There is probably nothing more inspiring than a musician who accomplishes greatness despite a toxic environment from which they came from. Similar to Charles Bradley who I previously wrote about–a soul artist wishing to flee the impoverished projects of Brooklyn–Kendrick Lamar, born Kendrick Lamar Duckworth in 1987, lived in Compton, Los Angeles and found himself to be torn apart by the gang warfare that is sadly still raging on today.

Growing up, Lamar was a straight A student at Centennial High School. He witnessed his hip-hop idols Tupac Shakur and Dr. Dre produce the music video for their hit single “California Love”, which would play out to be a defining moment in Lamar’s life as a musician, and as an individual.

Debuting in 2010, with the album titled Overly Dedicated, Lamar began to receive great critical acclaim and success; especially with his track titled “Ignorance Is Bliss” in which he details and glorifies the street crime and “gangsta rap” that Compton is known for, though he concludes each verse with the phrase “ignorance is bliss”, proclaiming that the real solution to the conflicts in Compton is turning your back on those who seem to only find salvation in gang warfare.

“You can’t really categorize my music, it’s human music,” Lamar said in regards to his music genre.

While Overly Dedicated was a good first few steps for him as a musician, his magnum opus as a hip-hop star was in 2012 with the release of good kid, m.A.A.d city. Without question, good kid m.A.A.d city serves as one of the most important hip-hop/rap albums in recent years. Some of his memorable tracks include “Backstreet Freestyle” with high frequency cymbal bells and primal drums that make the song itself bombastic, building up to the moment when Lamar breaks out into fast rapping vocals with such grace and control. Though, my personal favorite remains to be “Money Trees”, a track that has such a groovy chorus that I have it on repeat when I listen to it.

It go Halle Berry or hallelujah / Pick your poison and tell me what you doin’ / Everybody gon’  respect the shooter / But the one in front of the gun lives forever

However, some old-fashioned fans of Lamar’s music have shared a distaste for his new song i (a single track from his upcoming third studio album). He samples the classic Isley Brother’s “Who’s That Lady”. Though with this new single, I believe Lamar is trying to establish himself to be more than a rap artist from Compton, but a universal entertainer. With that being said, he includes this particular sample to draw attention from a wide variety of listeners (especially those who aren’t familiar with hip-hop music)

Lamar now carries the torch that so many archetypal hip-hop figures like Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls have carried; and at this rate, he shall carry that flaming torch for many years to come.