Kendrick Lamar Quotes

Sometimes you have the trends that's not that cool. You may have certain artists portraying these trends and don't really have that lifestyle, and then it gives off the wrong thing. And it becomes kinda corny after awhile. It's really about keeping hip-hop original and pushing away the corniness in it

Kendrick Lamar

I always felt like there was a certain standard of music that I had to do from the beginning, even when I didn't have the recognition that I have now

Kendrick Lamar

My parents were fairly young in the city of Compton. So the things that they played - you know, that was the hip crowd. So I was being exposed to all these ideas, from Big Daddy Kane to Eazy-E to the Bay Area - Too Short, E-40 - you know, back to Marvin Gaye and the Isley Brothers

Kendrick Lamar

When I'm in the studio, I'm looking for creativity I haven't matched yet, a feeling I haven't felt. It's a high

Kendrick Lamar

If my edge is dull, my sword is dull, and I don't want to fight another guy whose sword is dull. If you've got two steel swords going back and forth hitting each other, what's gonna happen? Both of them are going to get sharper. Everybody that's in the industry has lost their edge

Kendrick Lamar

I always thought money was something just to make me happy. But I've learned that I feel better being able to help my folks, 'cause we never had nothing. So just to see them excited about my career is more of a blessing than me actually having it for myself

Kendrick Lamar

People are used to music that justifies street culture but something that's not touched on is why these kids act the way they act, live the way they live

Kendrick Lamar

I used to consider the listener. But now I'm in a space where, if I'm not inspired, I can't really do the music. I can't feel it

Kendrick Lamar

I've got an extra-specific story about Dr. Dre. I saw him when I was 9 years old in Compton - him and Tupac. They were shooting the second 'California Love' video. My pops had seen him and ran back to the house and got me, put me on his neck, and we stood there watching Dre and Pac in a Bentley

Kendrick Lamar

My pops and my mom started playing Marvin Gaye and the Isley Brothers and all these people, but at the same time, they always had Snoop on right behind it in the same mix

Kendrick Lamar

I think my worst problem is actually living in the moment and understanding everything that's going on. I feel like I'm in my own bubble

Kendrick Lamar

The majority of my interactions with police were not good. There were a few good ones who were actually protecting the community. But then you have ones from the Valley. They never met me in their life, but since I'm a kid in basketball shorts and a white T-shirt, they wanna slam me on the hood of the car. Sixteen years old

Kendrick Lamar

When I talk to kids, I'm really listening. When I do that, we have a little bit of a bigger connection than me being and you being a student. It's almost like we're friends. Because a friend listens

Kendrick Lamar

I had to come from something, come from a place that was negative and positive but the majority of it is a negative place

Kendrick Lamar

You can have the platinum album. But, you know, when you still feel like you haven't quite found your place in the world, it kind of gives a crazy offset

Kendrick Lamar

Being acknowledged for your work is always a great accomplishment, whether it's people in my city, kids in the street, all the way up to the Grammys

Kendrick Lamar