I was a black sheep, but now I'm just a goat

Life Will Put Many Red Lights In Front Of You, But Sometimes We Must Push On The Gas And Trust God

We hurt people that love us, love people that hurt us

If I told you that a flower bloomed in a dark room, would you trust it?

So next time you feel like your world is about to end, I hope you studied because He's testing your faith again.

The sky is falling, the wind is calling Stand for something, or die in the morning

Build your own pyramids, write your own hieroglyphs.

Tupac, Biggie, Jay. Your usual suspects. These were the people that was played in my household.

When I ask OGs why there's so much division in the streets, nobody never really knows. But you know one thing that everybody always mention? A woman.

In all my days of schooling, from preschool all the way up to 12th grade, there was not one white person in my class. Literally zero.

My pops and my mom started playing Marvin Gaye and the Isley Brothers and all these people, but at the same time, they always had Snoop on right behind it in the same mix.

My folks ain't graduated from high school or nothing like that, so we always had to struggle in the family - and I come from a big family.

I knew I was blessed with a gift of having both parents.

I'm putting out this free music, constantly putting it out.

I'm just writing, writing, writing. I keep these tablets on me until I'm inspired to go back in and make the music. I never take a break from my pen, because I pride myself on that.

People are used to music that justifies street culture but something that's not touched on is why these kids act the way they act, live the way they live.

I always felt like there was a certain standard of music that I had to do from the beginning, even when I didn't have the recognition that I have now.

I don't really believe in the type of pressure that people are wanting to put on the type of music that I make.

The worst part of success is, to me, adapting to it. It's scary.

Before finding music, I didn't have too many aspirations. I wanted to hang out, make a little money from whatever I had to do.

I had to come from something, come from a place that was negative and positive but the majority of it is a negative place.

I used to consider the listener. But now I'm in a space where, if I'm not inspired, I can't really do the music. I can't feel it.

Black and brown pride have been taught in my household for a long time.

I'm Machiavelli's offspring, I'm the king of New York, king of the coast, one hand, I juggle them both.

My mom's one of 13 siblings, and they all got six kids, and till I was 13 everybody was in Compton.

The best thing is to always keep honest people around, because when you have a bunch of yes men around that know that you're making a mistake but let you go on with it, that's when it ruins your mind state as an artist.

Being acknowledged for your work is always a great accomplishment, whether it's people in my city, kids in the street, all the way up to the Grammys.

I'm selfish.

The way people look at me these days - that's the same way I looked at President Obama before I met him. We tend to forget that people who've attained a certain position are human.

You can have the platinum album. But, you know, when you still feel like you haven't quite found your place in the world, it kind of gives a crazy offset.

People gonna be they own individuals and have they own worlds and I can't knock it.

You don't hear no artists from Compton showing vulnerability.

As long as my music is real, it's no limit to how many ears I can grab.

We're all put on this earth to walk in His image, the Master.

Groups break up because they never got across what they wanted to do personally, and they have creative differences, and egos start to clash.

When I talk to kids, I'm really listening. When I do that, we have a little bit of a bigger connection than me being Kendrick Lamar and you being a student. It's almost like we're friends. Because a friend listens.

I got a greater purpose. God put something in my heart to get across, and that's what I'm going to focus on, using my voice as an instrument and doing what needs to be done.

Whenever I make music, it reflects where I'm at mentally.

I always was that person who was hard on myself and challenged myself no matter what I was doing, whether it was passing third grade or playing basketball.

Eventually you get to this point where you understand what you want to do and get across and sound like.

I think that's why I put my energy into making music. That's how I get my thoughts out, instead of being crazy all the time.

My passion is bringing storylines around and constructing a full body of work rather than just a 16-bar verse.

As a kid from Compton, you can get all the success in the world and still question your worth.

God to me is love.

I don't vote. I don't do no voting.

I can't help the way you was born if you was gay.

Since day one, since the first time I touched the pen, I wanted to be the best at what I do.

Me, as a person, I grow. I'm like a chameleon. You know? That is a gift and a curse for me. But more so a gift, because it never puts me in a box.

I'm sticking to the script, I'm putting that organic feeling back in the game.

When I'm in the studio, I'm looking for creativity I haven't matched yet, a feeling I haven't felt. It's a high.