Kendrick Lamar Duckworth (born June 17, 1987) is an American rapper. Regard… Read Full Bio ↴Kendrick Lamar Duckworth (born June 17, 1987) is an American rapper. Regarded as one of the most influential hip-hop artists of his generation, and one of the greatest rappers of all time, he was awarded the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Music, becoming the first musician outside of the classical and jazz genres to receive the honor.
Born in Compton, California, Lamar began releasing music under the stage name K.Dot while attending high school. He signed with Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) in 2005, and co-founded the hip hop supergroup Black Hippy there. Following the 2011 release of his alternative rap debut album Section.80, Lamar secured a joint contract with Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. He rose to fame with his gangsta rap-influenced second album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012), which became the longest-charting hip hop studio album in Billboard 200's chart history. In 2015, Lamar scored his first Billboard Hot 100 number-one single, after featuring on the remix of Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood", and released his third album, To Pimp a Butterfly, which infused hip-hop with historical African-American music genres such as jazz, funk, and soul, and became his first of five consecutive number-one albums on the Billboard 200 chart.
Lamar's critical and commercial success continued with his R&B and pop-leaning fourth album Damn (2017), yielding his second US number-one single, "Humble". He curated original songs for the soundtrack of the 2018 film Black Panther, earning a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Song for the US top-ten single "All the Stars". Lamar's 2022 double album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers concluded his tenure with TDE and Aftermath. His feud with Drake and subsequent sixth album GNX (2024) spawned the Hot 100 number-ones "Like That" and "Squabble Up", as well as "Not Like Us", which became the most-awarded song in the Grammy Awards history, with five wins, including Song of the Year and Record of the Year.
Lamar has received various accolades, including 22 Grammy Awards (the third-most won by a rapper), a Primetime Emmy Award, a Brit Award, 4 American Music Awards, 7 Billboard Music Awards, 11 MTV Video Music Awards (including 2 Video of the Year wins), and a record 37 BET Hip Hop Awards. Time listed him as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2016. Three of his works were included in Rolling Stone's 2020 revision of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Outside of music, Lamar co-founded the creative company PGLang and ventured into film with his longtime creative partner, Dave Free.
Kendrick Lamar Duckworth was born on June 17, 1987, in Compton, California. He is the first child of former gang hustler Kenneth "Kenny" Duckworth and hairdresser Paula Oliver. Both of his parents are African Americans from the South Side of Chicago. When they were teenagers, they relocated to Compton in 1984, due to his father's affiliation with the Gangster Disciples. Lamar was named after singer-songwriter Eddie Kendricks of the Temptations. He was an only child until the age of seven and was described as a loner by his mother. Eventually, his parents had his two younger brothers and younger sister, businesswoman Kayla Sawyer (née Duckworth). His cousins include basketball player Nick Young and rapper Baby Keem. He considered studying psychology and astronomy in college, but suspended his academic pursuits to focus on his music career.
Tupac Shakur is Lamar's biggest influence, having impacted both his professional and personal lives. One of his earliest childhood memories is watching him and Dr. Dre film the second music video for their single "California Love" with his father at the Compton Swap Meet. Lamar has described himself as an "offspring" of Shakur's artistry and sociopolitical views. Although some publications have regarded him as the Shakur of his generation, he has strived to maintain his individuality.
Lamar maintains a low public profile, and is known to be reserved. He is reluctant to publicly discuss his personal life and generally avoids using social media. He is also decisive when engaging with mainstream media outlets, although journalists have complimented his "Zen-like" calmness and down to earth personality. According to Lamar, he has become "so invested in who I am outside of being famous, sometimes that's all I know. I've always been a person that really didn't dive too headfirst into wanting and needing attention. I mean, we all love attention, but for me, I don't necessarily adore it." His lyrics have been a topic of media scrutiny, leading to both praise and controversy.
Lamar's public perception has also been influenced by the various rap feuds he has been involved with. Although some journalists declared him the winner of his highly publicized conflict with Drake, some felt that his victory was pyrrhic due to the severity of accusations introduced and the spread of online misinformation. Following the release of Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, media outlets have described Lamar as the "modern hip hop messiah". Some critics dislike his "grating" political infusions, causing him to be viewed as having a savior complex. However, Lamar has declared himself to be the "greatest rapper alive" due to his personal connection to hip hop. "I'm not doing it to have a good song, or one good rap, or a good hook, or a good bridge," he explained to Zane Lowe. "I want to keep doing it every time, period. And to do it every time, you have to challenge yourself and you have to confirm to yourself—not anybody else, confirm to yourself that you're the best, period. [...] That's my drive and that's my hunger, I will always have".
