Kung Fu Kenny’s 5 Step Guide to Success: How Kendrick Lamar Became The G.O.A.T.

Studying Kendrick Lamar’s remarkable transformation from caterpillar to butterfly.

It's hard to dispute the idea that Kendrick Lamar is the best rapper of our time.

Even if you tried, the list of contemporaries that rival him is short, and in my opinion, the competition pales in comparison. With DAMN., To Pimp A Butterfly, Good Kid M.A.A.D City, and Section 80 under his belt, he has proven his ability to produce profound concept albums that have mainstream appeal time and time again. Kendrick even brags about his crossover success on the “Mask Off Remix,” proudly exclaiming:

“Platinum, platinum, platinum
Gotta look at self and ask what happened
How y’all let a conscious ni**a go commercial
While only makin’ conscious albums?”

Like most of the rappers in Kendrick’s bracket, he was far from an overnight success. His first studio album, Section 80, was at least his seventh project — and he only started to develop his own voice on his 5th tape, the Kendrick Lamar EP.