Kendrick Lamar Duckworth is an American rapper and record producer. Lamar was born to Kenny Duckworth and Paula Oliver in Compton, California on June 17, 1987. His parents named him after Eddie Kendricks, with the R&B music group The Temptations. Growing up in Compton, many of Lamar’s friends were members of the Bloods street gang although he did not join. Lamar attended Centennial High School in Compton, where he graduated in 2005.
In 2004, 17-year-old Lamar began his music career by releasing a series of mixtapes under the rap name K-Dot. The following year, he signed with the record label, Top Dog Entertainment. Lamar made guest appearances on other rappers’ songs, including those of Jayceon “The Game” Taylor and Johnny “Jay Rock” McKinzie. In 2009, Lamar formed Black Hippy, a group with rappers Jay Rock, Herbert “Ab-Soul” Stevens, and Quincy “Schoolboy Q” Hanley.
In 2011, Lamar released his debut studio album, Section 80, with hit singles including “A.D.H.D.” and “HiiPoWeR.” The album was certified gold, selling more than 500,000 units. In 2012, Lamar signed with Interscope Records and Aftermath Entertainment, the record label founded by Andre Romelle “Dr. Dre” Young. Lamar released his second album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, later that year. The album included the hit singles “Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe,” “Poetic Justice,” and “Swimming Pools (Drank).” That album sold over three million units and was nominated for seven Grammys at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards in 2014.
In 2015, Lamar released his third album, To Pimp a Butterfly, which included the singles “King Kunta” and “Alright”. That album sold over a million units and won five Grammy awards in 2016. The following year, Lamar released his fourth studio album, Damn, with the singles “Humble,” “Loyalty,” and “Love.” That album was certified triple platinum, selling three million units. It also won five Grammy Awards in 2018. Lamar was the curator and executive producer for Black Panther: The Album, featuring songs inspired by the film of the same name. The album earned a Grammy Award nomination for Album of the Year and a win for Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Future and James Blake in the Best Rap Performance category.
Despite Lamar’s success, he would be involved in several controversies during his career, including being featured in a song by Sean “Big Sean” Anderson called “Control.” In the song , Lamar insulted numerous rappers, including Aubrey “Drake” Graham, Justin Big “K.R.I.T.” Scott, Terrence “Pusha T” Thornton among others, creating rap feuds with them and other artists. Despite the controversy, Lamar remains active in the music industry as of 2021.
In 2015, Lamar became engaged to Whitney Alford. The couple did not marry but they have one child together.
