How 50 Cent inspired Kendrick Lamar’s career: “That shit blew me away”
Kendrick Lamar has been inspiring the next generation of artists since breaking through to the mainstream with his good kid, m.A.A.d city album in 2012. Still, he’s humble enough to credit those who came before him, particularly rappers who have also been signed to Dr Dre’s Aftermath label.
50 Cent is often cited as an inspiration for hip-hop artists, serving as one of the biggest artists of the 2000s through albums like 2003’s Get Rich or Die Tryin’ and 2005’s The Massacre. His run of hits over those years, including ‘In Da Club’, ’21 Questions’, ‘P.I.M.P.’, ‘Candy Shop’, and ‘Just a Lil Bit’, represents one of rap’s greatest runs in the charts.
K. Dot is a known admirer of his music, but he’s also been influenced by the way he carries himself in interviews. One moment particularly stands out to him, with 50 being questioned about the type of rapper he is. Always quick-witted, the Queens rapper had just the answer for the interviewer, which stayed long in the memory of Kendrick.
“Now, I’ve always studied 50 Cent’s music and watched his interviews, and someone asked if he was a conscious artist,” Kenny told Tems for Interview Magazine. “He said, ‘Yeah, I’m a conscious artist because I have a conscience.’ That shit blew me away. It gave me a different perspective – 50 drops a lot of jewels that give me perspective, but that one right there gave me a sense of, ‘OK, a lot of artists live and know how to project duality.’
He continued, “That’s the true gift, because that’s what life is about in its wholeness. When I seen that, I said, ‘I can relate to that,’ and what you’re saying is confirmation that that’s still alive. It’s really dope to hear another artist say it. Lets us know we not crazy.”
50 once collaborated with Kendrick on the song ‘We Up’, which was intended to appear on his scrapped Street King Immortal album. K. Dot also landed his first acting role with a performance in Power, playing a homeless man who distracts 50’s character. Not only that, but they performed together as part Dre’s Super Bowl halftime show.
The respect goes both ways, with 50 once revealing how much he admires Kendrick for the way he remains humble in his success. 50, on the other hand, often came across as unpleasantly proud at the height of his rap career. “I love Kendrick,” he said to XXL. “Obviously there is a huge difference in the two of us, in our characters, and the way we present ourselves, ’cause to me, he possesses the ability to appear like he didn’t know this was going to happen.”
50 explained that he personally had a lot of doubt about things going his way, and being able to overcome that takes confidence. “I would appear at points a little arrogant,” he added. “Like, ‘I knew it was going to work, because it took you so long to figure it out. I told you it was hot.’ And Kendrick will give you that energy that’s like, ‘This is great. This is really happening.’ Every time I’m around him, that’s what it feels like.”