What you need to know:
- Kendrick Lamar delivered a commencement address at Compton College on a Saturday, emphasizing his pride in his hometown when he said to the audience, “When I walk out in these cities, in these countries, I can be proud and say, ‘This is where I’m from.
- On June 19, he is scheduled to perform at a special “Ken and Friends” show presented by pgLang and Free Lunch called The Pop Out, taking place at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California.
The ‘Like That’ rapper paid a visit to his hometown’s college for his first public appearance since his feud with Drake
Kendrick Lamar delivered a commencement address at Compton College on a Saturday, emphasizing his pride in his hometown when he said to the audience, “When I walk out in these cities, in these countries, I can be proud and say, ‘This is where I’m from.'”
This speech marks Kendrick Lamar’s first major public appearance since his highly publicized rivalry with Drake began to dominate headlines and the rap charts.
Lamar began his speech by expressing his gratitude: “I’ve come here today to let you all know how much I appreciate you. I’m proud of Compton, proud of Compton College, and most importantly, proud of all the graduates here.”
He continued addressing the graduates, acknowledging their challenges: “I understand what it takes. You’ve faced hardships not just at home or in your communities, but most importantly, within yourselves, which is the toughest hurdle to overcome. We’re still growing every day, building ourselves up, focusing on our physical and spiritual development.”
“Seeing all of you here today isn’t just a reflection of your world, but it’s also a reflection of me. When I walk through these cities, in these countries, I can proudly declare, ‘This is where I come from,'” he concluded.
Continuing to express his affection for Compton, Lamar also turned his attention to the graduating members of Gen Z entering the workforce.
“Some folks say, ‘This generation, Gen Z, they don’t have what it takes,'” the rapper of “Like That” shared. “We hear it all the time. They try to bring us down, saying we don’t know what we’re doing. But they’re mistaken. You know why? Because not only do you have what it takes, but you have something even greater. You have heart, you have the courage to think for yourselves.”
He added, “Now it’s about taking these resources and applying what you’ve learned. It’s that straightforward. You’ll face challenges, you’ll encounter trials just as you did getting here today. But you know what? You have someone special in your corner, all around you, and that’s God, plain and simple. Every step of the way.”
Lamar’s speech marks his first significant public appearance amidst his recent feud with Drake, which has been making waves in both headlines and the rap charts. His diss track aimed at the “First Person Shooter” artist, titled “Not Like Us,” has held the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 since its release on May 4. The exchange of diss tracks between Lamar and Drake started when Lamar collaborated with Future and Metro Boomin on “Like That,” where Lamar targeted J. Cole and Drake, prompting swift responses from both artists and several subsequent diss tracks exchanged over the past month.
In addition to this, Lamar, who is a father of two, has announced his first concert date since the feud began. On June 19, he is scheduled to perform at a special “Ken and Friends” show presented by pgLang and Free Lunch called The Pop Out, taking place at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California. Doors will open at 4 p.m.

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