Career Timeline of Kendrick Lamar: Major Achievements and Milestones
How Kendrick Lamar built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Kendrick Lamar is an acclaimed American rapper widely considered one of the greatest of all time. His groundbreaking work earned him the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Music, a historic achievement as the first non-classical or jazz musician to receive the award. This recognition highlights his significant impact on music and culture.
April 15, 2003: Release of Youngest Head Nigga in Charge (Hub City Threat: Minor of the Year)
On April 15, 2003, 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.
December 30, 2005: Release of Training Day Mixtape
On December 30, 2005, Kendrick Lamar released his second mixtape, Training Day, which was based on the 2001 film.
2005: Signed with Top Dawg Entertainment
In 2005, Kendrick Lamar signed with Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) and co-founded the hip hop supergroup Black Hippy.
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 heavily contributed to Jay Rock's mixtapes, but was later let go from Def Jam after an encounter with Jay-Z.
December 24, 2007: Release of No Sleep 'til NYC Mixtape
On December 24, 2007, Kendrick Lamar and Jay Rock released a collaborative mixtape, titled No Sleep 'til NYC.
January 30, 2009: Release of C4 Mixtape
On January 30, 2009, Kendrick Lamar released his third mixtape, C4, as a tribute to Lil Wayne's Tha Carter III.
2009: Collaboration with Sounwave
Since 2009, Kendrick Lamar has been working with his longtime producer, Sounwave, starting with his self-titled EP.
September 14, 2010: Release of Overly Dedicated Mixtape
On September 14, 2010, Kendrick Lamar released his fourth mixtape, Overly Dedicated, which was his first project available for purchase through digital retailers. It marked a shift in his songwriting and peaked at number 72 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
July 2, 2011: Release of Section.80 Album
On July 2, 2011, Kendrick Lamar released his debut studio album, Section.80, which explored conscious and alternative hip-hop styles. It marked his first appearance on the Billboard 200 chart.
2011: Windows Phone Promotion
In 2011, Kendrick Lamar crafted an original song with record producer Nosaj Thing to promote Microsoft's Windows Phone.
2011: Release of Section.80 and Securing a Joint Contract
In 2011, Kendrick Lamar released his alternative rap debut album, Section.80, and subsequently secured a joint contract with Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records.
April 2012: Premiere of "The Recipe" and Club Paradise Tour
In April 2012, Kendrick Lamar's first commercial single, "The Recipe" featuring Dr. Dre, premiered on rhythmic crossover radio. From February to April 2012, he opened for Drake on his Club Paradise Tour.
October 2012: BET Hip Hop Awards and ASAP Rocky Collaboration
In October 2012, Kendrick Lamar won Lyricist of the Year at the BET Hip Hop Awards. Also in October 2012, he was featured on ASAP Rocky's single "Fuckin' Problems" alongside Drake and 2 Chainz.
October 22, 2012: Release of Good Kid, M.A.A.D City
On October 22, 2012, Kendrick Lamar released his second album and first under a major record label, Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, which was met with critical acclaim and debuted at number two on the Billboard 200. Its lead single was "Swimming Pools (Drank)".
November 2012: Donation to American Red Cross
In November 2012, Kendrick Lamar donated to the American Red Cross to support the victims of Hurricane Sandy.
2012: Support for Frank Ocean
In 2012, Kendrick Lamar publicly commended Frank Ocean for coming out.
2012: Release of Good Kid, M.A.A.D City
In 2012, Kendrick Lamar released his second album, Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, influenced by gangsta rap. The album became the longest-charting hip hop studio album in Billboard 200 history.
2012: "Human Music" Genre
In a 2012 interview, Kendrick Lamar described his music as genreless, explaining, "You really can't categorize my music, it's human music."
December 2013: Yeezus Tour and Personal Struggles
From October to December 2013, Kendrick Lamar opened for Kanye West on his Yeezus Tour. Also in December 2013, he experienced a nervous breakdown near the end of the tour.
December 2013: Donation to Centennial High School
In December 2013, Kendrick Lamar donated $50,000 to his alma mater, Centennial High School, to support its music department.
2013: Named Best Rapper Alive by Complex
In 2013, Complex named Kendrick Lamar the best rapper alive.
January 2014: Grammy Nominations and Performance
In January 2014, Kendrick Lamar earned seven nominations at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist, Best Rap Album, and Album of the Year for Good Kid, M.A.A.D City. During the awards ceremony in January 2014, Lamar performed a mashup of "M.A.A.D City" and "Radioactive" with Imagine Dragons.
