Kendrick Lamar
I've been called a recluse. There's definitely truth in that. I like to spend time alone.Collection: Alone
Since day one, since the first time I touched the pen, I wanted to be the best at what I do.Collection: Time
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.Collection: God
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.Collection: Success
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.Collection: Music
My word will never be as strong as God's word. All I am is just a vessel, doing His work.Collection: God
It's a great, great experience to finally get the reception that you know you rightfully deserve.Collection: Experience
At first, I was scared to show fear because you can never be sure how people will perceive you. But I dared myself to do that, to stand out. Now I'll talk about being beaten up or robbed or making a stupid decision because of a girl or whatever.Collection: Fear
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.Collection: God
I had to come from something, come from a place that was negative and positive but the majority of it is a negative place.Collection: Positive
I'm only as good as my last word, my last hook, my last bridge.Collection: Good
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.Collection: Music
The worst part of success is, to me, adapting to it. It's scary.Collection: Success
I always thought money was something just to make me happy. But I've learned that I feel better being able to help my folks, 'cause we never had nothing. So just to see them excited about my career is more of a blessing than me actually having it for myself.Collection: Money
God to me is love.Collection: Love
My moms always told me, 'How long you gonna play the victim?' I can say I'm mad and I hate everything, but nothing really changes until I change myself.Collection: Change
Whenever I make music, it reflects where I'm at mentally.Collection: Music
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.Collection: Mom
Sometimes you have the trends that's not that cool. You may have certain artists portraying these trends and don't really have that lifestyle, and then it gives off the wrong thing. And it becomes kinda corny after awhile. It's really about keeping hip-hop original and pushing away the corniness in it.Collection: Cool
As long as my music is real, it's no limit to how many ears I can grab.Collection: Music
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.Collection: Peace
As a kid from Compton, you can get all the success in the world and still question your worth.Collection: Success
The majority of my interactions with police were not good. There were a few good ones who were actually protecting the community. But then you have ones from the Valley. They never met me in their life, but since I'm a kid in basketball shorts and a white T-shirt, they wanna slam me on the hood of the car. Sixteen years old.Collection: Car
If I'm gonna tell a real story, I'm gonna start with my name.
It's easy to forget who you are.
I learned, when I look in the mirror and tell my story, that I should be myself and not peep whatever everybody is doing.
I can't help the way you was born if you was gay.
I don't want to be something that just comes and goes.
I'm Machiavelli's offspring, I'm the king of New York, king of the coast, one hand, I juggle them both.
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.
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.
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.
I like to let things breathe.
I'm constantly thinking.
I think my vice would be outdoing myself.
I knew I was blessed with a gift of having both parents.
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.
People gonna be they own individuals and have they own worlds and I can't knock it.
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'm selfish.
We're all put on this earth to walk in His image, the Master.
In all my days of schooling, from preschool all the way up to 12th grade, there was not one white person in my class. Literally zero.
Eventually you get to this point where you understand what you want to do and get across and sound like.
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.
I always tell people that if I move anywhere it would be Toronto.
I'm sticking to the script, I'm putting that organic feeling back in the game.
When I'm in the studio, I'm looking for creativity I haven't matched yet, a feeling I haven't felt. It's a high.
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 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 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.