Hip Hop superstar Kendrick Lamar recently sat down with Rick Rubin for an extensive discussion on all things music and life.
In what is one of the best interviews in 2016, Lamar and Rubin – two massive forces in the music business – discuss Kendrick’s musical journey.
Published by GQ, the interview takes place at Rubin’s Shangri-La Studios in Malibu. The host is in jean shorts, a t-shirt and barefoot – vintage Rubin.
Rubin – a musical genius and one of the greatest producers of all time – steers the conversation, which lasts almost an hour
They talk about Lamar’s creative process: how ideas are formed, his recording with the band and his future projects.
He asks Lamar what his earliest recollection of music was, to which Lamar responds it was watching a video on television of the late rapper Eazy E.
Lamar talks about growing up in a space where music was played all the time, and his parents partied pretty much every day.
The rapper – from Compton, LA – explains that while being exposed to music from a young age, his passion for rap developed from observing Eminem’s work.
Lamar says his ‘curiosity’ drove him to learn about the craft while asking many questions along the journey.
Rubin points out that Lamar represents a “throwback” kind of rap where there is “clarity” in the rapper’s flow, something very rare in the current rap scene, according to Rubin.
The conversation soon moved to regrets and struggles where Lamar vulnerably opens up.
According to Lamar one of his biggest struggles is managing the difficult balance between music and family, and other people close to you.
“When you’re doing this, it comes with a lot of sacrifice…you’re going to miss a lot of birthdays…”
A few moments before that Lamar explains that an artist’s schedule is insane. This forces him to try to find at half an hour a day, just to himself.
As the interview comes to a close, something cool happens: Rubin invites Lamar inside to record – almost in jest.
But as the video closes, Lamar and Rubin are seen in studio together, Lamar in the booth and another shot of Rubin giving some advice – so it seems.
Hopefully it means we can expect a surprise from Rubin and Lamar in the near future. That would be fire.
Check out the full interview here: