In a rare interview ahead of his Super Bowl halftime show, Kendrick Lamar opened up about the inspiration behind his explosive 2024, which saw him dethrone Drake with a series of diss tracks and drop his hardest-hitting album yet, GNX.
Speaking with Apple Music’s Ebro Darden and Nadeska Alexis on February 6, Kendrick revealed that his intense output last year was fueled by a desire to bring some “grit” back into the rap game. He also reflected on his deep-rooted love for battle rap, noting that he’s been inspired by the culture since his early days.
“My intent, from day one, was to always keep the nature of [Hip Hop] as a sport. I don’t care how muthafuckas look at it as far as a collaborative effort. That’s cool, too, but I love when artists grit their teeth,” Lamar explained.
He went on to express how important it was for him to showcase that raw energy, especially when he felt rap was lacking the same edge it once had. He also cited DJ Quik and Dr. Dre as key influences on the album, which features hard-hitting tracks like “Squabble Up” and “TV Off.”
The pgLang co-founder also described his shift from the introspective Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers to the more aggressive GNX as a “necessary” evolution.
“The transition from Mr. Morale to GNX felt right. That was a deep, introspective album, and this time I wanted to come out of that cocoon and show all sides of who I am,” Kendrick explained.
The rapper also reflected on his major Grammy success, where he won five awards—including Record of the Year and Song of the Year—for his controversial Drake diss track, “Not Like Us.”
He expressed pride in seeing rap recognized as a serious artform, especially as people sometimes overlook its cultural significance. “When people talk about rap, they think it’s just rap, not an actual art form,” Kendrick said. “So to see it getting recognition for its raw talent and artistry is fulfilling.”
Ahead of Super Bowl LIX, Kendrick is set to make history as the first solo rapper to headline the halftime show, following his performance with Dr. Dre in 2022.
