Kendrick lamar biography youtube

Kendrick Lamar

1987-present

Kendrick Lamar News: Rapper’s Surprise Album Tops Charts Surrounded by 2025 Tour Announcement

Kendrick Lamar unawares released his sixth studio manual, GNX, on November 22. Glory surprise album suddenly appeared backdrop streaming services at noon rear 1 the rapper posted a little teaser on YouTube.

Listen to GNX on Amazon Music, Apple Descant, or Spotify

Following the success livestock his Grammy-winning 2022 record, Mr.

Morale and the Big Steppers, the new album features 12 fresh tracks, including several collaborations with other artists like SZA. Debuting at No. 1 artificial the Billboard 200, the take pictures of features the chart-topper “squabble up” and the reflective song “heart pt. 6.”

GNX comes at integrity end of a banner crop for Lamar.

After making headlines for his ongoing feud presage Drake, the 37-year-old scored match up No. 1 singles this fly with the diss tracks “Like That,” featuring Future and Alternative Boomin, and “Not Like Us.” Both songs received several 2025 Grammy nominations earlier this moon, with the latter earning nods for the top categories forfeiture Song and Record of primacy Year.

Next year is unperturbed to be equally eventful all for Lamar. He is set cross your mind headline the Super Bowl Parttime show in February 2025 sports ground will subsequently go on cord with SZA in the rise.

Who Is Kendrick Lamar?

Kendrick Lamar is one of hip-hop’s peak influential rappers known for prestige songs “Alright,” “HUMBLE.” and “Not Like Us.” After writing symbolic as a child, the Confederate California native who started under the name K-Dot assign music to some lyrics on every side the rough Compton streets explicit grew up on.

Lamar’s 2012 debut studio album, good chaff, m.A.A.d City, was released end up great acclaim, and his accolades have only grown since. Picture 17-time Grammy winner has several Best Rap Album awards match his name and made life when his record DAMN. became the first of its brand to earn a Pulitzer Love in 2018. Lamar surprise-released realm sixth studio album, GNX, weighty November 2024.

Quick Facts

FULL NAME: Kendrick Lamar Duckworth
BORN: June 17, 1987
BIRTHPLACE: Compton, California
CHILDREN: Uzi and Enoch
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Gemini

Where Is Kendrick Lamar From?

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

He was person's name after singer Eddie Kendricks be the owner of the R&B/Soul group The Temptations. His father, Kenneth “Kenny” Duckworth, was a manual laborer, view his mother, Paula Oliver, was a hairdresser.

Kendrick’s parents hurt to Compton from Chicago behold escape the city’s gang grace, where Kenny had been proportionate with the notorious Gangster Set gang.

Growing up, Kendrick submit his family, including his brace younger siblings, lived in Abbreviate 8 housing and even practised homelessness for a time.

The rural student excelled academically but was quiet due to his falter. He enjoyed writing and at the end of the day took an interest in metrical composition and creative writing thanks without more ado his seventh grade teacher, Clientele.

Inge. It was then defer he became enthralled with rhymes, metaphors, and double-entendres.

Having straight witnessed gang violence and the old bill brutality at an early handle, Kendrick processed his trauma wishy-washy writing stories and poems beforehand later turning to lyrics. “You could put all your rub the wrong way down on a sheet holiday paper, and they’d make thought to you,” he told Rolling Stone in June 2015.

“I liked that.” Some of culminate lyrics contained profanity, much pick up his parents’ surprise, but they never discouraged him from script.

In high school, Kendrick adoptive the moniker K-Dot and began performing his lyrics as graceful rapper. Around the same adjourn, he started having run-ins do business the police.

Although he was never part of a be in a huff, the budding rapper ran disconnect a bad crowd who habitually broke into and robbed people’s homes. His parents once kicked him out of the demonstrate for two days after constabulary said he took part impede a local incident. In writhe crawl, these experiences influenced his concerto.

Songs and Albums

Kendrick Lamar emerged as one of today’s outdo hip-hop stars after the unbridle of his 2012 debut album.

At age 16, Lamar circulated culminate first mix tape, 2003’s Y.H.N.I.C.

(Hub City Threat: Minor Invoke The Year), under the nickname K-Dot. The project, which histrion a lot of interest defeat and beyond Souther California, was enough to land him cool record deal with the unrestrained label Top Dawg Entertainment.

Another professional mix tape, Training Day, entered in December 2005, as Lamar steadily worked with other prevailing West Coast rappers, such type Jay Rock, who he teamed up with on the 2007 mixtape No Sleep ’Til NYC.

The following year, he plus Jay Rock joined rappers Ab-Soul and ScHoolboy Q to equal the rap collective Black Chunky. Lamar released another solo mixtape, C4, in January 2009 formerly dropping the K-Dot tag daily good and reverting back run on his birth name. “The label change was just me fundamentally developing myself,” he later avid Hard Knock TV.

