Kendrick Lamar Biography

American rapper, songwriter & considered one of the best rappers of his generation.

Singers Aug 13, 2024 0 130 Add to Reading List

Name	Kendrick Lamar Duckworth
Parents	Paula Oliver and Kenneth Duckworth
Albums	DAMN., To Pimp a Butterfly...
Genre	West Coast hip hop, jazz rap, Progressive rap, alternative hip hop, gangsta rap...
Awards	Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rapper Performance...
Partner	Whitney Alford
Children	2
Height	5' 4" feet
Pseudonyms	K-Dot, Damián Cordoba, Kung-fu Kenny, King Kendrick, Cornrow Kenny, The Boogeyman

17th June 1987 was his birthday, Kendrick Lamar was a resident of Compton in California , United States.

Family of Kendrick :

Paula Oliver (a hairstylist) and Kenneth “Kenny” Duckworth (who worked as a cashier at KFC)was his parents, he was the first of five children. His parents used to live on south side of Chicago before they relocated to Compton, following his dad’s joining of Gangster Disciples- a black street gang that operated within and outside prisons.

He was named after Eddie Kendricks, the singer and songwriter of The Temptations. Following the death of a friend when he was just sixteen, he experienced baptism and became a Christian.

Studies:

When attending seventh grade at Vanguard Learning Center, Lamar learned how to write poetry from Regis Inge who happened to be his English teacher. He taught this literary art form in response to growing racial tensions among students. Connected by hip hop, Lamar sought out rhymes, metaphors, and puns that led him into writing music. Consequently, he joined Centennial High School only leaving it in 2005 with flying colors. Afterward he renamed himself K.Dot started freestyling and then battling throughout school.

Beginnings:

At only sixteen years old he put out his debut mixtape Youngest Head Nigga in Charge under the moniker K.Dot which attracted some local attention towards him and resulted in signing up with record label Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) in 2004.

Career of Kendrick :

Several mixtapes he released after signing to TDE established him as a talented poet. His first studio album Section 80 (2011) was highly praised, marking his rise. The album Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City (2012) was received well by critics and audiences alike, tracing the life of an average boy in Compton. This Album made Rolling Stone magazine’s list of best 100 albums.

To Pimp a Butterfly (2015), being his third album focused on themes such as race, politics and African-American culture which led it being recognized as one of the best rap albums ever recorded.

It earned him the Pulitzer Prize for Music that year with D.A.M.N (2017), thereby becoming the first non-classical or jazz artist to win this accolade. On May 4, 2017 D.A.M.N. was declared platinum by RIAA.

Black Panther Soundtrack & Award:

He produced and curated the Black Panther soundtrack, featuring singles like “All the Stars,” “King’s Dead,” and “Pray For Me” from 2018 before its unveiling in February of that same year; it was critically acclaimed upon release. That year Lamar also won five Grammy Awards; the Best Rap Album, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, Best Music Video and Best Rap Performance.

Mr Morale & Big Steppers was his fifth studio album released on May 13th ,2022.The double album featured songs like We Cry Together Worldwide Steppers Silent Hill Mirror among other tracks receiving critical acclaim…

Private Life:

In 2015 he got engaged to Whitney Alford who was also his high school girlfriend – they have two children together including a daughter.

He is a supporter of Los Angeles Lakers basketball team.

Summary:

A rapper and songwriter from America whose works include good kid mAAd city , To Pimp a Butterfly as well as DAMN. , the latter of which earned him the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Music. Among his many awards, are the Grammy Awards.