Kendrick Lamar & Rick Rubin Have an Epic Conversation | GQ

Starting with a Simple Drum Loop

In this section, the artist talks about his creative process and how he usually starts with a simple drum loop.

Creative Process

• The artist's creative process involves starting with a simple drum loop that he likes.

• He thinks about ideas and what he wants to say before getting into the studio.

• He doesn't work on more than one idea at a time.

• The artist makes notes of his inspiration because it comes from different sources like talking to people or going outside.

Challenging Himself

In this section, the artist talks about challenging himself and being his worst critic.

Being His Worst Critic

• The artist is critical of himself because he wants to be really good.

• He challenges himself by stepping outside of his comfort zone and mastering new things.

• He used to consider the listener but now focuses on self-expression.

• For him to feel an idea and concept, it has to come from him.

Self Expression in Music

In this section, the artist talks about self-expression in music.

Self Expression in Music

• The artist expresses himself through music without compromising or apologizing for it.

• Sometimes controversial lines come up but they are always vocalized because they came from some type of integration.

• He never retracts statements made on record because it's self-expression.

• The challenge for him is being able to talk about anything and make it connect with the listener.

Conclusion

In this section, the artist concludes by talking about what music means to him.

Music as Self Expression

• The artist believes that music is about self-expression and making a connection with the listener.

Journey to Music

In this section, Kendrick Lamar talks about his journey to music and the inspirations that led him to where he is today.

Early Influences

• Kendrick credits his upbringing for inspiring him musically, lyrically, and philosophically.

• His father was a realist while his mother was a dreamer. This combination helped shape Kendrick's perspective on life.

• Kendrick's love for music started with artists like Tupac, Biggie, and Jay-Z who had different perspectives on life that he could relate to.

Exposure to Music

• Kendrick was exposed to music through his parents who were fairly young and played hip music from Big Daddy Kane to Marvin Gaye in the house.

• He connected with the emotions and feelings expressed in the lyrics of these artists as he saw his older cousins going through similar experiences.

Jazz Influence

• Kendrick discovered his love for jazz when Terrace Martin noticed that many of the chords he picked were jazz-influenced.

• Terrace pointed out that Kendrick's cadence when rapping over certain drums was similar to how a person would play a saxophone or horn.

• This realization led Kendrick down a path of exploring jazz greats like Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis.

The Evolution of Kendrick Lamar's Music

In this section, Kendrick Lamar discusses how his music has evolved over time and what listeners can expect in the future.

Challenging Himself

• With each album, Kendrick challenges himself creatively in the studio. He wants to challenge his listeners as well.

• He built everything from scratch on his second album, "To Pimp a Butterfly," which was unexpected and different from his first album.

Future of Kendrick Lamar's Music

• Kendrick believes that it is impossible to predict the future of his music. He wants to continue evolving and changing with each project he creates.

The Importance of Connection

In this section, the speakers discuss the importance of connection in music and how it can inspire others to open themselves up to new experiences.

Connection to Music

• The speaker prides himself on his ability to make a connection with his music wherever he goes.

• Other people connect with the speaker's music because they feel his connection to it, which inspires them to open themselves up to new experiences.

• Consumers know when a connection is real and can feel it, even if they don't necessarily agree with the message being conveyed.

Storytelling in Music

In this section, the speakers discuss storytelling in music and how artists can use their imagination and vocal tone to convey emotions and ideas.

Emotional Expression

• The speaker was inspired by Eminem and Jay-Z's ability to tell stories through their music, which made him believe in anything they were saying.

• Even if someone doesn't agree with what an artist is saying, if they believe it themselves, others will resonate with it on some level.

• Vocal tone is important for conveying different emotions and expressions. The speaker believes that different tones give off different expressions that translate through the music.

Musical Influences

In this section, the speakers discuss musical influences and how they shape an artist's approach to their craft.

Prince as an Influence

• The speaker was heavily influenced by Prince's ability to inhabit different characters with his voice.

• The speaker's father was a big Prince fan, and the speaker studied his music alongside other genres like R&B, soul, and pop.

• The speaker's approach to music is shaped by all of these influences.

Studio vs. Live Performance

In this section, the speakers discuss the differences between studio recording and live performance.

Approaching Live Performance

• The speaker approaches live performance in the same way he approaches studio recording.

• He thinks about his mannerisms and movements on stage, as well as how to rearrange songs to give fans a new experience.

• The speaker is heavily involved in all aspects of music-making beyond just vocals and lyrics.

Writing to a Track and Minimalism

In this section, the speaker discusses writing to a track and being a minimalist in certain areas. They also talk about pushing themselves and musicians to not settle for less.

Writing to a Track

• The speaker talks about snatching out two more DVS and letting that part of the section breathe.

• They discuss changing the track after writing to it or building on the track and pieces they built on.

• The speaker mentions that sometimes they play together with musicians, while other times they do parts individually.

Being a Minimalist

• The speaker emphasizes knowing how to be a minimalist in certain areas and pulling something back, which opens up new possibilities.

• They mention pushing themselves and musicians to not settle for less.

Defining Musicianship

In this section, the speaker defines what they consider as musicianship. They also talk about how they know when a song is good.

Defining Musicianship

• The speaker explains that someone who can chop and break down a crazy sample is considered as much of a musician as someone who can play an instrument.

• They mention that having people around who can pull out an MPC from crates and break down some crazy drums along with a bass player is important.

Knowing When A Song Is Good

• The speaker says that knowing when a song is good is just about feeling it. It's not rocket science; you just feel it.

Surprising Reactions To Music

In this section, the speaker talks about surprising reactions to their music and how they felt about it.

Surprising Reactions

• The speaker mentions that the song "Mad City" on their first album was a surprise hit, even though they thought other songs would be bigger.

