History of Kendrick Lamar in Timeline
Kendrick Lamar Duckworth is a highly acclaimed American rapper and songwriter, widely recognized as one of the greatest rappers of all time. His significant contributions to music have earned him the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for Music, a rare feat for a musician outside of classical and jazz genres. Lamar's music is celebrated for its incorporation of social commentary and political critique, which has inspired a heightened sense of social awareness among his contemporaries.
1979: Billy Joel Begins Four Consecutive Album of the Year Grammy Nominations
Billy Joel was nominated for Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards for four consecutive years, from 1979 to 1983. This accomplishment would later be matched by Kendrick Lamar.
1983: Billy Joel Receives Fourth Consecutive Album of the Year Grammy Nomination
In 1983, Billy Joel received his fourth consecutive nomination for Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards, making him the first artist to achieve this feat since the award's inception.
1984: Kendrick Lamar's Parents Move to Compton
Kendrick Lamar's parents relocated to Compton in 1984, due to his father's affiliation with the Gangster Disciples.
June 17, 1987: Kendrick Lamar is Born
Kendrick Lamar Duckworth was born on June 17, 1987 in Compton, California.
1992: Witness to Violence
Kendrick Lamar was introduced to police brutality after experiencing the first day of the 1992 Los Angeles riots. When he was five years old, he witnessed a murder for the first time while sitting outside of his apartment unit, as a teenage drug-dealer was killed in a drive-by shooting.
1996: Influence of Tupac Shakur's "The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory"
In 1996, Tupac Shakur's album "The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory" was released and would go on to influence Lamar's artistic direction.
1997: Influence of The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Life After Death"
The release of The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Life After Death" in 1997 influenced Lamar's view on music as cinematic.
1998: Influence of DMX's "It's Dark and Hell is Hot"
DMX's debut album "It's Dark and Hell is Hot", released in 1998, further impacted Lamar's cinematic view on music.
2000: Eminem's "The Marshall Mathers LP" Influences Lamar
Eminem's album "The Marshall Mathers LP" was released in 2000, introducing Lamar to songwriting elements that would affect his later work.
2005: Kendrick Lamar Signs with Top Dawg Entertainment
In 2005, Kendrick Lamar signed with Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) and co-founded the hip hop supergroup Black Hippy.
2005: Kendrick Lamar Joins Top Dawg Entertainment
In 2005, after hearing Lamar's mixtape, Top Dawg Entertainment's CEO Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith invited Lamar to audition for the label. Lamar impressed Tiffith and record executive Terrence "Punch" Henderson during a two-hour freestyle, and was offered a recording contract with TDE, making him one of the label's first signings alongside Jay Rock.
2006: Kendrick Lamar Signs with Def Jam and Collaborates with Jay Rock
In 2006, Lamar signed an artist development deal with Def Jam Recordings and was featured on two singles by The Game. He also contributed heavily to Jay Rock's first two mixtapes, "Watts Finest Vol. 1" and "Watts Finest Vol. 2: The Nickerson Files."
2006: Kendrick Lamar Graduates High School
Kendrick Lamar graduated from high school in 2006 as a straight-A student.
2007: Kendrick Lamar Releases "Training Day" and "No Sleep 'til NYC"
In 2007, Lamar released two projects: his second mixtape, "Training Day," and a collaborative mixtape with Jay Rock titled "No Sleep 'til NYC." "Training Day" was a concept mixtape based on the 2001 film of the same name.
2008: Lil Wayne Releases "Tha Carter III"
Lil Wayne released "Tha Carter III" in 2008, an album that would later become the inspiration for Kendrick Lamar's 2009 mixtape "C4."
2009: Lamar Begins Working with Producer Sounwave
Kendrick Lamar began his working relationship with longtime producer Sounwave in 2009, beginning with Lamar's self-titled EP.
2009: Kendrick Lamar Releases Mixtape and EP, Retires Stage Name
Kendrick Lamar released his third mixtape, "C4," as a tribute to Lil Wayne's "Tha Carter III." From February to July 2009, he toured with The Game as a hype man for Jay Rock on The Game's LAX Tour. Lamar decided to retire his stage name, opting to use his first and middle names professionally, marking a significant step in his career growth. He released his eponymous debut extended play in 2009, a project that focused heavily on songwriting.
