History of Kendrick Lamar in Timeline
Kendrick Lamar is a highly acclaimed American rapper, singer, songwriter, and producer, widely considered one of the greatest rappers ever. He made history as the first non-classical or jazz musician to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2018. His work, deeply embedded in West Coast hip-hop, is characterized by conscious and introspective lyrics, delivering potent political critiques and incisive social commentary focusing on African-American culture.
1984: Family's Relocation to Compton
In 1984, Kendrick Lamar's parents relocated from South Side, Chicago, to Compton, California, due to his father's affiliation with the Gangster Disciples, marking a significant change in their lives.
June 17, 1987: Kendrick Lamar's Birth
On June 17, 1987, Kendrick Lamar Duckworth was born in Compton, California. He would become a highly influential rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer.
1992: Experiencing the Los Angeles Riots
In 1992, Kendrick Lamar experienced the first day of the Los Angeles riots, which introduced him to police brutality and had a profound impact on his understanding of social issues.
2001: Training Day Mixtape Concept
In 2007, Kendrick Lamar released his second mixtape, Training Day, based on the 2001 film of the same name. The mixtape showcased varied production and a well-executed concept.
2004: Release of Youngest Head Nigga in Charge (Hub City Threat: Minor of the Year)
In either 2004 or 2005, Kendrick Lamar, under the stage name K.Dot, released his first mixtape, Youngest Head Nigga in Charge (Hub City Threat: Minor of the Year), through Konkrete Jungle Musik, marking the beginning of his mixtape career.
2005: High School Graduation
In 2005, Kendrick Lamar graduated from Centennial High School as a straight-A student, balancing his education with his growing interest in music.
2005: Signing with TDE and Co-founding Black Hippy
In 2005, Kendrick Lamar signed with Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) and also co-founded the hip hop supergroup Black Hippy, marking the beginning of his professional music career.
2005: Signing with Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE)
In 2005, Kendrick Lamar was offered a recording contract by Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) after an impressive audition, joining Jay Rock as one of the label's first signings. He also purchased a minority stake in the label.
2005: Release of Youngest Head Nigga in Charge (Hub City Threat: Minor of the Year)
In either 2004 or 2005, Kendrick Lamar, under the stage name K.Dot, released his first mixtape, Youngest Head Nigga in Charge (Hub City Threat: Minor of the Year), through Konkrete Jungle Musik, marking the beginning of his mixtape career.
2006: Signing with Def Jam Recordings
In 2006, Kendrick Lamar signed an artist development deal with Def Jam Recordings and was featured on two singles by the Game. He also contributed to Jay Rock's mixtapes.
December 24, 2007: Release of No Sleep 'til NYC
On December 24, 2007, Kendrick Lamar and Jay Rock released a collaborative mixtape titled No Sleep 'til NYC. It was considered a fun cypher session.
2008: Tha Carter III
On January 30, 2009, Kendrick Lamar released his third mixtape, C4, as a tribute to Lil Wayne's Tha Carter III (2008).
January 30, 2009: Release of C4
On January 30, 2009, Kendrick Lamar released his third mixtape, C4, as a tribute to Lil Wayne's Tha Carter III (2008).
September 14, 2010: Release of Overly Dedicated
On September 14, 2010, Kendrick Lamar released his fourth mixtape, Overly Dedicated, which was his first project to be available for purchase through digital retailers and marked a shift in his songwriting.
July 2, 2011: Release of Section.80
On July 2, 2011, Kendrick Lamar released his debut commercial mixtape, Section.80, supported by its lead single "HiiiPower". This marked his first appearance on the Billboard 200 chart.
April 2012: Premiere of 'The Recipe'
In April 2012, Kendrick Lamar's first commercial single, "The Recipe" featuring Dr. Dre, premiered on rhythmic crossover radio, marking a step forward in his mainstream career.
October 2012: BET Music Matters Tour and BET Hip Hop Awards
In October 2012, Kendrick Lamar headlined the BET Music Matters Tour with Black Hippy and Stalley. He also won Lyricist of the Year at the BET Hip Hop Awards during this month.
October 22, 2012: Release of Good Kid, M.A.A.D City
On October 22, 2012, Kendrick Lamar's debut album 'Good Kid, M.A.A.D City' was released. This was his first project under a major record label and featured the hit single "Swimming Pools (Drank)".
2012: Release of Good Kid, M.A.A.D City
In 2012, Kendrick Lamar released his sophomore album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, which had a significant impact on his career and became the longest-charting hip hop studio album on the Billboard 200.
December 2013: Yeezus Tour and Personal Struggles
In December 2013, Kendrick Lamar was on the Yeezus Tour and experienced a nervous breakdown, a difficult period marked by personal struggles.
January 2014: Grammy Nominations and Snub
In January 2014, Kendrick Lamar received seven nominations at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist and Album of the Year for 'Good Kid, M.A.A.D City', but did not win any awards, leading to widespread media attention and controversy.
July 2014: Rapture Tour with Eminem
In July 2014, Kendrick Lamar was on tour with Eminem on the Rapture Tour.