July 2014: Rapture Tour with Eminem
From February to July 2014, Kendrick Lamar opened for Eminem on the Rapture Tour. By July 2014, the tour had ended.
December 2014: The Colbert Report Performance
In December 2014, Kendrick Lamar performed untitled songs on The Colbert Report.
2014: Donation of Concert Revenue to Charity
In 2014, Kendrick Lamar embarked on a small concert tour and donated all the revenue to Habitat for Humanity and his hometown.
2014: Performance with Prince
In 2014, Kendrick Lamar performed with Prince at Paisley Park to celebrate the release of Prince's albums Plectrumelectrum and Art Official Age.
2014: Bacardi Marketing Campaign
In 2014, Kendrick Lamar starred alongside DJ Calvin Harris and singer Ellie Goulding in a marketing campaign for Bacardi.
2014: Featured on Forbes' 30 Under 30 List
In 2014, Kendrick Lamar was featured on Forbes' 30 Under 30 list in the music category.
March 15, 2015: Release of To Pimp a Butterfly
On March 15, 2015, Kendrick Lamar released his album To Pimp a Butterfly, which incorporated jazz, funk, and soul genres. The album sold 324,000 copies in its first week and became Lamar's first number-one album on the Billboard 200 and the UK Albums Chart.
November 2015: Kunta's Groove Sessions Tour
From October to November 2015, Kendrick Lamar embarked on the Kunta's Groove Sessions Tour in select intimate venues across the U.S.
2015: First Billboard Hot 100 Number-One Single and Release of To Pimp a Butterfly
In 2015, Kendrick Lamar achieved his first Billboard Hot 100 number-one single with a feature on the remix of Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood". He also released his third album, To Pimp a Butterfly, which became his first of six consecutive number-one albums on the Billboard 200 chart.
2015: Featured on Ebony's Power 100 List
In 2015, Kendrick Lamar was featured on Ebony's Power 100 list, which honors leaders within the African American community.
January 2016: The Tonight Show Performance
In January 2016, Kendrick Lamar performed untitled songs on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
March 4, 2016: Release of Untitled Unmastered
On March 4, 2016, Kendrick Lamar released his compilation album, Untitled Unmastered. The album debuted atop the Billboard 200, becoming Lamar's second consecutive number-one project.
2016: Included on Time's 100 Most Influential People List
In 2016, Time included Kendrick Lamar on its annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.
2016: Black Lives Matter and U.S. Presidential Election
Throughout the Black Lives Matter movement and events following the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Kendrick Lamar's work has been used as protest anthems.
March 1, 2017: Confirmation of Fourth Album DAMN.
On March 1, 2017, Kendrick Lamar confirmed that he was working on his fourth album, Damn, during a cover story for T.
July 2017: The Damn Tour begins
From July 2017 to July 2018, Kendrick Lamar embarked on his first headlining arena tour, the Damn Tour, to support his album Damn.
July 2017: Purchase of Wheelchair-Accessible Van for Fan
In July 2017, Kendrick Lamar purchased a wheelchair-accessible van for a quadriplegic fan.
2017: Named Best Rapper Alive by Complex
In 2017, Complex named Kendrick Lamar the best rapper alive for the second time.
2017: Release of Damn and Humble
In 2017, Kendrick Lamar released his fourth album, Damn, which leaned towards R&B and pop, and produced his second US number-one single, "Humble".
January 4, 2018: Announcement of Black Panther: The Album
On January 4, 2018, Kendrick Lamar announced that he would be curating and executive producing Black Panther: The Album, the soundtrack from the 2018 film.
April 16, 2018: DAMN. wins the Pulitzer Prize
On April 16, 2018, Damn won the Pulitzer Prize for Music, marking the first time a musical composition outside of the classical and jazz genres received the honor.
June 2018: Championship Tour
From May to June 2018, Lamar co-headlined the Championship Tour with several TDE artists. While on tour in June 2018, he became embroiled in a public dispute with Spotify regarding the streaming service's Hate Content & Hateful Conduct policy.
July 2018: The Damn Tour ends
From July 2017 to July 2018, Kendrick Lamar embarked on his first headlining arena tour, the Damn Tour, to support his album Damn. The tour ended in July 2018.
2018: Black Panther Soundtrack and Academy Award Nomination
In 2018, Kendrick Lamar curated original songs for the soundtrack of the film Black Panther, earning a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Song for the single "All the Stars".
