The Evolution of Kendrick Lamar

Happy birthday, Kendrick Lamar.

Sing About Him - Kendrick Lamar turns 29 today (June 17) and to celebrate the good kid, we're taking a look at some of his highlights, for a career that's reaching epic levels. Read on. — BET Staff(Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for BET)
Good Kid - Kendrick Lamar — yup, that's his real name — was born June 17, 1987, in Compton, California. (Photo: Interscope Records)
The Real - Kendrick Lamar found early rap inspiration when he saw Tupac and Dr. Dre shooting the video for their classic "California Love" in Compton as a child.  (Photos from left: John Ricard / BET, Death Row Records)I Do This - Kendrick Lamar turned his childhood inspiration into furious rhymes. After he released a mixtape, Youngest Head N---a In Charge, at the age of 16, he caught the eye and ear of upstart indie label Top Dawg Entertainment, who signed him to a deal. In 2005 he released his first TDE project, Training Day, under the stage name K-Dot.  (Photo: Interscope Records)

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Sing About Him - Kendrick Lamar turns 29 today (June 17) and to celebrate the good kid, we're taking a look at some of his highlights, for a career that's reaching epic levels. Read on. — BET Staff(Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for BET)

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