After his first independent album “Section.80″ produced hits like “A.D.H.D” and “HiiiPoWeR” and shot straight to the top on Billboard’s Heatseekers Albums chart, 25-year-old American rapper Kendrick Lamar was crowned the “New King of the West Coast” by hip-hop heavyweights Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Game.
With his new title in hand, Lamar was signed to Interscope Records via Aftermath Entertainment and Top Dawg Entertainment and taken under the wing of none other than Dr. Dre himself.
As he prepares for his upcoming major label debut titled “good kid, m.A.A.d city,” the Compton, California-native took the time to speak with Yahoo! Canada Music about the risks he’s taking on his new record, how his new track “Swimming Pools” came to be and his thoughts on working with Lady Gaga.
“I’m taking the same risks that I’ve been taking since ‘Section.80,’ which is not being classified as one particular sound from West Coast music,” Lamar said. “That’s what I think people enjoy most about my music is that it has so much range.”
He also said, “When you think about West Coast music you think about gangster rap, but I’m coming from a different perspective. I still have the aggressor in my music and that lifestyle but at the same time you still hear the victim, too.”
Lamar’s new single, “Swimming Pools,” demonstrates the dynamics of his sound and, as he describes it, has something for everyone.
“I started that record with the music,” Lamar said. “Immediately, as soon as I heard the melody I caught the concept and what I wanted to talk about. It felt like pushing the delusion of space like [when] you’re high and [you've] lost your mind. What I wanted to do was make a record that everybody could sing along to but at the same time has a backbone of melodic content and concept.”
Although “Swimming Pools” is confirmed to be on his new release, learn to expect the unexpected when it comes to Lamar as he aims to keep the rest of his album somewhat of a mystery until its debut.
“My sound has evolved to another level from ‘Section80,’” he said. “[However,] I don’t want [fans] to expect anything [and] that’s why I haven’t put out so much press on who is on it and what it’s about. I want to take it back to that golden era age where you didn’t know and all you’d see is one video on BET by Jay-Z and you pop the CD in and you realize that it doesn’t sound anything like the last album, but you love it.”
What is certain about the upcoming album is that it will include a track featuring Mother Monster herself, Lady Gaga, as she recently tweeted, “I am so excited to announce that a record I’ve been working on has now become a collaboration with @KendrickLamar for HIS ALBUM.”
“Gaga is a good friend,” Lamar said. “I love her music [and] we have great chemistry when we’re around each other so that [will] translate into the music.”
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