2018: Featured on Forbes' 30 Under 30 List
In 2018, Kendrick Lamar was featured on Forbes' 30 Under 30 list in the music category for the second time.
2019: Appearance on Forbes' Celebrity 100 Ranking
In 2019, Kendrick Lamar appeared on Forbes' Celebrity 100 ranking.
2019: Contributions to Various Albums and Publishing Deal
In 2019, Kendrick Lamar contributed to Beyoncé's The Lion King: The Gift, Schoolboy Q's Crash Talk, and Sir's Chasing Summer. Also in 2019, Lamar signed a long-term worldwide deal with Broadcast Music, Inc. as his publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music was beginning to expire.
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.
June 2020: Participation in Peace Walk
In June 2020, Kendrick Lamar joined a peace walk to protest against the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.
August 2021: Announcement of Final Album Under TDE
In August 2021, Kendrick Lamar announced through a blog post that he was in the process of producing his final album under TDE, confirming rumors that he would be leaving to focus on PGLang.
February 13, 2022: Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show Performance
On February 13, 2022, Kendrick Lamar co-headlined the Super Bowl LVI halftime show alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, 50 Cent, and Mary J. Blige, which later won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special (Live).
May 13, 2022: Release of Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
On May 13, 2022, Kendrick Lamar released his fifth album, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers. The double album became Lamar's fourth consecutive number-one album on the Billboard 200.
July 2022: Big Steppers Tour Start
In July 2022, Kendrick Lamar began the Big Steppers Tour in support of his album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers.
September 2022: Release of "We Cry Together" Short Film
In September 2022, Kendrick Lamar wrote, co-directed, and executive produced the short film adaptation of his song "We Cry Together".
October 2022: Good Kid, M.A.A.D City's Chart Milestone
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's double album, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, was released, marking the conclusion of his tenure with TDE and Aftermath.
2022: Big Steppers Tour Began
In 2022, the Big Steppers Tour, by Kendrick Lamar began and it became one of the highest-grossing hip hop tours of all time.
May 2023: Featured on Beyoncé's and Baby Keem's Singles
In May 2023, Kendrick Lamar was featured on Beyoncé's single "America Has a Problem" and Baby Keem's single "The Hillbillies".
2023: Bonner Collaboration
For her Autumn/Winter 2023 collection, Twilight Reverie, Lamar worked with Bonner to create the show's soundtrack with Sampha and Duval Timothy.
2023: Inclusion in Billboard's Greatest Rappers of All Time List
In 2023, Kendrick Lamar was included in Billboard's list of the greatest rappers of all time for the second time.
March 2024: Appearance on "Like That" and Billboard Success
In March 2024, Kendrick Lamar appeared on Future and Metro Boomin's track "Like That," which reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks.
June 7, 2024: Commencement Speaker at Compton College
On June 7, 2024, Kendrick Lamar served as Compton College's surprise commencement speaker.
June 2024: Donation to Los Angeles Charities
In June 2024, Kendrick Lamar spearheaded a $200,000 donation to 20 charities and community initiatives based in Los Angeles.
2024: Billboard's Greatest Pop Star and Film Role
In 2024, Billboard listed Lamar as the greatest pop star of the year. He also starred in the animated film Piece by Piece that same year.
2024: Feud with Drake and Grammy Wins
In 2024, Kendrick Lamar's feud with Drake led to the US number-ones "Like That" and "Not Like Us", the latter of which won a joint-record five Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year and Record of the Year. Also in 2024, his album, GNX, produced the US number-one singles "Squabble Up" and "Luther".
2024: Chanel Collaboration
Through PGLang, Lamar composed the score and co-designed the stage for Chanel's Spring/Summer 2024 haute couture collection.
February 9, 2025: Super Bowl LIX Halftime Performance
On February 9, 2025, Kendrick Lamar performed at the Super Bowl LIX halftime show, featuring SZA, Samuel L. Jackson, Serena Williams, and Mustard, breaking viewership records.
March 14, 2025: Featured on Playboi Carti's Album
On March 14, 2025, Kendrick Lamar was featured on Playboi Carti's third album Music, appearing on the tracks "Backd00r", "Good Credit", and "Mojo Jojo".
July 4, 2025: Comedy Feature Production
Kendrick Lamar signed on to produce a comedy feature with Free, Trey Parker, and Matt Stone for Paramount Pictures, which is slated to be released on July 4, 2025.
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