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Breaking Down Kendrick Lamar's "Humble" Frame-By-Frame
Breaking Down Kendrick Lamar's "Humble" Frame-By-Frame
Source: YouTube

Kendrick Lamar Talks 'DAMN.', Fame and Staying Humble in New Interview

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY. Source: Youtube

The Compton rapper opens up in a candid Rolling Stone cover story

In a year defined by his most accessible album to date, Kendrick Lamar, like all rappers straddling the pop line, has finally breached the GOAT status many of his fans had already prescribed. Which isn't to say he's on auto-pilot; just that Lamar's now keenly aware of how he's impacted music and the world at large.

A new interview with Rolling Stone for the magazine's upcoming cover story finds the Compton rapper in a comfortable, though explicitly not contentmode. He seems to revel in his ability to connect with diehards and newfound fans through DAMN., but sheds light on the inward focus of his third consecutive classic, as opposed to the lyrical lashing of the current presidential administration many fans were expecting.

I mean, it's like beating a dead horse. We already know what it is. Are we gonna keep talking about it or are we gonna take action? You just get to a point where you're tired of talking about it. It weighs you down and it drains your energy when you're speaking about something or someone that's completely ridiculous. So, on and off the album, I took it upon myself to take action in my own community. On the record, I made an action to not speak about what's going on in the world or the places they put us in. Speak on self; reflection of self first. That's where the initial change will start from.

He goes on to praise luminaries (and mentors) Jay-Z and Dr. Dre, who transcended their craft, but never fled from it, staying sharp on the boards and in the books. Head over to Rolling Stone for the full script and hit the link below to grab a copy of DAMN. on iTunes.

ITUNES