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.
Rare Breed
Kendrick Lamar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Breed up or speed up
Breed up or speed up
Breed up or speed up
This is for my niggas that be all blacked out
Hit the streets a hundred deep, what Rare Breed about?
Riding hard, bending corners, the girlies on usLeave a hater scarred, big Dressers sit at the stop light
Road Glides and Road Kings deep in my hindsight
You do it right or don't do it at all
Put that candy paint on it, ride them twenty-threes homie
Custom seats, custom brakes, hit the streets and ball
Centre of attention like buying 'em and being saw, aw
You know that killer californication
When you feeling like you sitting on a ceiling, chasing
Dreams, hoping this conglomerate can run the nation
It's abomination how we bomb yo' block
I'm talking Big Punch, K-Dub, Baby Slip Billy
Bad Azz, Rare Breed, we all we got
See 'em out, show 'em love, chunk the deuce, give it up
It's a lot of bike clubs but they not this hard, nope
Pounding on the highway stretch
All blacked out, making sure we on deck
Might catch us on them Dressers or them Road Glides, yes
Tell the world I'm a Rare Breed baby
Breed up or speed up (don't stop, don't stop)
Breed up or speed up (don't stop, don't stop)
Breed up or speed up, I'm a Rare Breed baby
And it's like that to the death though
Two-oh-point and seeing decimals, I ain't lying
Pounding on the interstate in the state that shines
Around the globe baby, Rare Breed under control baby
Them pipes loud, the movement entice crowds
We heat it up in the cold baby
It's three degrees out? Then you should see me out
Or see bout them kitty cats and how they go meow
Ha-ha, we be the father of Harley drivers, so don't bother
Show you infants how to whip it, have a bye-bye
Posers try to hang? Then we hang 'em by the collar
Silk, lannie, Rare Breed family
Stunting hard like a black circus, voila
Breed up or speed up, get ahead
So with that said, bye-bye
Shouting out the one and only Rare Breed
Now Breed up!
In "Rare Breed," Kendrick Lamar highlights the uniqueness of his bike club, also known as Rare Breed, and the camaraderie and lifestyle that comes with it. The song's chorus, "Breed up or speed up," is a call to action for Rare Breed members to either strive for greatness or get out of the way. The opening line of "This is for my niggas that be all blacked out" refers to the group's black leather outfits and motorcycles, which make them stand out from other bike clubs. Kendrick also mentions the thrill of riding with a hundred people, bending corners, and catching the attention of women.
Kendrick alludes to the competition between bike clubs, stating that there are many, but none as hard as Rare Breed. He lists the names of some of his fellow club members, including Bad Azz and K-Dub. He also references the customizations of their motorcycles, such as the candy paint, custom seats, and twenty-three-inch rims. The song highlights the brotherhood and pride that comes with being part of the Rare Breed club, concluding with a shoutout to the group and a call to action to "Breed up!"
Line by Line Meaning
Rare Breed, Kendrick Lamar
The name of the song and artist
Breed up or speed up
The need to constantly improve and advance
Breed up or speed up
The need to constantly improve and advance
Breed up or speed up
The need to constantly improve and advance
This is for my niggas that be all blacked out
The song is dedicated to those who wear black and ride motorcycles
Hit the streets a hundred deep, what Rare Breed about?
