10 Things You Should Know About Kendrick Lamar

Meet the new king of the West.

My Name Is - Compton native Kendrick Lamar originally went by the rap name “K Dot.” The 24 year-old rapper dropped the abbreviated moniker shortly before releasing the Kendrick Lamar EP because he said he wanted his name and his music to reflect an honest depiction of himself, no gimmicks.(Photo: Aftermath Entertainment)

1 / 10

My Name Is - Compton native Kendrick Lamar originally went by the rap name “K Dot.” The 24 year-old rapper dropped the abbreviated moniker shortly before releasing the Kendrick Lamar EP because he said he wanted his name and his music to reflect an honest depiction of himself, no gimmicks.(Photo: Aftermath Entertainment)

Down with the Top Dog - Lamar has been signed to Top Dog Entertainment (TDE) since he was 16 years old. At the label, he was mentored by fellow label mate Jay Rock. (Photo: Aftermath Entertainment)

2 / 10

Down with the Top Dog - Lamar has been signed to Top Dog Entertainment (TDE) since he was 16 years old. At the label, he was mentored by fellow label mate Jay Rock. (Photo: Aftermath Entertainment)

/content/dam/betcom/images/2011/10/Music-10.01-10.15/101111-music-kendrick-lamar.jpg

3 / 10

What's Up Doc? - Kendrick is currently signed to Dr. Dre’s Aftermath, through a partnership with TDE becoming the latest artist from LA signed to the iconic west coast label.  (Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

Photo By Johnny Nunez/WireImage

Artistic Inspiration -  Lamar is a huge fan of the late Dash Snow, a New York City-based artist who died of a drug overdose in the summer of 2009. Snow is featured on the cover of his O(verly) D(edicated) and quoted at the beginning of the album.(Photo: Aftermath Entertainment)

4 / 10

Artistic Inspiration -  Lamar is a huge fan of the late Dash Snow, a New York City-based artist who died of a drug overdose in the summer of 2009. Snow is featured on the cover of his O(verly) D(edicated) and quoted at the beginning of the album.(Photo: Aftermath Entertainment)

/content/dam/betcom/images/2011/10/Music-10.01-10.15/101111-music-kendrick-lamar-7.jpg

5 / 10

Different Path - Lamar credits the fact that he had an active father in his life for keeping him off the streets. The Compton rapper says that he was also turned off by watching the hardships of his older cousins who were involved in gangs. (Photo: Aftermath Entertainment)

Photo By Photo: Afterm

ADVERTISEMENT
Watch The Throne - This past August Kendrick was crowned the "New King of the West Coast" by Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Game and others in an unofficial coronation ceremony onstage at a show at the The Music Box in Hollywood. (Photo: Aftermath Entertainment)

6 / 10

Watch The Throne - This past August Kendrick was crowned the "New King of the West Coast" by Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Game and others in an unofficial coronation ceremony onstage at a show at the The Music Box in Hollywood. (Photo: Aftermath Entertainment)

Kendrick Lamar - Kendrick Lamar is perhaps one of the best things to happen to Compton, California since N.W.A. The 24-year-old rapper's Section 80. album, released via iTunes in July 2011, solidified the momentum he'd built up with previous projects: 2010's O(verly) D(edicated) and 2009's The Kendrick Lamar EP. His debut studio album, Good Kid in a Mad City, is set for release this year.(Photo: Johnny Nunez/WireImage)

7 / 10

Freshmen Status - Lamar was featured on the cover of XXL magazine’s Freshman Issue in March 2011 alongside Big K.R.I.T., Yelawolf, Lil B, fellow Compton rapper YG and more. (Photo: Johnny Nunez / WireImage)

Powerful Duo - Earlier this year, Kendrick Lamar teamed up with J. Cole to record a collaborative mixtape. Although the project has yet to be released, it has been completed and Lamar says he's just waiting for the proper time to release it. "Hii Power," a popular track off Lamar's O(verly) D(edicated) that was produced by Cole was a product of their recording sessions for the mixtape. (Photo: Aftermath Entertainment)

8 / 10

Powerful Duo - Earlier this year, Kendrick Lamar teamed up with J. Cole to record a collaborative mixtape. Although the project has yet to be released, it has been completed and Lamar says he's just waiting for the proper time to release it. "Hii Power," a popular track off Lamar's O(verly) D(edicated) that was produced by Cole was a product of their recording sessions for the mixtape. (Photo: Aftermath Entertainment)

"Collect Calls" - Sonically, this is no doubt the strangest song on the album, filled with reverbed synth beeps and sound effects over a tricky 6/4 meter. But it's nothing to Kendrick Lamar: He rides the unorthodox time signature perfectly, and it doesn't throw him off his melancholy message for a second.  (Photo: Aftermath Entertainment)

9 / 10

Compton Connect - Lamar was featured on Game's The R.E.D. Album released this summer and will likely appear on Dr. Dre's highly anticipated Detox album. Kendrick confirmed his appearance on Detox with the release of the track "Look Out for Detox." (Photo: Aftermath Entertainment)

In the Spotlight - Lamar took a break from working on his debut album to appear in one of the the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards cyphers. (Photo:  Brad Barket/PictureGroup)

10 / 10

In the Spotlight - Lamar took a break from working on his debut album to appear in one of the the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards cyphers. (Photo:  Brad Barket/PictureGroup)

Photo By Photo:  Brad Barket/PictureGroup