In November 2024, Kendrick Lamar released his sixth studio album, GNX, marking his first project after departing from Top Dawg Entertainment and Aftermath Entertainment. The album features collaborations with artists such as SZA, Roddy Ricch, and emerging Los Angeles rappers, and includes production contributions from Jack Antonoff. GNX blends elements reminiscent of his previous works, combining mainstream appeal with complex themes, and introduces new influences like the West Coast club sound. The album's release intensified Lamar's ongoing feud with Drake, particularly with the track "Not Like Us," which became a massive hit and won multiple Grammy awards. Following his performance at the Super Bowl Halftime Show in 2025, GNX returned to the top of the Billboard 200 chart, solidifying Lamar's status as a dominant force in contemporary hip-hop.
Born in Compton, California, Lamar began releasing music under the stage name K.Dot while attending high school. He signed with Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) in 2005, and co-founded the hip hop supergroup Black Hippy there. Following the 2011 release of his alternative rap debut album Section.80, Lamar secured a joint contract with Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. He rose to fame with his gangsta rap-influenced second album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012), which became the longest-charting hip hop studio album in Billboard 200's chart history. In 2015, Lamar scored his first Billboard Hot 100 number-one single, after featuring on the remix of Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood", and released his third album, To Pimp a Butterfly, which infused hip-hop with historical African-American music genres such as jazz, funk, and soul, and became his first of five consecutive number-one albums on the Billboard 200 chart.
Lamar's critical and commercial success continued with his R&B and pop-leaning fourth album Damn (2017), yielding his second US number-one single, "Humble". He curated original songs for the soundtrack of the 2018 film Black Panther, earning a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Song for the US top-ten single "All the Stars". Lamar's 2022 double album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers concluded his tenure with TDE and Aftermath. His feud with Drake and subsequent sixth album GNX (2024) spawned the Hot 100 number-ones "Like That" and "Squabble Up", as well as "Not Like Us", which became the most-awarded song in the Grammy Awards history, with five wins, including Song of the Year and Record of the Year.
Lamar has received various accolades, including 22 Grammy Awards (the third-most won by a rapper), a Primetime Emmy Award, a Brit Award, 4 American Music Awards, 7 Billboard Music Awards, 11 MTV Video Music Awards (including 2 Video of the Year wins), and a record 37 BET Hip Hop Awards. Time listed him as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2016. Three of his works were included in Rolling Stone's 2020 revision of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Outside of music, Lamar co-founded the creative company PGLang and ventured into film with his longtime creative partner, Dave Free.
Kendrick Lamar Duckworth was born on June 17, 1987, in Compton, California. He is the first child of former gang hustler Kenneth "Kenny" Duckworth and hairdresser Paula Oliver. Both of his parents are African Americans from the South Side of Chicago. When they were teenagers, they relocated to Compton in 1984, due to his father's affiliation with the Gangster Disciples. Lamar was named after singer-songwriter Eddie Kendricks of the Temptations. He was an only child until the age of seven and was described as a loner by his mother. Eventually, his parents had his two younger brothers and younger sister, businesswoman Kayla Sawyer (née Duckworth). His cousins include basketball player Nick Young and rapper Baby Keem. He considered studying psychology and astronomy in college, but suspended his academic pursuits to focus on his music career.
Tupac Shakur is Lamar's biggest influence, having impacted both his professional and personal lives. One of his earliest childhood memories is watching him and Dr. Dre film the second music video for their single "California Love" with his father at the Compton Swap Meet. Lamar has described himself as an "offspring" of Shakur's artistry and sociopolitical views. Although some publications have regarded him as the Shakur of his generation, he has strived to maintain his individuality.
Lamar maintains a low public profile, and is known to be reserved. He is reluctant to publicly discuss his personal life and generally avoids using social media. He is also decisive when engaging with mainstream media outlets, although journalists have complimented his "Zen-like" calmness and down to earth personality. According to Lamar, he has become "so invested in who I am outside of being famous, sometimes that's all I know. I've always been a person that really didn't dive too headfirst into wanting and needing attention. I mean, we all love attention, but for me, I don't necessarily adore it." His lyrics have been a topic of media scrutiny, leading to both praise and controversy.
