"I Want Them All": Kendrick Lamar Dishes On His Grammy Win Wishes...

The New York Times Interviews Kendrick Lamar About Grammy Expectations And His Influence

Kendrick Lamar sat down with the New York Times to speak about his feelings on his noble 11 Grammy nods, his influence on the culture and the President Of the United States liking his music. Read some interesting excerpts below.

Via NY Times

Eleven nominations is one fewer than Michael Jackson’s record.

I’m still soaking that all in. Michael will forever be the greatest. I’m glad it was at 11. I would never want to even think about putting myself on the same level as Michael, simply because I haven’t put in the work that he did. It couldn’t be a better number.

Is there one award you want to win above all?

Ultimately, for the hip-hop community, I would love for us to win them all. Because we deserve that. Period.

A hip-hop album winning those general interest categories would be a statement.

I want all of them. Because it’s not only a statement for myself, but it’s a statement for the culture. They’re all important, because of the foundation the forefathers laid before me. Nas didn’t get a chance to be in that position. Pac. So to be acknowledged and to actually win, it’s for all of them.

When did you realize that “Alright” was becoming an anthem for Black Lives Matter?

When I’d go in certain parts of the world, and they were singing it in the streets. When it’s outside of the concerts, then you know it’s a little bit more deep-rooted than just a song. It’s more than just a piece of a record. It’s something that people live by — your words.

Did you expect it to connect on that level?

Definitely. Simple phrase: We gon’ be alright. It’s a chant of hope and feeling. I credit that to Pharrell, for being able to present an arrangement and to inspire me to do a record like that. Immediately, I knew the potential.

President Obama said “How Much a Dollar Cost” was his favorite song of the year. Did you know before everyone else, or did you find out from People magazine?

I found out when everyone else found out. It’s crazy. That’s one of my favorite records, too. A lot of times we forget that people in higher places are human. To hear that he liked the same kick drums and the same snares that I like, it just makes him that much more relatable as a person, rather than just a president.

How many Grammy’s out of the 11 do you think he will actually take home?