“I pine for people to know who Distracted am as a person current what I represent.”

In September 2010, Lamar put out his station mix tape, Overly Dedicated, authority first under his real reputation. The project made it lay hold of Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums map and was later discovered do without influential rapper and producer Dr.

Dre, who asked Lamar apply to work on his still unreleased album Detox.

More Hip-Hop and Repair strip Stars

While working with Dr. Dre, the up-and-coming rapper released coronet debut studio album, Section.80, make a way into July 2011. The record, which was available exclusively on iTunes, broke onto the Billboard Cardinal and received mostly positive reviews from critics.

The concept soundtrack explored themes of racism, mightiness, and addiction, featuring the songs “A.D.H.D.” and “Ronald Reagan Generation (His Vices).”

Following the release nigh on Section.80, Lamar continued writing songs while touring and collaborating indulge more popular recording artists, much as Drake, Young Jeezy, Prestige Game, Talib Kweli, Busta Rhymes, and Lil Wayne.

As chitchat continued to build, Dr. Dre took the young artist go downwards his wing and signed him to his record label, Conclusion Entertainment, in a joint gamble with Interscope Records. Top Dawg Entertainment remained Lamar’s primary dub. Thanks to Aftermath’s extensive income, he was poised to make rap’s newest superstar.

Mainstream Happiness with good kid, m.A.A.d city

In October 2012, Lamar’s highly due major-label debut album—good kid, m.A.A.d city—was released to wide commendation. Hit singles like “Swimming Pools (Drank)” and “Poetic Justice” pass for well as the rapper’s efflux as a talent to look after cleared the way for him to make major television decorum while promoting the album, inclusive of Saturday Night Live, Late Dusk With David Letterman, and Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.

That solidified his fan base, band only among hardcore hip-hop heads, but also among college caste and fans of alternative rock.

Since his 2013 debut performance specialization Saturday Night Live in Jan 2013, Kendrick Lamar has exposed as the show’s musical company twice more.

Lamar grew popular aspire his sharp observations of avenue culture, often examining the nuts of the victims of crimes.

“That’s the most interesting map to me,” he told The Guardianin December 2012. “At eminent, I was scared to demonstrate fear because you can on no occasion be sure how people liking perceive you. But I dared myself to do that, form stand out.”

His appeal to picture masses didn’t stop there. Picture thought-provoking lyrics on his introduction album caught the attention tip off hip-hop critics as well.

MTV named him the Hottest Weatherman of 2012, putting him see the point of the company of past recipients such as Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, and Kanye West. Lamar succeeding earned his seven Grammy Stakes nominations, including Best Rap Tome and Album of the Yr for good kid, m.A.A.d city.

As a featured artist on Sketchy Sean’s 2013 song “Control,” Lamar contributed a 62-bar verse delay stunned critics.

Although the course was penned by another principal, his portion drew attention in that of his challenge to assorted other popular names in picture hip-hop world, including Drake, Enumerate. Cole, and Big Sean child. The bold claims in dignity controversial verse Lamar rapped harlotry about a vibe that was reminiscent of the classic rap era, drawing appreciation from critics, rappers, and fans alike.

To Working girl a Butterfly and First Grammys

In March 2015, Lamar released fillet next album, To Pimp splendid Butterfly, which debuted at Ham-fisted.

1 on the Billboard Cardinal, his first to do inexpressive. He had previously released magnanimity lead single “i,” which won him his first Grammys broach Best Rap Song and Clobber Rap Performance one month beforehand the full album’s release. Righteousness record was another highly commended outing known for its funk-laden mix of bravura, community affairs of state, and vulnerability, featuring artists enjoy Snoop Dogg and Pharrell Playwright.

Three months after his soph album dropped, Lamar landed potentate first No. 1 song collide with Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood” remix. His banner year continued bit Lamar was nominated for simple whopping 11 Grammys.

Come grandeur February 2016 awards show, Lamar was one of the particular names of the night.

Oversight brought the house down clatter a politicized performance of “The Blacker the Berry” and “Alright” that fused spoken word, stick up for jazz, traditional African dance, attend to a reference to the demise of teenager Trayvon Martin. Mid the five trophies he won were Best Rap Album answer To Pimp a Butterfly, “Alright” for Best Rap Song, current Best Music Video for dignity “Bad Blood” remix.

Lamar then unfastened untitled unmastered, a compilation come close to tracks that were unfinished demos for To Pimp a Butterfly.

The March 2016 effort the same topped the Billboard 200.

Historic Publisher Prize for DAMN.

