In hIs Own wOrds… KendrIcK LAmAr
The Us rap star headlines on Friday november 24. here’s his thoughts on his influences and career
On his influences
“Dr Dre, he’s always been there as a person of inspiration. I mean, come on, N.W.A. — these people we watched on TV all day, every day and wanted to be like, inspired to be like.”
On his biggest mistake in life
“Watching other artists’ success and thinking it could be my own success. Everybody’s their own individual and a lot of the times you listen to the radio, and you be pushed by what the industry is doing and what’s poppin’ at the moment.”
On American sports stars protesting during the national anthem
“You don’t look at the moment, whether it’s gonna work or not. No, you look at what the next generation is gonna receive from it.”
On his music
“When I look at comedy – at Richard Pryor – it’s all selfexpression. I apply that same method to my music.”
On his childhood
“From what my family tells
me, I carried myself as a man – that’s why they called me Man Man.”
On meeting Barack Obama
“What I took from that experience was that it’s gonna take more than just eight years to make a change.”
On failure
“Failure is the one thing that stops us all from being our own entrepreneurs and following our dreams and having ownership of what we do.”
On what he learned from working with Beyoncé.
“How particular to be about your music. She’s a perfectionist.”
On why he starts each day looking at himself in the mirror for ten minutes
It started when I was nine. I would look and talk to myself. For a split second I saw something different than the eye can see. I could see my soul and it’s a scary sight. You can take your mind somewhere different. It lets me know who I am, where I’ve come from.”