Kendrick Lamar is on the cover of the 30-under-30 issue of Forbes this year. In the interview the DAMN rapper was asked about the rise of "mumble rap" and his responsibility in the role that many consider him, the greatest rapper alive.
Lamar said that he thinks it is vital to "never forget the root where I come from, as far as hip-hop, and knowing my forefathers and the people that laid the groundwork for me to be here." Remembering this keeps him sane, he explained.
Read Next: Rap Column’s top 30 rap songs of 2024
On the subject of being a role model to younger artists, he added: "I want hip-hop to continue to evolve. That's why I can't shun a lot of the artists that may not be a Kendrick Lamar. But this is what I tell them every time I see them ... be yourself and do what you do but also know who laid down the groundwork. Don't go on your interviews and diss them and say you don't like them and you don't care for them. That's your opinion, that's cool but you have to respect them. So talking down on the folks that inspired us to do this, it'd never be right. You dig what I'm saying? So at the end of the day as long as you be who you are but respect what got us here, that's how you continue to evolve."
Lamar has recently collaborated with both YG Hootie and Rich The Kid. He is also one of the artists listed as a guest on the forthcoming album by N.E.R.D. The Compton rapper tours Europe in early 2018.
