“I learned when I look in the mirror and tell my story that I should be myself and not peep whatever everybody is doing. … If I'm gonna tell a real story, I'm gonna start with my name.”
Born Kendrick Lamar Duckworth on June 17, 1987, in Compton, California.
Kendrick Lamar broke through with his 2012 albumGood Kid, M.A.A.D City, which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 onBillboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
Lamar earned his first career GRAMMY nominations, including Best New Artist and Album Of The Year forGood Kid, M.A.A.D City, in 2013. He won his first career GRAMMYs for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song for “I” in 2014. Lamar made his GRAMMY stage debut alongside Imagine Dragons at the 56th GRAMMYs, performing a mashup of his “m.A.A.d City” and their “Radioactive.”
Did you know? Lamar attended Centennial High School in Compton — the same school as Dr. Dre.
For the 58th GRAMMY Awards in 2016, Lamar shot a short film with the Recording Academy celebrating his hometown of Compton and his GRAMMY-winning song “Alright.”
Lamar has donated to Compton-area school districts to support their extracurricular, music, and afterschool programs.
Lamar currently holds 22 career GRAMMY Awards and has received over 55 nominations. Most recently, at the 67th GRAMMY Awards in 2025, Lamar swept all five of his nominations for his song “Not Like Us,” taking home Song Of The Year, Record Of The Year, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, and Best Music Video.