Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar Duckworth was born on 17 June 1987 in California. When he was just 16 years old, Kendrick recorded his first mixtape Y.H.N.I.C. (Hub City Threat: Minor of the Year), using the pseudonym K-Dot. The album brought him a contract with Top Dawg Entertainment. Just a year later, Lamar released a new mixtape Training Day (2005), which consisted of 26 songs. As K-Dot, Lamar collaborated with The Game to record two tracks "Cali Niggaz" and "The Cypha". Later, The Game invited Kendrick to perform as an opening act at his concerts. In 2009, Lamar recorded his third mixtape called C4. Following the album’s release, he decided to get rid of the pseudonym and perform as Kendrick Lamar. In December, the rapper released an EP, which he called in honor of himself, Kendrick Lamar. In September 2010, Lamar recorded a new mixtape Overly Dedicated. It featured a new song "Ignorance Is Bliss", the music video to which was uploaded to YouTube. The famous rapper Dr. Dre noticed the video and offered Lamar to work with him. In April 2011, Kendrick recorded "IHiiiPoWeR", which was the leading single of the upcoming LP Section.80. In the summer, together with the rapper RZA, Lamar recorded another song "Ronald Reagan Era (His Evils)." Shortly Lamar released Section.80 and posted it on the internet for free downloading.

 In 2012, Kendrick uploaded a new single "Cartoon & Cereal", which was very successful. Complex magazine put the song on the second spot of its “50 Best Songs of 2012” list. A couple months later, Kendrick signed contracts with Interscope Records and Aftermath Entertainment. Shortly, he released the first single "The Recipe" from the upcoming album. In May, he presented "War Is My Love".  The leading single, "Swimming Pools (Drank)", came out later. In August, together with Young Jeezy, Lamar recorded "Westside, Right on Time".

Lamar became so popular that many organizers were hoping to book his performance for a private event. In October 2012, Kendrick released his second LP Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, which sold 240,000 copies in just one week. It reached the second spot on Billboard 200. A couple months later, the album received a golden certification. The platinum status came nine months later. Besides, the LP was named “Album Of The Year” at BET Hip Hop Awards. Lamar was also nominated for these awards as well as seven Grammies but hasn’t received any.

In 2014, Lamar released the first single from the upcoming album. The song "i" brought him two Grammy awards for the best rap song and the best rap performance. In 2015, Kendrick the LP, To Pimp a Butterfly, which immediately topped Billboard 200 and sold 320,000 copies in just one week. The song was listened to on Spotify over 9 million times in just one week. The next Grammy Awards ceremony brought Kendrick 5 Grammies. In 2016, Kendrick recorded a compilation album Untitled Unmastered, which topped Billboard 200. In 2017, Lamar released his next LP DAMN, which brought him a BET Hip-Hop Award as “Album of the Year.”  Kendrick also earned three more BET awards. In February 2018, Lamar started the DAMN tour, during which he is planning to visit Europe.