As a group, the Rare Breed is known to ride in large numbers on the street
Riding hard, bending corners, the girlies on us
The Rare Breed rides swiftly and often garner attention
Leave a hater scarred, big Dressers sit at the stop light
Those who do not like the Rare Breed may feel intimidated by their large motorcycles
Road Glides and Road Kings deep in my hindsight
The vision of the Rare Breed extends far behind them
You do it right or don't do it at all
It is important to perform an action with excellence or not perform it at all
Put that candy paint on it, ride them twenty-threes homie
Customizing and riding motorcycles is a source of pride for the Rare Breed
Custom seats, custom brakes, hit the streets and ball
The Rare Breed enjoys having personalized motorcycles and enjoys showing them off
Centre of attention like buying 'em and being saw, aw
The Rare Breed likes to be the center of attention while on their motorcycles
You know that killer californication
The song alludes to the sensationalism and attraction often associated with California living
When you feeling like you sitting on a ceiling, chasing dreams, hoping this conglomerate can run the nation
The Rare Breed has big aspirations of becoming a powerful motorcycle group and running the nation
It's abomination how we bomb yo' block
The Rare Breed is so powerful and influential that they could hypothetically take their motorcycles and overtake a city
I'm talking Big Punch, K-Dub, Baby Slip Billy, Bad Azz, Rare Breed, we all we got
The song references members of the Rare Breed, emphasizing that they must protect each other
See 'em out, show 'em love, chunk the deuce, give it up
The Rare Breed is well-known and respected in their community, and others will show support and respect when they see them
It's a lot of bike clubs but they not this hard, nope
The Rare Breed is unique and different from other motorcycle groups
Pounding on the highway stretch
The song emphasizes the intensity and speed with which the Rare Breed rides on highways
All blacked out, making sure we on deck
The Rare Breed wears all black attire and ensures that they are ready to ride their motorcycles at all times
Might catch us on them Dressers or them Road Glides, yes
The Rare Breed frequently rides Harley Davidson motorcycles
Tell the world I'm a Rare Breed baby
The song is a proud proclamation of being a part of the Rare Breed
Breed up or speed up (don't stop, don't stop)
The chorus repeats the need to constantly improve and advance without slowing down
And it's like that to the death though
The Rare Breed is dedicated to their lifestyle and beliefs until death
Two-oh-point and seeing decimals, I ain't lying
The Rare Breed moves at high speeds and is fearless
Pounding on the interstate in the state that shines
The Rare Breed rides intensely and passionately in California
Or we might be in a hood near you
The Rare Breed is everywhere and could be in a neighborhood near the listener
Around the globe baby, Rare Breed under control baby
The Rare Breed exists everywhere and is inherently dominant
Them pipes loud, the movement entice crowds
The Rare Breed's motorcycles are designed to make loud noises and attract attention
We heat it up in the cold baby
The Rare Breed is not deterred by cold weather and still enjoys riding their motorcycles
It's three degrees out? Then you should see me out
The Rare Breed rides motorcycles even in freezing temperatures
Or see bout them kitty cats and how they go meow
The Rare Breed enjoys women and their accompanying sounds
Ha-ha, we be the father of Harley drivers, so don't bother
The Rare Breed has been around for a while and considers themselves the pioneers of Harley Davidson riding
Show you infants how to whip it, have a bye-bye
The Rare Breed will teach those who are new to motorcycle riding how to do it properly
Posers try to hang? Then we hang 'em by the collar
People who try to become a part of the Rare Breed but are not genuinely devoted will be singled out and punished
Silk, lannie, Rare Breed family
The Rare Breed is a close family
Stunting hard like a black circus, voila
The Rare Breed is known for having the best motorcycles and is often seen as an incredibly impressive spectacle
Breed up or speed up, get ahead
The outro of the song repeats the idea of moving forward and advancing
So with that said, bye-bye
The song ends with a casual goodbye
Shouting out the one and only Rare Breed
The song continues to emphasize the significance of the Rare Breed
Now Breed up!
The intro line is repeated at the end as a final call to action
Contributed by Cooper K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Kal-El207
Looked for this song everywhere. I used to listen to this YEARS AGO. Glad someone re-uploaded it.
@mariecurie_
Download before it gets taken down!
@dantetheprophet2166
@@mariecurie_ foreal!
@gregoryhousch725
I Noticed They Took It Down For A While... Cold Piece!!! I Always Tell My Detroit Potnaz That Them Cali Boyz Got This Hogg Game On Lock 🔐.
@MiNetlfixx
@@mariecurie_why????
@melvingray9224
We need more songs like this it's giving me a j dilla feel
@courtsideradio9599
I remember when this first dropped in the city!! Dope track for the Rarebreed bike club
@Mazigaro
This my shit. It ain’t playing on Soundcloud anymore 😢
@KannaWorks
I love this song soo muchh the beat tooo
@16JayChris
2010 all over again!!!🥹🥹