Kendrick Lamar

"I don't really believe in the type of pressure that people are wanting to put on the type of music that I make."

"I had to come from something, come from a place that was negative and positive but the majority of it is a negative place."

"I look at where I'm at today and realize that most of my success is owed to the mentors that was in my life."

"I used to consider the listener. But now I'm in a space where, if I'm not inspired, I can't really do the music. I can't feel it."

"I'm just writing, writing, writing. I keep these tablets on me until I'm inspired to go back in and make the music. I never take a break from my pen, because I pride myself on that."

"I've been called a recluse. There's definitely truth in that. I like to spend time alone."

"It's a great, great experience to finally get the reception that you know you rightfully deserve."

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

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

"Sometimes you have the trends that's not that cool. You may have certain artists portraying these trends and don't really have that lifestyle, and then it gives off the wrong thing. And it becomes kinda corny after awhile. It's really about keeping hip-hop original and pushing away the corniness in it."

"The best thing is to always keep honest people around, because when you have a bunch of yes men around that know that you're making a mistake but let you go on with it, that's when it ruins your mind state as an artist."

"The worst part of success is, to me, adapting to it. It's scary."

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