Posted by | Ray Cornelius
For someone to have achieved all that Kendrick Lamar has over these past few years, you’d think that the success, the fame and the fortune would have gone to his head by now. Well, you’re wrong! As his hit single goes, staying “humble” is the best position to be in when your life has literally taken you from Compton to Cape Town.
The Grammy winning rapper sat down recently with Dave Chappelle for a one-on-one conversation for INTERVIEW Magazine and dished about his career, his platform and music. For Lamar, the albums are inspired by the average, everyday person trying to make it through life.
When asked how he has handled fame, Lamar admits that he’s still growing and struggled with the fast pace of it all in the beginning. However, he was able to find some balance when he went back home to see some familiar faces.
“The best thing I did was go back to the city of Compton, to touch the people who I grew up with and tell them the stories of the people I met around the world. Making To Pimp a Butterfly was me navigating those experiences.”
Lamar also admits that his concert tour to South Africa completely changed his view and perspective about his gifts and purpose. Seeing the land and talking to the people proved to be just what he needed for this part of his life’s journey.
“I went to South Africa—Durban, Cape Town, Johannesburg—and those were definitely the “I’ve arrived” shows. Outside of the money, the success, the accolades … This is a place that we, in urban communities, never dream of. We never dream of Africa. Like, “Damn, this is the motherland.” You feel it as soon as you touch down. That moment changed my whole perspective on how to convey my art.”
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Photo Credits: Gregory Harris for INTERVIEW