Kendrick Lamar in New York: A Day in the Life

Kendrick Lamar is currently hip-hop’s golden child. After signing to Dr. Dre’s Aftermath imprint, touring the country with Drake and A$AP Rocky, releasing the critically acclaimed insta-classic Good Kid, m.A.A.d City and scoring his first platinum single with "Swimming Pools," Kendrick should be kicking his feet up. But the 25-year-old MC has spent the last decade gearing up for his moment, and he isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. On "The Art of Peer Pressure," Kendrick harmonizes his mother’s words of warning: "One day it’s gon’ burn you out." But for now, the flame’s still burning bright through the January winter, ya bish. Rolling Stone hopped in the passenger seat with the young King of Compton to get a glimpse of his daily grind, and bounced through television tapings, studio sessions, shopping sprees, and radio spots – experiencing firsthand the life of a great artist and good kid. 

By Matthew Trammell