Lamar's public perception has also been influenced by the various rap feuds he has been involved with. Although some journalists declared him the winner of his highly publicized conflict with Drake, some felt that his victory was pyrrhic due to the severity of accusations introduced and the spread of online misinformation. Following the release of Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, media outlets have described Lamar as the "modern hip hop messiah". Some critics dislike his "grating" political infusions, causing him to be viewed as having a savior complex. However, Lamar has declared himself to be the "greatest rapper alive" due to his personal connection to hip hop. "I'm not doing it to have a good song, or one good rap, or a good hook, or a good bridge," he explained to Zane Lowe. "I want to keep doing it every time, period. And to do it every time, you have to challenge yourself and you have to confirm to yourself—not anybody else, confirm to yourself that you're the best, period. [...] That's my drive and that's my hunger, I will always have".
In November 2024, Kendrick Lamar released his sixth studio album, GNX, marking his first project after departing from Top Dawg Entertainment and Aftermath Entertainment. The album features collaborations with artists such as SZA, Roddy Ricch, and emerging Los Angeles rappers, and includes production contributions from Jack Antonoff. GNX blends elements reminiscent of his previous works, combining mainstream appeal with complex themes, and introduces new influences like the West Coast club sound. The album's release intensified Lamar's ongoing feud with Drake, particularly with the track "Not Like Us," which became a massive hit and won multiple Grammy awards. Following his performance at the Super Bowl Halftime Show in 2025, GNX returned to the top of the Billboard 200 chart, solidifying Lamar's status as a dominant force in contemporary hip-hop.
Hova Song
Kendrick Lamar Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Hova Song' by these artists:
Jay-Z Who ever thought young Shawn Carter would change the game? U…
Jay-Z & Pain In Da Ass Yeah, I know you just ripped the packaging off your…
Jay-Z feat. Pain In Da Ass Yeah, I know you just ripped the packaging off your…
Jay-Z vs. Jadakiss Yeah, I know you just ripped the packaging off your…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Kendrick Lamar:
02 Pimp-pimp hooray Pimp-pimp hooray Hooray Pimp-pimp hooray Pi…
08 They say the government mislead the youth, youth, youth (Tel…
1 Train Feeling like a vigilante or a missionary Tell my A$AP killer…100 Favors Swear I be sitting here thinking 'bout the shit that…
11 Average Joe The hardest thing for me to do Is to get you,…
13 You can die on the strength of my gun You heard…
14 They say the government mislead the youth, youth, youth (Tel…
16 Uh (uh) Uh (uh) Uh, yeah It's survival, survival I think som…
162. Wesley's Theory Every nigga is a star, ay, every nigga is a…
21 Somebody said you bumped your head and bled the floor Jumped…
2DopeBoyz Freestyle Pt. 1 K-Dot, Kendrick Lamar, got mad heart Come from Compton, I sp…
2DopeBoyz Freestyle Pt. 2 Too hot to handle, Too dope to hold 2DopeBoyz we roll…
2Nite Tonight, we're gonna get badder (Badder) You're gonna get we…
5. Money Trees ft. Jay Rock Uh, me and my niggas tryna get it, ya bish…
6-16 in LA Uh (uh) Uh (uh) Uh, yeah It's survival, survival I think som…
6. Poetic Justice ft. Drake Every second, every minute, man, I swear that she can…
67 Freestyle Said I'm a fuckin' monster, a massive attack I haunt ya…
6:16 in LA Uh (uh) Uh (uh) Uh, yeah It's survival, survival I think som…
A Milli (Top Dawg, Money GANG) Owwww, Dave, I see you, now see…
A Song 4 Buffy Now you got a body But what I love most is…
A.D.H.D Fuck that, eight doobies to the face Fuck that nigga twelve…
A.D.H.D. Fuck that, eight doobies to the face Fuck that. twelve bottl…
A1 Everything See I'm an A1 type of guy I crush A1 hoes…
Ab-Soul What's your life about, enlighten me Is you gonna live on…
ADHD Fuck that, eight doobies to the face Fuck that. twelve bottl…
Alien Girl She looks better than Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Halle Berry, Mis…
All The Stars Love, let's talk about love Is it anything and everything yo…
Alright Alls my life I has to fight Alls my life I Hard…
Around My Way Oh As the city lights up the night I feel so Good cause…