2010: Kendrick Lamar Releases "Overly Dedicated" and Catches Dr. Dre's Attention
In 2010, after signing a music publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music, Lamar released his fourth mixtape, "Overly Dedicated," digitally for the first time in his career. During Tech N9ne's Independent Grind Tour, where Lamar was serving as Jay Rock's hype man for a second time, Dr. Dre became aware of Lamar's music. Dr. Dre reached out to Lamar after seeing the music video for "Ignorance Is Bliss" on YouTube, expressing a desire to work with him on his upcoming album "Detox." He also considered signing Lamar to Aftermath Entertainment, encouraged by other artists such as J. Cole.
July 2, 2011: Kendrick Lamar Releases Debut Album "Section.80"
Kendrick Lamar released his debut studio album, "Section.80," on July 2, 2011. The album, supported by its lead single "HiiiPower," explored conscious and alternative hip hop styles and experimented with jazz production. It marked Lamar's first appearance on the Billboard 200 chart, where it peaked at number 113.
2011: Section.80 is Released
Kendrick Lamar released his alternative rap debut album, Section.80, in 2011.
2011: Kendrick Lamar Receives Recognition and Collaborates with Other Artists
To promote "Section.80," Kendrick Lamar performed at various small venues and college campuses across the United States. During a performance in West Los Angeles, he was dubbed the "New King of the West Coast" by Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and The Game. "Section.80" was nominated for Best Mixtape at the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards, where Lamar also performed in a cypher with other notable artists. Throughout 2011, Lamar was featured on albums by The Game, Tech N9ne, 9th Wonder, and Drake.
2011: Kendrick Lamar Partners with Microsoft for Windows Phone Promotion
In 2011, Kendrick Lamar collaborated with record producer Nosaj Thing to create an original song for a Microsoft Windows Phone promotional campaign.
April 2012: Kendrick Lamar Tours with Drake and Signs with Aftermath and Interscope
From February to April 2012, Lamar opened for Drake on his Club Paradise Tour. On March 8, it was reported that Lamar had signed a joint venture recording contract with Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records, while still primarily working under Top Dawg Entertainment. Lamar's first commercial single, "The Recipe" featuring Dr. Dre, premiered on April 2.
November 2012: Kendrick Lamar Donates to American Red Cross for Hurricane Sandy Relief
In November 2012, Kendrick Lamar donated to the American Red Cross to support victims of Hurricane Sandy.
2012: Lamar Describes His Music as "Human Music"
In a 2012 interview, Lamar explained that his music can't be categorized and should be considered "human music".
2012: Good Kid, M.A.A.D City is Released
Kendrick Lamar rose to prominence with his gangsta rap-influenced second album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City in 2012.
December 2013: Kendrick Lamar Donates to Centennial High School's Music Department
In December 2013, Kendrick Lamar donated $50,000 to his alma mater, Centennial High School, in support of its music department.
2013: Complex Best Rapper Alive
Complex named Kendrick Lamar the best rapper alive in 2013.
December 2014: Performance of Untitled Song on The Colbert Report
Kendrick Lamar performed an untitled song from the To Pimp a Butterfly recording sessions on The Colbert Report in December 2014.
2014: Forbes 30 Under 30
Kendrick Lamar was included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the music category in 2014.
2014: Kendrick Lamar Donates Concert Tour Revenue to Habitat for Humanity and Hometown
In 2014, Kendrick Lamar embarked on a small concert tour and donated all of the revenue to Habitat for Humanity and his hometown.
2014: Lamar Performs with Prince at Paisley Park
Kendrick Lamar performed with Prince at Paisley Park in 2014 in celebration of Prince's then newly released albums "Plectrumelectrum" and "Art Official Age".
2014: Kendrick Lamar Stars in Bacardi Marketing Campaign with Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding
In 2014, Kendrick Lamar appeared alongside DJ Calvin Harris and singer Ellie Goulding in a marketing campaign for Bacardi.
March 15, 2015: To Pimp a Butterfly Release
On March 15, 2015, Kendrick Lamar released his third studio album, To Pimp a Butterfly. The album was a critical and commercial success, debuting at number one on the Billboard 200 and setting Spotify's global first-day streaming record.
April 2015: Engagement and "Bad Blood" Remix
In April 2015, Kendrick Lamar announced his engagement to Whitney Alford. He also earned his first number-one single on the Hot 100 with his remix of Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood."
May 2015: Generational Icon
In May 2015, Kendrick Lamar was declared a generational icon by the California State Senate for his contributions to music and philanthropy. He also served as grand marshal for the Compton Christmas Parade and received the key to the city of Compton.
