We already brought you part one of our list of 15 things you probably did not know about Kendrick Lamar, and now we’re back with part two! Check out eight more fascinating facts about the rapper and musician that you definitely (probably) did not know below. You might be surprised by what you find out!
Number Eight: He Was Not Always “Kendrick Lamar.” In fact, Lamar started out by calling himself “K. Dot.” However, he switched to his real name, Kendrick Lamar, in 2010.
Number Seven: He Thinks He Is Doing God’s Work. In an interview with the New York Times, Lamar says that, for many of fans, he is “the closest thing to a preacher that they have.” He says that he is aware of the fact that many of his fans seem to almost worship him, and he sees himself as a vessel for God’s work.
Number Six: He Likes to Collaborate. Lamar has collaborated with everyone from Drake to George Clinton and Lady Gaga. He has also collaborated with Imagine Dragons.
Number Five: He Is Not Afraid to Call Out Other People. Lamar has taken shots at several big names in his music, including Mac Miller, Drake, Tyler, The Creator, Big K.R.I.T., A$AP Rocky, Wale, and even Big Sean. He has claimed that he can out-rap any of them.
Number Four: He Does Not Drink or Do Drugs. Though Lamar has admitted that he has experimented with alcohol and drugs in the past, he no longer does it. He refuses to glorify the partying aspect of celebrity, and he says, “You may have certain artists portraying these trends and don’t really have that lifestyle and then it gives off the wrong thing.”
Number Three: He Recognizes His Roots. Rather than spend the money earns all on himself, Lamar has given back to his parents. He bought his parents a new house, and he has also helped to pay for his brother’s college education.
Number Two: He Is Not Very Tall. In fact, Lamar is just 5’5″. It’s a good thing he pursued rapping rather than a career in basketball!
Number One: He Is Engaged. Lamar is engaged to Whitney Alford, and the two actually met in high school! They have been together for almost a decade.