Kendrick Lamar doesn't talk much. When he does, the entire music industry stops to check their notifications.
Honestly, the Kendrick Lamar Apple Music interview with Ebro Darden and Nadeska Alexis—which dropped just ahead of his massive Super Bowl LIX performance—was the moment many fans realized we aren't in the Mr. Morale era anymore. We’re in the era of the "boogeyman." He looks different. He sounds different. He even raps with a certain grit that feels less like a therapy session and more like a victory lap.
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You probably saw the clips. Kendrick sitting there, calm as ever, talking about "hard-ass beats" and why he felt the need to pivot from the vulnerability of his previous work to the West Coast aggression of GNX. It wasn't just a promotional stop. It was a manifesto.
The GNX Pivot: From Therapy to the Streets
The most striking part of the conversation was how Kendrick described his headspace between Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers and his latest album, GNX.
He basically called Mr. Morale his "cocoon." That album was dense, heavy, and deeply personal—dealing with generational trauma and his own flaws. But in the Kendrick Lamar Apple Music interview, he explained that after you go that deep into your own psyche, you eventually have to come out.
"I thought about, 'Damn, what did I like when I was a kid?'" he told Ebro. The answer? Hard raps. Beats that smack. He mentioned growing up on the DNA of DJ Quik and Dr. Dre, sounds his family played constantly. While good kid, m.A.A.d city touched on that, GNX was his way of fully embracing that "bubbling energy" he’d been suppressing.
It's a fascinating look at how an artist manages their own evolution. He didn't want to keep repeating the "intimate" storyteller role if his spirit was moving toward something more confrontational and localized. He wanted to "spread his wings" and show the world that he’s arrived at a place of total confidence.
"It's a Sport": Kendrick’s Take on the Drake Feud
You can't talk about Kendrick in 2025 without talking about the beef that redefined the genre.
Ebro didn't dance around it. He asked Kendrick if he intended to "draw a line" with his approach over the last year—a clear nod to the scorched-earth campaign against Drake. Kendrick’s response was surprisingly clinical. He views rap as a sport. Period.
He even gave a shout-out to the battle rap culture that raised him. He admitted he still watches SMACK/URL on YouTube, name-dropping legends like Murda Mook, Loaded Lux, Tay Roc, and Daylyt. To Kendrick, the "Not Like Us" era wasn't just about personal animosity; it was about the competitive nature of hip-hop. He likes it when artists "grit their teeth."
He noted that "Not Like Us" winning at the Grammys was a win for "writing." It wasn't a cinematic, high-concept song designed for the critics. It was a "straight-up rap song" that resonated because of the craft.
Super Bowl LIX and the "Storytelling" Promise
The interview served as the official press conference for the Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show. Kendrick was clear: he isn't there to just play the hits and leave. He’s there to represent the culture.
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There was a lot of noise about the Super Bowl being in New Orleans and the perceived "snub" of Lil Wayne. In the Kendrick Lamar Apple Music interview, Kendrick didn't address the controversy directly in a defensive way. Instead, he talked about his respect for the history of the game. On his track "Wacced Out Murals," he’d already mentioned that Nas was one of the few who reached out to congratulate him, and that he felt for Wayne's disappointment.
But for the show itself? He promised "storytelling."
He teased a 13-minute setlist that wouldn't just be a medley, but a narrative. We saw this play out when he eventually took the stage with SZA and Mustard, breaking the fourth wall to talk about "their favorite song" (Not Like Us) while acknowledging the legal drama surrounding it.
Why This Interview Matters for the Future of Rap
If you look at the trajectory of his career, Kendrick has always been a few steps ahead of his audience.
- Self-Discipline: He told Zane Lowe years ago (during the DAMN. era) that "self-discipline" was his favorite word.
- The Vessel: He’s always seen himself as a vessel for God or the culture, flaws and all.
- The Arrival: Now, he seems less concerned with being "liked" and more concerned with being "accurate."
The interview highlighted a man who is comfortable in his own skin. He isn't chasing a "cinematic" legacy anymore because he already has one. He’s chasing the raw feeling of being "in the now."
What We Learned from the Kendrick Lamar Apple Music Interview
The biggest takeaway for fans and creators alike is the importance of "resetting." Kendrick could have made Mr. Morale 2. He could have stayed in that lane of being the "conscious" king forever. Instead, he went back to the "basics" of hard raps and West Coast production.
It’s a reminder that authenticity isn't a static thing. It moves.
If you're looking to understand where hip-hop is heading in 2026, you have to look at Kendrick's current philosophy. It's about high-level writing paired with unapologetic energy. He’s proven that you can be the most "intellectual" rapper in the room and still make the song that every club in the world is screaming.
The next step for any fan is to revisit GNX with this interview in mind. Listen to "Reincarnated" or "Wacced Out Murals" again. You’ll hear a man who isn't just rapping; he's competing at the highest possible level of the "sport" he loves. Pay attention to how he uses the "basics" to build something entirely new.