Credit: Spotify

Roddy Ricch is one of the biggest success stories of the past decade. He became a global name in 2020 with ‘The Box’, which topped the Hot 100 chart for eleven weeks and was nominated for three Grammys. The album it appeared on, Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial, was also a chart-topper.

Compton is the birthplace of some of the biggest rappers of all time, including Dr Dre, YG, The Game, and Eazy-E. Another name who is arguably the biggest current MC is Kendrick Lamar, who has been a massive inspiration to Roddy. Not only has he admired him from afar, but he actually rapped for him when he was a teenager.

It was around the time Section 80 was released, and Roddy was looking to make a career for himself. “Kendrick was a real big inspiration for me,” he told The Breakfast Club. “I seen him when I was younger. I rapped for him when I was [14] years old, when ‘Rigamortis’ was out. I had rapped for him back then.”

He continued, “He was like, ‘You good.’ At the time, you know how it is when you run into n*ggas. We had a cool conversation, but just because we had a cool conversation don’t mean I’ma believe I could be that. N*gga you probably put in a million hours.”

The pair linked up in December 2019 and posted a photo together on social media. It was a show of respect from Kendrick, who helped pave the way for many young artists like Roddy. In comparison to the first time they met, he asked him more personal questions and ones that are more relevant to his career in the present.

“After reuniting and seeing him again, it was love,” he said. “I really asked him about shit with family, how to deal with certain shit with your family. Being a young n*gga coming in as far as different money, ‘Where can I put my money that would be good for me?’ I know he not going to steer me wrong. He’s not going to come into the light and really say anything that’s not true or misguide me. He don’t come out for a lot of people.”

In another interview with Passion of the Weiss, Roddy revealed he attended the same church as Kendrick. The 27-year-old used to go with his mother and grandma, and claims he knew K. Dot was going to be a star before he blew up. He recognised his mentality from being around him, and inspired him to be lyrical but also have fun at the same time.

Kendrick ended up collaborating with Roddy in 2024 on his GNX album. Roddy featured on the song ‘Dodger Blue’ alongside Wallie the Sensei and Siete7x, making it an all-out Compton affair. He sings on the hook, “50 on me, don’t die tryin’ and shit/ You know I’m up and down when I slide in this bitch.” It was a full-circle moment for Roddy, and a collaboration he would have been dreaming about since he was a child.