Kendrick Lamar

June 17, 2025

Fast Facts
Background
Career Timeline
Why We Love
Surprising Facts
FAQs

Kendrick Lamar Duckworth was born on June 17, 1987. Lamar is an American rapper, singer, record producer, and songwriter. His debut in 2012, “Good Kid, M.A.A.D City,” earned him mainstream popularity. Lamar’s one of the most influential rappers of his generation. Lamar is also part of a hip-hop supergroup ― Black Hippy. Lamar’s wins include 19 B.E.T. HipHop Awards, 13 Grammy Awards, 11 M.T.V. Video Music Awards, seven B.E.T. Awards, six Billboard Music Awards, two American Music Awards, a Brit Award, and a Pulitzer Prize. Join in celebrating his birthday!

Fast Facts

Full Name:

Kendrick Lamar Duckworth

Nickname:

K-Dot

Birth date:

June 17, 1987

Age:

Zodiac Sign:

Gemini

Height:

5' 6"

Relationship Status:

Engaged

Net Worth:

$75 million

Background

Kendrick Lamar Duckworth was born in Compton, California. to a couple from Chicago. His mother named him after American singer-songwriter Eddie Kendricks of The Temptations. Lamar grew up around gangs but did not belong to any. He attended McNair Elementary and Vanguard Learning Center. Lamar was quiet and shy. He graduated from Centennial High School in Compton and was a straight-A student. In 2004, Lamar released his first full-length project ― a mixtape titled “Youngest Head Nigga in Charge.” at 16 under the pseudonym ‘K.Dot.’ This garnered local recognition, leading to a recording contract with Top Dawg Entertainment (T.D.E.), an indie record label in Carson, California. Two years later, Lamar released a 26-track mixtape ― “Training Day.” Lamar started gaining recognition after his first retail release, “Overly Dedicated,” in 2010.

In 2012, Lamar released a major-label debut album titled “Good Kid, M.A.A.D City.” The Recording Industry Association of America (R.I.A.A.) certified it ‘triple platinum.’ His third album, “To Pimp a Butterfly,” got released in 2015. It incorporated elements of funk, jazz, soul, and spoken word. It was his first number-one album on the Billboard 200. This was followed by “Untitled Unmastered” in 2016. His fourth album, “Damn,” was released in 2017. Its lead single, ‘Humble,’ topped the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. The album became the first non-classical, non-jazz album to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music. In 2018, Lamar wrote and produced 14 songs for the superhero film “Black Panther.”
Lamar got engaged to his high school girlfriend, beautician Whitney Alford, in April 2015. Lamar keeps his personal life private. Throughout his career, Lamar has received several accolades. M.T.V. named Lamar the Hottest M.C. in the Game on their 2012 list. “Time” listed Lamar as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2016. Lamar received the California State Senate’s Generational Icon Award in 2015. In 2020, “Rolling Stone” listed three of Lamar’s studio albums in the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Career timeline

2004

His First Work

At 16, Lamar releases a mixtape, “Youngest Head Nigga in Charge,” under the pseudonym ‘K.Dot.’

2012

His Debut Album

Lamar releases “Good Kid, M.A.A.D City.”

2015

His First Grammy Award

Lamar’s song wins a Grammy for ‘Best Rap Song’ and ‘Best Rap Performance’ for ‘i.’

2018

“Black Panther” Soundtrack Release

Lamar and T.D.E. (Top Dawg Entertainment) release the official soundtrack for “Black Panther.”

2020

He’s on “Rolling Stone’s” List

“Rolling Stone” lists three of Lamar’s studio albums on the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

Why We Love Kendrick Lamar

He’s driven by values
The three i’s in ‘Kendrick HiiiPoWeR’ are symbolic. They represent heart, honor, and respect. The rapper holds them dearly.
He advocates against drug abuse
Lamar does not drink or use drugs. He tells youths they do not need drugs to be happy. He also feels that hip-hop artists rapping about drugs only hurt young people.
He’s a man of faith
Lamar converted to Christianity after a friend’s death. He’s been outspoken about his faith in his music and interviews. He credits God for his fame and deliverance from crimes that plagued Compton in the 1990s. He believes that his career is divinely inspired and he has a greater purpose to serve mankind.

Why We Love

He owns a multi-disciplinary company
In 2020, Lamar and his business partner, Dave Free, co-founded PGLang ― it encompasses a production house, a record label, and publishing.
He wrote “DAMN” in his mother’s kitchen
Lamar revealed that the album was written at the place he gets inspired to write ― his mother’s kitchen.
Kung Fu Kenny’s inspired by a movie
Kung Fu Kenny is based on Don Cheadle’s character ‘Kenny’ from the movie “Rush Hour 2.”
‘Duckworth’ is about identity struggle
‘Duckworth’ is a reference to the rapper’s real last name.
He loves sugary cereal
In a Youtube video by “Complex,” Lamar gushed about the cereals he eats ― his favorite is the Flintstones-themed Fruity Pebbles.

Kendrick Lamar FAQs

Is Kendrick Lamar a billionaire?

Lamar’s net worth is estimated to be $75 million.

Is Kendrick Lamar signed to Dr. Dre?

Aftermath Entertainment, an American record label founded by rapper and producer Dr. Dre, signed Lamar in 2012. They have released four acts under the label.