Kendrick Lamar

Solo Artist

Photo: Fuzheado · CC BY-SA 4.0
Active 2003-present
Origin Compton, California
Albums 6
Tracks 88
Most frequent collaborator Sounwave · 51 tracks
Genres Hip HopWest Coast Hip HopConscious Hip HopAlternative RapJazz Rap
Complete Artist
99%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 87 of 88 tracks

Did Kendrick Lamar write his own songs?

Yes. Kendrick Lamar writes the lyrics on 99% of his tracks and is deeply involved in every part of his music. He is the author of songs like 'Alright,' 'HUMBLE.,' and 'Money Trees.' Because hip-hop production is collaborative, nearly every track also credits producers and sample writers, above all his longtime collaborator Sounwave, so the songs read as co-written even though Kendrick is the lyricist.

By the Numbers

6
Studio Albums
88
Tracks Credited
99%
Self-Written
23
Years Active
317
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 87 / 88 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 88 tracks: how many Kendrick Lamar wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

Kendrick Lamar has a writing credit99%
99%
1%
Sole author0tracks0%
Co-written87tracks99%
Outside writers1tracks1%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
Kendrick Lamar's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 88 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)99%
Composer (music)99%
Producer2%
Performer57%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

Kendrick Lamar's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 99%
100%
100%
100%
100%
94%
100%
2011Section.80
2012good kid, m.A.A.d city
2015To Pimp a Butterfly
2017DAMN.
2022Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
2024GNX
Early · 100% written
Mid · 100% written
Late · 97% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

100%
2010s
Section.80, good kid, m.A.A.d city +2 more
97%
2020s
Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, GNX

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where Kendrick Lamar sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

Kendrick Lamar
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

EXO8%
The Pussycat Dolls21%
Salt-N-Pepa35%
Rihanna44%
TLC59%
Destiny's Child69%
Chris Brown91%
99%Kendrick Lamar
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

Swimming Pools (Drank)
good kid, m.A.A.d city
Written by Kendrick Lamar, Tyler Williams, Kendrick Duckworth
Co-wrote
Poetic Justice
good kid, m.A.A.d city
Written by Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Elijah Molina, James Harris, Janet Jackson, Terry Lewis, Kendrick Duckworth, Aubrey Graham
Co-wrote
Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe
good kid, m.A.A.d city
Written by Kendrick Lamar, Sounwave, Robin Braun, Vindahl Friis, Lykke Schmidt, Kendrick Duckworth, Mark Spears
Co-wrote
i
To Pimp a Butterfly
Written by Kendrick Lamar, Rahki, Ronald Isley, O'Kelly Isley Jr., Ernie Isley, Marvin Isley, Rudolph Isley, Christopher Jasper, Kendrick Duckworth, Columbus Smith
Co-wrote
King Kunta
To Pimp a Butterfly
Written by Kendrick Lamar, Sounwave, Johnny Burns, Michael Jackson, Ahmad Lewis, Redfoo, Kendrick Duckworth, Mark Spears, Stefan Gordy
Co-wrote
Alright
To Pimp a Butterfly
Written by Kendrick Lamar, Sounwave, Pharrell Williams, Kendrick Duckworth, Mark Spears
Co-wrote
These Walls
To Pimp a Butterfly
Written by Kendrick Lamar, Terrace Martin, Rose McKinney, Larrance Dopson, James Fauntleroy, Kendrick Duckworth
Co-wrote
HUMBLE.
DAMN.
Written by Kendrick Lamar, Mike Will Made-It, Asheton Hogan, Kendrick Duckworth, Michael Williams II
Co-wrote
LOYALTY.
DAMN.
Written by Kendrick Lamar, DJ Dahi, Sounwave, Rihanna, Terrace Martin, Anthony Tiffith, Bruno Mars, Philip Lawrence, Christopher Brody Brown, Ol' Dirty Bastard, RZA, Jay-Z, Malik Cox, Snoop Dogg, Ricardo Thomas, Kendrick Duckworth, Dacoury Natche, Mark Spears, Robyn Fenty, Peter Gene Hernandez, Russell Jones, Robert Diggs, Shawn Carter, Calvin Broadus
Co-wrote
LOVE.
DAMN.
Written by Kendrick Lamar, Zacari Pacaldo, Travis Walton, Sounwave, Greg Kurstin, Anthony Tiffith, Kendrick Duckworth, Mark Spears
Co-wrote
N95
Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
Written by Kendrick Lamar, Sam Dew, Boi-1da, Sounwave, Jahaan Sweet, Baby Keem, Kendrick Duckworth, Matthew Samuels, Mark Spears, Hykeem Carter
Co-wrote
Squabble Up
GNX
Written by Kendrick Lamar, Sounwave, Jack Antonoff, Scott Bridgeway, Tony Butler, Kendrick Duckworth, Mark Spears
Co-wrote
Luther
GNX
Written by Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Sounwave, Jack Antonoff, Scott Bridgeway, Kamasi Washington, Matthew Bernard, Roshwita Bacha, Atia Boggs, Sam Dew, Marvin Gaye, Kendrick Duckworth, Solána Rowe, Mark Spears
Co-wrote
TV Off
GNX
Written by Kendrick Lamar, Franklin Holladay, Sounwave, Jack Antonoff, Mustard, Kamasi Washington, Sean Momberger, Larry Sanders, Jimmy Webb, John Barry, The Notorious B.I.G., Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Christopher Martin, Kendrick Duckworth, Mark Spears, Dijon McFarlane, Christopher Wallace, Jalacy Hawkins
Co-wrote

