Lamar, Kendrick (1987-…), is an American rap musician and songwriter. He has been noted for his insightful, thought-provoking lyrics about serious issues, and his technical, poetic, and storytelling skills. He also is known for changing the beat or his voice in the middle of a song. Lamar’s music has a broad appeal that extends beyond rap fans. His albums and songs have topped music charts in the United States and sold millions of copies. Lamar also has won praise from music critics. In 2018, his album DAMN (2017) won the first Pulitzer Prize in music awarded outside the categories of classical and jazz music. Lamar has won a number of Grammy Awards, as well as many other music awards.
Kendrick Lamar Duckworth was born on June 17, 1987, in Compton, California, near Los Angeles. He grew up in an area marked by poverty, racial tensions, and gang violence, and his music reflects that background. From a young age, Lamar was a good student who enjoyed writing. As a child, he spoke with a stutter. He began writing rhymes, rapping, and recording music when he was a teenager as a way to express himself. Beginning in 2003, Lamar released several popular mixtapes—that is, self-compiled collections of his recorded music. The mixtapes, released under the name K-Dot, got the attention of music producers, including American rap artist Dr. Dre. In 2010, Lamar began releasing music as Kendrick Lamar, dropping the name K-Dot.
Lamar’s first official album, Section.80, was released in 2011 by the independent record label (company) Top Dawg Entertainment. Lamar’s first major-label album, good kid, m.A.A.d city, was released in 2012 by Aftermath Entertainment, a label founded by Dr. Dre. The album portrays a day in the life of a young artist on the streets of Compton. Lamar’s next album, To Pimp a Butterfly (2015), showed the influence of jazz and funk music. In 2016, Lamar released the compilation album untitled unmastered. Lamar also co-produced the soundtrack Black Panther: The Album (2018). In 2022, he released the album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers.
Throughout his career, Lamar has performed and recorded music with many and diverse artists. These include the American rappers Jay-Z, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, and Snoop Dogg; the Canadian rapper Drake; the Barbadian singer Rihanna; and many others.