March 15, 2015: Release of To Pimp a Butterfly
On March 15, 2015, Kendrick Lamar released 'To Pimp a Butterfly', an album that incorporated various genres synonymous with African American music. The album became Lamar's first number-one album on the Billboard 200 and the UK Albums Chart, selling 324,000 copies in its first week.
November 2015: Kunta's Groove Sessions Tour
From October to November 2015, Kendrick Lamar embarked on the Kunta's Groove Sessions Tour in support of To Pimp a Butterfly.
2015: Billboard Hot 100 Number-One Single and To Pimp a Butterfly Release
In 2015, Kendrick Lamar achieved his first Billboard Hot 100 number-one single with the remix of Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood." He also released his third album, To Pimp a Butterfly, which infused hip-hop with African-American music genres, marking another significant milestone in his career.
March 4, 2016: Release of Untitled Unmastered
On March 4, 2016, Kendrick Lamar released 'Untitled Unmastered', a compilation album featuring unfinished tracks from 'To Pimp a Butterfly'.
2016: Time's 100 Most Influential People
In 2016, Time magazine listed Kendrick Lamar as one of the 100 most influential people in the world, recognizing his impact beyond music.
March 1, 2017: Confirmation of Damn Album
On March 1, 2017, Kendrick Lamar confirmed he was working on his third album, Damn, during a cover story for T.
July 2017: Start of the Damn Tour
In July 2017, Kendrick Lamar embarked on his first headlining arena tour, the Damn Tour, to support his album.
2017: Release of DAMN.
In 2017, Kendrick Lamar released his fourth album, Damn, which leaned towards R&B and pop and featured his second US number-one single, "Humble".
January 4, 2018: Announcement of Black Panther: The Album
On January 4, 2018, Kendrick Lamar announced he would curate and executive produce 'Black Panther: The Album', the soundtrack for the 2018 film.
April 16, 2018: Pulitzer Prize for Damn
On April 16, 2018, Kendrick Lamar's 'Damn' won the Pulitzer Prize for Music, marking the first time a non-classical or jazz musical composition received the honor.
June 2018: Damn's Certification Milestone
By June 2018, Kendrick Lamar's album, Damn became the first album by a rapper or solo artist to have every song earn a gold certification or higher from the Recording Industry Association of America.
June 2018: Championship Tour and Spotify Dispute
In June 2018, Kendrick Lamar co-headlined the Championship Tour with TDE artists and became embroiled in a public dispute with Spotify regarding their Hate Content & Hateful Conduct policy.
July 2018: End of the Damn Tour
In July 2018, Kendrick Lamar's Damn Tour concluded, grossing $62.7 million worldwide, making it one of the highest-grossing hip-hop tours.
2018: Black Panther Soundtrack and Academy Award Nomination
In 2018, Kendrick Lamar contributed to the soundtrack of the film Black Panther and received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "All the Stars".
2018: Pulitzer Prize
In 2018, Kendrick Lamar was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music, making him the first musician outside of classical and jazz to receive the award. This was a significant achievement, recognizing his impact on music and culture.
2019: Contributions and Publishing Deal
In 2019, while on a recording hiatus, Kendrick Lamar contributed to Beyoncé's 'The Lion King: The Gift', Schoolboy Q's 'Crash Talk', and Sir's 'Chasing Summer', and signed a long-term worldwide deal with Broadcast Music, Inc. as his publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music was expiring.
March 5, 2020: Launch of PGLang
On March 5, 2020, Kendrick Lamar and Dave Free launched the creative entity PGLang, described as a multilingual, artist-friendly service company.
2020: Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums
In 2020, three of Kendrick Lamar's works were included in Rolling Stone's revision of the "500 Greatest Albums of All Time", solidifying his place in music history.
August 2021: Announcement of Final TDE Album
In August 2021, Kendrick Lamar announced via blog post that he was producing his final album under TDE.
January 2022: Comedy Feature Production
In January 2022, Kendrick Lamar signed on to produce a comedy feature film with Dave Free, Trey Parker, and Matt Stone for Paramount Pictures.
February 13, 2022: Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show
On February 13, 2022, Kendrick Lamar co-headlined the Super Bowl LVI halftime show, which later won an Emmy Award.
October 2022: Good Kid, M.A.A.D City's Chart Longevity
In October 2022, 'Good Kid, M.A.A.D City' became the first hip-hop studio album to spend over ten consecutive years on the Billboard 200 chart.
2022: Release of Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
In 2022, Kendrick Lamar released his fifth album, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, which concluded his tenure with TDE and Aftermath. The album delved into themes of introspection.
2024: Feud with Drake and GNX Release
In 2024, Kendrick Lamar engaged in a highly publicized feud with Drake, and his sixth album, GNX, spawned the Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles "Like That", "Not Like Us", "Squabble Up", and "Luther".
2025: Grand National Tour with SZA
In 2025, Kendrick Lamar's Grand National Tour with SZA became the highest-grossing co-headlining tour in history, marking a significant achievement in his touring career.
March 20, 2026: Comedy Feature Release
The comedy feature film produced by Kendrick Lamar, Dave Free, Trey Parker and Matt Stone for Paramount Pictures is slated to be released on March 20, 2026.
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