I’ve often wondered what goes on in the mind of a lyrical genius. What inspires the kind of intellectual mastermind that can churn out double entendres and witty word-play with a smooth and effortless flow? Lucky for us, Kendrick Lamar is giving us a glimpse inside that creative process as he reveals some of the influences behind his upcoming album, which he is describing as "urgent."
In an interview with the New York Times Style Magazine, the Grammy Award Winning artist discussed how the current social and political landscape has impacted his work. “To Pimp a Butterfly was addressing the problem. I’m in a space now where I’m not addressing the problem anymore. We’re in a time where we exclude one major component out of this whole thing called life: God. Nobody speaks on it because it’s almost in conflict with what’s going on in the world when you talk about politics and government and the system.”
Lamar, who has never shied away from social and spiritual themed lyrics, has always prized authenticity over mainstream popularity. “Truthfully, I figured that only people from my community would understand this,” he said. It just so happens that in Lamar’s case, the two have managed to effectively co-exist. “I’m talking about growing up in a gang-infested community in L.A. So the album comes out and then I go on tour and I’m rockin’, I’m on stage and I see that the energy is the same as it was when I was at home in Compton. And I couldn’t understand it, because I’m like, how can you connect to this? How can you connect to a feeling like you’re locked in a box because of the gang culture? And one particular fan broke it down to me: ‘I connect through your music not because I know about the gang culture; it’s the sense of wanting to be set free.’”
When it comes to the sound he’s birthing for his latest album, Lamar gives a revealing analogy to describe his creative approach. “This is what goes on in my mind as a writer. One day, I may have a little girl. And it’s a girl in particular — funny you said that. She’s gonna grow up. She’s gonna be a child I adore, I’m gonna always love her, but she’s gonna reach that one point where she’s gonna start experiencing things. And she’s gonna say things or do things that you may not condone, but it’s the reality of it and you know she was always gonna get to that place. And it’s disturbing. But you have to accept it. You have to accept it and you have to have your own solutions to figure out how to handle the action and take action for it,” he says. “When I say ‘the little girl,’ it’s the analogy of accepting the moment when she grows up. We love women, we enjoy their company. At one point in time, I may have a little girl who grows up and tells me about her engagements with a male figure — things that most men don’t want to hear. Learning to accept it, and not run away from it, that’s how I want this album to feel.”
We look forward to seeing how Kendrick Lamar’s next project will influence the world.
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