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00:00Kendrick Lamar is one of the most influential artists in modern hip-hop.
00:05Born Kendrick Lamar Duckworth in Compton, California, he was raised in a city known
00:09for its deep ties to West Coast rap. Inspired by artists like Tupac Shakur and Dr. Dre,
00:16Kendrick started writing music as a teenager and released his first mixtape under the name
00:20K.Dot at just 16, his major breakthrough came in 2012 with the album Good Kid, Mad City.
00:26The project told personal stories about his upbringing in Compton and showcased his lyrical
00:32talent and storytelling ability. It was critically acclaimed and earned him a wide fanbase.
00:37In 2015, Kendrick released To Pimp a Butterfly, an album that blended jazz,
00:44funk, and hip-hop. It tackled complex issues like race, identity, and social justice,
00:50and is widely considered one of the most important hip-hop albums ever made.
00:54Then in 2017, he released Damn, which combined commercial success with deep lyrical content.
01:02That album earned him the Pulitzer Prize for music, making him the first rapper in history
01:07to receive the award. Kendrick has also collaborated with many major artists and produced the soundtrack
01:12for Marvel's Black Panther. His work is known for its honesty, complexity, and focus on both personal
01:19and societal issues. Kendrick Lamar isn't just a rapper, he's a cultural icon, a storyteller,
01:25and a voice for a generation.