My moms always told me, 'How long you going to play the victim?' I can say I'm mad, and I hate everything, but nothing really changes until I change myself.

— Kendrick Lamar

My mom's one of 13 siblings, and they all got six kids, and till I was 13 everybody was in Compton.

— Kendrick Lamar

My word will never be as strong as God's word. All I am is just a vessel, doing His work.

— Kendrick Lamar

People have to go through trials and tribulations to get where they at. Do your thing - continue to rock it - because obviously, God wants you here.

— Kendrick Lamar

Since day one, since the first time I touched the pen, I wanted to be the best at what I do.

— Kendrick Lamar

Sometimes you have the trends that's not that cool. You may have certain artists portraying these trends and don't really have that lifestyle, and then it gives off the wrong thing. And it becomes kinda corny after a while. It's really about keeping hip-hop original and pushing away the corniness in it.

— Kendrick Lamar

Sonny moon and Quadrants are a couple of bands that really inspire me in terms of the melodics of things and certain tones and just what feels good. It takes me back to the type of music that I grew up on in my household. We played a lot of gangsta rap, but we also played a lot of oldies, and I think that mix is part of what inspires my sound.

— Kendrick Lamar

The best thing is to always keep honest people around, because when you have a bunch of yes men around that know that you're making a mistake but let you go on with it, that's when it ruins your mind state as an artist.

— Kendrick Lamar

The majority of my interactions with police were not good. There were a few good ones who were actually protecting the community. But then you have ones from the Valley. They never met me in their life, but since I'm a kid in basketball shorts and a white T-shirt, they want to slam me on the hood of the car. Sixteen years old.

— Kendrick Lamar

We're in the last days, man - I truly, in my heart, believe that. It's written. I could go on with biblical situations and things my grandma told me. But it's about being at peace with myself and making good with the people around me.

— Kendrick Lamar