Kendrick Lamar and Whitney Alford’s Relationship History, As Told By His Lyrics

The music video for “Fashion Killa” was co-directed by Virgil Abloh featuring a Supreme jersey-clad Fenty founder, Rihanna long before the two became one of music’s most powerful couples. The track became an anthem for hip-hop’s appreciation for high fashion (and serves as the title for Krishnamurphy’s recently published anthology). After a solid outing on his first album Not All Heroes Wear Capes, Metro returned with another series of hard-hitting records. His second solo venture, Heroes & Villains, featured John Legend, Don Tolliver, Travis Scott, and other premiere artists.

2008: Career beginnings

• That comes with a lot of effort, a lot of studying, and a lot of work.
• As Nas delivered his icy rhymes on classics like “N.Y. State of Mind,” “Memory Lane (Sittin’ in da Park),” and “Halftime,” the orchestra held down the beat with a wave of Hodge’s baton.
• Nipsey Hussle, Prodigy, DMX, and Fred the Godson have verses on the record.
• He managed to land Metro, who worked with fellow producers Frank Dukes and the prolific Louis Bell on the triumphant trap record “Congratulations.”
• This incident sparked a conversation about the fashion industry’s tendency to co-opt urban and streetwear styles without proper recognition, while also displaying flagrant symbols of racism through designs.
• The track marks its second week at the top, after debuting at No. 1 nine weeks earlier.

Philadelphia rapper PnB Rock was fatally shot at a Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffles on Tuesday during a robbery. How to explore the burdens of adulation in a setting designed to glorify? That’s the essential tension of Lamar’s road show, which follows this year’s “Mr.

Life & Culture

But on his upcoming project, King of the Mischievous South Vol. 2, Curry returns to the muddied, subwoofer-thudding soundscape that he captured on the first installment back in 2012. His recent run of critically acclaimed projects have all contrasted in concept and musicality.

good kid, m.A.A.d city and To Pimp a Butterfly

• At the beginning, he insists that she needs him to be happy.
• With the song’s thunderous bass and rapid hi-hats in the background, Kendrick dissed J.
• Kendrick can be an über-talented rapper, but that doesn’t mean he’s qualified to be a spokesperson for every facet of Black life.
• Lamar has long used isolation to fuel his creativity, but he knows well the effect it has on his image.
• He gives his fans an insight into his journey, making it a relatable music experience.

Became the first nonclassical or jazz recording to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize for music. Then Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers arrived with all the subtlety of Thanos wearing a kufi. Across 18 songs, Kendrick trauma-dumps his way through the murk while hoping salvation is there to greet him on the other side.

“Keisha’s Song (Her Pain),” feat. Ashtrobot (

The new 15-song capsule features Juicy J, 2 Chainz, Project Pat, That Mexican OT, Maxo Kream, and others inspired by the same pioneers that fall below the Mason-Dixon line. 2’s lead singles “Hot One” (feat. A$AP Ferg and TiaCorine) and “Black Flag Freestyle” with That Mexican OT fully capture the sharp-edged sound that stretched from Port Arthur, Texas to the Carolinas. The Nipsey Hussle contribution in particular stood out so much that the entire song, “Love Is the Message,” was designed around it. The project’s engineer placed Neighborhood Nip’s verse first, and everyone else listened to that when recording.

“Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe” (

Me and him came off of doing “Goated,” so getting that record done was really simple. He pulled up to the studio and he said, “This is tight,” and then jumped on the record. The rapper wanted to go back to the KOTMS series nearly a decade ago, but other projects and outside ventures derailed his return. “I tried to do this kendrick lamar addiction thing multiple times,” Curry tells GRAMMY.com. “I remember revisiting a [social media post] from 2015 that was like, ‘KOTMS Vol. 2055 is now going to be called Imperial.’ I’ve been trying to do this for the longest.” As it turns out, unbeknownst even to many Ra fans, the rapper has been making beats since the beginning.

Kendrick and Whitney confirmed their engagement in April 2015, following the release of To Pimp a Butterfly, and this track sounds like the result of years of maturing and working on a relationship. “Keep it a hundred, I’d rather you trust me than to love me/Keep it a whole one hund’, don’t got you, I got nothin’,” he croons on the ballad, realizing the sentiment that he expressed back in 2009 remains true eight years later. “Buried Alive Interlude” from Drake’s 2011 album Take Care. This appearance could be considered the moment when Kendrick began the shift from underground darling to star. Money and success can do crazy things to your perspective, and here, Kendrick doubts his relationship.

At arena homecoming, Kendrick Lamar gives the people what they want, on his terms