KENDRICK Lamar, the Compton-raised rapper, is making headlines once again as his ongoing beef with Drake continues to heat up. But did you know that Lamar didn’t always go by his current stage name?
The 17-time Grammy Award winner originally went by “K.Dot” as a mixtape rapper when he was still in high school. Under this stage name, Lamar began making waves in South Central LA, engaging in freestyles and rap battles. He released multiple mixtapes as K.Dot from 2003-09, showcasing his talent for freestyle rapping over popular tracks.
After a six-year stint as K.Dot, Lamar decided to change his name to Kendrick Lamar. In an interview with HardKnock TV in 2011, he explained, “The name change was just me basically developing myself. When people heard the name K-Dot, they were like, ‘The kid is dope, he can rap; but who is he?’ So I was like, you know what? I want people to know who I am as a person and what I represent.”
Lamar’s full name is Kendrick Lamar Duckworth, and he is said to be named after Eddie Kendricks from the 1960s R&B group The Temptations. He pays tribute to his surname in the final track of his 2017 album “Damn,” with a song titled “Duckworth.”
In addition to his name change, Kendrick Lamar has had a successful career with hits like “HUMBLE,” “Alright,” and “All The Stars.” His beef with Drake has been a hot topic among fans, with many eagerly awaiting his response to the accusations made by the Canadian rapper.
As the feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake continues to unfold, fans are left wondering what the next chapter in this rap saga will bring.