Kendrick Lamar
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Kendrick Lamar (born June 17, 1987) is an American rapper, often named among the greatest of all time. In 2018, he became the first non-classical, non-jazz artist to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music.
Raised in Compton, California, Lamar started rapping as K.Dot in high school. He signed with Top Dawg Entertainment in 2005 and later joined Dr. Dre’s Aftermath. His breakthrough came with Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012), followed by To Pimp a Butterfly (2015) and Damn (2017), which won Best Rap Album at the Grammys.
In 2018, Lamar curated the Black Panther soundtrack, earning an Oscar nomination. His 2022 album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers marked his departure from TDE. His 2024 feud with Drake led to the hit "Not Like Us," which won multiple Grammys, while his album GNX (2024) topped charts.
Lamar has won 22 Grammy Awards, an Emmy, and various other accolades. Rolling Stone listed three of his albums among the 500 greatest ever. His 2025 Super Bowl halftime show set viewership records, reinforcing his impact.
Born in Compton, Lamar grew up in poverty and witnessed violence firsthand. Inspired by teachers, he developed a love for poetry and rap. He excelled in school before dedicating himself fully to music.