

That October, he released his first major-label album, Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, a concept album telling the story of the rapper’s early life experiences with drugs and gangs in Compton.

In 2012, Kendrick Lamar signed a record deal with Dr. The album was met with many positive reviews, and Kendrick’s star began to rise. Section.80 dropped in 2011, debuting at number 113 on the US Billboard 200 chart. In 2010, he released his fourth solo mixtape, Overly Dedicated.įollowing the release of Overly Dedicated, Lamar began working on his first studio album.

That same year, he began using his first and middle names with the release of his self-titled debut EP. Kendrick Lamar founded the hip-hop supergroup, Black Hippy, in 2009, with the artists Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, and ScHoolboy Q.