Discography 6 albums

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Kendrick Lamar88 tracks
S51Sounwave, 51 tracks 14Sam Dew, 14 tracks 13Terrace Martin, 13 tracks B13Bekon, 13 tracks DD12DJ Dahi, 12 tracks 11Jack Antonoff, 11 tracks JP9Jason Pounds, 9 tracks JL9J. Lbs, 9 tracks DT8Daniel Tannenbaum, 8 tracks AW7Anna Wise, 7 tracks T7Thundercat, 7 tracks AT7Anthony Tiffith, 7 tracks TD7Top Dawg, 7 tracks M6M-Tech, 6 tracks RR5Ricci Riera, 5 tracks TB5Tae Beast, 5 tracks MS5Matt Schaeffer, 5 tracks JK5Johnny Kosich, 5 tracks JK5Jake Kosich, 5 tracks BN5Beach Noise, 5 tracks AM4Axel Morgan, 4 tracks T4THC, 4 tracks DP4Donte Perkins, 4 tracks PW4Pharrell Williams, 4 tracks RM4Rose McKinney, 4 tracks DT4Duval Timothy, 4 tracks TM4Timothy Maxey, 4 tracks O4Oklama, 4 tracks TM4Tim Maxey, 4 tracks BK4Baby Keem, 4 tracks TM4Tyler Mehlenbacher, 4 tracks CB4Craig Balmoris, 4 tracks TB3Tommy Black, 3 tracks J3JMSN, 3 tracks TA3Taz Arnold, 3 tracks B3Boi-1da, 3 tracks MS3Matthew Samuels, 3 tracks MW3Mike Will Made-It, 3 tracks MW3Michael Williams II, 3 tracks MW3Mike Will Made It, 3 tracks SB3Scott Bridgeway, 3 tracks FH2Fredrik Halldin, 2 tracks WB2Willie B, 2 tracks SQ2ScHoolboy Q, 2 tracks CH2Chad Hugo, 2 tracks R2Rahki, 2 tracks CS2Columbus Smith, 2 tracks B2Bilal, 2 tracks SD2Snoop Dogg, 2 tracks JF2James Fauntleroy, 2 tracks JL2Josef Leimberg, 2 tracks RI2Ronald Isley, 2 tracks L2LoveDragon, 2 tracks TW2Teddy Walton, 2 tracks TA2The Alchemist, 2 tracks RL2Ronald LaTour, 2 tracks C2Cardo, 2 tracks JS2Jahaan Sweet, 2 tracks VE2Victor Ekpo, 2 tracks KB2Kodak Black, 2 tracks BK2Bill Kapri, 2 tracks FH2Frano Huett, 2 tracks F2Frano, 2 tracks TB2Tobias Breuer, 2 tracks R2Rascal, 2 tracks DK2Daniel Krieger, 2 tracks SG2Sergiu Gherman, 2 tracks TR2Tyler Reese, 2 tracks S2SZA, 2 tracks KW2Kamasi Washington, 2 tracks MB2Matthew Bernard, 2 tracks AB2Atia Boggs, 2 tracks M2Mustard, 2 tracks DM2Dijon McFarlane, 2 tracks SM2Sean Momberger, 2 tracks MM1Matthew Martin, 1 track CM1Colin Munroe, 1 track G1GLC, 1 track GL1Greg