Kendrick Lamar: “I Appreciate Damian Lillard”

Current king of the hip-hop hill Kendrick Lamar joined The Cruz Show on Power 106 Los Angeles to discuss his fourth studio album, DAMN, released earlier this year. He and host J Cruz held a friendly conversation, eventually arriving at a common comparison between Lamar and late rap artist Tupac Shakur—a comparison that Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard made on Twitter late last month.

While maintaining individuality, Lamar recognized Lillard’s statement and gave him some love.

Cruz: People call you the next Pac. I know you have your own lane, but they call you the next Pac.

Lamar: That’s a whole lot of weight.

Cruz: Is that a lot of pressure? Is that a lot of pressure? Did you want to tell Damian Lillard ‘Please stop saying that, bro, chill. Damian, chill. Just play basketball, bro, chill.’?

Lamar: I appreciate Damian Lillard, you know, he’s obviously a student of hip-hop, a student of rap and west coast music. Being the next Pac, that’s something way out of my control—I want to be who I am, you know? All I can do is take the game and the ideas and the sparks and the knowledge that he’s passed on, apply them to myself and who I am, and further it for the next kid who want to go out there and be on that stage and actually speak for something and stand for something and whatnot. So yeah, as far as that, there can only be one Pac.

Lillard’s appreciation for hip-hop music is well-documented, as are his own tracks released under the moniker Dame D.O.L.L.A. (Different On Levels the Lord Allows), found on his SoundCloud profile, here. He has stated that he would like to create a collaborative album with Lamar, who, at least after today, is evidently aware of his fandom.

Although nothing along those lines appears imminent, a featured track may not be out of the realm of possibility. In the past, Lillard collaborated with hip-hop titan Lil Wayne for the track “Loyal To The Soil” on his debut album, The Letter O.

Regardless, the kind words from Lamar are a welcome acknowledgement of mutual respect.

H/T: BigSully1