by Kendrick Lamar is looking well groomed and dapper for his cover shoot with GQ magazine for their eighteenth annual “Men of the Year” issue, which hits newsstands on November 19. Named “Rapper of the Year,” the “Control” rapper graces one of five covers, which also includes Justin Timberlake.
[Justin Timberlake Named One of GQ's 2013 "Men Of The Year"]
In his sit down with the mag, Lamar opens up about Tupac being an inspiration, his rap feuds, and more.
On seeing Tupac in a vision when he was 21:
“I was coming from a late studio session, sleeping on Mom’s couch. I’m 26 now—it wasn’t that long ago. I remember being tired, tripping from the studio, lying down, and falling into a deep sleep and seeing a vision of Pac talking to me. Weirdest shit ever. I’m not huge on superstition and all that shit. That’s what made it so crazy. It can make you go nuts. Hearing somebody that you looked up to for years saying, ‘Don’t let the music die.’ Hearing it clear as day. Clear as day. Like he’s right there. Just a silhouette.”
On the state of his relationship with Drake:
“Pretty cool.” Shrugs. “And I mean, I would be okay if we weren’t.”
On the themes of his music:
“It wasn’t just about money, hos, clothes, drinkin’,” he explains. “I mean, I come from that world, but at the same time, I started to realize that there’s people out there that can’t really connect to that lifestyle. They’re in the struggle.”
Check out the BTS video below (Kendrick freestyles) and read the full feature on GQ HERE
