History Trivia / KendrickLamar

* OldShame: Alluded in the song "Auntie Diaries", Kendrick seems to regret to the infamous incident where he shamed a white girl he brought on stage for saying the N-Word while following the performance. It's especially apparently with the last line of the song pointing out the hypocrisy of his rap community saying the F-Word but pointing out the non-usage of the N-Word strictly to blacks.

* PromotedFanboy: This is true of most rappers, but Kendrick (especially in ''good kid, m.A.A.d city'') makes this a point in interviews and in his music. He has worked with many artists who were his musical heroes growing up, including E-40 (who he references in "Money Trees"), [[Music/{{NWA}} Dr. Dre]], Music/SnoopDogg, Music/TheGameRapper and, to crown ''good kid, m.A.A.d city'', he got Music/JayZ to feature on the remix of "Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe".

* RealLifeRelative: Kendrick's real-liffe father Kenny makes an appearance in the music video for "Backseat Freestyle", where he asks Kendrick to get his "dominos" and sings love for his wife while high on weed.

* SequelGap: The gap between his fourth album ''DAMN.'' and his fifth album ''Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers'' was over five years. In that time, he was able to go on tour, perform at Coachella, curate an album for Film/BlackPanther, and perform at the Super Bowl halftime. After many rumors, he announced the release date of his album in April 2022 after a surprise appearance at Coachella.

* DoingItForTheArt: The intention of ''To Pimp A Butterfly''.

* PromotedFanboy: This is true of most rappers, but Kendrick (especially in ''good kid, m.A.A.d city'') makes this a point in interviews and in his music. He has worked with many artists who were his musical heroes growing up, including E-40 (who he references in "Money Trees"), [[Music/{{NWA}} Dr. Dre]], Music/SnoopDogg, Music/TheGame and, to crown ''good kid, m.A.A.d city'', he got Music/JayZ to feature on the remix of "Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe".

* DevelopmentHell: His fifth album, ''Mr. Maralle And The Big Steppers'', which most people had been anticipating after ''DAMN.'' finally being released in 2022, five years later. The same can be said with the "short film" for ''GKMC'', which has yet to see a release or a leak of any kind.

* DevelopmentHell: His fifth album, which most people have been anticipating after ''DAMN.'' being being released in 2022. The same can be said with the "short film" for ''GKMC''.

** The line about LeBron on "Savior" was initially supposed to be about Music/KanyeWest, if the lyrics initially uploaded to Apple Music are any indication.

* DevelopmentHell: His fifth album, which most people have been anticipating after ''DAMN.''. The same can be said with the "short film" for ''GKMC''.

** Lamar originally intended to include "Cartoon & Cereal" on his major-label debut studio album, ''Music/GoodKidMAADCity'', but it was [[ContentLeak leaked online]] beforehand, and therefore it was released for digital download.

** Lamar originally intended to include "Cartoon & Cereal" on his major-label debut studio album, ''Music/GoodKidMAADcity'', but it was [[ContentLeak leaked online]] beforehand, and therefore it was released for digital download.

** Lamar originally intended to include "Cartoon & Cereal" on his major-label debut studio album, Music/GoodKidMAADcity, but it was [[ContentLeak leaked online]] beforehand, and therefore it was released for digital download.

* Music/TechN9ne's Strange Music label had the opportunity to sign him along with [=ScHoolboy=] Q, but sent them both to Interscope in exchange for cash compensation.
* Lamar originally intended to include "Cartoon & Cereal" on his major-label debut studio album, Music/GoodKidMAADcity, but it was [[ContentLeak leaked online]] beforehand, and therefore it was released for digital download.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Music/TechN9ne's Strange Music label had the opportunity to sign him along with [=ScHoolboy=] Q, but sent them both to Interscope in exchange for cash compensation.

* BigNameFan:
** "How Much a Dollar Cost" was #1 on UsefulNotes/BarackObama’s 2015 favorite songs list. He and Music/JanelleMonae were the guests of honor at the Obamas’ annual 4th of July party in 2016 which just happened to be Malia’s 18th birthday.
** None other than Music/DavidBowie was fond of Lamar's work, listening to ''To Pimp A Butterfly'' constantly when it came out and using is as a driving influence for his final album, ''Music/BlackstarAlbum''.

* WorkingTitle: ''To Pimp A Butterfly'''s title was supposed to be ''To Pimp A Caterpillar'', with the adjustment of "To" to the number 2, making it "2 Pimp A Caterpillar". And if you take in FunWithAcronyms, it spells out "[=2PAC=]", or Music/TupacShakur.
** ''DAMN.'' was originally titled ''What Happens on Earth Stays on Earth'', a recurring phrase throughout the album, but was changed because it "didn't read right", according to Kendrick.

* BigNameFan: “How Much a Dollar Cost” was #1 on UsefulNotes/BarackObama’s 2015 favorite songs list. He and Music/JanelleMonae were the guests of honor at the Obamas’ annual 4th of July party in 2016 which just happened to be Malia’s 18th birthday.

* WorkingTitle: ''To Pimp A Butterfly'''s title was supposed to be ''To Pimp A Caterpillar'', with the adjustment of "To" to the number 2, making it "2 Pimp A Caterpillar". And if you take in FunWithAcronyms, it spells out "[=2PAC=]", or Music/TupacShakur.