Kendrick Lamar Duckworth is the embodiment of the complete MC. He is lyrically gifted, captivating and fearless in his music. The Compton, Calif. native is highly regarded as one of the greatest rhymers, not only from the West Coast but in all of hip-hop. He's mentioned in the same breath alongside exalted greats like Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube and the late Tupac Shakur. K-Dot made a name for himself with his Kendrick Lamar EP in 2009, followed by his breakthrough mixtape, Overly Dedicated, in 2010. However, it was his independently released studio album, Section.80, that caught Dr. Dre's ear. Their partnership resulted in Kenny's Aftermath Entertainment debut, good kid, m.A.A.d city, a masterful album which took fans on a musical journey through Kendrick's childhood growing up in Compton.
In 2015, Kenny released his game-changing third album, To Pimp a Butterfly. The LP explores themes of race, identity and social justice, and features a variety of musical styles, including jazz, funk and soul. "Alright" is an album highlight, a perfect song of righteous rage that became an anthem for the Black Lives Matter movement. In 2017, the conscientious rhymer dropped his fourth studio album, DAMN., which won the Pulitzer Prize for Music, making him the first rapper to win such a prestigious honor. Five years later, Kendrick released Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, another big musical statement that connected fans with themes of childhood trauma, infidelity, fatherhood and social paranoia. All in all, Kendrick Lamar is a powerful storyteller and an important voice for today's hip-hop generation.