# Kendrick Lamar

> Kendrick Lamar Duckworth is the most decorated rapper in Grammy history, a Pulitzer Prize winner, and the architect of West Coast hip-hop's cultural dominance. Born in Compton, California on June 17, 1987, he rose from Section 8 housing to headlining the most-watched Super Bowl halftime show in history (133.5M viewers, Feb 2025). His 2024 Drake beef produced 'Not Like Us' — a diss track that won five Grammys including Record and Song of the Year — and his surprise-dropped GNX album cemented his status as rap's reigning voice. Co-founder of pgLang, fiancé of high school sweetheart Whitney Alford, and father of two, Lamar remains one of music's most private and intellectually rigorous artists.

- **Role:** Founder & Creative Director at pgLang
- **Organizations:** pgLang, Top Dawg Entertainment, Interscope Records, Black Hippy
- **From:** Compton, California, USA
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** Primary education, Ronald E. McNair Elementary School, Compton, High school diploma (straight-A student), Centennial High School, Compton
- **Known for:** 27 Grammy wins — most in rap history, Pulitzer Prize for Music (2018) for DAMN — first hip-hop artist ever, Headlined Super Bowl LIX (2025) — 133.5M viewers, most-watched halftime show in history

## Career timeline

- **2003** — Released first mixtape as 'K.Dot': Youngest Head Nigga in Charge at age 16
- **2005** — Signed with Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE); purchased minority stake
- **2007** — Released Training Day mixtape; co-founded Black Hippy with Jay Rock, Ab-Soul, Schoolboy Q
- **2009** — Retired K.Dot stage name; adopted 'Kendrick Lamar'
- **2011** — Debut album Section.80 released; dubbed 'New King of the West Coast' by Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre
- **2012** — Signed with Aftermath/Interscope; released Good Kid, M.A.A.D City — became longest-charting hip-hop album on Billboard 200
- **2013** — Released 'Control' ft. Big Sean calling out Drake and other rappers; won Best New Artist at BET Awards
- **2015** — Released To Pimp a Butterfly — first #1 on Billboard 200; 5 Grammy wins; engaged to Whitney Alford
- **2016** — Barack Obama named 'How Much a Dollar Cost' his favorite song of 2015
- **2017** — Released DAMN — 'Humble' hit #1; 5 MTV VMA wins
- **2018** — Won Pulitzer Prize for Music for DAMN — first non-classical/jazz work in history
- **2020** — Co-founded pgLang with Dave Free
- **2022** — Co-headlined Super Bowl LVI halftime show; released Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
- **2023** — The Big Steppers Tour grossed $110.9M — highest-grossing rap tour at the time
- **2024-03** — 'Like That' with Future & Metro Boomin debuts at #1 — ignites Drake feud
- **2024-05** — Released 'Not Like Us' diss track against Drake; debuted at #1 on Billboard Hot 100
- **2024-11** — Surprise-released GNX album — 5th consecutive #1, 319,000 first-week units
- **2025-02** — Headlined Super Bowl LIX halftime show — 133.5M viewers, most-watched halftime show in history
- **2025-02** — 'Not Like Us' won 5 Grammys at 67th ceremony including Record and Song of the Year
- **2025-02** — First rapper to surpass 100 million monthly Spotify listeners
- **2025-04** — Grand National Tour launched with SZA — became highest-grossing co-headlining tour ever ($358.7M)

## Achievements

- 27 Grammy wins — most in rap history
- Pulitzer Prize for Music (2018) for DAMN — first hip-hop artist ever
- Headlined Super Bowl LIX (2025) — 133.5M viewers, most-watched halftime show in history
- First rapper with 100+ million monthly Spotify listeners (Feb 2025)
- 5 consecutive #1 albums on Billboard 200 (To Pimp a Butterfly through GNX)
- Grand National Tour with SZA grossed $358.7M — highest-grossing co-headlining tour ever
- 2 Primetime Emmy Awards
- 'Not Like Us' Drake diss track won Record of the Year and Song of the Year (2025 Grammys)
- GNX (2024) earned Metacritic score of 87/100 and was ranked #1 album of 2024 by Complex
- Barack Obama named 'How Much a Dollar Cost' his favorite song of 2015
- pgLang won 6 Cannes Lions Awards including Independent Agency of the Year (2023)
- Appeared in animated biographical documentary Piece by Piece (2024)

## Latest updates

- **2025-04** — Grand National Tour launched with SZA on April 19 — first all-stadium tour for both artists; record-breaking $358.7M box office
- **2025-02** — Headlined Super Bowl LIX halftime show with 133.5M viewers — most-watched halftime show in history; Serena Williams crip-walked during 'Not Like Us'
- **2025-02** — 'Not Like Us' won 5 Grammys at 67th ceremony including Record of the Year and Song of the Year; 27 total Grammy wins — most for any rapper
- **2025-02** — First rapper to surpass 100 million monthly Spotify listeners (Feb 17, 2025)
- **2024-11** — Surprise-released GNX album — 5th consecutive #1; debuted with 319,000 units; Metacritic 87/100; ranked #1 album of 2024 by Complex
- **2024-05** — Released 'Not Like Us' Drake diss — debuted at #1 Hot 100; music video filmed at Kia Forum on July 4
- **2026** — Comedy feature film in development with Dave Free, Trey Parker, and Matt Stone for Paramount Pictures

## Links

- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/kendricklamar
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kendricklamar/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/kendrick-lamar
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-04-26