Autumn leaves If you leave this time I feel that you'll be…
Average Joe The hardest thing for me to do Is to get you,…
Backseat Freestyle Uh, Martin had a dream Martin had a dream Kendrick have a…
Backwards It feels like I only go backwards, lately Every part of…
Ball Game Right Child of the ghetto, nobody explained to me I learned …
Ballin And I spent a couple bucks on this, yea Just to…
Barbed Wire One time, reporting live Compton, California Have you ever …
Before I Commit Suicide Before I commit suicide, lives will be taken Mmm, real hip-h…
Best Rapper Under 25 Weezy, what's up with it, brotha? Tell Maestro I need to…
Better Off Better of without you Better off my baby Better off without …
Beyonce Man, Beyonce, I'm mad at you, man [Chorus 1]They say hello…
Big Shot Wakanda, welcome Big shot (hol' up, wait), peanut butter in…
Birds And The Beez Straight to the block, to the hood, to a spot Cocaine…
Bitch I am a sinner Who's probably gonna sin again Lord forgive me…
Bitch Don%E2%80%99t Kill My Vibe I am a sinner who's probably gonna sin again Lord forgive…
Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe I am a sinner Who's probably gonna sin again Lord forgive me…
Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe ) ) I am a sinner who’s probably gonna sin again Lord forgive…
Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe Remix I am a sinner Who's probably gonna sin again Lord forgive me…
Bitch I'm in the Club Bitch, I'm in the club With the homies, tell me what's…
Bitch%2C Don%E2%80%99t Kill My Vibe You don't know what pain is, you just fuck with…
Bitch%2C Don't Kill My Vibe I am a sinner Who's probably gonna sin again Lord forgive me…
BITCHFACE Back door lil' Joe Life is how the dice roll Pay my…
Black Boy Fly So I'm saying, "What up? What up? Nigga, you made…
Black Friday Dick hard like Rottweiler Can you handle it? Can you handle…
Black Panther Wait King of my city, king of my country, king of…
Blacker The Berry Everything black, I don't want black (they want us to…
Blessed What it's like for a nigga like me Livin' out his…
Blood Is it wickedness? Is it weakness? You decide Are we gonna li…
Blow My High Smoking out, pouring up, keep that lean up in my…
Buried Alive If you was in a pine box (box) I would surely…
Cartoon I wanna hit line drives Wanna lose weight? For you Hey, what…
Cartoon & Cereal I wanna hit line drives Wanna lose weight and keep eating……
Cartoons and Cereal I wanna hit line drives Wanna lose weight? For you Hey, what…
Catch a Fade Jumping off the front porch With a new approach Don't approa…
Celebration Gimme that beat, fool This a full time jack no really this…
Chapter Six Riding with them boys and girls and we're high (high) All…
Chapter Ten In time you'll learn this is about you Babies from 80s…
Cloud 10 When the sun fall out the sky All I have is…
Collard Greens Yeah, yeah, yeah Uh uh, yo ya Oh (oh) luxury Chidi-ching-ch…
Collect Calls Look at all the bullshit I been through If I take…
Complexion I'm with this Complexion (two-step) Complexion don't mean a…
Compton Now everybody serenade the new faith of Kendrick Lamar This …
Compton Chemistry Yeah, see I know I can make a lot of…
Compton ft. Dr Dre Now everybody serenade the new faith of Kendrick Lamar This …
Compton Life Uh, oh, y'all know what it is Uh, it's that Compton…
COMPTON m.A.A.d CITY If Pirus and Crips all got along They'd probably gun me…
Compton State of Mind Yeah, Kendrick Lamar This for the town, nigga Me, I'm from …
Compton's Finest I'm a Nestor Ave... Nightlife liver, still waiting to grow u…
Computer Love That pussy got a spell on me That pussy got a…
Control I look up Yeah and I take my time nigga I'mma take…
Count Me Out We may not know which way to go On this dark…
County Building Blues Greeting boys and girls My name is Petey P Kendrick's childh…
Cross Trainers [Chorus] I got my cross-trainers on, motherfucker, I run shi…
Crown You walk around like everything is in control Favor come wit…
Cut You Off Uh, I'm tryna learn something new I'm tryna find myself, I'm…
Determined I want to describe my discovery In the simplest terms possib…
Diary Of A Broke Nigga Look inside the eyes of a broke nigga See the stress…
Die Hard I pop the pain away, I slide the pain away I…
DNA I got, I got, I got, I got Loyalty, got royalty…
Do It Again Every day I try to escape the realities of this…