• They explain that this experience gave them insight into how people connect with music in strange ways.

Personal Taste

• The interviewer asks the speaker how they felt about "Mad City" on the album in the context of others and as a personal taste.

The Making of "Alright"

Kendrick Lamar discusses the making of his hit song "Alright" and how it became a generations protest song.

Writing "Alright"

• The beat for "Alright" was created by Pharrell and Sam Taylor, and Kendrick had it for six months before writing to it.

• Kendrick wanted to approach the song as an uplifting but aggressive statement rather than playing the victim.

• He felt pressure from his team to challenge himself and find the right words for the track.

• Eventually, he found the right words that executed his approach perfectly.

The Hook

• The hook for "Alright" was already in place when Kendrick received the beat from Pharrell.

• It was Pete who came up with the phrase "alright," which represented everyone being okay despite everything going on in society.

Music Preferences and Future Plans

Kendrick Lamar talks about his current music preferences and future plans.

Current Music Preferences

• Kendrick's current playlist consists mostly of oldies such as Marvin Gaye and Isley Brothers.

• He listens more to R&B than hip hop at present.

Future Plans

• Although he considers himself first and foremost a rapper, Kendrick has gained enough confidence to make an album without rapping.

Music and Meditation

In this section, the speaker talks about the importance of timing in music and how meditation helps him stay focused.

Timing in Music

• The speaker discusses the importance of timing in music and how it can make or break a performance.

• He mentions that experience has taught him to have impeccable timing, which is something he had to learn as a young artist.

• The speaker explains that understanding his mental space is crucial for maintaining good timing during performances.

Meditation Practice

• The speaker reveals that he meditates for at least 30 minutes every day or every other day to help him focus and reset his mind.

• He explains that being consumed by music can cause time to fly by quickly, so taking breaks through meditation helps him stay grounded.

• The speaker notes that meditation gives him a jumpstart and refreshes his mind, allowing him to remember why he's making music.

Writing Process

In this section, the speaker talks about his writing process and how it varies from song to song.

Conceptualization

• The speaker notes that sometimes he can write four songs with three verses each within an hour or six months depending on how inspiration strikes.

• He mentions that while he may be surprised by how a record comes out, he always knows the message he wants to convey before starting.

Writing Techniques

• The speaker credits his ability to engage listeners with his writing skills learned in school.

• He emphasizes the importance of knowing where a song is going and how it will end before starting to write.

Early Music Memories

In this section, the speaker talks about his earliest memories of music and how they influenced him as an artist.

Childhood Influences

• The speaker's earliest memory of music was watching "We Want Eazy" by Eazy-E when he was around four years old.

• He mentions that he was heavily into music as a child, watching music videos on TV every night with his parents.

Childhood Influences

In this section, the speaker talks about how his childhood experiences influenced his perspective on music and entertainment.

Imaginary Figures

• The speaker discusses how figures like Will Smith and Michael Jackson were almost imaginary to him as a child because he only saw them on TV screens.

• He was curious about how they got beyond the television screen and into the entertainment industry.

Relationship with Dr. Dre

• The speaker talks about his relationship with Dr. Dre, saying that he was once an ultimate fan but now sees him as a real person beyond just a figment of his imagination on TV screens.

• He recalls a story from when he was eight or nine years old seeing Dr. Dre and Tupac on Rosecrans fast forward 50 years later, telling Dr. Dre the story in the studio, and even Dr. Dre remembers it too.

Conceptualizing Music

In this section, the speaker talks about how he conceptualizes music and where some of his ideas come from.

Repeating Poem in Second Album

• The repeating poem concept came during the recording process for the second album as a way to tie together all of the songs conceptually.

• The idea came from being a fan of writers who come up with crazy ideas for movies and other works of art that resonate subconsciously in people's minds.

Celebrating Success

• The speaker's team asks him every day how he celebrates success, but there is no clear answer given in this section.

Finding Balance Between Family and Music

In this section, the speaker talks about the disappointment of finding balance between family and music. Sacrifices have to be made, and sometimes it can lead to missing important moments with loved ones.

Balancing Family and Music

• The speaker expresses disappointment in not being able to find a balance between family and music.

• It can be stressful when you get lost in the music and forget how much you mean to your loved ones.

• People around the speaker are supportive but may not express their true feelings as they don't want to worry him.

• The speaker's team is like family, who will tell him if something is not good enough.

Criticism and Growth

In this section, the speaker talks about how criticism has helped him grow as an artist. He also discusses his approach towards writing new songs.

Criticism from Team

• The speaker became his biggest critic through criticism from his team.

• Being pushed by his team has taught him what to do and what not to do on record.

Writing New Songs

• The speaker has ideas for new songs but wants to see where they manifest before deciding on a direction.

• He has many hooks, courses, bridges, verses here and there but mainly concepts of hooks and references that he had in mind for other people to sing.

Inspiration from Kids

In this section, the speaker talks about how kids inspire him to write. He also discusses an example of a picture that inspired him.

Inspiration from Kids

• The speaker is inspired by kids because they have no fear and no concept of reality as we know it.

• Talking to his little niece who is two years old inspires him to write.

Example of Picture That Inspired Him

• No relevant content in the transcript.

Relating to Kids

In this section, the speaker talks about how he can relate and communicate with kids in a way that most adults can't.

Ability to Relate

• The speaker believes that he can relate and communicate with kids better than most adults.

• He enjoys talking to kids because it allows him to see things from a different perspective.

Creating Music

In this section, the speaker talks about his creative process for making music.

Inspiration

• After talking to kids, the speaker is inspired to create music.

• The speaker mentions creating a song called "Spaceman."

Creative Process

• The speaker goes back to the studio after talking to kids and writes songs.

• The speaker plans on creating his own spaceman character for his music.