Kendrick Lamar: All You Need To Know
The rap star, Kendrick Lamar, turns 33 today and that got us thinking. So, everyone knows that Kendrick had a huge part to play in the ‘Black Panther’ soundtrack and that his hit tune, ‘Humble’ saw roaring success – but how well do you really know the man? Do you know that he has an obsession for sugary cereals and even wrote a song about it? Do you know the true story behind his collab with Taylor Swift? Did you know-okay, we’ll stop there. The point is, to celebrate his birthday, we’ve unearthed a lot of gems from Kendrick’s life and career, so the next step is simply dishing it all out to you on a platter.
So, take a seat, this is going to get wild real fast.
1. Back when Kendrick Lamar was still finding his footing in the Rap world, he went by the alias,K.Dot. And as the kids say, this can also just mean “OK, full stop” in slang.
But later, he decided it was high time he put his real name behind all that talent. He said, “When people heard the name K.Dot, they were like, ‘The kid is dope, he can rap; but who is he?’ That went on for years – just another kid in the streets that can rap good, right? So I was like, ‘Y’know what? I want people to know who I am as a person and what I represent.’”
Photo Credit: Kevin Winter
2. Taylor Swift and Kendrick Lamar collaborated on the hit tune, ‘Bad Blood’. And Kendrick has quite the story behind this collab, which will surely turn your heart to goo. “Taylor is just a cool person and she makes great music. I need some music for my little niece. This is not for number one records, this is so my niece will think I’m cool.”
Photo Credit: Kevin Mazur
3. The man has a raging obsession for sugary cereal. In fact, he even has a song named ‘Cartoons and Cereal’. Fair warning before you run off to read the lyrics, they’re a lot more aggressive than the title.
Photo Credit: C Flanigan
4. Imagine making a cameo in your favourite star’s music video…(we didn’t intend for that to rhyme) but point being that Kendrick has been there. He was on the set of Tupac and Dr. Dre’s track, “California Love”. He was only 8-years-old at the time, but later on, he did say that this event “subconsciously sparked something”. It was a sign from the Rap Gods.
Photo Credit: Larry Busacca
5. Years later, when Kendrick signed a deal with Dr. Dre to work together on Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, he shared his special memory with the legendary star. It turned out Dre remembered the exact moment too.
Photo Credit: Mike Coppola
6. Kendrick was a straight-A student in school. One time, he recalled, that he jotted down his poetry homework in a mere 10 minutes, because he had forgotten to do it. But guess what? He still scored an A.
Photo Credit: Noam Galai
7. The man once dressed up as Jesus for Halloween. He later explained, “If I want to idolise somebody, I’m not going to do a scary monster. I’m not gonna do another artist or a human being – I’m gonna idolise the Master, who I feel is the Master, and try to walk in His light.” Well, valid point.
Photo Credit: Christopher Polk
8.Kendrick’s got a hardcore fan in the music industry and it’s (drum roll please…) Lady Gaga! Didn’t see that one coming, did ya? The admiration is mutual, with Lamar often describing Lady Gaga as a “beautiful person”.
Photo Credit: Simone Joyner
9. Kendrick Lamar married his high school sweetheart, Whitney Alford. Speaking about their relationship, he had this to say: “I’m loyal to the soil. I wouldn’t even call her my girl. That’s my best friend. I don’t even like the term that society has put in the world as far as being a companion—she’s somebody I can tell my fears to.” Okay, now you can coo, we know you want to.
Photo Credit: Larry Busacca
10. Kendrick owes a lot to his father, who helped him keep his balance in life, something a lot of his childhood peers were missing. It is this balance that is responsible for his untold story of “Good Kid, Mad City,” the life of young black males trying to escape the influences of Compton.
Photo by Kevin Winter
By: Nina Karun
