#Kendrick lamar best lyrical songs series#
#Kendrick lamar best lyrical songs crack#

Now the quiet, observant kid who made good grades in school was poised to become rap's newest superstar. Aftermath was distributed by major label Interscope (Universal Music), which would have the marketing, sales and distribution muscle to take Lamar's career to the next level. Dre signed him to his independent record label, Aftermath Entertainment, alongside more established rap stars Eminem and 50 Cent (in a joint venture with Top Dawg). Dre, one of hip-hop's most respected and influential producers, took the young artist under his wing, becoming his mentor in both music and business.Īs the buzz on Lamar continued to build, Dr. Lamar continued writing music and lyrics, and continued to tour and collaborate with more popular recording artists such as Young Jeezy, The Game, Talib Kweli, Busta Rhymes and Lil Wayne. Titled Section.80, it was released exclusively on iTunes. That same year, Lamar released his first full-length independent album under Top Dawg Entertainment. He also put out a fourth mix tape, Overly Dedicated. In 2010 Lamar dropped the K-Dot tag and began using his own name. Lamar and these other performers eventually formed their own rap collective, Black Hippy. He went on to release two other acclaimed mix tapes, Training Day (2005) and C4 (2009), steadily working with other up-and-coming West Coast rappers like Jay Rock, Ab-Soul and Schoolboy Q. The project was enough to get Lamar a record deal with Top Dawg Entertainment, a respected California independent label and feeder to major labels. At age 16, in 2003, he circulated a mix tape called Youngest Head Nigga in Charge, which drew a lot of interest in his native Southern California and beyond. He adopted the moniker K-Dot and began performing his lyrics as a rapper. Lamar's family was directly touched by the violence of the streets, yet he remained thoughtful and soft-spoken, ever the keen observer, even as a child. He was a good student who enjoyed writing, first stories and poems, and then lyrics.

#Kendrick lamar best lyrical songs crack#

As the 1980s crack trade and West Coast gang presence increased, Lamar grew up around precarious street activity, but he seemed more influenced than harmed by it. His parents had moved to Compton from Chicago to escape the city's gang culture, although Lamar's father had been associated with the notorious Gangster Disciples gang. Kendrick Lamar Duckworth (who dropped his last name to perform as Kendrick Lamar) was born in Compton, California, on June 17, 1987. also made history as the first of its genre to earn a Pulitzer Prize.

both won Grammys for Best Rap Album, while DAMN. He continued to receive accolades for his 2015 album, To Pimp a Butterfly, and his 2017 follow-up, DAMN. Lamar's debut major-label recording, good kid, m.A.A.d City, was released to great acclaim and impressive sales for an up-and-coming recording artist.

#Kendrick lamar best lyrical songs series#

He rapped under the name K-Dot, releasing a series of increasingly popular mix tapes, which brought him to the attention of hip-hop super-producer Dr. After writing stories as a child, he put to music some lyrics about the rough Compton streets he grew up on. Kendrick Lamar Duckworth, who performs as Kendrick Lamar, was born in Compton, California, on June 17, 1987.