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Kendrick Lamar Duckworth was born on June 17, 1987, in Compton, California

He began his music career at age 16, under the name K.Dot

Kendrick is known for deep lyrics and focus on issues of race, violence, and social injustice

He has won many Grammys and was the first rapper to recieve the Pulitzer Prize for Music, winning in 2018 for his album DAMN.

His music has received much critical success: Good Kid, M.A.A.D City was named the seventh greatest album of all time by Apple Music, while To Pimp a Butterfly is the top ranked album on music site Rate Your Music

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Kendrick Lamar is one of the most well-known and well-respected rappers of the twenty-first century. Raised in Compton, California, he has built a name for himself as a rapper whose lyricism and flow is unparalleled. Lamar has won numerous awards, including twenty grammys and even a Pulitzer Prize for his 2017 album DAMN . And as of 2025, he has shot to a whole new level of stardom after his conflict with the Canadian rapper Drake, and his performance at this year's Super Bowl.

However, a few years ago if you had asked me who he was, I would have had no idea.

2020 was when I began to cement my own music taste, even as the world around me lost its foundation. I listened to indie rock bands and video game soundtracks. I wasn't exposed to modern hip-hop. Instead my dad introduced me to hip-hop classics from the 80s and 90s; he loves artists like De La Soul, Run-D.M.C., A Tribe Called Quest, and Public Enemy. Still, I'm not really well versed in hip-hop, other than knowing that its origins lie in the Bronx.

I've heard some of the modern hip-hop radio hits, but Kendrick Lamar wasn't on my radar. Not until 2024, when his conflict with Drake led to the song ' Not Like Us' exploding in popularity. Even I knew about this historical rap conflict, and I hadn't listened to a Drake or Kendrick song in years. As my exposure to his music grew, I felt like it was finally time to listen to Lamar's full discography.

Little did I know that the journey of one of the world's most famous artists is one that spans over twenty years.
Born and Raised
Kendrick Lamar Duckworth was born on June 17th, 1987, on the west side of Compton, California. His parents, Paula Oliver and Kenneth Duckworth, were born in Chicago, but his father was tangled up in gang violence and they moved to the west side of Compton in 1984 to escape.. Paula was a hairdresser and Kenneth was a manual laborer, and he did a variety of jobs to support the family. Lamar's family lived in section 8 housing due to their low income. He grew up alongside his younger brother and two younger sisters.

Growing up in Compton was difficult for a young Kendrick Lamar. His childhood was marred by gang tensions between the Bloods and Crips, two rival gangs that have been fighting throughout the Southern Los Angeles area for decades. When he was just five years old, Lamar witnessed a murder outside of his apartment unit. Via NPR in 2015 , he said, " it [did] something to me right then and there. It let me know that this is not only something that I'm looking at, but it's something that maybe I have to get used to..." As a teenager, Lamar got involved in acts of violence, and these experiences are often mentioned in his work.

One way Lamar would cope with these struggles was through writing. Inspired by his seventh grade teacher, Mr. Inge, he began to use writing as a way to deal with his turbulent emotions from growing up in Compton. Eventually, the stories and poems he wrote transformed into song lyrics.
Prelude of a Superstar
When Kendrick Lamar was just sixteen years old, he released his first , entitled Y.H.N.I.C. (Hub City Threat: Minor of the Year) , in 2003, under the name K-Dot. His musical inspirations lie in the hip-hop and R&B music that his father would play, like Snoop Dog and Marvin Gaye, and his own tastes with artists such as Jay-Z and Lil Wayne. The themes of the song include his hometown of Compton, emphasizing its beauty rather than the stereotypes about its high crime rates. The mixtape is primitive, and is not exemplary of his skills, as his rapping shows little of the strengths that he would become known for.

In the same year he released a mixtape with Jay-Rock, another artist on TDE, titled No Sleep 'Til N.Y.C. As the name suggests, this release is more influenced by east coast hip-hop, and despite it being a collaborative project, Lamar is not prominently featured. He then released another mixtape in 2009 titled , a homage to Lil' Wayne. Its cover art references Wayne's album Tha Carter III . As such, his vocal delivery emulates the rapper's sound.

The rapper's first and only self-titled was released on December 31st 2009, and is notable for being the first usage of his first name (Kendrick) and middle name (Lamar) as his stage name. Fittingly, this project marks a change in his approach to music, as he cements his own style of rapping and tells personal stories about his family and his relationships. With a new, confident Lamar emerging at the tail end of the decade, his career had nowhere to go but up.
The Big Break
Lamar's first bonafide album would release on July 2nd, 2011. It was titled , referencing his childhood in section 8 housing, and how he was born in the 1980s. The music of this album explores a variety of styles, like the incorporation of jazz elements on songs like 'Rigamortis' and 'Hol' Up.' While it's not a concept album like some of his later work, it still has themes and ideas that it wants to convey; a main one is the vices that we encounter in life and how they can change us, portrayed on the songs 'No Make-Up' and 'Poe Mans Dreams.' There's also political commentary found on the album. The song 'Ronald Reagan Era' details Compton life during Reagan's presidency, and the untamed chaos of gangs and drug violence that ensued. reached number 113 on the Billboard 200, his first and certainly not his last appearance on the chart.

