willingness to deviate from hip-hop stereotypes demonstrated his commitment to authenticity rather than conforming to industry expectations.
Compton's Evolution and Community Consciousness
Lamar offered a sobering assessment of Compton's changing landscape, noting worsening gang culture affecting increasingly younger children: "I got little cousins that's nine years old that's ragging or flagging... it's really getting to a real, real, real sad point."He emphasized that his mission transcended music: "This is bigger than music for me. I've done seen a city, I had an uncle who's passed and cousins passed in the city." Lamar expressed his desire to use his platform for positive community impact: "I'm trying to take it to the next level where people can at least breed embrace each other and not sweat over the colors."
Future Projects and Artistic Development
Discussing upcoming releases, Lamar described his next project, now known as
Section.80, as "O.D. on steroids," indicating his artistic ambition. He mentioned having abundant material that could either become a mixtape or his first official album: "These next two are gonna really certify... who Kendrick Lamar really is."Lamar expressed his intention to explore deeper aspects of his personal story: "They don't really understand the story all the way, how more in-depth the story really is of my life growing up in the city... they don't know the negatives I had to go through yet." This foreshadowed the comprehensive storytelling approach that would define his subsequent work.
The Black Hippy Collective and West Coast Renaissance
The interview captured Lamar's role within a broader resurgence of Los Angeles hip-hop. His shout-outs to fellow artists included his Black Hippy collective (ScHoolboy Q, Ab-Soul, and Jay Rock), along with Dom Kennedy, Mac Miller, and others who were "supporting real music."Lamar specifically mentioned his group Black Hippy: "That's my crew: ScHoolboy Q, Ab-Soul, Jay Rock." This highlighted his community-minded approach and position within a new wave of West Coast artists reshaping perceptions of Los Angeles rap beyond traditional gangsta rap narratives.*There may be errors on this page.