Listen to K. Dot’s interview with NPR below!
Kendrick Lamar is nearing his official coming out party, with the upcoming 2016 edition of the GRAMMYs. The Compton rapper is nominated for more awards than any other artist on the bill at 11 and spoke with NPR’s David Greene about his critically-acclaimed album, To Pimp A Butterfly. Throughout the 7-minute conversation, K. Dot touched on witnessing his first murder at the age of 5 and being surrounded by gang wars throughout his entire youth (see: good kid, m.A.A.d city).
He went to break down how music saved his life from falling to the lifestyle, some of family members and closest peers have resulted in losing their freedom – or worse. Speaking of which, before things concluded, Lamar discussed how he lost more friends over the summer, than he has in his entire life; with his childhood close one Chad Keaton being one of those casualties.
Listen to more from the interview below, where he opens up on his controversial line on “The Blacker The Berry,” where he realizes he must change himself before offering advice to the world.
Kendrick Lamar Teaches the Youth The Meaning of Hard Work