Matt Schichter interviews Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar talks about his latest album, good kid, m.A.A.d city and touring.In this interview Kendrick Lamar recommends "The Heart Pt.3" to new listeners.

Career Reflections

In this interview with Matt Schichter, Kendrick Lamar reflects on the year following the release of his album good kid, m.A.A.d city, which had been out for almost a year at the time of the conversation. Kendrick describes the period as "tremendous," highlighting the positive reception from fans and his extensive global touring. He mentions enjoying life on the road while acknowledging that the constant activity makes time pass quickly, creating "one big blur" that sometimes prevents him from fully experiencing the moment.

Musical Evolution

A significant development since their previous conversation is Kendrick's incorporation of a band into his performances. He describes how the band brings his songs into "3D," expanding the "short little spurts" of sound from his album into "bigger, eccentric, broad sounds" that enhance the impact of his ideas. When Schichter suggests recording with the band "like a Roots kind of thing," Kendrick admits he hadn't considered it but thinks it might be a good idea.

Early Influences and Career Path

Kendrick shares a childhood memory of being on the set of 2Pac and Dr. Dre's "California Love" video, which was filmed in his Compton neighborhood on Rose Crans street. His father spotted the shoot and brought him to the scene, where they encountered a large crowd and security but managed to get through. Kendrick identifies hearing his voice played back through speakers at age 16 or 17 as a pivotal positive moment that sparked his interest in music, though he didn't fully commit to music as a career until age 20 (he mentions being 26 at the time of the interview).

Creative Process

When asked about his creative approach, Kendrick explains that sometimes beats influence his rhymes, and other times he has ideas that find their perfect match in a beat. He specifically mentions "[Sing About Me]"(https://www.forgedbytime.com/post/kendrick-lamar-sing-about-me-im-dying-of-thirst-1098) as a track where the beat's emotional quality instantly connected with a real-life story he wanted to tell, creating what he calls "that perfect marriage" between the drums, guitar plucks, and his narrative.

Collaborations

Kendrick discusses working with Robin Thicke on an upcoming track, explaining that he was already a fan when Thicke reached out. He viewed the collaboration as an opportunity to challenge himself with something "a little bit out of my element." Regarding his approach to features, particularly with Jay-Z, Kendrick admits that working with such accomplished artists inspires him to "step your game up," as he did by writing an additional verse after hearing Jay-Z's contribution.

Concert Experiences

Interestingly, Kendrick reveals that his first concert attendance was the Watch the Throne tour with Jay-Z and Kanye West just a couple of years prior. He explains that growing up, his family couldn't afford concert tickets, and once he began his music career, he was too busy to attend shows. He describes his first concert experience seeing Jay-Z perform as "bittersweet" because it set such a high standard. When asked how his own shows compare, Kendrick emphasizes the importance of gradual development rather than trying to force a grand spectacle, noting that he's still refining his live performance with his band.

Quick-Fire Questions

The interview concludes with Schichter asking Kendrick to choose between pairs of options and provide short answers:- Studio over road- Lennon over McCartney- 2Pac over Biggie- Melody as what hits him first in a song- "The Heart Pt.3" as the song newcomers should start with- "Life" as the one word to describe himself (which he notes shows growth from his previous answer of "Compton")The interview also mentions that Kendrick was working on ideas for an actual movie visual based on his album, though he was reluctant to share details.*There may be errors on this page.