Kendrick Lamar's compelling lyricism, virtuosic microphone command, and sharp conceptual vision have translated to a rare combination of continuous chart feats and critical acclaim, plus respect and support from the artists who paved the way for the rapper's advancement. The Compton MC started as a teen in the early 2000s and hit his creative and commercial stride the next decade. The proper albums Lamar released by the end of the 2010s, namely the breakthrough good kid, m.A.A.d city (2012), Grammy-winning To Pimp a Butterfly (2015), and Grammy- and Pulitzer Prize-winning DAMN. (2017), displayed an unmatched mix of inventive wordplay and riveting narratives with assertion of artistic dominance, examination of internal conflict, and upliftment of community all centered. Remarkably, those qualities were exemplified in their Top 40 singles, including "Swimming Pools (Drank)," "i," and the number one hit "HUMBLE." among a total of seven the albums produced. Lamar's screenplay-level detail of writing on those recordings was enriched by a shifting collective of producers, instrumentalists, singers, and rappers, many of whom --from inspirations Dr. Dre and MC Eiht to peers such as Sounwave, Terrace Martin, and Thundercat -- likewise represent Los Angeles. The rapper's cinematic and collaborative inclinations inevitably attracted the mainstream…

One of the most revered and prolific rap producers of his generation, the Alchemist crafts sample-heavy, tough, yet detailed beats suffused with soul. His extensive discography, dating back to the early 1990s, includes tracks by the likes of Dilated Peoples, Mobb Deep, Nas, Ghostface Killah, Lil Wayne, and Kendrick Lamar, and he's so valued as a collaborator that he has been behind joint albums co-billed with the likes of Prodigy (Return of the Mac, 2007), Oh No (including Gutter Water, the duo's first album as Gangrene, 2010), Curren$y (Covert Coup, 2011 and again in 2022 with critical favorite Continuance), Freddie Gibbs (Alfredo, 2020), and Roc Marciano (The Elephant Man's Bones, 2022). One of his highest-charting albums, the Larry June collaboration The Great Escape, appeared in 2023, as well as albums with MIKE and Earl Sweatshirt. Blacks & Whites with Big Hit and Hit-Boy was issued in 2024. In addition to his supporting work as a beatmaker, he has delivered numerous concurrent projects as a headliner and occasional rapper, such as the albums 1st Infantry, Chemical Warfare, and Russian Roulette, and a ceiling-scraping stack of EPs, mixtapes, and instrumental sets. He's also Eminem's long-tenured official DJ.