XXcLusive: Kendrick Lamar Speaks on XXL Rating

We're not VH1, but if you ask us, Kendrick Lamar is having the Best Week Ever. The Compton rapper released his highly-anticipated debut LP, good kid, m.A.A.d city, and along with an outpouring of support from fans and his peers, K.Dot also managed to score an XXL rating for his album. The TDE lyricist joined a short list of artists to earn the accolade and became the first West Coast MC to score an XXL.

[Read XXL's good kid, m.A.A.d city review]

"Man, it just shows you that when you respect the art, it will come back to you full circle with people that you respect and that's been doing it," Lamar told XXLmag.com. "I respect the music that much more. I think that's why people give me that recognition, because they see it the same way. Shout out to XXL, that's a tremendous accomplishment in my eyes. Not only in my eyes but in the world’s eyes, for the West Coast in general."

Despite joining the ranks of 50 Cent, Lauryn Hill, Jay-Z, Common, Nas, Clipse and Kanye West, the upstart was more proud to be a part of another set: the next generation of California rappers.

"That's history already to be the only West Coast artist to ever receive it," he explained. "It not only represents myself but it represents the cats that are doing it right now. Dom Kennedy, Nipsey Hussle, Casey Veggies, Problem, I can go on forever, Bad Lucc. I represent that; I represent this new feel of lyricism. The story telling, so it's an accomplishment for all of us." —Mando Villasenor (@MandoUN)