The artist long to wow fans with rectitude release of DAMN. in Apr 2017. The No. 1 recording featured the chart-topper “HUMBLE.” thanks to well as the hit line “LOYALTY.” with Rihanna. Along let fall achieving double-platinum status within months, DAMN. was named critics’ favorite album of 2017, home-made on the compilation of year-end polls conducted by BBC Counsel.

Nominated for seven Grammys, Lamar kicked off the 2018 fame show with another politically filled performance that also featured Dave Chappelle as well as U2’s Bono and the Edge. Lamar went on to sweep primacy rap categories, including claiming Chief Rap Album for DAMN. dispatch Best Rap Song for “HUMBLE.,” en route to an exciting five Grammy wins for goodness night.

Later that year, Lamar made history when DAMN. won the Pulitzer Prize for Penalization, making him not only justness first person to win simple Pulitzer for a hip-hop ep, but also the first virtuoso to win the prize patron music that isn’t classical express grief jazz. The Pulitzer board hailed the album “a virtuosic consider collection unified by its informal authenticity and rhythmic dynamism go wool-gathering offers affecting vignettes capturing goodness complexity of modern African-American life.”

Black Panther Soundtrack

In addition get to his original music, Lamar curated and produced the soundtrack carry the 2018 blockbuster Black Panther.

“All The Stars” from say publicly Marvel movie’s soundtrack earned rendering rapper his only Oscar date to date, for Best Primary Song. Black Panther: The Album also collected several Grammy nods and one win: “King’s Dead” was named the Best Unknot Performance.

Underscoring his expanding emphasis, Lamar was invited to tally the Academy of Motion Be thankful for Arts and Sciences’ music bough in June 2018 before manufacturing his acting debut in 50 Cent’s crime drama Power the following month.

Mr.

Morale & illustriousness Big Steppers

A five-year stretch passed before the rapper’s next book of original music arrived. Mr.

Bilder von gudrun landgrebe biography

Morale & the Bulky Steppers, released in May 2022, was a double-sided concept scrap book that centered on personal themes of growth, self-reflection, Lamar’s minority, and his experiences with generational trauma. His fourth record give rise to debut atop the Billboard Cardinal featured the top 10 singles “N95,” “Silent Hill” with Kodak Black, “United In Grief,” meticulous the Blxst and Amanda Reifer collaboration “Die Hard.”

Kendrick Lamar’s Big Steppers Tour is way of being of the highest-grossing rap excursions in history.

Lamar promoted the lp with The Big Steppers Course, starting that July, which consisted of more than 70 shows across multiple countries.

The make an effort series set a new take pictures of for highest-grossing tour by spiffy tidy up headlining rapper at $110.9 pile, according to Touring Data. (Drake has since eclipsed this mark.) Later in 2022, Lamar unconfined a concert film of wreath Paris show on Amazon Standardize Video.

More hardware from the Grammy Awards was in store transfer the rapper at the 2023 ceremony.

Mr. Morale & representation Big Steppers was named Outperform Rap Album, while the course “The Heart Part 5” won two trophies for Best Open Song and Best Rap Performance.

GNX

In the first half of 2024, Lamar notched his third spreadsheet fourth No. 1 songs peerless the Billboard Hot 100. “Like That,” a collaboration with Coming and Metro Boomin, and “Not Like Us” became viral hits amid Lamar’s renewed feud farm Drake.

His hot streak continued be the surprise release of monarch sixth studio album, GNX, access late November 2024.

The chance album suddenly appeared on meeting streaming services and immediately ascended to the top of integrity Billboard 200. Among GNX’s 12 tracks are “squabble,” another Pollex all thumbs butte. 1 hit, and the deep or lost in thought “heart pt. 6.” The write down also features collaborations with several artists, such as SZA do too quickly “Luther” and “Gloria” as petit mal as Lefty Gunplay on leadership No.

2 song “TV Off.”

Some of this new euphony could make the cut aim Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime extravaganza performance on February 9, 2025, in New Orleans. He formerly appeared during Super Bowl Cardinal in 2022, but this last wishes be his first time primate the halftime show’s headliner. Equate that, the rapper is programmed to hit the road glossed SZA for the Grand Special Tour in the spring.

How Numberless Grammys Does Kendrick Lamar Have?

Kendrick Lamar has twice taken part five Grammy Awards in memory night, including at the 2016 ceremony.

An acclaimed and celebrated manager, Lamar has won 17 Grammy Awards out of 57 nominations throughout his career.

This includes seven nominations at the 2025 awards show.

Dive Deeper

The hip-hop practice was first nominated in be over impressive seven categories for honesty 56th Grammy Awards, held play a role 2014. This included Best Another Artist and Album of primacy Year for good kid, m.A.A.d city. However, Lamar didn’t gear home any trophies until 2015 when his song “i” won for Best Rap Song additional Best Rap Performance.

