Short Summary
Kendrick Lamar does an interview with DJ Whoo Kid following the success of "
good kid, m.A.A.d city" (2012) and "
Section.80" (2011). His deliberate creative process emphasizes quality over quantity in an era he describes as making hip-hop "disposable," while his commitment to live performance excellence, inspired by James Brown, establishes his enduring legacy. Emerging from the West Coast tradition ("I'm a breed of a Snoop and Pac") while collaborating with diverse artists like George Clinton and Ron Isley, Lamar balances aggressive lyricism with introspection addressing complex social issues—particularly evident in his single "
i," which addresses incarceration, suicide prevention, and community healing in Black communities. Through mentorship from Dr. Dre and Eminem, association with the Top Dawg Entertainment collective, and his focus on competing with his own previous work rather than industry rivals, Lamar has created a distinctive body of work that redefines hip-hop's possibilities while maintaining artistic integrity.
Long Summary
Introduction: Kendrick Lamar's Artistic Philosophy and Impact on Hip-Hop
Kendrick Lamar does an interview with DJ Whoo Kid following the success of "
good kid, m.A.A.d city" (2012) and "
Section.80" (2011), Lamar discusses his approach to music creation, his position in the industry, and his perspective on hip-hop's evolution.
Kendrick Lamar on Creative Authenticity and Artistic Challenge
Lamar articulates a profound commitment to artistic growth throughout the interview, stating: "This is my music and I gotta challenge myself all the time." Unlike many contemporaries who draw primarily from external influences, Lamar emphasizes internal inspiration: "Not even grabbing inspiration from other people but from myself." This self-referential creative process has become a defining characteristic of his work, allowing him to develop one of music's most distinctive voices while remaining true to his artistic vision.The Compton artist views his position in the music industry as "one in a million," a perspective that drives his meticulous approach to every aspect of creation. "Whether it's a hook, whether it's a verse, whether it's four bars, eight bars, of course, you got to give it your shot," Lamar explains, highlighting how he refuses to take his platform for granted. This perfectionist approach has resulted in albums characterized by conceptual depth and lyrical precision, distinguishing Lamar from many contemporaries focused primarily on commercial appeal.
Strategic Release Cycles: Kendrick Lamar's Approach to Album Creation
In contrast to the industry's trend toward constant content creation, Lamar deliberately took a two-year gap after "good kid, m.A.A.d city" without releasing mixtapes, singles, or freestyles. "I'm blessed to be in a position where my album was a demand for the people," he explains, demonstrating his understanding of artistic value and audience anticipation. This strategic silence has become a hallmark of Lamar's career, allowing each album release to become a cultural event rather than merely another entry in an oversaturated market.Lamar offers pointed criticism of hip-hop's increasingly disposable nature, where singles are "dropping left and right" and creativity has reached "a stagnant point." He observes that "hip-hop is so disposable" in the current landscape, with artists flooding the market with content that lacks substantive meaning or artistic merit. By contrast, Lamar waits for genuine inspiration: "I gotta be drawing some type of inspiration to actually go in the studio and do what I do," establishing a quality-over-quantity approach that has contributed significantly to his critical acclaim and cultural impact.
Performance as Legacy: Kendrick Lamar on Live Shows and Musical Longevity
The Compton-born artist articulates a profound appreciation for live performance as essential to building lasting musical legacy. "A live show that's 80%, people gotta put up," Lamar asserts about live shows, insisting they deserve "just as much depth" as recording. "That keeps your legacy going for years," he emphasizes, citing James Brown as an example of an artist whose electrifying performances sustained his relevance decades beyond his original recordings: "When James Brown made them records, you know, walking 60s and 50s...1980, 30 years later, he's still relevant."This philosophy has informed Lamar's own approach to touring, which he credits with helping him maintain artistic inspiration while building a sustainable career. His worldwide touring following "good kid, m.A.A.d city" provided both financial sustainability and creative rejuvenation: "The touring help though... it definitely helped me." This holistic approach to artistry separates Lamar from artists focused exclusively on streaming numbers and digital presence.
Musical Evolution and Collaborations: Kendrick Lamar's Expanding Sonic Palette
The interview reveals Lamar's expanding musical influences through his collaborations with funk pioneer George Clinton and R&B legend Ron Isley. Describing Clinton as "one of the coolest cats ever" and "my G pops," Lamar suggests potential funk influences in his evolving sound. His interaction with Isley in St. Louis proved particularly influential: "I went out there actually to get his permission...personally," Lamar recalls, adding that hearing Isley in the studio inspired his belief that "creativity and work ethic" can sustain artistic relevance indefinitely.While deliberately ambiguous about his next project's direction, instructing fans to "don't expect nothing," these collaborations hint at Lamar's continuous musical evolution beyond traditional hip-hop boundaries.
