Celebrity Info
Growing up in Compton, Kendrick Lamar found himself deeply drawn to rap music from an early age. By the time he was 16, Kendrick Lamar had already dropped his first mixtape—Youngest Head N****a in Charge (Hub City Threat: Minor of the Year)—which started making waves locally. That buzz eventually led to Kendrick Lamar signing with the independent hip-hop label Top Dawg Entertainment. Around that time, he began showing up more frequently in the local scene, slowly building a reputation for his sharp lyricism and unique storytelling.
When he turned 20, Kendrick Lamar got a major break by being featured on Jay Rock’s debut single, “All My Life (In the Ghetto).” The track caught the attention of Lil Wayne, who later collaborated with Kendrick Lamar on his next project, the C4 mixtape. Before fully launching his solo career, though, Kendrick Lamar hit the road touring with Jay Rock and other artists, eventually forming the influential underground group Black Hippy. Though they never officially released a full album, their raw talent gained serious traction online, helping fuel interest in Kendrick Lamar’s 2010 mixtape, Overly Dedicated.
The following year, in 2011, Kendrick Lamar put out his first full-length studio album, Section.80. While it received strong reviews and built even more momentum, it wasn’t quite the mainstream breakthrough some were predicting. Still, Kendrick Lamar’s rising profile landed him a deal with Interscope Records. His next release, 2012’s good kid, m.A.A.d city, became a cultural phenomenon. Backed by legendary producers like Dr. Dre and Pharrell Williams, and powered by hits such as “Poetic Justice” and “Swimming Pools (Drank),” the album catapulted Kendrick Lamar into the upper echelon of rap.
From there, Kendrick Lamar only continued to rise. His 2015 follow-up, To Pimp a Butterfly, was one of the most eagerly awaited albums in recent hip-hop history—and it delivered. Selling over a million copies worldwide, the record earned Kendrick Lamar widespread acclaim and five Grammy Awards. Not one to rest, he surprised fans in 2016 with untitled unmastered., a collection of unreleased demos from the Butterfly sessions.
Then came April 2017, when Kendrick Lamar released his fourth studio album, Damn. The project was met with near-universal praise, went Platinum according to the RIAA, and earned Kendrick Lamar seven Grammy nominations in 2018. He walked away with five wins that night—Best Rap Album, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, Best Music Video, and Best Rap/Sung Performance—solidifying his status as one of the genre’s leading voices.
Later that year, Kendrick Lamar took on another ambitious project: curating and producing the soundtrack for Marvel Studios’ blockbuster Black Panther. Titled Black Panther: The Album – Music From and Inspired By, the record was both a commercial and critical success, further expanding Kendrick Lamar’s influence beyond traditional rap circles.
And then, in April 2018, history was made. Kendrick Lamar was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music for his album Damn.—a first for any artist outside the jazz or classical genres. It was a landmark moment, not just for Kendrick Lamar, but for hip-hop as an art form. Through every phase of his journey, Kendrick Lamar has consistently pushed boundaries, redefined what rap can be, and left an undeniable mark on music and culture.
Well, when it comes to Kendrick Lamar, you know, his most highly praised work in terms of film or music-related projects is Blue Note Records: Beyond the Notes from 2018. Interestingly enough, even though Kendrick Lamar is often associated with groundbreaking artistry, this same title—Blue Note Records: Beyond the Notes (2018)—is also considered, at least by some critics, as the one that received the lowest ratings in his overall catalog. Now, that might sound a bit confusing, but it just goes to show how varied audience and critical responses can be. Still, Kendrick Lamar continues to stand out as a major influence in modern music and cultural storytelling.
Turkey