November 2015: Kunta's Groove Sessions Tour
In support of To Pimp a Butterfly, Kendrick Lamar embarked on the Kunta's Groove Sessions Tour, which ran from October to November 2015. The tour featured intimate performances at select venues across the U.S.
2015: To Pimp a Butterfly is Released
In 2015, Kendrick Lamar embraced jazz and G-funk styles on his third album, To Pimp a Butterfly.
2015: Kendrick Lamar Meets with President Barack Obama
In 2015, Kendrick Lamar had a meeting with President Barack Obama, which was documented in a public service announcement in support of MENTOR: The National Mentoring Partnership and My Brother's Keeper Challenge.
January 2016: Performance of Untitled Song on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Kendrick Lamar performed an untitled song from the To Pimp a Butterfly recording sessions on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in January 2016.
March 4, 2016: Untitled Unmastered Release
Kendrick Lamar released his first compilation album, Untitled Unmastered, on March 4, 2016. The album featured eight untitled and unfinished tracks from the To Pimp a Butterfly recording sessions.
2016: Time 100 Most Influential People
In 2016, Kendrick Lamar was included in Time Magazine's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.
2016: Kendrick Lamar's Music Sparks Social Conscience and Inspires Protest Anthems
In 2016, Kendrick Lamar's music was recognized for its significant influence on social conscience, inspiring protest anthems during the Black Lives Matter movement and events following the U.S. presidential election. His work challenged the status quo and encouraged listeners to reexamine social institutions.
2016: Time 100 Most Influential People
Time listed Kendrick Lamar as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2016.
2016: David Bowie's Final Album, Blackstar, Inspired by Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly
In 2016, David Bowie's final album, Blackstar, was inspired by Kendrick Lamar's album To Pimp a Butterfly. The album's producer, Tony Visconti, praised Lamar as a "rulebreaker" in the music industry.
March 1, 2017: Confirmation of Fourth Album
Kendrick Lamar confirmed he was working on his fourth studio album during an interview for T: The New York Times Style Magazine on March 1, 2017.
July 2017: Kendrick Lamar Purchases Wheelchair-Accessible Van for Quadriplegic Fan
In July 2017, Kendrick Lamar purchased a wheelchair-accessible van for a quadriplegic fan.
July 2017: The Damn Tour Begins
Kendrick Lamar began his first headlining arena tour, The Damn Tour, in July 2017.
2017: Complex Best Rapper Alive
Complex named Kendrick Lamar the best rapper alive for the second time in 2017.
2017: The Damn Tour Begins
Kendrick Lamar's Damn Tour ran from 2017–2018.
2017: Damn is Released
Kendrick Lamar's critical and commercial success continued with his R&B and pop-leaning fourth album Damn, released in 2017.
2017: Damn Commercial Success
Kendrick Lamar's fourth album, Damn, became his most commercially successful album in 2017. It was the seventh best-selling album of the year globally, and "Humble" was the sixth best-selling single of the year.
January 4, 2018: Kendrick Lamar and Anthony Tiffith to curate and produce Black Panther Soundtrack
On January 4, 2018, Kendrick Lamar and Anthony Tiffith announced that they would be curating and executive producing the soundtrack album for the superhero film Black Panther.
April 16, 2018: Damn Wins Pulitzer Prize for Music
Kendrick Lamar's album Damn won the Pulitzer Prize for Music on April 16, 2018, marking the first time a musical composition outside of the classical and jazz genres received the honor.
June 2018: Damn Certification Milestone
By June 2018, Kendrick Lamar's album Damn became the first album by a rapper or solo artist to have every song featured earn a gold certification or higher from the Recording Industry Association of America.
July 2018: The Damn Tour Ends
Kendrick Lamar's first headlining arena tour, The Damn Tour, concluded in July 2018 after grossing $62.7 million in worldwide revenue.
2018: The Damn Tour Ends
Kendrick Lamar's Damn Tour concluded in 2018.
2018: Forbes 30 Under 30
Kendrick Lamar was included in the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the music category for the second time in 2018.
2018: Pulitzer Prize for Music
Kendrick Lamar's album Damn won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Music, marking the first time a musical work outside of the classical and jazz genres received this honor.
July 26, 2019: Kendrick Lamar and Whitney Alford welcome their daughter, Uzi
Kendrick Lamar and Whitney Alford welcomed their daughter, Uzi, on July 26, 2019.
2019: Re-recording of "Bad Blood" Remix
In 2019, Kendrick Lamar re-recorded his verse on the "Bad Blood" remix to support Taylor Swift's counteraction to her masters dispute.
