Kendrick Lamar is an American rapper who has a net worth of $140 million. Kendrick Lamar is one of the most popular and highest-paid rappers on the planet. To date, he has earned more than $250 million in his career. In 2018 alone, he earned $60 million, which made him one of the highest-paid entertainers for the year. As of this writing, he has won 17 Grammys out of 47 nominations. He also won a Pulitzer Prize for his album “Damn.”
Lamar’s career began to gain momentum with the release of his first mixtape, “Youngest Head Nigga in Charge (Hub City Threat: Minor of the Year),” in 2003, which garnered local attention and led to a deal with Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE).
His subsequent projects, “Training Day” (2005) and “C4” (2009), showcased his evolving style and lyrical prowess. However, it was his 2010 mixtape, “Overly Dedicated,” that marked his emergence on the national stage, receiving critical acclaim and introducing his introspective narrative style. Lamar’s first studio album, “Section.80” (2011), further solidified his standing in the hip-hop community, with themes focusing on social issues affecting the African-American community.
Lamar’s major-label debut, “Good Kid, M.A.A.D City” (2012), was a monumental success, earning rave reviews for its conceptual depth, storytelling, and production quality. The album, which includes hits like “Swimming Pools (Drank)” and “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe,” was a commercial success and cemented Lamar as a major force in the industry.
Kendrick’s third studio album, “To Pimp a Butterfly” (2015), was yet another critical and commercial triumph. The album’s blend of jazz, funk, and soul, along with its exploration of racial dynamics, personal struggle, and social commentary, won him numerous accolades, including several Grammy Awards. Lamar continued this success with “Damn” (2017), which won the Pulitzer Prize for Music, making him the first non-classical and non-jazz artist to receive the award.
Beyond his studio albums, Lamar’s influence extends to his powerful live performances, collaborations with other artists, and soundtrack curation for the film “Black Panther,” which included the hit song “All the Stars.”
Early Life
Kendrick Lamar was born Kendrick Lamar Duckworth on June 17, 1987, in Compton, California. Kendrick began rapping while he was still in elementary school, inspired by his idols Tupac Shakur and Dr. Dre. Lamar’s parents had moved from the south side of Chicago to Compton three years before he was born, as his father had been heavily involved in gang activity, and his mother had issued an ultimatum for them to escape together. Kendrick was given his first name by his mother in honor of Eddie Kendricks of The Temptations. Despite his surroundings and the family’s struggles to make ends meet, he’s described good memories from childhood and was a straight-A student who churned out award-winning essays and impressive test scores at Centennial High School in Compton.
Career
Lamar released his first mixtape (“Youngest Head Nigga in Charge”) at age 16 while still in high school, and he immediately attracted the attention of local record labels. He signed with Top Dawg Entertainment in the early 2000s and subsequently released another mixtape. He earned more recognition in 2008 and 2009, including appearing in a music video for Jay Rock’s “All My Life (in the Ghetto)” and co-signing with Lil Wayne. Once signed with Lil Wayne, he began calling himself Kendrick Lamar rather than his stage name, K. Dot. He then released another mixtape and re-released an earlier tape with his real name. In 2010 and 2011, Kendrick toured extensively and released a popular mixtape and an independent album. His first major studio album, “Good Kid, M.A.A.D City,” was released on October 22, 2012, under Interscope Records and Aftermath Entertainment. That album went on to sell over 1.1 million copies in the United States alone. The album reached #1 on the US R&B/Hip-Hop chart as well as #2 on the “Billboard” 200 chart.
Lamar performed the album’s first singles, “Swimming Pools (Drank)” and “Poetic Justice,” on his debut appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” He also appeared alongside Adam Levine and The Lonely Island in a digital short that was the inspiration for the single “YOLO.” Outside of studio albums, Kendrick has appeared on dozens of singles featuring many popular artists like Big Sean, Robin Thicke, Drake, 2 Chainz, Birdman, and J. Cole.