Starting with his self-titled EP, his work was overall well received, but 2012 would start to cement him as one of Hip-Hop's finest acts. On October 22nd, 2012, Kendrick Lamar released his second studio album, good kid, m.A.A.d. (my.Angry.Adolescence.divided) City , which was released through TDE and Aftermath Entertainment (through Interscope Records). The album cover bills the project as a "short film," and that is true in many ways. Calls from his mother are woven into the story which gives insight into the rapper's life. It tells the story of Lamar's childhood in Compton as a good kid trying to do his best despite the world surrounding him, and often ending up with the wrong crowd. 'The Art of Peer Pressure' showcases his talent of telling a story; he drinks, smokes, and even robs a house to fit in with his friends.

A continued theme from his first album are the material desires that can distract us. The main hit from this album, 'Swimming Pools (Drank)', disguises a song about peer pressure and the pitfalls of alcoholism as a party song.

Another single from the album, 'B**** Don't Kill My Vibe', is remixed at the end of the original album. The remix features a verse from Jay-Z. In a way, it represents Lamar coming full circle, as Jay-Z was one of his main inspirations. A deluxe version of the album was released on the same day as the release of the original version. It featured three bonus tracks, with features from the likes of Mary J. Blige and Dr. Dre.

Good kid, m.A.A.d. City received critical acclaim across the board, and reached number 2 on the U.S. Billboard 200 charts, only being bested by Taylor Swift's . It also entered the UK Albums chart at number 16, and peaked on the UK R&B Albums chart at number 2. Lamar received 6 nominations at the 2014 Grammys, one of those being Album of the Year. However, he lost the award to Swift's 1989. Funnily enough, Lamar featured on that album for the song 'Bad Blood'.
Bigger and Better
Lamar's verses are poignant and biting as he critiques institutionalized American racism in tracks like 'Wesley's Theory', 'For Free?', 'Institutionalized', and 'The Blacker The Berry.' References to Uncle Sam ring throughout the album as a metaphor for African Americans being tempted by the promises of the American dream, falling for the promises of a country that belittles them.

Despite the childhood experiences mentioned in his previous work, this record would become his most personal (and his longest) output yet. This is due to the self-criticism that Lamar inflicts upon himself, in a surprising bout of honesty that shows his latent insecurities. He criticizes himself for selling out in 'Wesley's Theory,' for being selfish on 'How Much A Dollar Cost,' and for neglecting his friends and family on 'u.' On the latter track, wailing saxophones pierce the ears as Lamar admonishes himself while using a style of vocalization that leaves his voice broken.

With To Pimp A Butterfly , Lamar reached the top of the 200 chart in the U.S. for the first time. He was awarded eleven nominations at the Grammys for the album in 2016, and he won both best rap song and best rap performance for 'Alright.' Most notably, he also won best rap album for To Pimp A Butterfly .

'Damn' was another success for the rapper, both critically and commercially; critically, arguably even more so. On April 16th, 2018, a year after the release of the album, Lamar received a Pulitzer prize for his lyricism on the album. This was a momentous occasion for the rap community, as Pulitzer prizes are usually given to symphonies. In that same year, he won five grammys for the album cycle, including best rap album and best rap performance.

The five years between his fourth and fifth album were the longest gap between album cycles for the artist to date. However, that doesn't mean that he wasn't active. For example, Lamar featured in Super Bowl LVI's tribute to Hip-Hop's fiftieth anniversary in February of 2022, alongside Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Dr. Dre, and 50 Cent.

At the 65th Grammys ceremony the rapper would receive 3 awards: Rap album of the year, Best Rap Performance, and Best Rap Song, both for the leading single of the album, 'The Heart Part 5'. The tour supporting the album, titled The Big Steppers Tour became the highest grossing hip-hop tour of all time, making over 110 million dollars worldwide over its two year span.
Victory Lap
To many in the hip-hop fandom, no rap conflict has become this big in years. Everyone knew about the spat between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, even those who had barely paid attention to the rap game, (including myself). It took the cultural zeitgeist by storm in 2024.

