Kendrick Lamar (born Kendrick Lamar Duckworth June 17, 1987) is a rapper from Compton, California. He is also a member of the hip-hop supergroup Black Hippy collective along with members Jay Rock, Ab-Soul and Schoolboy Q. His music is largely influenced by the works of 2Pac, Jay-Z, Nas and DMX.

Debuting in 2003 with the Youngest Head Nigga In Charge mixtape, Kendrick (then known as K Dot) signed with TDE. He released the Kendrick Lamar EP in 2009, the critically acclaimed O(verly) D(edicated) mix tape in 2010, a 2011 digital album Section.80, released under Top Dawg Entertainment, good kid, m.A.A.d city on October 22, 2012, and most recently his newest album To Pimp A Butterfly on March 16, 2015 to wide acclaim.