2019: Forbes Celebrity 100
Kendrick Lamar appeared on the Forbes Celebrity 100 ranking in 2019.
March 5, 2020: Kendrick Lamar and Dave Free Launch PGLang
On March 5, 2020, Kendrick Lamar and Dave Free launched the creative entity PGLang.
June 2020: Kendrick Lamar Joins Peace Walk Protesting Murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor
In June 2020, Kendrick Lamar participated in a peace walk to protest against the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.
2020: Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
Three of Kendrick Lamar's works were included in Rolling Stone's 2020 revision of the 500 greatest albums of all time.
2020: Kendrick Lamar's planned 2020 tour cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
Kendrick Lamar had plans to tour in 2020, but they were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
August 2021: Kendrick Lamar confirms final album with TDE and Aftermath
In August 2021, Kendrick Lamar announced via a blog post that he was in the process of producing his final album under both TDE and Aftermath.
February 13, 2022: Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show
Kendrick Lamar co-headlined the Super Bowl LVI halftime show alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, 50 Cent, and Mary J. Blige on February 13, 2022.
May 13, 2022: Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers is released
Kendrick Lamar's fifth album, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, was released on May 13, 2022.
July 2022: The Big Steppers Tour Begins
Kendrick Lamar embarked on The Big Steppers Tour in July 2022 in support of his album 'Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers'.
September 2022: Release of "We Cry Together" Short Film
Kendrick Lamar released a short film adaptation of his song "We Cry Together" in September 2022, which he wrote, co-directed, and executive produced.
November 2022: Release of "Kendrick Lamar Live: The Big Steppers Tour" Concert Film
A concert film documenting Kendrick Lamar's Big Steppers Tour, titled "Kendrick Lamar Live: The Big Steppers Tour", was released in November 2022.
December 2022: The Big Steppers Tour Concludes
Kendrick Lamar's Big Steppers Tour concluded in December 2022, having become the highest-grossing rap tour ever at that time.
2022: Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers is Released
The double album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, released in 2022, concluded Lamar's tenure with TDE and Aftermath.
2022: The Big Steppers Tour Begins
Kendrick Lamar's The Big Steppers Tour ran from 2022–2023.
2022: Big Steppers Tour
Kendrick Lamar embarked on the Big Steppers Tour from 2022 to 2023, which became one of the highest-grossing hip hop tours of all time.
May 2023: Featured on Beyoncé's "America Has a Problem" and Baby Keem's "The Hillbillies"
In May 2023, Kendrick Lamar was featured on the standalone version of Beyoncé's single "America Has a Problem" and appeared on Baby Keem's single "The Hillbillies".
2023: Kendrick Lamar Ranked Among the Best Singers of the 21st Century
In 2023, The Times ranked Kendrick Lamar as the tenth-best solo singer of the 21st century, recognizing his innovative vocal techniques and influence on contemporary music.
2023: Billboard's Greatest Rappers of All Time
Kendrick Lamar was included in Billboard's list of the greatest rappers of all time in 2023.
2023: Kendrick Lamar Collaborates with Grace Wales Bonner for Autumn/Winter 2023 Collection
Kendrick Lamar worked with Grace Wales Bonner to create the soundtrack for her Autumn/Winter 2023 collection, Twilight Reverie, featuring Sampha and Duval Timothy.
2023: Big Steppers Tour Concludes
Kendrick Lamar's Big Steppers Tour, one of the highest-grossing hip hop tours of all time, concluded in 2023.
2023: The Big Steppers Tour Ends
Kendrick Lamar's The Big Steppers Tour concluded in 2023.
March 2024: Lamar's conflict with Drake re-escalates
In March 2024, Lamar's conflict with Drake reignited with a surprise appearance on Future and Metro Boomin's track 'Like That', which became his third number-one single.
2024: Feud with Drake
Kendrick Lamar's 2024 feud with Drake spawned the number-one songs "Like That" and "Not Like Us".
2024: Kendrick Lamar Composes Score and Co-Designs Stage for Chanel's Spring/Summer 2024 Haute Couture Collection
Through PGLang, Kendrick Lamar composed the score and co-designed the stage for Chanel's Spring/Summer 2024 haute couture collection.
July 4, 2025: Comedy Film Release
Kendrick Lamar's produced comedy feature film, created in collaboration with Free, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, is slated for release by Paramount Pictures on July 4, 2025.