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 (nรฉe 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 yourselfโnot 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.
Skin
Kendrick Lamar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And we'll take that ride
Across the bloody river
To the other side
41 shots
Cut through the night
You're kneeling over his body in the vestibule
Praying for his life
Is it a gun? Is it a knife?
Is it a wallet? This is your life
It ain't no secret
It ain't no secret
No secret, my friend, you can get killed just for living in
Your American skin
Yeah
Oh yeah
Yeah
Oh-oh
If I die right before I wake
Cross my heart, then I seal my fate
Life in the dark of the heartless
Looking at the remedy for all this
Everyday they look at you a target
Falling victim, them and
Him and her then this one, insensitivity
Talk bad religion, skin identity
Lack rash decision made by yours
Pack facility with the urban boy
Gun admitted he bear arm
The entity, arm and leg and head made to destroy
80% of the victim was yoursMaybe I get to relive years of war
Look on the corner, we been here before
Look at the momma, you seen tears before?
Pain bright and early
Rain, sleet, hail, snow, worry
More storm barricade the city
Prosecution, unhung jury
These days murder keep 'em busy
Sweet blood flowed on the gurney
Yellow tape tied around the street
Colin Kaepernick was more than worthy
I could reverse the day, reverse the time
Reverse the block, reverse the gun, reverse the shot
Reverse the law, reverse the flaw
That made us all the versions of a danger flock
Reverse the love, reverse the hate
Reverse the hope, reverse the way we playing sin
Reverse the moment, so we can live again
Life and times of the American skin
41 shots
41 shots
41 shots
American skin
41 shots
Lena gets her son ready for school
She says, "Now, on these streets, Charles
You got to understand the rules (41 shots)
If an officer stops you (41 shots)
Always be polite (41 shots)
And never ever run away
Promise momma you'll keep your hands in sight" (41 shots)
Is it a gun? (What is it?) Is it a knife? (What is it?)
Is it a wallet? (What is it?) This is your life
It ain't no secret (It ain't no secret)
Sure ain't no secret (It ain't no secret)
No secret, my friend, you can get killed just for living in
You can get killed just for living in
You can get killed just for living in
Your American skin
(41 shots)
You can get killed just for living in
(41 shots) Your American skin
Be careful out there, oh baby (41 shots)
Listen to momma when she say (41 shots)
(41 shots) Don't wanna take the ride
Don't wanna, don't wanna, don't wanna, don't wanna take the ride
(41 shots)
Don't wanna take the ride
(41 shots)
No 41shots
The lyrics to Kendrick Lamar's "Skin" are deeply poignant and reflect on the harsh reality of living in America, particularly for black individuals who face systemic racism and police brutality. The song begins with a reference to the infamous shooting of Amadou Diallo, where 41 shots were fired at him by police officers, leading to his death. The imagery of crossing the "bloody river to the other side" symbolizes the violent and unjust journey that black people often face in America.
The repeated references to 41 shots highlight the excessive force and brutality that black individuals face at the hands of law enforcement. The lyrics describe the visceral experience of witnessing a loved one's life hanging in the balance and the desperate plea for their survival. The uncertainty of whether the victim was holding a gun, knife, or simply a wallet serves as a commentary on the prejudice and discrimination that black people face in everyday situations, where their lives are constantly at risk.
Kendrick Lamar delves into the cyclical nature of violence and the struggle for survival in a society that sees blackness as a threat. The lyrics delve into the generational trauma and constant vigilance that black parents have to instill in their children to navigate a world where their skin color makes them a target. The mention of Colin Kaepernick and the protests against police brutality highlights the ongoing battle for justice and recognition of black lives in a system that often fails to protect them.
The song's powerful message urges listeners to be aware of the dangers black individuals face just for existing in their American skin. It serves as a reminder of the pervasive racism and violence that continue to plague society and the urgent need for change. Through vivid storytelling and emotive lyrics, Kendrick Lamar sheds light on the harsh realities of being black in America, calling for empathy, understanding, and a collective effort to combat systemic injustices.
Line by Line Meaning
41 shots
Countless gunshots fired in the street
And we'll take that ride
Facing the consequences of violence in our community
Across the bloody river
Symbolic journey through hardship and struggle
To the other side
Transition to a better, safer place
Cut through the night
Violence piercing through the darkness
You're kneeling over his body in the vestibule
Witnessing the aftermath of a tragic event
Praying for his life
Seeking hope and salvation in a moment of despair
Is it a gun? Is it a knife?
Questioning the potential threats in everyday life
Is it a wallet? This is your life
Highlighting the fragility of existence in dangerous circumstances
It ain't no secret
Acknowledging the harsh reality of violence and discrimination
No secret, my friend, you can get killed just for living in
Warning about the dangers faced by marginalized communities
Your American skin
Identity tied to struggles and injustices in society
Lyrics ยฉ Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Cuunke
he seems like a introvert that has to partake in extroverted activities
@LawonneWatson
Exactly
@BlackWednesday13
Like Kendrick, I'm a Gemini. As a professional introvert, I can tell you he wanna go home. ๐๐๐
@shysensei2348
โ@@BlackWednesday13Fr lmaooo as an Aquarius I feel like air signs mostly just wanna chill and stay home.
@BlackWednesday13
@shysensei2348ย It's too many people outside. I also hate lights, the sun out there, too. ๐คฃ
@lambousginiguccigod2007
He actually is introverted based on what his mother was saying ๐
@Raider870
Streets keep this mf safe please
@shelaakaumi
AMEN!โคโคโคโคโคโคโค
@ShadowBannedit
๐คฒ๐พ
@Lil_Eren
๐๐ฟ