Kendrick Lamar's Real Name: Kendrick Lamar Duckworth
Kendrick Lamar → Kendrick Lamar Duckworth
Quick answer: Kendrick Lamar's full name is Kendrick Lamar Duckworth. He was born on June 17, 1987, in Compton, California. He performs under his first and middle names, and is known for albums such as good kid, m.A.A.d city, To Pimp a Butterfly and DAMN., which won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Music (Pulitzer Prizes; Biography.com).
Real name and early life
Duckworth is his family surname; "Kendrick Lamar" is his first and middle name used as a stage name. Early in his career he recorded as K-Dot, releasing mixtapes under that name before switching to his given names around 2009–2010. His parents moved to Compton from Chicago before he was born. He attended Centennial High School in Compton, the same school as Dr. Dre, and began writing and recording as a teenager.
Career highlights
Lamar signed with independent label Top Dawg Entertainment and released Section.80 (2011). His major-label debut with Aftermath and Interscope, good kid, m.A.A.d city (2012), told a coming-of-age story set in Compton and became a modern classic.
To Pimp a Butterfly (2015), blending jazz, funk and spoken word, produced the protest anthem "Alright." DAMN. (2017) included the No. 1 hit "Humble." and became the first non-classical, non-jazz work to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music. He followed with Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers (2022), and in 2024 released the single "Not Like Us" and the surprise album GNX.
"Not Like Us" won five Grammys in 2025, including record and song of the year. He headlined the Super Bowl LIX halftime show in New Orleans in February 2025, and after five more wins at the 2026 Grammys he holds 27 Grammys, the most for any rapper, according to the Recording Academy. He also co-founded the creative company pgLang.
Why people search his name
Fans often ask whether Lamar is his surname. It is not; his legal surname is Duckworth, and "K-Dot" was his earlier rap name.
More to know
Lamar rarely gives interviews and is known for long gaps between albums, which tends to drive sharp spikes in searches whenever new music appears. His 2024 public feud with Drake, which produced "Not Like Us," was one of the most covered music stories of the year. Biography.com reports he proposed to longtime partner Whitney Alford in 2015; they have two children.
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FAQ
What is Kendrick Lamar's real name?
Kendrick Lamar Duckworth.
What was his first rap name?
K-Dot.
Did Kendrick Lamar win a Pulitzer?
Yes, the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Music for *DAMN.*
Where is he from?
Compton, California.