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Kendrick Lamar is undoubtedly a generational talent whose career has reached incredible heights while leaving an indelible mark on his fans and on Hip Hop as a whole. But when you look back at all he has accomplished over the past 10+ years, the word “achievements” just isn’t enough.
As K. Dot himself rapped on “The Heart Part 4,” “I’ll let y’all worry about a list, I’m on another shit / A difference between accomplishments and amazements.”
Coinciding with the release of the Compton native’s highly anticipated fifth studio album, Mr. Morale and Big Steps, HipHopDX looks back at moments in Kendrick Lamar’s career that amazed Hip Hop fans, the world, and sometimes even Kendrick himself.
West Coast legends Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and The Game passed him the torch onstage in 2011 to propel him to mainstream stardom with the release of his classic debut album good kid, city mAd the following year, Kendrick set the tone for his illustrious career early on.
Then, of course, came his appearance on Big Sean’s “Control” in the summer of 2013, an incendiary verse that rekindled the competitive fire in the rap game. “I am the offspring of Makaveli, I am the King of New York,” K. Dot said before threatening to “kill” everyone from J. Cole, Drake and A$AP Rocky to Pusha T, Meek Mill and Jay Electronica.
Kendrick’s verse sent shockwaves throughout Hip Hop, eliciting stunned reactions from peers and fans alike, and a slew of lyrical responses, including from those who weren’t even named in his verse. K. Dot’s OGs were also impressed with JAY-Z, Eminem and Nas among those who praised his verse.
The impact of Kendrick Lamar’s rhymes extends far beyond the competitive arena of Hip Hop. Besides being a beast in the booth, the 34-year-old MC consistently translates his music into powerful live performances – look no further than his jaw-dropping medley at the 2016 Grammy Awards that connected the dots between Africa and the American prison system.
K. Dot’s lyrics resonate not only on stage, but on the streets. While the deaths of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, George Floyd and many others have spurred the Black Lives Matter movement in recent years, To pimp a butterfly“Alright” has become the unifying soundtrack to protests around the world – the modern-day “We Shall Overcome,” to quote the late writer Greg Tate.
But that was Kendrick’s next album, DAMN., which elevated him to unprecedented territory for a rapper – or any contemporary artist, for that matter. In 2018, the longtime TDE representative won the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for his “virtuoso” fourth album, becoming the first non-classical or jazz artist to receive the award.
DAMN.The huge success of – coupled with the five-year wait for its follow-up – has only heightened the excitement for Kendrick Lamar’s return, creating levels of anticipation that few (if any) rappers have. can equal.
While his new album Mr. Morale and Big Steps marks the end of his historic tenure on Top Dawg Entertainment and the start of a new chapter as the face of pgLang – the creative company he founded with longtime manager Dave Free in 2020 – don’t be surprised if Kendrick Lamar continues to amaze the world for years to come.
Watch the full story of Kendrick Lamar’s astonishments above.
Video credits:
Screenplay written, voiceover and produced by: Jeremy Hecht
Research, ideation, writing and production: Shubz alias Minichats
Video edited and produced by: Kevin Bernardez
Thumbnail By: JR Martinez
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Kendrick Lamar’s Wonders: A Complete Story