Lawtie-Campbell, 1 track WB1William Brown, 1 track QH1Quincy Hanley, 1 track DF1Dave Free, 1 track A1Ashtrobot, 1 track ER1Eric Reed, 1 track WC1Wyatt Coleman, 1 track W1Wyldfyer, 1 track BT1BJ the Chicago Kid, 1 track ME1Missy Elliott, 1 track T1Timbaland, 1 track ME1Melissa Elliott, 1 track TM1Timothy Mosley, 1 track A1Ab-Soul, 1 track HS1Herbert Stevens, 1 track JC1J. Cole, 1 track CW1Christopher Whitacre, 1 track JH1Justin Henderson, 1 track TB1Tha Bizness, 1 track RB1Robin Braun, 1 track VF1Vindahl Friis, 1 track LS1Lykke Schmidt, 1 track CH1Chauncey Hollis Jr., 1 track H1Hit-Boy, 1 track JV1Jonas Vestergaard, 1 track RR1Rune Rask, 1 track T1Tabu, 1 track JR1Jay Rock, 1 track VL1Victoria Legrand, 1 track AS1Alex Scally, 1 track JM1Johnny McKinzie Jr., 1 track D1Drake, 1 track EM1Elijah Molina, 1 track JH1James Harris, 1 track JJ1Janet Jackson, 1 track TL1Terry Lewis, 1 track AG1Aubrey Graham, 1 track on Drake's page SD1Scoop DeVille, 1 track ME1MC Eiht, 1 track AT1Aaron Tyler, 1 track TW1Tyler Williams, 1 track T1T-Minus, 1 track GS1Gabe Stevenson, 1 track DH1Derrick Hutchins, 1 track QJ1Quincy Jones, 1 track AB1Alan Bergman, 1 track MB1Marilyn Bergman, 1 track L1Like, 1 track SH1Skhye Hutch, 1 track CD1Camille Davis, 1 track SJ1Sly Jordan, 1 track JS1Justin Smith, 1 track CR1Charles Richard Cason, 1 track JB1Just Blaze, 1 track DD1Dr. Dre, 1 track GC1George Clinton, 1 track FL1Flying Lotus, 1 track RC1Ronald Colson, 1 track BG1Boris Gardiner, 1 track SE1Steven Ellison, 1 track F1Flippa, 1 track JB1Johnny Burns, 1 track MJ1Michael Jackson, 1 track AL1Ahmad Lewis, 1 track R1Redfoo, 1 track SG1Stefan Gordy, 1 track SB1Sam Barsh, 1 track LD1Larrance Dopson, 1 track MB1Michael Brown, 1 track W1Whoarei, 1 track GB1Glen Boothe, 1 track SS1Sly Stone, 1 track

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. Showing the 150 most frequent of 308. S Sounwave · B Bekon · DD DJ Dahi

Photo credits

Portraits in the web and the rail come from Wikimedia Commons. The artist's own photo carries its credit under the picture.

