[Must Listen] Kendrick Lamar Talks New Album, Being A Role Model, Music Comparisons, & More With Hot 97

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” Winning Awards and Accolades Is Not Confirmation of Success for me- says Lamar

By far this is one of the best radio interviews I’ve listened to in awhile. In a rare and candid first time interview with Hot 97 Ebro In The Morning’ Kendrick dished on his upcoming sophomore album ” I “ which is slated to drop in early 2015 and much more. I’ll spare you the overview and keep it simple by saying, Kendrick Lamar is not your average rapper!

Below are a some of my favorite highlights  or should I say ‘jewels’ that I took away from the interview.

On His first single ‘I Love Myself ‘ & Taking A Different Direction In Music:

” We can talk slick all day as rappers, that’s easy to do, and taking the easy way out, but what are you saying though? What are saying you to uh [grab some type of inspiration] , there’s more people out here hurting than those that are eating in this world so I love fun records and I love having fun, and I love records on the radio, but there needs to be a balance, and I think that’s what I’m here for.”

On Musical Comparison To Andre 3000 Classic Hit ‘Hey Ya’ll & His Music Style:

” I done heard it all, from Eminem, to west coast legends, and its form of flattery because…. I’m a student in the game first and nobody can’t take that away from me and I pride myself on that.  so when you different flow patterns, concepts and stories it all comes from this before me. There’s nothing new under the sun…  I can’t take credit for what’s been done and what’s in my heart but I just want to continue that in Hip Hop and not lose that value in it. ”

On Whether The New Album ‘I’  Will Be Different From Good Kid Madd City:

” If anything, it will probably be more RAW than Good Kid because It’s a little more dirtier with the live drums. It’s not nothing contemporary with the MPC and your pressing different patterns, so we’ll see how everything comes out. “

On Working With Pharrell On The New Album:

” We worked on a few records. However, I won’t say which ones will make the album. Everything is really in house. Of course Dre, and I really stick with the same four producers [Thundercat, Rocky, Tay Beatz] these the cats, I’ve been dealing with since I was a teen, so I always keep it like that, and keep my sound organic. “

Kendrick also dished on his Grammy award performance, the role model banner that comes with the industry job and what both parties [artist and music fans can do ] to sustain the importance of Hip Hop in today’s culture.

” Music has to have a balance, Marvin Gaye, Isley brothers, Luther Van Dross….., they talked about real life perspectives where people could relate. We’re in the world where black people don’t support the artist like they should, because we don’t believe in it like we should. 

You know why these country folks like Taylor Swift and do these number , [and I’m not even making it a numbers game but] they [the audience] wholeheartedly believe in her music.  Not just for myself, but the new artists coming into the game make the connection some way, don’t make it about the dollar .

Make the connection and make people say this is hip hop, this is our culture and we’re going stand by it and believe it rather than jumping on the next artist when they [the fans]  feel like your not the hottest artist or your song is on the radio. ”

Take a listen to full interview below:

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