Kendrick Lamar and Rick Rubin, both made profound impacts on hip-hop though surprisingly have never met before.
In the latest GQ Style cover with Kendrick, the magazine made the two meet and Kendrick Lamar was interviewed by Rick Rubin. Kendrick met Rubin in the legendary producer's Shari La Studios in Malibu, California. They spoke about Eminem, Dr. Dre, Michael Jackson, To Pimp A Butterfly and others things related to music, life, inspiration and meditation.
Rick talks about how his parents and their choice of music influence him and broadened his ideas as he was exposed to Big Daddy Kane to Eazy-E, Marvin Gaye and Isley Brothers. He picked up Jazz music by default and that opened him up. He went back to Miles and Herbie Hanock.
When it comes to music, Rubin noted how "interesting" it was that Kendrick like "a throwback to when lyrics mattered." In today's time, Rick explained how much rap has become "about vibe and swag and personality, and less about words. And it sometimes sounds like even the MC doesn't know what he's saying on a lot of today's records."
Kendrick further explained how he got clarity "just studying Eminem when I was a kid." He said that he started he had a love for music but it started with "curiosity."
Asked whether To Pimp a Butterfly is a sign of what to expect he said, ""That was me then. Not to say that it wouldn't be continued. It'll always have some type of DNA in my music, but me as a person, knowing who I am, I grow."
When asked about his next album and what to expect out of it, he said it is pretty early to talk about it but he said he has ideas. He said, "I wanna put all the paint on the wall and see where that goes. Maybe you [Rubin] can help me with that."
Rubin also noted Kendrick's strict attention to words and he said that he members listening The Marshall Mathers LP and thinking, "How's his words cutting through the beat like that? What is he doing that I'm not doing, now that I'm into it?" He called Em "impeccable" and said he wanted to learn his skills "through experience and time."
Later into the interview, he talked about that he considers himself "first and foremost a rapper." He said he is open about to making an album in future where he doesn't rap.
He was also asked about track "Alright" and it giving a whole new dimension for protests and become a unofficial national anthem for police brutality protest. He revealed that he desired to make "Alright" as "more uplifting but aggressive." He went on to say as not playing the victim, but emanating some kind of strength.
Later on, Kendrick Lamar revealed that he meditates half an hour everyday or just sit back and absorb what is going on. Mediation he said allows things to slow down.
