Kendrick Lamar Breaks Five-Year Hiatus

Kendrick Lamar, one of the most influential and respected rappers of all time, has been the subject of much speculation regarding wheter or not he’s retired. Over the last few years, Kendrick has been relatively quiet in terms of releasing new music, and with his contract with Top Dawg Entertainment/Aftermath coming to an end, fans have been wondering if this could be a sign that he is done with rap for good.

The truth is that Kendrick hasn’t retired from rapping—he’s just taking a break from it. After spending more than 15 years in the rap game, it’s not surprising that he would take some time off to focus on himself and his family. His hiatus began in 2017 when he released his last album “DAMN” and he hasn’t released any new music since then. His absence from the rap game was so noticeable that other rappers started to question whether or not he had retired.

However, Kendrick recently put these rumors to rest when he dropped “The Heart Part 5” on May 2nd 2021 followed by the release of his fifth studio album titled “Mr Morale & The Big Steppers” shortly after. With this project, Kendrick proved that he wasn’t done with hip hop yet—he was just taking some time off to focus on himself and his family.

It looks like Kendrick Lamar isn’t going anywhere anytime soon! So don’t worry—he hasn’t retired from rapping; he’s just taking a break for now.

Will Kendrick Lamar Make a Comeback?

Yes, Kendrick Lamar has returned. He released his fifth studio album, “Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers,” on Friday, February 12th 2021. This is Lamar’s first album in five years since his 2017 release, “Damn.” The album features guest appearances from the likes of Travis Scott, Jay Rock, SZA and more. Lamar is acclaimed for his lyrical prowess and ability to push musical and artistic boundaries with each of his projects.

did kendrick lamar retire
Source: npr.org

Kendrick Lamar’s Departure: An Exploration

Kendrick Lamar is leaving because he has been in the music industry for almost 20 years and feels it’s time to move on to new things and venture out. He also wants to focus on developing Baby Keem, his protégé, and give him the time and space to pursue his own career.

Is Kendrick Lamar Taking a Break From Music?

No, Kendrick Lamar is no longer on a hiatus. He recently released his first song in over 1,549 days titled “The Heart Part 5” and is set to drop his fifth studio album “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers” this week. Prior to this release, Lamar had been on a lengthy hiatus from releasing music as a lead artist.

Is Kendrick Lamar Still Part of TDE?

Yes, Kendrick Lamar is still with Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE). Although his fifth studio album was the final obligation of his contract with TDE/Aftermath, he has continued to stay with the label and remains an important part of their roster. In August 2020, TDE released a statement confirming that they had renewed their deal with Lamar and would continue to work together going forward. Since then, Lamar has gone on tour and collaborated with fellow TDE artists such as SZA and Isaiah Rashad.

Has Kendrick Lamar Retired From Music?

No, Kendrick Lamar did not quit music. On Monday, the rapper revealed the title and release date of his next album after a fan jokingly accused him of retiring from music. This announcement shows that the Grammy-winning artist is still actively producing new music and is looking forward to sharing it with fans in the near future.

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Will Kendrick Lamar’s Final Album Be His Last?

No, this will not be Kendrick Lamar’s last album. While he has officially parted ways with Top Dawg Entertainment, Kendrick has made it clear in his statement that he is still dedicated to pursuing his life’s calling as an artist. He has gone on to say that he is still committed to making music and creating art for all of his fans around the world. As evidence of this, he recently released a joint album with Jay Rock called ‘Without Warning’ and is currently working on a new solo project.

Who is the Owner of TDE?

TDE (Top Dawg Entertainment) is owned by Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith, who founded the label in 2004. As the CEO of the label, Tiffith has signed and managed some of hip-hop’s biggest names, such as Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Schoolboy Q, Jay Rock, and Ab-Soul. In addition to its West Coast base in Los Angeles, TDE also has offices in New York City and London. The record label has released over 25 albums since its inception and has established itself as one of the most successful independent labels in hip-hop.

Is Kendrick Lamar Still Signed to Dr. Dre’s Record Label?

