As everyone awaits the arrival of his follow-up to good kid, M.A.A.D. city, Kendrick Lamar covers the latest issue of Billboard magazine, and inside, he keeps his lips sealed on the project and won’t even reveal the album’s name.
No stranger to stirring things up in hip-hop, the “King of New York” does, however, open up about other trending topics like a particular Australian femcee and her place in the genre, the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson and other killings by cops, and more.
Check out some excerpts from his cover story after the jump.
Ask Kendrick and he’ll tell you that with everything going on in the world, the end is near:
Lamar, who has said that he wasn’t raised devoutly religious, fingers the small figure of Christ dangling from a chain around his neck. “We’re in the last days, man — I truly in my heart believe that. It’s written. I could go on with Biblical situations and things my grandma told me. But it’s about being at peace with myself and making good with the people around me.”
Speaking of making good, his controversial “Control” verse called out several of his fellow rappers, but one he’s leaving alone? Iggy Azalea.
“She’s doing her thing,” he says. “Let her. People have to go through trials and tribulations to get where they at. Do your thing, continue to rock it, because obviously God wants you here.” Lamar was similarly gracious in 2014, when he got shut out at the Grammys after earning seven nominations. Macklemore beat him out for best new artist and best rap album, then texted Lamar an apology for doing so (which he also posted to Instagram). Lamar called Macklemore “a genuine dude,” adding, “I wish him much success.”
Kendrick, who grew up in Compton, didn’t say much about his own troubled past, but admits to being treated unfairly by police “plenty of times,” relating his experiences to the police brutality making headlines today:
“I wish somebody would look in our neighborhood knowing that it’s already a situation, mentally, where it’s f—ked up. What happened to [Michael Brown] should’ve never happened. Never. But when we don’t have respect for ourselves, how do we expect them to respect us? It starts from within. Don’t start with just a rally, don’t start from looting — it starts from within.”
Check out the rest of his interview over at Billboard.
PHOTO CREDIT & SOURCE: Billboard
