Singles like ‘ Swimming Pools (Drank)’, ‘ Poetic Justice’ (feat. Dre’s Aftermath label for his first major record label debut ‘ Good Kid, M.A.A.D.
Dre when witnessing them filming ‘ California Love’ when he was 8 years old, and funny enough accomplished to sign with Dr. He was, in fact, influenced directly by Tupac and Dr. Therefore, Kendrick is probably seen as a rapper who continues the musical direction shaped by trailblazer rappers from the late 80s to the early 90s. His lyrics, speaking about being caught in the mids of that spectrum but also explaining the world he lives in and the survival he has to face, share parallels to Tupac and his music. Kendrick – a kid from Compton, California, witnessing gang violence and death, growing up on welfare and in section 8 housing (using a similar title for his debut album ‘ Section.80’). Kendrick in the music video for ‘Alright’ (2015) Yet, his lyrical and musical contents share links to the vibe conceived by early rappers like Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G. Whatever it may be, his persistent energy made him stick out. A rapper and a poet, an artist and a public speaker. Maybe it’s his noticeable perseverance, or maybe his original style. Kendrick, who’s often nicknamed by his alias ‘Kung Fu Kenny’, is, on one hand, one of the bunch of many: Independently put out one mixtape after another under his moniker K-Dot, until he finally caught the attention of Top Dawg Entertainment, an indie label based in Carson, California. On the downside, it makes it harder to stand out of a crowd with an uncountable list of artists wanting a piece of that cake. A doorway for many rappers to come and show what they are capable of.
With the help of programs like audio workstations on your laptop or PC, producing and mastering without spending time and money at a studio, making tunes ready for streaming services and download sites. This era of music works differently though, and more and more artists can expand their brand on their own: The independent scene grows bigger by the minute as – in comparison to the 90s and the decades before – everybody can have an equal opportunity to create quality music. Just like in the 90s and the 2000s, rap music never submerged but rather developed to an important part of today’s popular music. But, as Snoop and 2Pac gained their status throughout the decades they are known, Kendrick, on the other hand, is relatively new in the game compared to other acts that are, just like him, regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time.
The level of praise and respect that’s been given to Kendrick Lamar Duckworth, who simply adapted as stage name his first two names, is similar to huge hip-hop acts like Snoop Dogg and even Tupac Shakur.