Billboard interviewed Kendrick Lamar in the lead-up to his highly anticipated album I and, unsurprisingly, he was nothing short of interesting. Among the many topics touched upon by the West Coast rapper was creative process (he works through the night with a tight-knit group of musicians he’s dubbed “vampires”), Iggy Azalea (because Iggy opinions are like assholes…), and the end times, which—according to Lamar—are fucking nigh.
The interview is also peppered with charming quotes and anecdotes. On his humble living situation, Lamar remarks, “I could afford a lot of things. I wouldn’t know what to do with myself in a mansion.” On Taylor Swift, who once said that “Backseat Freestyle” was her personal theme song and that she wished she and Lamar were friends, he says “I thought she just liked the song. That’s a beautiful thing, Taylor Swift enjoying that song and knowing the words.” (Note: No response to her plea for friendship.)
Then, for the Left Behind crowd, he throws this one out:
Lamar, who has said that he wasn’t raised devoutly religious, fingers the small figure of Christ dangling from a chain around his neck. “We’re in the last days, man — I truly in my heart believe that. It’s written. I could go on with Biblical situations and things my grandma told me. But it’s about being at peace with myself and making good with the people around me.”
As previously mentioned, he also weighs in on the increasingly controversial Igloo Australia:
One highly debated rapper Lamar refuses to knock, even playfully: Iggy Azalea. “She’s doing her thing,” he says. “Let her. People have to go through trials and tribulations to get where they at. Do your thing, continue to rock it, because obviously God wants you here.”
The Christian god is a vengeful god. Still looking forward to I, though.
Image via Getty.
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