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 Duckworth, a highly acclaimed American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer, is widely considered one of the greatest rappers ever. A significant milestone in his career was receiving the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Music, making him the first non-classical or jazz musician to achieve this honor.
April 15, 2003: Release of Youngest Head Nigga in Charge (Hub City Threat: Minor of the Year)
On April 15, 2003, Kendrick Lamar released his first mixtape, Youngest Head Nigga in Charge (Hub City Threat: Minor of the Year), through Konkrete Jungle Musik. The mixtape consisted primarily of freestyles over the production of popular hip-hop songs.
December 30, 2005: Release of Training Day
On December 30, 2005, Kendrick Lamar released his second mixtape, Training Day.
2005: Signing with Top Dawg Entertainment
In 2005, Kendrick Lamar signed with Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) and co-founded the hip hop supergroup Black Hippy.
2005: Signing with TDE
In 2005, Kendrick Lamar was offered a recording contract by Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE). He was signed by TDE, joining Jay Rock as the label's first signings. Upon signing, he purchased a minority stake in the label for an undisclosed amount.
2006: Signing with Def Jam Recordings
In 2006, Kendrick Lamar signed an artist development deal with Def Jam Recordings. He was featured on two singles by The Game and 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.
January 30, 2009: Release of C4
On January 30, 2009, Kendrick Lamar released his third mixtape, C4, which is a tribute project to Lil Wayne's Tha Carter III.
September 14, 2010: Release of Overly Dedicated
On September 14, 2010, Kendrick Lamar released his fourth mixtape, Overly Dedicated. It was his first project to be purchased through digital retailers.
July 2, 2011: Release of Section.80
On July 2, 2011, Kendrick Lamar released his debut studio album, Section.80, which was supported by its lead single "HiiiPower".
2011: Release of Section.80
In 2011, Kendrick Lamar released his alternative rap debut album, Section.80.
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.
October 2012: BET Music Matters Tour and 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 and was featured on ASAP Rocky's single "Fuckin' Problems".
October 22, 2012: Good Kid, M.A.A.D City Release
On October 22, 2012, Kendrick Lamar released his second album and first major label album, Good Kid, M.A.A.D City. The album featured production from Pharrell Williams, Hit-Boy, and others, blending West Coast hip-hop with gangsta rap influences.
November 2012: Donation to American Red Cross
In November 2012, Kendrick Lamar donated to the American Red Cross to support victims of Hurricane Sandy, showcasing his philanthropic efforts.
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. The gangsta rap-influenced album became the longest-charting hip hop studio album in Billboard 200 history.
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, demonstrating his commitment to education and giving back to his community.
December 2013: Yeezus Tour and Personal Struggles
In December 2013, Kendrick Lamar opened for Kanye West on the Yeezus Tour, facing disapproval from his label. Around this time, he experienced a nervous breakdown.
2013: Named Best Rapper Alive by Complex
In 2013, Complex named Kendrick Lamar the best rapper alive, recognizing his talent and impact on the music scene.
January 2014: Grammy Nominations and Performance
In January 2014, Kendrick Lamar received seven nominations at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards for Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, but did not win. He performed a mashup of "M.A.A.D City" and "Radioactive" with Imagine Dragons during the awards ceremony.
July 2014: Rapture Tour and M.A.A.D Short Film
In July 2014, Kendrick Lamar opened for Eminem on the Rapture Tour. On August 9, he premiered the short film M.A.A.D, which he starred in, commissioned and produced, during the Sundance Institute's Next Fest.
December 2014: The Colbert Report Performance
In December 2014, Kendrick Lamar performed untitled songs on The Colbert Report.
2014: Concert Tour for Habitat for Humanity
In 2014, Kendrick Lamar embarked on a small concert tour and donated all of the revenue to Habitat for Humanity and his hometown, furthering his philanthropic efforts.
2014: Featured on Forbes' 30 Under 30 List
In 2014, Kendrick Lamar was featured on Forbes' 30 Under 30 list in the music category, recognizing his early success and potential.
March 15, 2015: To Pimp a Butterfly Album Release
On March 15, 2015, Kendrick Lamar released his third album, To Pimp a Butterfly, which incorporated genres like jazz, funk, and soul. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and the UK Albums Chart.
May 2015: Declared a Generational Icon by the California State Senate
In May 2015, Kendrick Lamar was declared a generational icon by the California State Senate for his contributions to music and philanthropy, recognizing his impact on society.
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. The tour featured 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 scored his first Billboard Hot 100 number-one single after featuring 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.
January 2016: The Tonight Show Performance
In January 2016, Kendrick Lamar performed untitled songs on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
March 4, 2016: Untitled Unmastered Release
On March 4, 2016, Kendrick Lamar released his first compilation album, Untitled Unmastered. The album featured eight untitled, dated, unfinished tracks intended for To Pimp a Butterfly.
March 1, 2017: Damn Album Announcement
On March 1, 2017, Kendrick Lamar confirmed he was working on his fourth album, Damn, during a cover story for T.
July 2017: Damn Tour Begins
In July 2017, Kendrick Lamar began the Damn Tour, his first headlining arena tour, to support his album Damn.
July 2017: Purchase of Wheelchair-Accessible Van for a Fan
In July 2017, Kendrick Lamar purchased a wheelchair-accessible van for a quadriplegic fan, showing his compassion and support for his fans.
2017: Named Best Rapper Alive by Complex Again
In 2017, Complex again named Kendrick Lamar the best rapper alive, acknowledging his continued dominance in the industry.
2017: Release of Damn and Humble
In 2017, Kendrick Lamar's fourth album, Damn, was released, yielding his second US number one single, "Humble".
