30 interesting facts about Kendrick Lamar! (List)

You can read them in the list below!1. On September 14, 2010, he released the visuals for “P&P 1.5”, a song taken from Overly Dedicated, featuring his Black Hippy cohort Ab-Soul. On September 14, Lamar also released Overly Dedicated to digital retailers under Top Dawg Entertainment, and later on September 23, released it for free online.

2. He grew up in Compton, California.

3. Throughout 2010, Lamar toured with Tech N9ne and Jay Rock on The Independent Grind tour.

4. He subsequently released a self-titled extended play (EP), in late 2009. That same year, Lamar formed Black Hippy, a hip hop supergroup, with his TDE label-mates: Jay Rock, Ab-Soul and Schoolboy Q.

5. Kendrick Lamar was formerly known as K. Dot.

6. As a teenager, Lamar attended Centennial High School in Compton, where he was a straight-A student.

7. He began to gain major recognition in 2010, after his first retail release, Overly Dedicated.

8. During his upbringing, Kendrick was constantly surrounded by an eclectic range of music.

9. A year later, at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards (2015), Lamar won Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song for his single, “i”.

10. With the wisdom from his father, Kendrick had a balance in his life that many 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.

11. In March 2015, Lamar released his third album, To Pimp a Butterfly, which peaked at number one in various countries, including the U.S. and the UK.

12. Kendrick’s handwork and unmatched talent has allowed him to work with a wide range of respected music vets such as The Game, Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg, Little Brother, Jay Rock, DJ Quik, Scott Storch and Cool & Dre.

13. In 1995, at the age of eight, Lamar witnessed his idols, Tupac Shakur and Dr. Dre, film the music video for their hit single “California Love”, which would later prove to be a very significant moment in Lamar’s life.

14. His birth name was given to him by his mother in honor of singer Eddie Kendricks.

15. Additionally, he has released multiple tracks under the group name Black Hippy with fellow TopDawg counterparts Jay Rock, Schoolboy Q and Ab-Soul.

16. In early 2013, MTV crowned Lamar the No. 1 “Hottest MC in the Game”, on their annual list.

17. Apart from his solo career, Lamar is also known as a member of the West Coast hip hop supergroup Black Hippy, alongside his TDE labelmates and fellow South Los Angeles-based rappers Ab-Soul, Jay Rock and Schoolboy Q.

18. Lending his ear to R&B masters such as the Isley Brothers as well as Hip-Hop legends like Tha Dogg Pound, which helped prepare him for the opportunities that would one day arise in the music industry. From then on, Kendrick worked to perfect his skill under TopDawg, releasing four new projects in a five year span; Training Day, No Sleep Till NYC, The Kendrick Lamar EP and his most recent project The Kendrick Lamar OD which received praise from some of the most respected online music sources.

19. At age 16 Kendrick released his first mixtape Y.H.N.I.C., creating a buzz in his hometown and garnering the attention of TopDawg Entertainment’s CEO.

20. Lamar also received a total of seven Grammy nominations at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards (2014), including Best New Artist, Album of the Year and Best Rap Song.

21. In 2008, Lamar was prominently featured throughout the music video for Jay Rock’s commercial debut single, “All My Life (In the Ghetto)”, which features American hip hop superstar Lil Wayne and was backed by Warner Bros. Records.

22. In October 2011, Lamar appeared alongside fellow American rappers B.o.B, Tech N9ne, MGK, and Big K.R.I.T., in a cypher at the BET Hip Hop Awards.

23. In 2003, at the age of 16, Lamar released his first full-length project, a mixtape titled Youngest Head Nigga in Charge (Hub City Threat: Minor of the Year), under the pseudonym K-Dot.

24.  After receiving a co-sign from Lil Wayne, Lamar released his third mixtape in 2009, titled C4, which was heavily themed around Wayne’s Tha Carter III LP. Soon after, Lamar decided to drop K-Dot as his stage name and go by his birth name.

25. Throughout 2006 and 2007, Lamar would appear alongside other up-and-coming West Coast rappers, such as Jay Rock and Ya Boy, as opening acts for veteran West Coast rapper The Game.

26. In early 2011, Lamar was included in XXL’s annual Top 10 Freshman Class, and was featured on the cover alongside fellow up-and-coming rappers Cyhi the Prynce, Meek Mill, Mac Miller, Yelawolf and Big K.R.I.T., among others.

27. In August 2011, while performing at a West Los Angeles concert, Lamar was crowned the “New King of the West Coast” onstage by Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and Game.

28. ‘Keisha’s Song’ is based on a real 17-year-old girl Kendrick knew. She is his friend’s younger sister, and right after he saw her standing on a block known for prostitution, he went home and wrote the song.

29. He recorded ‘Look Out For Detox’ right after meeting Dr. Dre.

30. Eminem’s manager Paul Rosenberg was the first one to show Kendrick Lamar’s music to Dr. Dre. That led Dre to ‘Ignorance Is Bliss.’