Kendrick Lamar Duckworth (born June 17, 1987) is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer. He is regarded by many critics and contemporaries as one of the most influential hip hop artists of his generation, and often cited as one of the greatest rappers of all time. Aside from his solo career, Lamar is also known as a member of the hip hop supergroup Black Hippy, alongside his TDE label-mates Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, and Schoolboy Q.