Kendrick Lamar has had a remarkable run. Since GNX landed in November 2024 he has headlined the Super Bowl LIX halftime show, broken touring records with SZA on the Grand National Tour and won ten Grammys across the 2025 and 2026 ceremonies, taking his total to 27 - the most of any rapper in history.
From Compton mixtapes to a Pulitzer Prize, here is the story behind one of his generation's defining voices. For more from the genre, explore our rap and hip-hop collection.
Kendrick Lamar Fact File
| Full name | Kendrick Lamar Duckworth |
|---|---|
| Born | 17 June 1987 (age 39) |
| Place of birth | Compton, California, USA |
| Occupation | Rapper, songwriter, record producer |
| Nationality | American |
| Years active | 2003-present |
| Genres | West Coast hip-hop, conscious hip-hop, jazz rap |
| Labels | Top Dawg Entertainment, Aftermath, Interscope, pgLang |
| Early stage name | K.Dot |
| Signature | The first Pulitzer Prize for Music awarded outside classical and jazz |
Career History
| Year | Album | Label/Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Section.80 | Top Dawg - debut studio album |
| 2012 | good kid, m.A.A.d city | Top Dawg/Aftermath/Interscope - US No. 2 |
| 2015 | To Pimp a Butterfly | Top Dawg/Aftermath/Interscope - US and UK No. 1 |
| 2017 | DAMN. | Top Dawg/Aftermath/Interscope - US No. 1, Pulitzer Prize |
| 2022 | Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers | pgLang/Top Dawg/Aftermath/Interscope - US No. 1 |
| 2024 | GNX | pgLang/Interscope - US and UK No. 1 |
These are Kendrick's six studio albums. Chart positions refer to the US Billboard 200 and the UK Albums Chart; mixtapes and soundtracks are not included.
Early Years in Compton
Kendrick Lamar Duckworth was born in Compton, California, on 17 June 1987. He released mixtapes as a teenager under the name K.Dot and signed with independent label Top Dawg Entertainment in 2005, joining the Black Hippy crew. His first studio album, Section.80, arrived in July 2011
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good kid, m.A.A.d city and the Breakthrough
A joint deal with Aftermath and Interscope followed, and good kid, m.A.A.d city was released in October 2012. A vivid portrait of growing up in Compton, it reached No. 2 in the US and made him a household name. To Pimp a Butterfly followed in 2015, a jazz and funk-soaked No. 1 on both sides of the Atlantic.
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DAMN. and the Pulitzer Prize
DAMN. arrived in April 2017 and went to No. 1 in the US. A year later it won the Pulitzer Prize for Music, the first time the award had gone to a work outside classical music and jazz. Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers followed in 2022, his final album with Top Dawg, and in 2020 he co-founded the creative company pgLang with Dave Free.
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GNX, the Super Bowl and the Grand National Tour
GNX was released as a surprise on 22 November 2024 and went to No. 1 in the US and the UK. Its single "luther" with SZA spent 13 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, while "Not Like Us" had already topped the chart in 2024. On 9 February 2025 he headlined the Super Bowl LIX halftime show in New Orleans with guests including SZA, drawing a then-record 133.5 million US viewers. The Grand National Tour with SZA opened in Minneapolis in April 2025, became the highest-grossing co-headlining tour ever, grossing more than $358 million across 39 dates according to Pollstar, including two nights at London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Awards
Grammys (27 wins)
- Best Rap Album: To Pimp a Butterfly, DAMN., Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers and GNX
- Record of the Year and Song of the Year, "Not Like Us" (2025)
- Record of the Year and Best Melodic Rap Performance, "luther" with SZA (2026)
Other Honours
- Pulitzer Prize for Music, DAMN. (2018)
- Emmy for Outstanding Music Direction, Super Bowl LIX halftime show (2025)
Away From the Spotlight
Kendrick has a long-term partner, Whitney Alford, and the couple have two children. His cousin is the rapper Baby Keem, a regular collaborator.
FAQs
How old is Kendrick Lamar?
Kendrick Lamar is 39. He was born on 17 June 1987.
What is Kendrick Lamar's real name?
His full name is Kendrick Lamar Duckworth. Early in his career he recorded as K.Dot.
Where was Kendrick Lamar born?
He was born in Compton, California.
How many albums has Kendrick Lamar released?
Six studio albums: Section.80, good kid, m.A.A.d city, To Pimp a Butterfly, DAMN., Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers and GNX.
How many Grammys has Kendrick Lamar won?
He has won 27 Grammys, including five at the 2026 ceremony, more than any other rapper.
Did Kendrick Lamar win a Pulitzer Prize?
Yes. DAMN. won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Music, making him the first musician outside classical and jazz to receive it.
Shop the Kendrick Lamar Collection
Our Kendrick Lamar range is a set of fan-made tribute designs, each printed to order in the UK.
Find more in our rap and hip-hop collection and wider music collection, or design your own with our custom name hoodie.
Part of our Icon Profiles series. Read next: Eminem Career Story: Slim Shady's Albums, Records and Legacy and Tupac Shakur: 2Pac's Albums, Films and Enduring Legacy.
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