LoginGet started

Kendrick Lamar & Rick Rubin Have an Epic Conversation | GQ

GQ・44 minutes read

The artist's creative process involves developing ideas one at a time, relying on key words for inspiration, self-criticism, and prioritizing personal expression over listener preferences. Musically influenced by artists like Tupac and Biggie, he emphasizes the beauty and journey of music creation, balancing studio work and live performances with meticulous preparation and dedication.

Insights

  • The artist's writing process is deeply rooted in personal inspiration, prioritizing genuine self-expression over catering to listeners' preferences, emphasizing the importance of self-criticism to constantly challenge and improve oneself.
  • Childhood exposure to diverse musical influences and interactions with fearless children provide the artist with unique inspiration, guiding the creation of music that delves into deep emotions and authentic self-expression, showcasing a commitment to evolving and exploring new genres beyond rap.

Get key ideas from YouTube videos. It’s free

Recent questions

  • How does the artist develop song ideas?

    By starting with premeditated thoughts and finding the right sound to trigger emotions, allowing concepts to grow and mature before being brought to the studio.

  • What influences the artist's music style?

    Childhood exposure to diverse artists like Tupac, Biggie, and Jay-Z, as well as jazz influences discovered during the creation of the artist's second album, "To Pimp a Butterfly."

  • How does the artist approach self-criticism?

    By using self-criticism as a driving force to constantly challenge and improve himself, prioritizing personal inspiration over catering to listeners' preferences.

  • How does the artist determine a song's quality?

    By relying on intuition and a feeling to recognize when a piece is ready, emphasizing the importance of trusting one's instincts in the creative process.

  • How does the artist balance family and music?

    By acknowledging the significant challenge of balancing family and music, making sacrifices and missing moments that can lead to disappointment, while relying on honest criticism from his team and close circle to improve and grow in his craft.

Related videos

Summary

00:00

Artist's Authentic Process: From Inspiration to Jazz

  • The artist's writing process involves starting with premeditated thoughts and finding the right sound to trigger emotions.
  • Ideas are developed one at a time, allowing concepts to grow and mature before being brought to the studio.
  • Notes are crucial for capturing inspiration from various sources like interactions with people or visits to different places.
  • The artist relies on key words to recall specific emotions and ideas that drive his music.
  • Self-criticism is a driving force, pushing the artist to constantly challenge and improve himself.
  • The artist prioritizes personal inspiration over catering to listeners' preferences, focusing on genuine self-expression.
  • The artist stands by his lyrics as genuine self-expression, refusing to retract statements even if controversial.
  • Reflecting on past work, the artist aims to go deeper and express himself more authentically in future creations.
  • Musical influences stem from childhood exposure to a diverse range of artists like Tupac, Biggie, and Jay-Z.
  • Jazz influences were discovered during the creation of the artist's second album, "To Pimp a Butterfly," leading to a significant shift in musical style.

16:01

Artist's Musical Journey: Beauty, Dedication, and Evolution.

  • The artist discusses his approach to music, emphasizing the beauty and journey it entails.
  • Contrasting studio and live experiences, he delves into the mental state required for each, stressing the meticulous preparation for stage performances akin to studio work.
  • He details his involvement in music creation beyond vocals and lyrics, highlighting his intense dedication and involvement in every aspect, from mixes to mastering.
  • The artist frequently revises tracks post-writing, sometimes changing the music to better suit the lyrics, focusing on minimalism and enhancing the overall experience for listeners.
  • The process involves both collective and individual musician contributions, with the artist overseeing arrangements and guiding the creative direction.
  • He shares instances of writing lyrics before hearing a track, allowing producers to build around the words, creating a unique and collaborative process.
  • Determining a song's quality or completion is based on a feeling, emphasizing the intuitive nature of recognizing when a piece is ready.
  • Reflecting on his debut album, the artist recalls the surprise success of a non-commercial track, highlighting the unpredictability of audience reactions and the importance of authenticity.
  • The artist's hit song "Alright" evolved over six months, with the pressure to create a meaningful statement leading to its eventual success as a protest anthem.
  • He draws inspiration from oldies, particularly R&B and soul music, hinting at a potential future album where he explores genres beyond rap, showcasing his versatility and confidence in musical exploration.

31:31

Artist navigates creativity, connection, and balance.

  • The artist discusses the challenge of staying relatable as an artist amidst the touring lifestyle, emphasizing the need to maintain connection with reality.
  • Setting aside 30 minutes daily for music helps the artist refresh and refocus, providing a restart and a jumpstart to creativity.
  • The time taken to write a song varies greatly, from an hour to six months, depending on the concept and inspiration.
  • The artist always knows the message they want to convey in a song before writing it, a skill honed from school days.
  • Early memories of music involve watching performances by artists like Busta Rhymes and Snoop Dogg, shaping the artist's imagination.
  • Childhood exposure to films and TV shows, like "Dennis the Menace" and "Fresh Prince," fueled the artist's creativity and perspective.
  • Meeting idols like Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg was a surreal experience, highlighting the human aspect behind the celebrity facade.
  • Balancing family and music has been a significant challenge, with sacrifices and missed moments leading to disappointment.
  • The artist's team and close circle provide honest criticism, pushing the artist to improve and grow in their craft.
  • Despite having numerous song ideas and concepts, the artist finds inspiration mainly from interactions with fearless children during travels.

47:50

"Childlike innocence inspires music creation"

  • The speaker finds inspiration in interacting with their fearless 2-year-old niece, who lacks a grasp of reality as adults do, allowing them to see the world from a fresh perspective. This childlike innocence is seen as being closer to a pure essence, unburdened by societal norms, leading the speaker to connect with their inner child and create music based on these interactions.
Channel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatarChannel avatar

Try it yourself — It’s free.