TDE rapper Kendrick Lamar has offered a handful of details about his upcoming studio album, and during an interview with Hot 97’s Ebro Darden and Peter Rosenberg, the Compton, California lyricist addressed the production featured on his latest project.
According to K-Dot, his new album could be “even more raw” than good kid, m.A.A.d city, sound-wise. He also revealed that he plans on keeping his producers for the album primarily in-house, but has worked with Dr. Dre.
“If anything, aside from good kid, it’ll probably feel even more raw,” Kendrick Lamar said. “Because it’s a little more dirty with the live, dirty drums on it. It’s not something that’s contemporary with the MPC and you pressing different patterns and things like that, but we’ll see how it come out…Everything’s really in-house. Of course Dre, but I really stick with four producers that I’ve been working with since day one. I don’t really go outside the box of that soundwave.”
Kendrick has also worked with Pharrell Williams on the album and recalled a studio session he took part in with the producer.
“It was a session with me and P,” he said. “And at the end of the session I like to really sit back and absorb all the energy. I usually don’t play records. I keep everything in-house. But the majority of my folks in there. P was in there. So, I decide to play one or two…It’s really been a process about me grabbing from these different types of inspirations that I been growing up off of and putting it into my own batch of Hip Hop.”
The West Coast wordsmith also addressed his latest single, “i.” He says that the record was created for “the homies that’s in the penitentiary” and those who feel they’ve “got nothing to live for.”
“I think from jump the classifications of music is totally twisted because now we have a generation where you take an Isley Brothers sample, which is soul, and now we’re in a world where people would consider it pop,” Kendrick said. “And I knew that would come of course. But as me as a leader in music I want to revamp that whole thing. And put it back to its original origins and do that. You feel what I’m saying? And not be scared to step out and say ‘Okay, this is not that. This is black. This is soul. And y’all kids gotta know this.’ My initial idea on writing this record really was for two people. I hit Top Dawg, I said ‘I wrote a record for the homies that’s in the penitentiary right now. And I also wrote a record for these kids that come up to my shows with these slashes on their wrists saying they don’t wanna live no more.’ It’s serious. And people on the inside they don’t feel like they don’t got nothing to live for. People on the outside [too].”
During his interview on Hot 97, Kendrick also discussed Macklemore, his upcoming appearance on “Saturday Night Live,” and more. His interview can be found below (via Miss Info).
RELATED: Kendrick Lamar’s Upcoming Album Is “Incredible,” Says “i” Producer Rahki
This nigga so real. Look I just didnt like the record. I aint call it pop. It just don’t sound like the shit I’m into. He just admitted he released a record that wasn’t gonna get that type of love. What’s the purpose? If we don’t like it we just don’t. Ain’t no way around that. You can’t teach us to love music just because its got history behind it.
hes so humble, man I really respect that guy
yeah I have seen a lot of people saying it grew on them but tbh it was never a pop song… many people have already said that there is 0 element of pop on it.
it’s a piece of electronically sequenced neo-funk with rapping on top of it and the whole thing is Soul Music influenced. But then again, you have to know all these musical genres in order to make the difference.
And this isn’t a sample, its a replay and it features real vocals from Ron
so u can suck my dick
respect.
he’ll deliver, I know it
King kendrick
this guy is here to stay
dude is acting like he brought back soul sampling to hip hop, homie it’s been here…
If you listen to him rather than hear what you want, he’s actually humble about the whole ordeal. He made mention to soul, because at the moment so many zombies who can’t tell the difference between the two cast stones at anyone making similar music. It seems, he just wants to clarify the genre.
reread the article dumb fuccin idiot, and fucc new york and max b
this guy dropped an amazing album, would be dope to see him doing the same thing again
we need more artists like him
Amazing album. When I listen to it, it was more than music, it was a story of a person just like me with dreams, fear, dangers, trouble, happiness, adolescence and maturity. He stayed true to his roots he kept it original but different. God bless Kendrick Lamar and hip hop
Good god, I havent heard an album like this in a GOOD minute. I will actually purchase this rather than download it. If hip hop artist pumped out more stuff like this, labels could move units like it was ’98.
One of the best Album I ever heard!! Point Blank!!
This album will go down as one of the best albums of all time for any genre just like Illmatic, Reasonable Doubt, Ready to Die and the other rap albums that are considered the best of all time. When those albums came out we didn’t understand how great they because were very young at the time. Now we have a chance to witness a classic and a legend in the making. The storytelling is amazing. It’s like a movie. You can’t just listen to a couple of songs or skip through. You have to listen straight through from beginning to end.
His last album was ahead of its time. Perfection from start to finish.
The best hip-hop debut since Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor.
I have faith in him
2 classics under his belt already
Kendrick Lamar: Single handedly bringing the REAL Hip-Hop back!
He’s referring his new song as pop so no, he ain’t bringing hiphop back. He’s making it worse.
He didn’t reference his song as pop at all. And he is bringing hip-hop back and is making it better unlike some “artists.”
Anonymous #2, dumbass, he said “i” was more soul than pop, that’s where you fuck-tards fuck shit up with real artists, so take your popping your neck to drake back to his page you bish!
