Photo of Kendrick Lamar
Photo: Fuzheado · CC BY-SA 4.0

Solo Artist

Kendrick Lamar

Active2003-present
OriginCompton, California, U.S.
Albums6
Tracks88

Most frequent collaborator: Sounwave  ·  51 tracks

Hip-HopWest Coast Hip-HopConscious Hip-HopAlternative RapJazz Rap
99%
Authorship
Complete Artist

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.

Metro Boomin0%
Britney Spears32%
Rihanna44%
TLC59%
Destiny's Child69%
Kesha77%
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
S51 MS45 SD14 TM13 B13 DD12

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. S Sounwave · MS Mark Spears · SD Sam Dew · TM Terrace Martin · B Bekon · DD DJ Dahi

The Writers & Producers Behind Kendrick Lamar 6 key collaborators

S
Sounwave
Producer & Songwriter
Section.80 / good kid, m.A.A.d city / To Pimp a Butterfly / DAMN.51 tracks
MS
Mark Spears
Songwriter
Section.80 / good kid, m.A.A.d city / To Pimp a Butterfly / DAMN.45 tracks
SD
Sam Dew
Songwriter
Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers / GNX14 tracks
TM
Terrace Martin
Songwriter & Producer
Section.80 / good kid, m.A.A.d city / To Pimp a Butterfly / DAMN.13 tracks
B
Bekon
Producer
DAMN. / Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers13 tracks
DD
DJ Dahi
Producer & Songwriter
good kid, m.A.A.d city / DAMN. / Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers / GNX12 tracks

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