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.
My Mind Drifts
Kendrick Lamar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like the middle of a spliff
I begin to catapult off
The cliff of the unknown
I got a feeling in my funny
Bone that we're not the same
Just antonyms of another age
My soul flock with the carefreeWords of the wise
I spoke a hundred times like a gold D
Haha LMFAO
I hate y'all but I spread love like mayo
Then spread slugs
My brain matter is a brain phantom
See my vision, or my vision'll stare at ya
This is the future if I say so
You copping fitted caps
I'm about to go and cop a halo
The God of rap and I mean it
And I play football with Mars
And marbles with Pluto and Venus
Witness the genius
I interact with the inner city villains
That enters your system like a computer hack
Then give you dap
The lyrics to Kendrick Lamar's "My Mind Drifts" depict the rapper's stream of consciousness as he contemplates the differences between himself and others. He describes his mind as being split, comparing it to the middle of a spliff (a type of marijuana cigarette). He then launches into a metaphorical freefall off the "cliff of the unknown," reflecting on the feeling that he and others are "antonyms of another age."
Lamar's language is rich with wordplay, nodding to his influences as well as his own cleverness. He mentions his "soul flock" with the "carefree words of the wise," evoking a combination of spiritualism and poeticism. He then makes a reference to the comedy group LMFAO (known for their hit song "Party Rock Anthem"), before switching to a darker tone, saying that he "hate[s]" some people but still spreads love.
As the lyrics continue, Lamar's metaphysical musings become more fantastical. He describes his "brain matter" as a "brain phantom," before declaring himself the "God of rap" who can play "football with Mars / And marbles with Pluto and Venus." The final lines bring him back down to Earth, as he speaks about interacting with "inner city villains" who "enter your system like a computer hack" but still offer him "dap" (a gesture of respect or greeting).
Overall, "My Mind Drifts" showcases Kendrick Lamar's intricate wordplay and ability to mix metaphysical concepts with grounded observations about life in the inner city. The song's stream-of-consciousness structure allows him to flow freely between different emotions and ideas, ultimately creating a portrait of himself as someone who is both deeply introspective and in touch with the world around him.
Line by Line Meaning
As my mind drift and then split
My thoughts are wandering and diverging
Like the middle of a spliff
Similar to the separation of two halves of a marijuana cigarette
I begin to catapult off
I start to launch into uncharted territory
The cliff of the unknown
Into the abyss of the unknown
I got a feeling in my funny
I have a sense of intuition that is unique
Bone that we're not the same
We are not alike
Just antonyms of another age
Opposing terms from a different period in time
My soul flock with the carefree
My spirit is at ease and unburdened
Words of the wise
The wisdom of the elders
I spoke a hundred times like a gold D
I have voiced my opinions fervently and repeatedly
Haha LMFAO
An expression of laughter
I hate y'all but I spread love like mayo
Although I dislike some individuals, I still promote positivity
Then spread slugs
But if needed, I can be cruel
My brain matter is a brain phantom
My thoughts are surreal and detached from reality
See my vision, or my vision'll stare at ya
Either understand and appreciate my perspective or be left behind
This is the future if I say so
My ideas and visions represent the future
You copping fitted caps
You are focused on mundane things
I'm about to go and cop a halo
I am striving for spiritual enlightenment
The God of rap and I mean it
I am the greatest rapper and I am confident in that fact
And I play football with Mars
I engage in extraordinary activities
And marbles with Pluto and Venus
I interact with entities and beings from celestial planes
Witness the genius
Observe my exceptional talent and skills
I interact with the inner city villains
I have dealings with those from dangerous and violent urban environments
That enters your system like a computer hack
They have a major impact on your life, like a computer virus
Then give you dap
And yet, I still show them respect and regard
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@eagles562
As my mind drift and then split
Like the middle of a spliff, I begin to catapult off
The cliff of the unknown
I got a feeling in my funny bone that we're not the same
Just antonyms of another age
My soul flock with the carefree
Words of the wise, I spoke a hundred times like a gold D
Haha LMFAO
I hate y'all but I spread love like mayo
Then spread slugs
My brain matter is a brain Phantom
See, my vision on my vision will stare at ya
This is the future if I say so, you copping fitted caps
I'm about to go and cop a halo
The God of rap and I mean it, and I play football with Mars
And marbles with Pluto and Venus
Witness the genius, I interact with the inner city villains
That enters your system like a computer hack
Then give you dap
@fsteele1755
This song takes me back to being a kid in high school. Conversations at the lunch table about who street some of the dopest cats in the game rn lmaoo. And these Kdot bars were fucking brazy! Even back then you could here how gifted he was and still is!
@eagles562
As my mind drift and then split
Like the middle of a spliff, I begin to catapult off
The cliff of the unknown
I got a feeling in my funny bone that we're not the same
Just antonyms of another age
My soul flock with the carefree
Words of the wise, I spoke a hundred times like a gold D
Haha LMFAO
I hate y'all but I spread love like mayo
Then spread slugs
My brain matter is a brain Phantom
See, my vision on my vision will stare at ya
This is the future if I say so, you copping fitted caps
I'm about to go and cop a halo
The God of rap and I mean it, and I play football with Mars
And marbles with Pluto and Venus
Witness the genius, I interact with the inner city villains
That enters your system like a computer hack
Then give you dap
@stacktana3646
11/10
@TshepoMaile
The 1st lamar song i hear.
@manuelimpoco4962
Thanks God for Kendrick
@Fruit_Punch123
Been listening to this song since i was in like 6th grade, im in college now, the craziest part is that kendrick announced his departure for tde, k.dot forever.
@danielquiroz6658
2019, I’m still here baby since 2011 🤘🏽
@MRSOLO2ify
So many memories man
@dominikgrzelak4054
Darondo - Sure Know How To Love
@Daizy10231023
Yooooo, I remember this!! I was trying to tell folks about dot at crenshaw high in like 08' but they ain't wanna hear me until 10 years later 🙄🙌🏿