Kendrick Lamar’s new feature for Harper’s Bazaar is uniquely personal in tone, since it was October 21, 2024, and fellow artist SZA conducted the interview herself. Setting them up in such an intimate setting gave fans a candid view of Kendrick’s thoughts and reflections.
More than anything, this conversation sounded like a heartfelt exchange of feelings between friends rather than an interview. The result is an in-depth, captivating look into Kendrick, from embracing his emotional side to clearing up misconceptions about his persona.
Kendrick talking about embracing his feminine side:
One of the most poignant moments in the interview was when Kendrick Lamar revealed the importance of staying connected to his feminine side. He has always used emotional vulnerability to fuel his personal and artistic evolution. Speaking of his childhood, he mentioned how his father instilled a sense of “tough masculinity” into him, which consequently led him to begin building his emotional walls at an early age.
“Initially, all I knew was masculinity, and I always kept that wall up because of my pops,”
Kendrick revealed.
“But the more I delve deeper into my music and the more expressive I get with myself-that is the feminine energy right there, not the bravado that I grew up seeing all the time. This is who I am, the soft-spoken and I have got to own it. This is where my superpower lies.”
The Meaning of ‘Not Like Us’
Such a song as “Not Like Us” by Kendrick has brought many conversations to the table, and in this interview, he gave a bit more meaning behind it. This song means so much to him because it’s his anthem to himself: stay true to who you are and don’t fold under the pressures of being someone else, even if it means going against the tide.
“‘Not Like Us’ is the energy of who I am, the type of man I represent,”
Kendrick explained.
“This man has morals and values, believes in something, and stands on something. He’s not pandering.”
With so many artists being asked to water down their message to appeal to more people, Kendrick really drives it home that the song is about authenticity.
“If I’m thinking of ‘Not Like Us,’ I’m thinking of me and whoever identifies with that.”
Uncovering the Myths About Anger
For years, some fans and critics have perceived Kendrick as an “angry” artist, a label with which he seemed to dive head-first into. He is insistent that he is passionate and driven but very quickly disarms the notion of anger being his motivator. Instead, Kendrick highlighted the presence of balance: love, by design, and confluence-finding their place as powerful forces in life.
“I don’t believe I’m an angry person. But I do believe in love and war, and I believe they both need to exist,”
he said.
“My awareness of that allows me to react to things but not identify with them as who I am.”
Ambition: Growth and Spirituality
Kendrick still has that fire in his belly for growth in his personal and professional life. In that interview, he talked about his relentless ambition-there was a drive to grow not only as an artist but as a human being. He shared further that this journey is unquestionably linked to his spirituality, which plays an important role in his work.
“Vulnerability is what allows me to press onward,”
Kendrick said.
“When I’m tapping into that side of myself, it opens doors-not just artistically but in life.”
Fan Theories and Unreleased Music
In true Kendrick Lamar fashion, the interview wouldn’t be complete without a little mystery. When SZA asked him about fan theories and unreleased songs, Kendrick couldn’t help but smile.
“Most of the time I’m surprised when I hear them竹interpretations from the fans,”
he said before hinting that much more music remains in the vault though details of future projects remain tightly under wraps.
“There’s always layers to what I create, and sometimes the fans pick up on it-even more than I did,”
teased Kendrick.
“For new music: I can only say… stay tuned.”
Family and Personal Life
While it often seems the music is center-stage, Kendrick also reflected on his personal life. He spoke fondly of his family and the steady presence they have shown him regarding his career. He told me,
“My family has always been my backbone; they center me, reminding me of who I am when the world gets too loud.”
Legacy and Impact
Throughout the conversation, Kendrick reflected on his legacy and how his music still resonates with listeners worldwide. My focus, he said, has always been embracing imperfection and exploring duality, a well-chronicled theme across much of his work.
“I can tell you that I’ve learned to find beauty in being imperfect,”
Kendrick said.
“My legacy was never about perfect; it’s about evolution. And if the music can find a way to inspire other people to do that, then I’m doing my job.”