Musician

I can't help the way you was born if you was gay.

I always was that person who was hard on myself and challenged myself no matter what I was doing, whether it was passing third grade or playing basketball.

Whenever I make music, it reflects where I'm at mentally.

It's easy to forget who you are.

I'm sticking to the script, I'm putting that organic feeling back in the game.

People gonna be they own individuals and have they own worlds and I can't knock it.

My mom's one of 13 siblings, and they all got six kids, and till I was 13 everybody was in Compton.

I think my worst problem is actually living in the moment and understanding everything that's going on. I feel like I'm in my own bubble.

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.

Black and brown pride have been taught in my household for a long time.

When I went back to my old high school, all these kids looking at me like I'm the real big homie, the same way I look at Jay Z, Nas, or Dr. Dre. You would've thought Michael Jackson walked through that joint off the excitement that they had.

I'm selfish.

I'm Machiavelli's offspring, I'm the king of New York, king of the coast, one hand, I juggle them both.

My parents were fairly young in the city of Compton. So the things that they played - you know, that was the hip crowd. So I was being exposed to all these ideas, from Big Daddy Kane to Eazy-E to the Bay Area - Too Short, E-40 - you know, back to Marvin Gaye and the Isley Brothers.

My moms always told me, 'How long you gonna play the victim?' I can say I'm mad and I hate everything, but nothing really changes until I change myself.

I think that's why I put my energy into making music. That's how I get my thoughts out, instead of being crazy all the time.

If I'm gonna tell a real story, I'm gonna start with my name.

My whole thing is to inspire, to better people, to better myself forever in this thing that we call rap, this thing that we call hip hop.

When I talk to kids, I'm really listening. When I do that, we have a little bit of a bigger connection than me being Kendrick Lamar and you being a student. It's almost like we're friends. Because a friend listens.

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.