In September 2013, Kanye West announced that Kendrick would be supporting him on his first solo headlining tour in five years in support of the album “Yeezus.” The next month, Lamar was featured on Eminem’s eighth studio album, “The Marshall Mathers LP 2.” One month after that, in November, he was named Rapper of the Year by “GQ” magazine. Lamar was nominated for seven Grammys in 2014, including Best New Artist and Album of the Year, but did not pick up any awards. Lamar was featured on the remix of Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood” in May 2015, and the single reached #1 on the “Billboard” charts and the music video scored them a Grammy for Best Music Video, as well as an MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year.
His album “To Pimp a Butterfly” was released in 2015 and reached #1 on the “Billboard” 200 chart in the U.S. as well as in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK. The album was critically hailed and praised for its diverse sounds and creativity and was described by many critics as “groundbreaking” for his ability to bend the “rules” of hip-hop. Kendrick picked up five Grammys at the 58th ceremony for “To Pimp a Butterfly,” including Best Rap Album.
Lamar’s next album, “Damn,” was released in 2017 and reached #1 on the “Billboard” 200 chart and in Canada. His most successful single, “Humble,” reached #1 on the “Billboard” Hot 100, US R&B/Hip-Hop, and US Rap charts. Lamar’s other successful singles include the songs “Swimming Pools (Drank)” and “DNA.” By May 2017, “Damn” was certified platinum. At the 60th annual Grammy Awards, Kendrick won Best Rap Album, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, Best Music Video, and Best Rap/Sung Performance. Between June 2017 and June 2018, Lamar earned nearly $60 million from his various endeavors.
Following the success of “Damn,” Lamar produced and curated the soundtrack to Marvel’s “Black Panther.” The album was praised universally by critics and audiences. He earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Song for the song “All the Stars.” In 2022, Lamar released his fifth studio album, “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers.” The “Big Steppers Tour” became the highest-grossing rap tour of all time in 2023 earning more than $110.9 million across 73 shows with nearly a million tickets sold.
Lamar made his acting debut on the Starz drama series “Power” in July 2018. He played a Dominican drug addict named Laces. 50 Cent, a close friend and collaborator, served as the executive producer for the series and requested the casting of Lamar. His work was critically acclaimed by reviewers and audiences.
Kendrick Lamar Career Earnings By Year
- 2013 – $9 million
- 2014 – $9 million
- 2015 – $12 million
- 2016 – $19 million
- 2017 – $30 million
- 2018 – $60 million
- 2019 – $39 million
- 2020 – $5 million
- 2021 – $10 million
- 2022 – $10 million
- 2023 – $20 million
Total: $223 million
Accolades
During his career, Kendrick has won 17 Grammy Awards, has appeared on the “Time” 100 List of the Most Influential People, and has received two civic honors. His album “Damn” won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Music, and he made history by being the first non-jazz or classical artist to ever win the award. Hailed worldwide for his thought-provoking lyrics and rhymes, Lamar has appeared on many publications’ lists of best rappers of all time. He has sold over 70 million records in the United States alone, and three of his studio albums were included in “Rolling Stone’s” 2020 ranking of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
Personal Life
Lamar got engaged to Whitney Alford in 2015. The couple has two children together: daughter Uzi and son Enoch.
Kendrick is a former cannabis user and is a converted, devout Christian. During the 2012 presidential election, Lamar stated that he did not plan to vote. However, in the days leading up to the election, he reversed this claim and said he was planning to vote for Barack Obama.
Real Estate
- In 2013, Kendrick paid $523,400 for a relatively modest home in Eastvale, California.
- In 2017, he paid $2.65 million for a home in a gated Calabasas community.
- In October 2019, Kendrick paid $9.7 million for a home in Manhattan Beach, California.
- In December 2022, Lamar paid $16 million for a home in LA’s Bel Air neighborhood.
- In November 2023, Kendrick paid $8.6 million for a four-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn, NY
- In May 2024, Kendrick paid $40 million for a mansion in LA’s Brentwood neighborhood.