Gotta love kenny
Shits gonna be dope
#LIF AFER GK,MC…so much pressure to follow-up “THE ALBUM OF THE DECADE”…..K DOT is going to come with somehing “great”….I’m glad he is not tying to make the same kind of album theme lie GK,MC had…I love that KL always does the unpredictable route.and stays in his lane….KENDRICK will always get credit for bringing REAL HIP HOP back!……
#LIFE AFTER GK,MC..*typo…LOL
He still won’t sell 2 mill.
Okay, so he sells less, but rocks his shows where he makes his real money. Your point?
Maad City with MC Eiht is his best song
Release date for new album?
Neveruary 31st
I was never a Kendrick Lamar fan, I listened to all his music but I didn’t relate to him, maybe it’s because I was ignorant, but after seeing this interview, I’m inspired by the guy, and honestly I’m going back and listen to all his music a gain coz I feel like I’m being left out coz this guy is a real dude, and I respect him a lot. He is definitely different than most artists. I really respect him. Can’t wait for his new album.
Yo, Shout out to you bruh. On some real shit, it takes some maturity to be able to self-reflect and admit you may have been too “ignorant” to appreciate Kendrick’s music. I realized he was special as soon as I heard Section.80. Then I had to go back and listen to Overly Dedicated and the Kendrick Lamar EP. He’s as real a person as we have ever seen in hip-hop. And that “hiiipower” shit TDE talks about ain’t just a slogan. Maybe not with Schoolboy Q, but with Kendrick, I really believe his mission is to inspire our culture with great hip-hop, and some positivity. He’s the chosen one!
STFU Nigga I was trolling and being sarcastic
“He still won’t sell 2 mill.”…..since when does album sales matter to listeners?We don’t make money off album sales do we?high record sales doesn’t make a album dope.Every idiot knows that. Some of the dopest “classic” albums in hip hop didn’t sell that much. And some of the worst rappers in the history of rap sold millions. Listeners should only care if a album sounds dope. Only the people that get paid off album sales should care about album sales.They get rich off it. WE DON’T. And if your a real hip hop head you’d know that rappers rarely make that much money off album sales. They make most of there money from doing shows etc
Let me re-phrase that. He still won’t sell 2 mill and that debut album wasn’t dope. Think about it. Interscope has homed some of the best rappers in their prime. Kendrick doesn’t fit in, and no matter how much he tries to fine tune his follow up, he’ll end up going pop like all the rest.
It wasn’t dope to you, but other people disagree. Kendrick does fit in with the best rappers from Interscope and he won’t go pop like you want him to do.
If you listen to that “I” joint by itself it might sound a bit pop. But if u hear it with other tracks it sounds alright.I’ve got it on a Kendrick mixtape (Kendrick Lamar – The Rok Tapes V3) and it sounds alright inbetween other tracks.Kendricks one of the dope freshmen that brings the dope 90’s flava. Cos he was raised on 90’s hip hop when he was pre teen.I remember reading something and he said he remembers hearing snoops doggystyle when he was about 8 or something.The dopest rappers are the ones that grew up on the 90’s shiznit. They actually know What’s dope. (Dave East “black rose” mixtape) Dope!!!!!
come on fuckboys suck Kendrick dick.
lick it bitch
you just can’t live with him because of his success. i bet you wouldn’t be disrespectful if he stayed underground. do you even listen to him or just troll around?
Section 80>>>>>>GKMC. Don’t care what anybody says. GKMC had more weak songs.
Poetic Justice is tired
Swimming pool is overrated
Backyard Freestyle overrated
Good Night
good night and never wake up… please -.-
It’s difficult for me to disagree with this, but I do believe both albums were amazing in their own symbolic way. Section 80 was very macro-centered and related to pretty much all millennials. GKMC was a very personal album for Kendrick, and that’s why I think you get the boring energy rubbing off on particular songs (I, too, personally skip Poetic Justice and especially Real). From a completely artistic standpoint I’d say it’s close.
kendrick will never get on drakes level. He acts like he is some big name like drake is.
Wrong again, bitch groupie. How does it feel knowing you wasted your time posting the same lies?
Drake is an exceptional MC and will be the new B.I.G. of this generation. Not so much as a thug but as a lyricist.
PSYCH!!
Kendrick reminds me of Outkast on GKMC at times especially “The Art of Peer Pressure” which is arguably the best track on GKMC (along with that Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst) along w/ “Good Kid” & “m.A.A.d City”.
But he’s not close to Outkast’s level in my opinion especially Andre 3000. Ebro & Rosenberg saying he reminds them of Andre3000 in “I” which is straight up WACK is hilarious. Rosenberg is truly a nut hugger. I know he didn’t feel this track deep down but then still said “I loved it” BUT when is that hard stuff coming out?
Kendrick is a talented young MC, but it’s comical for me to see casual and/or young hip hop fans overrating so god damn match!
