KENDRICK LAMAR(April 2012) | Interview By:
Nima Etminan
Kendrick Lamar took the time out to speak to his self-proclaimed
"day one" site, DubCNN, while on tour in San Francisco. We briefly caught up
with Kendrick to hear how has been adjusting to his new found fame and how
it has impacted his everyday life.
He also tells us about giving his family a chance to change their lives
around, the dangers of materialism and what the fans can expect from Black
Hippy in the near future.
Read on and enjoy. As always feel free to hit upnima@dubcnn.comwith
questions or comments.
Dubcnn: We're right here wit Kendrick Lamar. I think you just wrapped up
your first ever show in San Francisco?
Kendrick: Hell yeah! Crazy. It felt like home. I knew we weren't too
far from Oakland, and they had given me crazy energy, so I knew once I came
here it would be the same.
Dubcnn: They made you go back out for the encore?
Kendrick: Yeah they made me go back man.
Dubcnn: I hadn't seen you perform "Cartoon & Cereal" before!
Kendrick: Yeah, that was my first time ever performing it, right here in
Frisco.
Dubcnn: Last time we spoke to you was pretty much exactly a year ago
and one of the questions I had asked you was, whether you would sign to
Aftermath if give the opportunity. You chose not to answer that question.
*laughs*
Kendrick: *laughs*
Dubcnn: You've been doing big things in the last year, touring the
world and all that. How much has your life changed since you've become
"famous"?
Kendrick: You know what's crazy? I don't even consider myself famous yet,
man, I still be doing the same old shit. It ain't really hit me. I still
move around like I used to, I just get stopped more while I moved around.
That snaps me back into reality. But the experience has been crazy man. Just
me, being able to travel the world. A lot of people living life don't get
this opportunity to go and see the world.
I've got people that stayed in Compton all their life, elders like around 50
or 60 and never went out. My pops, his dad, none of them ever saw the world.
So I'm probably really the first out of my family to go out and travel. Of
course, financially, that puts me in a position where I can take care of my
folks, being that I come from a family that comes from welfare.
Dubcnn: You told me you're family has always been your main
motivation.
Kendrick: I want to put them in a position where I'm not just giving them
money, but I wanna put them in a position where they can go out and get it
for themselves and whatever they want to do in life, I want to be that extra
help, that extra motivation, because I'm doing it and then can see it first
hand. That's what it's about and I'm very happy about the change.
Dubcnn: I heard we're going to hear a new single soon?
Kendrick: Oh yeah, definitely. You're going to hear a new joint off my debut
album. (Editor's Note: The single "The
Recipe" was released on Monday, April 2nd.
Listen Here).
Dubcnn: Good Kid In A Mad City?
Kendrick: That's not the official title yet, that's still in the air.
Dubcnn: I like that title!
Kendrick: Everybody likes that title man.
Dubcnn: What's the current status on Black Hippy?
Kendrick: You know what's crazy about Black Hippy man? We've only put out
like 4 songs total and people have been talking about Black Hippy constantly
for the past 2 years, wondering when something is coming man. It's one of
them situations where we we just want to get the individual artists off the
ground first. We're constantly making music, and putting out material, but
we want to solidify everybody first. So Ab-Soul is next. Once that is done,
maybe you'll see something from Black Hippy - maybe you won't! *laughs*
Dubcnn: Before we get out of here, I want to get your take on this…
You told me that you aren't a very materialistic person and that's not what
you thrive towards. Now, you're slowly developing into a money making
machine for a lot of the people around you. A lot of people can end up
eating off you an depending on you as you get bigger. Is that pressure
something that concerns you?
Kendrick: What I tell my folks around me is not to look for me to carry them
forever. I basically want to create a situation where we're all working
together and where eventually, they will be in a higher position than
they're in right now. I'm in a situation where I tell my folks that what I'm
doing right now is only to put them in a position for them to be able to
branch off. So it's not really about the pressure, it's about having that
understanding with my people. So I can't be around people that might help me
get to a certain place in my career, but then are not responsible enough to
manage that money. Be consistent and have a set goal for yourself, because
you don't want to just depend on me making these records all the time.
Because at the end of the day, you don't know what can happen! I can walk
out of this building right now and it could all be over. Then what? That's
real. So it's important to give your folks that understanding to where they
know that it's about much more than me just going out here and making money.
Do something for yourself.
Dubcnn: I appreciate your time man. I know you're tired after the
show, I'm gonna let you go handle your thing. Any last words?
Kendrick: TDE. Top Dawg Entertainment. We've been pushing this line for
years, almost ten years in L.A. and now the world is finally getting a piece
of it. So stay tuned. HiiiPower!