Analysis
Nardwuar asks
Kendrick Lamar a lot of questions about where Compton. He also asked about some song lyrics in particular, At 2:11 he speaks on Vanity Slave from
Kendrick Lamar EP: "The picture of a rapper with a chain and Range that is not paid forMy cousin from the South said he just bought him a houseThat lives around his neck like a white collar"At 10:30 he speaks on Determined from Kendrick Lamar EP: "The homies on the block can say whatever they sayI don't wanna be a killer, I wanna be a Gates"He also mentions an
interview from laweekly saying he has 15 stories like Average Joe. Average Joe is a song from the
Kendrick Lamar EP where he talks about life in Compton and his near-death experience from gang violence there.
Summary
In this Nardwuar interview, Kendrick Lamar reveals the moment that changed his career trajectory. Contrary to popular narratives, Lamar clarifies that he connected with Dr. Dre through J. Rock (not Tech N9ne), receiving an unexpected call from Dre after a show while eating at Denny's. "We got a strange call to my dude Ali's phone and it was Dr. Dre... and that was it, history since then,"The interview's most compelling segment showcases Nardwuar presenting Lamar with rare Compton hip-hop artifacts, including the obscure 1989 "Compton Compilation" that predated N.W.A's mainstream breakthrough. Visibly surprised, Lamar admits, "I never knew about this right here... I'm born '87." This moment highlights Lamar's connection to Compton's musical lineage through artists like Toddy Tee ("one of the first artists that really put it down for Compton"), King Tee, and World Class Wrecking Crew.Nardwuar meticulously reconstructs Lamar's personal Compton geography through specific neighborhood landmarks. Lamar confirms his regular order at Louisiana Chicken ("the number three... a three-piece with the fries and the lemonade"), his visits to Tams for "chili cheese fries," and childhood trips to Food For Less where he would get "Fruity Pebbles, that's my favorite cereal." The interview takes a turn when Nardwuar mentions Canon, Lamar's seventh-grade rapping partner, prompting Lamar's response: "That's crazy... that's one of the dudes I start off rapping with."The conversation concludes with both Lamar and TDE labelmate J-Rock express disbelief at the existence of "Compton Hood Tours," an apparent tourist attraction saying that you would get shot doing this tour. Lamar's final remarks emphasize the collaborative spirit of Top Dawg Entertainment: "It's not about just one person, just about the whole movement... and it's about this city right here, the city of Compton."*There may be errors on this page.