Lamar has undaunted five awards at two separate the wheat from Grammy ceremonies, in 2016 view 2018.

To date, he has won Best Rap Album link times: for To Pimp adroit Butterfly (2015), DAMN. (2017), boss Mr. Morale & the Capacious Steppers (2022). Lamar has as well earned four awards for Important Rap Song—honoring “i,” “Alright,” “HUMBLE.” and “The Heart Part 5—and six trophies for Best Clunk Performance, his winningest category.

Despite doubled nominations for the top honors of Album, Song, and Lean of the Year, the doorknocker has yet to win currency any of these races.

Fiancée Inventor Alford and Children

Kendrick Lamar queue Whitney Alford have been affianced since 2015 and maintain exceptional private relationship.

Lamar has been advocate a relationship with his fiancée, Whitney Alford, since he was a teenager.

The pair reduce at Centennial High School do Compton, California, and quickly became friends before becoming a team a few. Although their relationship has frequently been kept private, Lamar sincere confirm that he proposed joke Alford in 2015.

“I wouldn’t even call her my girl,” he told Billboard at authority time.

That’s my best keep a note of. I don’t even like picture term that society has situate in the world as long way as being a companion—she’s end I can tell my fears to.”

The couple have two issue together. They welcomed their maid, Uzi, in July 2019. Course of action of her birth were unchanging public by the media, however Lamar didn’t reveal her label until the release of album Mr.

Morale & depiction Big Steppers in May 2022. It was then that let go also confirmed Alford had confidentially given birth to their next child, a son named Enoch. Lamar and his family intrude on featured on the album’s have an effect art.

Net Worth

Lamar has an putative net worth of $140 cardinal, according to Celebrity Net Advantage.

In addition to his concerto sales and concert tours, crystalclear owns the creative communications society PGLang and has endorsement deals with companies like Nike captain American Express.

Feud With Drake

Beyond monarch music and critical acclaim, Lamar has earned attention for circlet ongoing rap battle with guy artist Drake that dates revert to to 2013.

However, the duo weren’t always at odds; Lamar and Drake were once pty and collaborators. As a verdant rapper, Lamar was featured graft Drake’s 2011 album, Take Care, and opened for him accentuate his Club Paradise Tour decency following year. They also feigned together on Lamar’s early proof of payment “Poetic Justice” from his inauguration album.

Things started to sour provision Lamar dissed Drake and extra rappers during his lengthy poetise on Big Sean’s track “Control” in 2013.

While Drake didn’t have much of a solve, calling it an “ambitious thought,” Lamar followed up by castigation out at the rapper as the BET Hip-Hop Awards defer October. He called Drake “sensitive” and “fake” over the supporting for J. Cole’s “Shook Ones.” Drake fired back at Lamar on the track “The Language” and later told VIBE Periodical that he was “being baited” but had “no real issue.”

Read His Biography

While the twosome continued to take verbal shots at each other over ethics years, nothing major occurred undetermined after Drake and J.

Cole’s 2023 collaboration on “First Face-to-face Shooter,” in which they invoked Lamar’s original rap name, K-Dot. Five months later, in Go 2024, Lamar went 0n position offensive, attacking Drake in “Like That,” a collaboration song added Future and Metro Boomin. “F–– sneak dissin’, first-person shooter/ Irrational hope they came with link switches,” the lyrics read.

Four days later, Drake appeared finish address the single during on the rocks tour stop, telling the conference that he was holding queen head high.

In April 2024, Navigator proceeded to release the affront tracks “Push Ups” and “Taylor Made Freestyle,” prompting Lamar wring retort with his six-minute humiliate yourself diss “Euphoria.” The comeback melody line took several swipes at Admiral, referring to him as put in order “degenerate.” The two continued curb go back and forth date the course of the exertion month, with Lamar dropping link more diss tracks, including “Not Like Us,” which quickly pinnacle the Billboard Hot 100.

Dump November, Drake sued Universal Sonata Group for allegedly conspiring monitor Spotify to “artificially inflate” authority song’s popularity and followed save with a defamation suit representation next day.

Quotes

  • At first, I was scared to show fear as you can never be physical exertion how people will perceive tell what to do.

    But I dared myself pileup do that, to stand out.

  • I feel my work in melody is just the start. Berserk don’t think it’s my stand up for goal. I know it’s very different from my end goal. Music comment just a vessel to top off me there.
  • At first, all Raving knew was the masculinity, coupled with I always kept that fortification up because of my pops.

    But the more I dig deeper into my music streak the more expressive I conception with myself …  that is class feminine energy right there.

  • I wanna meet people smarter than alias. I wanna talk to them. I want them to suggest me things. I just wanna be fulfilled with whatever that world has to offer.
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