Interestingly, the feud between the two has been boiling since 2013, with Lamar featuring on Big Sean's song, 'Control,' and name-dropping Drake among a flurry of other rappers. This came as a shock to many, especially since Drake had featured on the song 'Poetic Justice' from Lamar's second album. Throughout the rest of the 2010s, Drake became a scapegoat for many artists due to his widespread appeal, leading some to his authenticity.

While J. Cole was initially involved in the conflict, he dropped out shortly after dropping a 7 minute diss towards Lamar. After it became a one-on-one, Drake and Lamar threw track after track at one another. It all culminated with Lamar's track 'Not Like Us.' The track immediately became a hit, and thanks to the decision to make the song copyright free, it was used everywhere from YouTube videos to advertisements. Videos surfaced online of superstars like Billie Eilish and Lebron James dancing along to Lamar's admonishment of Drake's character. As of now, 'Not Like Us' has been streamed 1.3 billion times on Spotify. He won five more Grammys, all of them for 'Not Like Us', at the 67th Grammys ceremony on February 2nd.

Lamar headlined Super Bowl LIX in February, alongside SZA who made a surprise appearance. The performance showed that the rapper hadn't forgotten his roots, as he made sure to deliver social commentary using Samuel L. Jackson as Uncle Sam to critique America's attempted sanitization of black artists.
Impact
As a so-called "black executive," Kendrick Lamar is known for using his platform to make change and to support his community. Lamar as a public figure is often outspoken about his political beliefs. This can of course be seen in his performances; he often makes comments about institutional American racism, and its effects in today's world. But it also comes through in his actions. Following the death of George Floyd under police custody in late May 2020, Lamar, along with other celebrities, joined a peace walk in Compton on June 7th. In 2013, he donated $50,000 to Centennial High School, a music school where the rapper began to hone his interests. More recently, following his 'Pop Out' concert on Juneteenth 2024, Lamar and others donated $200,000 to charities and community outreach programs based in L.A.

Kendrick Lamar's influence in the modern perception of hip-hop cannot be understated. He has become one of the most well-known names in hip-hop, and pop culture in general. His music reaches those both inside and outside of his community. His powerful story of growing up in a violence filled, so-called "mad city" and becoming a superstar among modern pop culture is an inspiration for all people like him struggling to find their voice. Through it all, he tries to remain humble and learn from his mistakes, fighting his vices and virtues along the way. The powerful lyrical themes and messages that lay in his songwriting has given an air of respect to modern hip-hop, at a time when people still say that the genre "isn't real music." At a time when there are so many things dividing us, music can help us to see other perspectives and bring us together.

Little did I know that the journey of one of the world's most famous artists is one that spans over twenty years.

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Compton's Finest: The Story of Kendrick Lamar

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Kendrick Lamar is one of the most well-known and well-respected rappers of the twenty-first century. Raised in Compton, California, he has built a name for himself as a rapper whose lyricism and flow is unparalleled. Lamar has won numerous awards, including twenty grammys and even a Pulitzer Prize for his 2017 album DAMN.

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Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst was released on October 22, 2012, as part of Kendrick Lamar’s second studio album, good kid, m.A.A.d city.

The album released under Top Dawg Entertainment, and debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200, eventually going triple platinum

The song was created in the context of Kendrick's life in Compton, California, referencing gang violence and death in the area

The song is in the conscious hip-hop genre, which emphasizes storytelling and social commentary

Around the time of the song/album release, there was not only high gang violence in Compton, but also growing concerns over police brutality in light of the Trayvon Martin shooting

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Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst (SAMIDOT) is a two-part song about violence, death, guilt, and religion. The first part of the song, Sing About Me, has Kendrick rapping from the perspectives of the brother of a friend killed in gang violence, from the sister of a woman he referenced in another song, and then himself. He reflects on his own mortality and flaws. The second part, Dying of Thirst, is about Kendrick's guilt and desire to redeem himself, ending with a skit showing him being introduced to prayer and Christianity, freeing himself of the commitment to violence. He uses storytelling, imagery, and emotional appeal to connect with listeners, and pull the audience into the fear and moral conflict that he felt. It connects to the violent gang culture in marginalized communities, with the story being about people who lived in Compton, a violent city. It shows how many in his environment are "dying of thirst," a metaphor for needing spiritual, emotional, and moral redemption. The song values reflection, redemption, and social awareness over materialism or superficial themes often associated with mainstream rap.

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I think “Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst” is one of the most powerful songs in modern rap. Kendrick Lamar is telling his story, and the emotion in his music forces us to face uncomfortable truths. I strongly agree with the message that everyone has the ability to reflect and redeem themselves. This song is so effective because it’s honest and vulnerable, giving a deep dive into his personal thoughts and feelings. I think it appeals mostly to people who enjoy the depth and lyricism in music,. It might not connect as much with people who listen to rap primarily for the sound or bravado, but it still is a good sounding song to listen to recreationally.