Yes, Kendrick Lamar is still signed to Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment record label. Kendrick was first signed in 2012 and has released five albums under the label since then. He is currently working on a new album, which he announced in February 2021. This will be his sixth release under Aftermath Entertainment.

Delay of Kendrick Lamar’s Music Release

Kendrick Lamar has yet to release new music because he is taking a break from his label, Top Dawg Entertainment. He has been with the label since 2004 and has since released seven studio albums, two live albums, and several mixtapes with them. As of now, Kendrick is taking time away from the label to explore different creative opportunities and develop his sound further. The break will help him create a new musical direction that will set him apart from his previous work with the label. Although he is no longer releasing music through Top Dawg, Kendrick Lamar is still recording and releasing his next album through the label. He has made it clear that his decision to leave is simply to create a change of pace, not because of any bad blood between himself and Top Dawg.

did kendrick lamar retire
Source: complex.com

Kendrick Lamar’s Most Recent Release

Kendrick Lamar released his fifth studio album, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, on April 9th, 2021. The project is a surprise album and features twelve new tracks from the Compton-born rapper. The release of Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers marks Lamar’s first full-length effort since 2017’s DAMN., and it follows a series of singles and collaborations he has been releasing since then, including “The Mantra” with Pharrell Williams in 2019 and “The Heart Part 4” in 2017.

The Impact of Kendrick Lamar on Spotify

Yes, Kendrick Lamar did break Spotify’s global records with the release of his album To Pimp A Butterfly. The album was released a week earlier than originally advertised, which caused an immense amount of buzz and anticipation around the world. This resulted in a record-breaking number of streams on the day it was released, with over 9.6 million streams worldwide, making it Spotify’s most streamed album in one day ever. It also becme the most streamed album in its first week, with over 25 million streams globally. Additionally, 11 tracks from the album held spots among the top 50 most-streamed songs on Spotify in its first week, also setting a new record for the streaming platform.

Kendrick Lamar’s Favorite Rapper

Kendrick Lamar has been very vocal about his admiration for a wide array of artists throughout his career. When asked who is his favorite rapper, he often plucks out a few names, including Jay-Z, Andre 3000, Tupac Shakur, Eminem, and Nas. For Kendrick, these artists have played an integral role in his development as an artist, as well as havng had a profound impact on hip hop culture in general. He has praised Jay-Z for being one of the most iconic figures in hip hop history and for helping shape the sound of modern rap music. He also speaks highly of Andre 3000 for his lyrical genius and pioneering style. Tupac is seen by Kendrick as an immensely influential figure whose music continues to inspire generations of rappers today. Kendrick respects Eminem’s technical skill and wit, while he considers Nas to be one of the greatest storytellers in hip hop culture. All these artists have been instrumental in Kendrick’s growth as an artist and it’s difficult to pinpoint just one favorite rapper; however if forced to pick one, he might name Jay-Z due to their ongoing collaboration over the years.

Kendrick Lamar’s Best Selling Song

Kendrick Lamar’s best selling song is “Humble” from his 2017 album Damn, with an estimated 3,020,000 certified sales in the US as tallied by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It was preceded by “Swimming Pools (Drank)” from his 2012 album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, which currently has 1,820,000 certified sales in the US. His 2018 collaboration with SZA on “All The Stars” has also achieved 1,320,000 certified sales in the US.

did kendrick lamar retire
Source: genius.com

Conclusion

Kendrick Lamar has not retired from music. After a five-year hiatus, he recently released his fifth studio album, “Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers,” and launched his Big Stepper Tour. While this was the final obligation of his contract with Top Dawg Entertainment/Aftermath, he has continued to explore new musical avenues and plans to continue touring. His single “The Heart Part 5” was released just days befre the album drop and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. As one of the most innovative artists in hip hop today, Kendrick Lamar is sure to keep pushing boundaries until he decides to retire for good.

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William Armstrong

William Armstrong is a senior editor with H-O-M-E.org, where he writes on a wide variety of topics. He has also worked as a radio reporter and holds a degree from Moody College of Communication. William was born in Denton, TX and currently resides in Austin.