Kendrick Lamar quit being selfish. After all, that's what good kids do. He wasn't stingy with his fries nor the free swag he receives; the rapper was actually greedy with his music until he realized that his lyrics were touching the lives of the very people who have tattooed "HiiiPower" -- the word is based on Lamar's daily ethos with each "i" representing heart, honor and respect -- on their bodies. "I had to stop being selfish, you know, because I know people are out here living their lives through this music," the 25-year-old Compton, Calif., native tells The BoomBox.
Songs like "Rigamortis," off his indie effort Section.80, showcase his double-time rhymes and the intergalactic-esque "Cartoon & Cereal," which will find itself on his highly-anticipated major label LP, Good Kid in a Mad City, are a sampling of what fans have come to love about the Black Hippy. His approach to crafting music isn't about making dance ditties or catchy choruses. Kendrick Lamar has a personal story to relay on his debut album and his poignant lyrical stylings, paired with production mastery from beatsmiths like Q-Tip and Pharrell Williams, will leave a far more lasting impression on the masses than a vapid hit.
The West Coast MC traveled to New York City to sit down with The BoomBox and discuss some of the material comprising his new album. Decked out in gold chains and an animal print wardrobe, Kendrick Lamar was soft-spoken, candid and secretive all at the same time. Delve into the rapper's mind as he sheds light on Dr. Dre's words of wisdom, Danny Brown's "careless" flow, his fondness for "DuckTales" and his "recipe" for the perfect track.
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