artistry

Kendrick Lamar & Tems Discuss Artistry, Mental Health, And More In Powerful New Interview

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When it comes to artist interviews, some of the best are usually done by their contemporaries, or at least others who are familiar with the workings of their industry. Interview Magazine is notorious for pairing the perfect celebrities together, most recently nabbing Kendrick Lamar to chat with Nigerian superstar Tems ahead of her debut album. The pair discussed everything from staying sane while in the studio to other creatives who have influenced them in the powerful new conversation.

“I’m not sure when the first time I heard music was, but I found myself loving the radio, and I used to hear Celine Dion. Nigerians love Celine Dion,” the 28-year-old shared with the DAMN hitmaker. “Her songs are very emotional, jump-off-a-cliff type songs. They entered my soul. I think that’s where my love for music started.” Elsewhere, Tems mentioned buying a fake Destiny’s Child CD as a core memory from her youth, noting that it didn’t take long before she learned all 30 songs on the project.

Read More: Tems Claps Back At Critics Slamming Her New Cover Shoot: “Not Your Christian Saviour”

Tems Reveals Her Early Musical Influences

As her star continues to shine brighter, the African songbird noted that she wants to remain grounded in her roots. “You have to remember how you felt when you started as an artist, to understand the reason you’re doing what you’re doing,” Tems insisted. “Yes, it’s to be seen, or to make a name for yourself, but beyond that, why are you doing it? Most of the time it’s because you have a story to share, a message to give.”

Lamar had plenty of wisdom to contribute to the conversation as well, notably crediting Curtis Jackson with making him look at things differently in one of the New Yorker’s past interviews. “I’ve always studied 50 Cent’s music and watched his interviews, and someone asked if he was a conscious artist,” the Pulitzer Prize winner reflected. “He said, ‘Yeah, I’m a conscious artist because I have a conscience.’”

Read More: 50 Cent Explains The Difference Between Him & Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar Gives 50 Cent His Flowers

“That s**t blew me away. It gave me a different perspective – 50 drops a lot of jewels that give me perspective, but that one right there gave me a sense of, okay, a lot of artists live and know how to project duality. That’s the true gift because that’s what life is about in its wholeness,” Lamar told Tems of Fif’s perspective. Read their full Interview Magazine story here, and check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.

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The post Kendrick Lamar & Tems Discuss Artistry, Mental Health, And More In Powerful New Interview appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

LL COOL J Says Being Sampled By The Notorious B.I.G. & Rick Ross Makes Him A “True Artist”

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LL COOL J says that The Notorious B.I.G. and Rick Ross having sampled him solidified his legacy as a “true artist.” The legendary rapper explained why he feels this is the case during an interview with Big Boy’s Neighborhood. Biggie’s 1997 track “Going Back to Cali,” samples LL COOL J’s song of the same name, while Rick Ross’ 2006 song, “I’m Bad,” also samples an LL COOL J song of the same name. Ross also sampled “I Need Love” for 2010’s “Aston Martin Music.”

“I love it,” he said when asked about Biggie’s Life After Death song. “I used to play it all the time, I loved it. Going going, back back, to Cali. I love it. He name-dropped me. I mean, Rick Ross did ‘I’m Bad’ over on one of his albums early on, that’s part of it.”

LL COOL J At The Grammys

LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 15: Host LL Cool J speaks onstage during The 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 15, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

He continued: “Look, being used as source material is the stamp of you being a true artist. When other artists use you as source material. You know what I’m saying? When they use you for inspiration, that’s showing that you’ve really touched the world. And the beauty of it is, is when you really know it’s deep is when other people don’t even know that they’ve utilized you for source material. So I can sit there and watch a kid listening to ‘Going Back to Cali’ by Biggie and just sit there and say to myself, ‘Wow, I did that.’ That’s an incredible feeling because there’s something beautiful about the fact that you inspired another artist and they’re touching fans with utilizing you as inspiration.”

The interview comes as LL COOL J prepares to embark on his F.O.R.C.E. Tour. For his first arena tour in 30 years. he’ll be teaming up with The Roots, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and DJ Z-Trip. The shows will run all over North America from June through September.

LL COOL J On “Big Boy’s Neighborhood”

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