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

Lamar is the sole or primary lyricist on virtually all his output. Hip-hop production credits in this database reflect the Wikipedia songwriter/producer listings, which often include sample interpolation credits alongside beat producers. Where Wikipedia credits use the legal name 'Duckworth,' this file uses 'Kendrick Lamar.' Stage names for other credited artists are preserved where they match other database entries (e.g., Drake, Rihanna, SZA); publishing-registered legal names are used elsewhere (e.g., Mark Spears for Sounwave, Dacoury Natche for DJ Dahi).

Quick Facts

  • Pulitzer PrizeThe first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music, for DAMN. (2018)
  • GrammysHas won 27 Grammy Awards, the most of any rapper
  • Not Like UsHis 2024 diss track won five Grammys, including Record and Song of the Year
  • Super BowlHeadlined the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show, the most-watched in history
  • StreamingThe first rapper to pass 100 million monthly listeners on Spotify

Creative Fingerprint

A rapper in full control of his art: Kendrick Lamar writes the lyrics on 99% of his tracks and is deeply involved in the production, though nearly every song carries co-writers, especially his longtime producer Sounwave and a bench of beatmakers.

The Story

Kendrick Lamar Duckworth is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer from Compton, California. Widely regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time, he is known for his complex lyrics, vivid storytelling, and genre-defying production. He signed to Top Dawg Entertainment as a teenager and rose to mainstream prominence with his 2012 major-label debut. In 2018, he became the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music, awarded for DAMN. (2017). His catalogue spans socially conscious hip-hop, jazz-influenced experimentation, funk, and West Coast tradition.

Awards & Recognition

The first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music, for DAMN. (2018)
Has won 27 Grammy Awards, the most of any rapper
'Not Like Us' won five Grammys in 2025, including Record and Song of the Year
Headlined the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show, the most-watched in history with 133.5 million viewers
Widely regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time

Frequently Asked Questions Kendrick Lamar

Did Kendrick Lamar write his own songs?
Yes. Kendrick Lamar writes the lyrics on 99% of his tracks and is deeply involved in every part of his music. He is the author of songs like 'Alright,' 'HUMBLE.,' and 'Money Trees.' Because hip-hop production is collaborative, nearly every track also credits producers and sample writers, above all his longtime collaborator Sounwave, so the songs read as co-written even though Kendrick is the lyricist.
Who wrote 'HUMBLE.'?
'HUMBLE.' (2017) was written by Kendrick Lamar with producer Mike Will Made It, who made the beat. Kendrick wrote all the lyrics. It was one of the biggest songs from his Pulitzer-winning album DAMN.
Did Kendrick Lamar write 'Not Like Us'?
Yes. 'Not Like Us' (2024) was written by Kendrick Lamar, with production by Mustard. His diss track against Drake became a cultural phenomenon and won five Grammys, including Record and Song of the Year.
Who produces Kendrick Lamar's music?
His most frequent collaborator is Sounwave, who has produced for him since 2009. He also works with DJ Dahi, Mike Will Made It, and others, and Kendrick is involved in the mixing and mastering himself.
Did Kendrick Lamar win a Pulitzer Prize?
Yes. In 2018 he won the Pulitzer Prize for Music for his album DAMN., becoming the first musician outside classical and jazz to receive the honor.
How many albums has Kendrick Lamar released?
This catalogue covers 6 of his projects, from Section.80 (2011) and good kid, m.A.A.d city (2012) to Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers (2022) and GNX (2024).
How many Grammys has Kendrick Lamar won?
27 Grammy Awards, the most of any rapper in history.
What is Kendrick Lamar's most acclaimed album?
To Pimp a Butterfly (2015) and DAMN. (2017) are his most acclaimed. DAMN. won the Pulitzer Prize, and both are widely ranked among the greatest hip-hop albums.
Who wrote 'Alright'?
'Alright' (2015) was written by Kendrick Lamar with producers Pharrell Williams and Sounwave. It became a protest anthem and one of the defining songs of To Pimp a Butterfly.
What genre is Kendrick Lamar?
He is a hip-hop artist rooted in West Coast rap, known for conscious, socially aware lyrics and for blending in jazz, funk, and soul, especially on To Pimp a Butterfly.

Sources

Wikipedia: Kendrick Lamar