Social Consciousness in Kendrick Lamar's Music: The Story Behind "i"
Lamar provides profound context for his single "
i," revealing its inspiration came from two distinct sources: incarcerated friends facing hopelessness with long sentences and fans who credited his music with preventing their suicide attempts. "My homies in particular that felt like they were forgotten...they don't got nothing else to live for," Lamar explains about prison inmates, adding that he reminds them: "They can't wrap your body...they can't lock your mind."The song simultaneously addresses fundamental issues of self-worth and community healing, particularly within Black communities impacted by historical trauma. "As far as the Black community, you know, we always point the finger at everybody else, but it starts with us first," Lamar observes. "We was raised in a crack era where we don't have no self-love...so how we gonna love this Crips over here that's down the street in Compton?" This commentary exemplifies Lamar's approach to using his platform for substantive messaging rather than simply creating commercial content about wealth or status.
The TDE Collective and Los Angeles Hip-Hop: Kendrick Lamar's Musical Community
Throughout the interview, Lamar speaks enthusiastically about his Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) labelmates, including ScHoolboy Q and Ab-Soul, revealing plans to feature the entire roster on his upcoming album. He describes the TDE environment with colorful candor: "This ain't no girl group that's for sure...thick skin being around us," highlighting the collective's authentic camaraderie and creative chemistry that has produced some of hip-hop's most acclaimed projects.Lamar also acknowledges peers from the broader Los Angeles underground scene who came up simultaneously, such as BJ the Chicago Kid and Jhené Aiko. "We all came up, you know, LA circuit bars, that underground scene," he recalls, expressing pride in their collective success: "To look at each other and see everybody branched off doing their thing, it's beautiful." This collaborative spirit has been central to TDE's rise as one of hip-hop's most respected collectives and to Lamar's own development as an artist connected to a vibrant local scene while achieving global impact.
Mentorship and Legacy: Kendrick Lamar's Relationships with Eminem and Dr. Dre
Lamar discusses his meaningful artistic relationships with rap icon Eminem and legendary producer Dr. Dre, both crucial influences in his development. He describes Eminem as someone he "always looked up to as a lyricist" who "put in the work, put in the time, and put in the perfection." Lamar values the rare opportunity to visit Eminem's Detroit studio and receive guidance on maintaining artistic integrity throughout a career: "Just to have somebody...I can reach out to and say okay, what was your steps...how did you define and embody who you were and longevity?"Their shared connection through Aftermath Entertainment founder Dr. Dre creates an important lineage in hip-hop history. Lamar confirms Dre's continued studio presence despite his business success, stating music production remains Dre's "first love" regardless of financial achievements: "No matter how much money you get or how many accolades, he always gonna go back to the first love." This perspective reinforces Lamar's own prioritization of artistic passion over commercial gain, a value that has shaped his career decisions and creative output.
Artistic Integrity vs. Competition: Kendrick Lamar's Perspective on Hip-Hop Rivalries
When DJ Whoo Kid attempts to provoke commentary on potential rivalries, particularly asking if there's a
rivalry with Drake, Lamar diplomatically dismisses the notion, stating they "come from two different worlds, two different backgrounds." This response demonstrates Lamar's focus on artistic development rather than manufactured conflict, though he acknowledges that such feuds might be "entertaining to the people listening, not for myself."Lamar positions his primary competition as his own previous work, challenging himself to evolve with each release. "What better way to compete is with your own music," he explains. "When I dropped 'good kid, m.A.A.d city'...you don't sound like 'Section.80'...compete with that because it's a whole nother world over here." This self-referential competitive drive has allowed Lamar to develop one of hip-hop's most distinctive and critically acclaimed bodies of work, each project pushing boundaries established by its predecessor rather than responding to external trends or rivals.
West Coast Roots and Hip-Hop Evolution: Kendrick Lamar's Musical Heritage
Lamar acknowledges his foundational influences, citing West Coast legends Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur as formative inspirations. "I'm a breed of a Snoop and Pac," he explains, revealing how geography and local heroes shaped his early musical development. "That's all I was listening to," Lamar admits, noting that Tupac's death was a pivotal moment that eventually broadened his musical horizons: "It took for a Pac to pass away...and press that red button where I could start listening to music outside of the West Coast."
The Battle Mode of Kendrick Lamar: Lyricism and Competitive Spirit
The interview reveals an aspect of Lamar's artistic personality that might surprise those familiar only with his more introspective work. DJ Whoo Kid notes that Lamar has always been "in battle mode," despite early perceptions of him as being on "hipster stuff." Lamar attributes this combative lyrical approach to his West Coast influences: "People forget that, you know, I'm a breed of a Snoop and Pac." This aggressive lyricism, combined with his thoughtful content, creates Lamar's distinctive artistic balance. "I may give some stuff over here about my life and a spiritual world... but at the same time I may be conflicted, you know, in a whole nother mode and give you this type of aggression," he explains. When his lyrics caught the attention of Jay-Z, who appeared on a remix of his work, Lamar viewed it as "confirmation" of his artistic validity: "You have artists that you look up to and they respect you enough to say okay, this is something I fuck with."*There may be errors on this page.