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The Year of King Kendrick - Kendrick Lamar is having the best year ever. Now he arguably swept the BET Hip-Hop Awards with a bundle of wins: Best Live Performer, Lyricist Of The Year, and Best Featured Verse On Beyoncé's "Freedom." When Kendrick released his third album, To Pimp a Butterfly, it was difficult to predict just how far it would take the Compton rapper. Here’s why we’re only halfway through 2016 and calling it the Year of K-Dot. – BET Staff(Photo: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images) 

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Demos Glory - His collection of unreleased demos, untitled unmastered., debuted at No. 1 spot on the Billboard charts, proving that we don’t need a full-length album to show K-Dot some love.(Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images for BACARDI) 

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White House Swag - Kendrick spent the past 4th of July holiday celebrating with the Obamas. It’ll be the First Family’s last 4th of July in the White House and there’s no better buddy than Kendrick for the occasion.(Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images) 

Photo By Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

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All the Gs - Kendrick has only attended three GRAMMY Awards ceremonies now and has already locked up thirteen nominations and seven wins. Five of those wins happened this past February at the 2016 GRAMMY awards, where he was also one of the most nominated artists.(Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images for MTV) 

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Main Stage - Winning awards is one thing – the stage is a whole other arena. Kendrick did it on ‘em with one hell of a performance at the 2016 GRAMMY Awards. Shackled and with a prison backdrop, K-Dot spit his way through “Alright,” highlighting the U.S.’s racially unequal prison system. This man is a gem.(Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

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Supergroup Status - Among the whirlwind of critical acclaim and national spotlight, there’s still a tinge of anticipation as fans still await he and J. Cole’s rumored joint project. Sure, we don’t have a project in our hands, but anticipating is part of the fun.(Photo: Kevin Winter/BET/Getty Images for BET)

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Happy Anniversary - While the world at large got familiar with Kendrick thanks to his 2012 album, good kid, m.A.A.d city, his first full-length album, Section.80, is celebrating it’s fifth anniversary. As a former graduate of XXL’s Freshmen Class, we get to mark five years of watching this amazing artist evolve.(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Coachella) 

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Happy Anniversary, Part II - As if his career highlights weren’t enough, in April of 2016, the rapper celebrated the anniversary of his engagement to his fiancée Whitney Alford. Congrats!(Photo: Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images) 

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A Lemonade Ingredient - Beyoncé’s sixth album was a surprise for the world. What wasn’t surprising was Kendrick being the only rap feature on Lemonade and on what is considered to be one of the most majestic tracks on the concept album, “Freedom.”(Photo: Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images for Turner) 

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Opening With a Bang - Because, once again, the stage is where Kendrick belongs, he and Bey opened this year’s BET Awards with a performance of “Freedom” that made the internet explode.(Photo: Kevin Winter/BET/Getty Images for BET) 

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The Essence of Hip-Hop - Kendrick’s appearance at the 2016 Essence Festival in New Orleans is a marker for hip-hop. The music festival that holds a predominant R&B roster included Kendrick in “the party with a purpose” with a set that turned the arena into a place to turn up. Alright, K-Dot.(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Coachella) 

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The K-Dot Sneak - The rapper also teamed up with Reebok for the Kendrick Lamar Classic Leather series available in toddler to adult sizes.(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Clear Channel) 

Photo By Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Clear Channel

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Rumors, Rumors - You know you’re having the best year ever when Erykah Badu has to clarify to the world that you and her are, in fact, not a pair.(Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images for BET)