Quotes By Kendrik Lamar

My mom's one of 13 siblings, and they all got six kids, and till I was 13 everybody was in Compton.

If I'm gonna tell a real story, I'm gonna start with my name.

My whole thing is to inspire, to better people, to better myself forever in this thing that we call rap, this thing that we call hip hop.

From the moment I started writing raps, I was always aware of the pressure. I always wanted to live up to how huge Snoop got, how huge Dre got, how huge Pac got. I was always aware.

My pops and my mom started playing Marvin Gaye and the Isley Brothers and all these people, but at the same time, they always had Snoop on right behind it in the same mix.

My folks ain't graduated from high school or nothing like that, so we always had to struggle in the family - and I come from a big family.

I got a greater purpose. God put something in my heart to get across, and that's what I'm going to focus on, using my voice as an instrument and doing what needs to be done.

Since day one, since the first time I touched the pen, I wanted to be the best at what I do.

I think my worst problem is actually living in the moment and understanding everything that's going on. I feel like I'm in my own bubble.

As a kid from Compton, you can get all the success in the world and still question your worth.

My passion is bringing storylines around and constructing a full body of work rather than just a 16-bar verse.

The way people look at me these days - that's the same way I looked at President Obama before I met him. We tend to forget that people who've attained a certain position are human.

We're in the last days, man - I truly, in my heart, believe that. It's written. I could go on with biblical situations and things my grandma told me. But it's about being at peace with myself and making good with the people around me.

People have to go through trials and tribulations to get where they at. Do your thing - continue to rock it - because obviously, God wants you here.

The hardest thing for - not only an artist but for anybody to do is look themselves in the mirror and acknowledge, you know, their own flaws and fears and imperfections and put them out there in the open for people to relate to it.

I look at where I'm at today and realize that most of my success is owed to the mentors that was in my life.

I always was that person who was hard on myself and challenged myself no matter what I was doing, whether it was passing third grade or playing basketball.

When I talk to kids, I'm really listening. When I do that, we have a little bit of a bigger connection than me being Kendrick Lamar and you being a student. It's almost like we're friends. Because a friend listens.

Being acknowledged for your work is always a great accomplishment, whether it's people in my city, kids in the street, all the way up to the Grammys.

Black and brown pride have been taught in my household for a long time.