Quotes from Kendrick Lamar

Every time I write these words they become a taboo, Making sure my punctuation curve, every letter here's true, Living my life in the margin, and that metaphor was proof.

If I can look at a 6-year-old and learn from him, that's life. That's God for me, that's inspiring.

I learned, when I look in the mirror and tell my story, that I should be myself and not peep whatever everybody is doing.

At first, I was scared to show fear because you can never be sure how people will perceive you. But I dared myself to do that, to stand out. Now I'll talk about being beaten up or robbed or making a stupid decision because of a girl or whatever.

People have to go through trials and tribulations to get where they at. Do your thing - continue to rock it - because obviously, God wants you here.

If I'm gonna tell a real story, I'm gonna start with my name.

It's easy to forget who you are.

My whole thing is to inspire, to better people, to better myself forever in this thing that we call rap, this thing that we call hip hop.

If my edge is dull, my sword is dull, and I don't want to fight another guy whose sword is dull. If you've got two steel swords going back and forth hitting each other, what's gonna happen? Both of them are going to get sharper. Everybody that's in the industry has lost their edge.

Me, as a person, I grow. I'm like a chameleon. You know? That is a gift and a curse for me. But more so a gift, because it never puts me in a box.

I'm constantly thinking.

I always was that person who was hard on myself and challenged myself no matter what I was doing, whether it was passing third grade or playing basketball.

I always thought money was something just to make me happy. But I've learned that I feel better being able to help my folks, 'cause we never had nothing. So just to see them excited about my career is more of a blessing than me actually having it for myself.

So next time you feel like your world is about to end, I hope you studied because He's testing your faith again.

Since day one, since the first time I touched the pen, I wanted to be the best at what I do.

As long as my music is real, it's no limit to how many ears I can grab.

My word will never be as strong as God's word. All I am is just a vessel, doing His work.

Before finding music, I didn't have too many aspirations. I wanted to hang out, make a little money from whatever I had to do.

My mom's one of 13 siblings, and they all got six kids, and till I was 13 everybody was in Compton.

We hurt people that love us, love people that hurt us

Kids don't see hate in their eyes. They see the world, and living in it to the best of their abilities. And that's where love comes from for me.

Whenever I make music, it reflects where I'm at mentally.

My parents were fairly young in the city of Compton. So the things that they played - you know, that was the hip crowd. So I was being exposed to all these ideas, from Big Daddy Kane to Eazy-E to the Bay Area - Too Short, E-40 - you know, back to Marvin Gaye and the Isley Brothers.

People gonna be they own individuals and have they own worlds and I can't knock it.