Do It Again (Feat. Wiz Khalifa) Everyday I try to escape the realities of this world So…
dodger blue White diamonds, 2 a.m., she wildin' Bitches sick, got their …
Don His eyes bloodshot red I watched him as he took a…
Don't Kill My Vibe I am a sinner Who's probably gonna sin again Lord forgive me…
Don't Understand His eyes bloodshot red I watched him as he took a…
Dont Kill My Vibe I am a sinner Who's probably gonna sin again Lord forgive me…
Dreams Smoke good, eat good, live good I used to want to…
Drop It Like It's Hot Freestyle For my niggas that hate the fights Get it with the…
Duckworth It was always me versus the world Until I found it's…
Dying Of Thirst When the lights shut off And it's my turn to settle…
Elbows Hey homeboy, what you know bout them local house parties? Po…
Element New Kung Fu Kenny Ain't nobody prayin' for me Y'all know, wh…
Enjoy I'm the coolest nigga you know Migrated from the North Pole…
euphoria Euphoria Them superpowers getting neutralized, I can only w…
F Gather 'round I'm glad everybody came out tonight As we stan…
Faith I take a sip of Hennessy and then get pissy…
Family Ties Jump in that (huh, huh) summon that bitch Jump in that…
Famous Pipe Game K-Dot Valentino When I get up all in you Tell your girlfrie…
Far From Here [Kendrick Lamar - singing] A nigga so goddamn stressed out …
Father Time You really need some therapy Real nigga need no therapy, fuc…
Fear (I don't think I can find a way to make…
Feel Ain't nobody prayin' for me Ain't nobody prayin' for me Ain'…
Feel It Still It's K dot, uh, yeah, uh, yeah, I said Philly Uh,…
FEEL. Ain't nobody prayin' for me Ain't nobody prayin' for me Ain'…
Fight the Feeling Uh, close your eyes So watch 'em do the Macarena, somewhere…
Fire Said I'm a fuckin monster A massive attack will haunt ya Mas…
Flower Child Pardon my Bohemian ways I know I act like I be Stuck…
For Free Fuck you, motherfucker, you a ho-ass nigga I don't know why…
For Sale What's wrong nigga? I thought you was keeping it gangsta? I …
For Sale? What's wrong, nigga? I thought you was keeping it gangsta? I…
For the Girlfriends Abba Zabba You know we get in the studio and do…
For the Homies And this is for the homies I'm talking bout the swap…
Forbidden Fruit Me and my bitch, took a little trip Down to the…
Fragile You said you'd never ever break, down But here I am…
Freestyle Uh, Martin had a dream Martin had a dream Kendrick have a…
Friend Of Mine Come on Me, I've been searching, for that right one And hope…
Fuck A Hook Hallelujah, K dot'll do ya Quicker than a porno star Jump on…
Fuck Your Ethnicity Gather round, I'm glad everybody came out tonight As we stan…
Fuckin Problems I love bad bitches that's my fuckin' problem (problem) And y…
Funkmasterflex Heard a conversation with my father talking to his favorite…
G Code Yeah how I sound out there Ali? Good? Then good Can I…
Gang Member When I jumped off the porch, I was forced into…
Gangsta Party Picture perfect, I paint a perfect picture With these lyrics…
Give It 2 U Yeah, huh Yeah, baby baby Yeah, baby baby Hey, hey Girl giv…
gloria Sentado Anita y tú Me and my bitch got a complicated relati…
gnx Tell 'em Kendrick did it Ayy, who showed you how to…
Go Go DJ, 'cause that's my DJ Dave Go DJ, 'cause that's…
God This what God feel like, yeah Laughing to the bank like…
God Is Gangsta Ah, ah Loving you is complicated Loving you is complicated …
GOD. This what God feel like, yeah Laughing to the bank like…
good kid Mass hallucination baby Ill education baby Want to reconnect…
and many more tracks by Kendrick Lamar.
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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@anibalhyrulesantihero7021
15 years later and it's still fire. 👌🏻🔥🌋
@JahNuhThunDeeTheOneAndOnly
The song that began his whole career
@jonathanamalidosan5476
Holy shit people he was still starting out calm down
@glitch4010
Its not even bad fr, just relaxing and mid, but i listen to this song and hovi baby remix a lot
@seamac206
Niggas comparing a freestyle from a 16 year old to a 30 year old
@manicmurph
This is one of the sickest beats ever! Too bad jay z doesn't let his shit up on the tube.
@dipsetworld12
jayzs versions and this are flames. why the debate
@michaelahles1586
someone please put the instrumental on YouTube!!!!!
@JahVero
hiphop101oh1 1 Please 👏🏽
@DeazonMakaveli
Look up Hova song instrumental