MCs way doper than Kendrick TECHNICAL SKILL WISE:
Eminem, Nas, Black Thought, Pharoahe Monch, Ka, BigL, BigPun, Rakim, Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane, Chino XL, BIG, Pac, Diabolic, Tonedeff, Apathy, Brother Ali, RA the Rugged Man, Slug, Juice, Percee-P, Locksmith, Crooked I, Louis Logic, Royce da 5’9″, Reks, One Be Lo, Roc Marciano, Sadistik, Logic (better flow & voice in my opinion and on his mixtapes at least i’ve seen better technical lyricism although both not GREAT technically), AZ, at least half of Wu-Tang (Ghost, Rae, Method Man, GZA, INS), O.C, Masta Ace, KRS, Budden, Ortiz, Slick Rick, Redman, PRIME Ice Cube, Jadakiss, Tech9….I could go on for awhile with MCs that have better pen games and/or voices.
Kendrick reminds me of Outkast on GKMC at times especially “The Art of Peer Pressure” which is arguably the best track on GKMC (along with that Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst) along w/ “Good Kid” & “m.A.A.d City”.
But he’s not close to Outkast’s level in my opinion especially Andre 3000. Ebro & Rosenberg saying he reminds them of Andre3000 in “I” which is straight up WACK is hilarious. Rosenberg is truly a nut hugger. I know he didn’t feel this track deep down but then still said “I loved it” BUT when is that hard stuff coming out?
Kendrick is a talented young MC, but it’s comical for me to see casual and/or young hip hop fans overrating so god damn match!
MCs way doper than Kendrick TECHNICAL SKILL WISE:
Eminem, Nas, Black Thought, Pharoahe Monch, Ka, BigL, BigPun, Rakim, Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane, Chino XL, BIG, Pac, Diabolic, Tonedeff, Apathy, Brother Ali, RA the Rugged Man, Slug, Juice, Percee-P, Locksmith, Crooked I, King Los, Papoose, Lupe at his best, Louis Logic, Royce da 5’9″, Reks, One Be Lo, Roc Marciano, Sadistik, Logic (better flow & voice in my opinion and on his mixtapes at least i’ve seen better technical lyricism although both not GREAT technically), AZ, at least half of Wu-Tang (Ghost, Rae, Method Man, GZA, INS), O.C, Masta Ace, KRS, Budden, Ortiz, Slick Rick, Redman, PRIME Ice Cube, Jadakiss, Tech9….I could go on for awhile with MCs that have better pen games and/or voices.
I hear and agree with some of what your saying but not all those people you listed make as good of albums as Kendrick does. You have to find a balance somewhere in between. He can sound like Andre 3000 sometimes due to vocal synths in the studio but just like some of the other MC’s albums you listed don’t measure up to his, he doesn’t measure up the best of Outkast has put out imo
Kendrick is better than 90% of the people on your list.you can hate all you want Kendrick is the best of the new school. And he is a better song writer than andre 3000.
It might sound strange but just think about it. Do you really think andre 3000 can create an album as dope gkmc, by himself.
Will Kendrick’s third album be as good as Aquemini? I doubt it, is gkmc as good as Atliens or Aquemini? I don’t think so
This dude is overrated YG is a better rapper for simple fact is……HE GOT HITS ALREADY… Nobody considering swimming pools and poetic justice as classics
This is a troll post, right? YG sucks and will never be a better rapper than Kendrick. YG got hits? So does Kendrick. Having hits doesn’t make you a better rapper.
Swimming pools went platinum…Sit down!
I agree with @SPORTSCOMEDYRAP. There maybe a few vets with a meaner pen game. But its not about that.Nobody isn’t saying he”s the best rapper ever.He just gets props for being one of the most (maybe the best) talented new school freshmen rappers out.u have to compare him with rappers like bobby shmurda,french Montana,2 chains.lil thug,chief keef etc.those are the rappers u compare him with. And he’s definitely the best out of them. He’s a all rounded versatile MC.plus he came up on 90,s hip hop anyway. So he knows what dope hip hops meant to sound like. I read somewhere that snoops doggystyle was the first hip hop album he heard when he was about 8 or something.He must of heard it in his older brothers car I think he said. A lot of the dopest rappers are influenced by 90’s hip hop.there’s a lot of dope underground rappers as well that u can hear that they grew up on 90’s shit.Elzhi.Dave east.Yp.Roc marciano,skyzoo etc. There’s dope hip hop out there if u search for it. Since u mentioned kool g rap u need to look up the “Kool G Rap – Dynasty Era – Mixed By DJ Focuz & Stretch Money” mixtape. Dope!!!
“It wasn’t dope to you, but other people disagree. Kendrick does fit in with the best rappers from Interscope and he won’t go pop like you want him to do”
How does Kenwack fit in with 50 Cent. Game. Eminem. I could go on but why? His success wasn’t as big as countless others so of course he has to go pop if he wants to do 1.5 million this time out.
Kendrick’s mentor is Dr. Dre, that’s how he fits with Eminem, Game, and 50. And you have to remeber that those three released their debuts during times when albums sales are at their peak, so of course they’re gonna be bigger than Kendrick’s. But his album still sold more than most new rappers’ debuts, with only a few going platinum and a lot of them having a hard time reaching gold. K-Dot never went pop and he never will with his new record.