Lamar tells me he began singing about his city, his struggles, and his survival at the age of 13. Now years later, he has nearly 300 songs, and must narrow it down to 12 for an album release. When asked which are his favorites, song titles like "The Hard Part 2," "Cut You Off," "Average Joe," and "Faith" roll off his tongue. According to Lamar, all the songs have a message. Whether it's about the ills of negativity, or the senseless loss of his uncle to prison, Lamar sings with a raw, honest, and sometimes angered voice. Many of his lyrics come from what he's seen and experienced growing up in Compton. ...
I got a chance to spend the day with the young man who is, by the way, very charming. He and I walked the streets of Compton, visiting the Social Services building where he and his family collected welfare back in the day. We drove by his family's first apartment, a building where he says he saw drug deals go down on a daily basis. We even stopped by his high school, a place he admits he "actually misses." I also wanted to see Lamar in the studio. When we arrived, we found a small dark disheveled room in the back of a small house. It has been his place to record for years, and while it is not perfect by any means, sort of like the city of Compton, Kendrick Lamar hopes to help change that with his music. - Lu Parker