January 4, 2018: Black Panther: The Album Announcement
On January 4, 2018, Kendrick Lamar announced he would curate and executive produce Black Panther: The Album, the soundtrack for the 2018 film.
June 2018: Damn certified gold
By June 2018, every song on Damn became gold certified or higher by the Recording Industry Association of America.
June 2018: Championship Tour and Spotify Dispute
From May to June 2018, Kendrick Lamar co-headlined the Championship Tour with TDE artists. During the tour, he was involved in a public dispute with Spotify over their Hate Content & Hateful Conduct policy.
July 2018: Damn Tour Ends
In July 2018, Kendrick Lamar's Damn Tour came to a close after grossing $62.7 million worldwide.
2018: Black Panther Soundtrack and Academy Award Nomination
In 2018, Kendrick Lamar curated original songs for the soundtrack of the film Black Panther. He earned a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "All the Stars".
2018: Featured on Forbes' 30 Under 30 List Again
In 2018, Kendrick Lamar was again featured on Forbes' 30 Under 30 list in the music category, solidifying his continued success and influence.
2019: Appearance on Forbes' Celebrity 100 Ranking
In 2019, Kendrick Lamar appeared on Forbes' Celebrity 100 ranking, highlighting his financial success and popularity.
2019: Contributions and Hiatus
In 2019, Kendrick Lamar contributed to Beyoncé's The Lion King: The Gift, Schoolboy Q's Crash Talk, and Sir's Chasing Summer. After his two concert tours ended, he entered a four-year recording hiatus.
March 5, 2020: PGLang Launch
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 murder of George Floyd and the killing of Breonna Taylor, demonstrating his support for the Black Lives Matter movement.
August 2021: Final TDE Album Announcement
In August 2021, Kendrick Lamar announced through a blog post that he was producing his final album under TDE, focusing on PGLang.
February 13, 2022: Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show
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 a Primetime Emmy Award.
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 album, a double album influenced by jazz, R&B, trap, and soul, received widespread critical acclaim. All tracks charted on the Hot 100, and the album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 295,000 units in its first week.
July 2022: Big Steppers Tour Launch
In July 2022, Kendrick Lamar commenced 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 released the short film adaptation of his song "We Cry Together", for which he served as writer, co-director, and executive producer.
October 2022: Good Kid, M.A.A.D City's Chart Milestone
In October 2022, Good Kid, M.A.A.D City surpassed The Eminem Show to become the longest-charting hip-hop studio album on the Billboard 200 and also became the first hip-hop studio album to spend over ten consecutive years on the 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.
2022: Big Steppers Tour Launch
In 2022, the Big Steppers Tour began (continuing through 2024) and became one of the highest-grossing hip hop tours of all time, showcasing Kendrick Lamar's popularity and performance prowess.
May 2023: Collaborations and New Agreements
In May 2023, Kendrick Lamar was featured on Beyoncé's single "America Has a Problem" and Baby Keem's single "The Hillbillies". He also quietly signed a new direct licensing agreement with Interscope, ending his ties with Aftermath Entertainment.
2023: Collaboration with Grace Wales Bonner for Twilight Reverie
In 2023, Kendrick Lamar collaborated with Grace Wales Bonner to create the soundtrack with Sampha and Duval Timothy for her Autumn/Winter 2023 collection, Twilight Reverie.
March 2024: Appearance on "Like That"
In March 2024, Kendrick Lamar appeared on Future and Metro Boomin's track "Like That", which marked a re-escalation of his conflict with Drake.
March 2024: End of the Big Steppers Tour
The Big Steppers Tour, supporting the Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers album and launched in July 2022, concluded in March 2024. The tour became the highest-grossing rap tour ever at the time, grossing $110.9 million worldwide.
June 7, 2024: Commencement Speaker at Compton College
On June 7, 2024, Kendrick Lamar served as Compton College's surprise commencement speaker, inspiring graduates with his words of wisdom and personal story.
June 2024: $200,000 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, reinforcing his commitment to community support.
2024: Billboard names Lamar the greatest pop star of 2024
In 2024, Billboard listed Kendrick Lamar as the greatest pop star, highlighting his new releases and revelations that captured headlines and captivated the culture. That year, he also starred in the animated biographical film Piece by Piece (2024).
2024: Feud with Drake and Release of GNX
In 2024, Kendrick Lamar's feud with Drake and sixth album, GNX, spawned the US number-ones "Like That", "Not Like Us", "Squabble Up" and "Luther".
2024: Collaboration with Chanel for Spring/Summer Collection
In 2024, through PGLang, Kendrick Lamar composed the score and co-designed the stage for Chanel's Spring/Summer 2024 haute couture collection.
February 2, 2025: "Not Like Us" wins 5 awards at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards
On February 2, 2025, Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us" won 5 awards at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards: "Record of the Year", "Song of the Year", "Best Rap Performance", "Best Rap Song" and "Best Music Video".
February 9, 2025: Super Bowl LIX Halftime Performance
On February 9, 2025, Kendrick Lamar performed at the Super Bowl LIX halftime show. The show featured SZA, Samuel L. Jackson, Serena Williams, and Mustard. It became the most-watched Super Bowl performance of all time, with 133.5 million viewers.
March 14, 2025: Features on Playboi Carti's Album
On March 14, 2025, Kendrick Lamar was featured three times on Playboi Carti's album Music, appearing on the tracks "Backd00r", "Good Credit", and "Mojo Jojo".
2025: Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show
In 2025, Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl LIX halftime show broke viewership records, with 133.5 million viewers domestically.
March 20, 2026: Comedy Feature Film Release
Kendrick Lamar is slated to release a comedy feature with Free, Trey Parker and Matt Stone for Paramount Pictures on March 20, 2026.
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