Top 40 Kendrick Lamar Quotes

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

I’m just writing, writing, writing. I keep these tablets on me until I’m inspired to go back in and make the music. I never take a break from my pen, because I pride myself on that.

I’m putting out this free music, constantly putting it out.

People are used to music that justifies street culture but something that’s not touched on is why these kids act the way they act, live the way they live.

It’s easy to forget who you are.

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

I don’t vote. I don’t do no voting.

I’m selfish.

You don’t hear no artists from Compton showing vulnerability.

I’m only as good as my last word, my last hook, my last bridge.

This is the thing about hip-hop music and where people get it most misconstrued: It’s all hip-hop. You can’t say that just what I do is hip-hop, because hip-hop is all energies. James Brown can get on the track and mumble all day. But guess what? You felt his soul on those records.

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 think that’s why I put my energy into making music. That’s how I get my thoughts out, instead of being crazy all the time.

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.

When I ask OGs why there’s so much division in the streets, nobody never really knows. But you know one thing that everybody always mention? A woman.

I always tell people that if I move anywhere it would be Toronto.

The worst part of success is, to me, adapting to it. It’s scary.

My word will never be as strong as God’s word. All I am is just a vessel, doing His work.

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.

I’m sticking to the script, I’m putting that organic feeling back in the game.

I think my vice would be outdoing myself.

I don’t want to be something that just comes and goes.

I knew I was blessed with a gift of having both parents.

It’s a great, great experience to finally get the reception that you know you rightfully deserve.

If my edge is dull, my sword is dull, and I don’t want to fight another guy whose sword is dull. If you’ve got two steel swords going back and forth hitting each other, what’s gonna happen? Both of them are going to get sharper. Everybody that’s in the industry has lost their edge.

I used to consider the listener. But now I’m in a space where, if I’m not inspired, I can’t really do the music. I can’t feel it.

I learned, when I look in the mirror and tell my story, that I should be myself and not peep whatever everybody is doing.

When I went back to my old high school, all these kids looking at me like I’m the real big homie, the same way I look at Jay Z, Nas, or Dr. Dre. You would’ve thought Michael Jackson walked through that joint off the excitement that they had.

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.

I’ve got an extra-specific story about Dr. Dre. I saw him when I was 9 years old in Compton – him and Tupac. They were shooting the second ‘California Love’ video. My pops had seen him and ran back to the house and got me, put me on his neck, and we stood there watching Dre and Pac in a Bentley.

I can’t help the way you was born if you was gay.

I think that’s why I put my energy into making music. That’s how I get my thoughts out, instead of being crazy all the time.

We’re all put on this earth to walk in His image, the Master.

Me, as a person, I grow. I’m like a chameleon. You know? That is a gift and a curse for me. But more so a gift, because it never puts me in a box.

Groups break up because they never got across what they wanted to do personally, and they have creative differences, and egos start to clash.

Eventually you get to this point where you understand what you want to do and get across and sound like.

When everybody looks at our generation of kids, they always call us the misfits – you know, like we just don’t give a damn.

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’m Machiavelli’s offspring, I’m the king of New York, king of the coast, one hand, I juggle them both.

The best thing is to always keep honest people around, because when you have a bunch of yes men around that know that you’re making a mistake but let you go on with it, that’s when it ruins your mind state as an artist.