The year he turned 17, he released the mixtape Hub City Threat: Minor of the Year, which Rolling Stone says helped him land a deal with Top Dawg Entertainment. In 2007 he released Training Day and, with Jay Rock, No Sleep ’Til NYC. The year he turned 22, he released the Kendrick Lamar EP. The year he turned 23, he released OD: Overly Dedicated, and the Los Angeles Times listed him with Jay Rock, Ab-Soul and Schoolboy Q as Black Hippy. The year he turned 24, he released the independent album Section.80 on July 2.
The breakthrough yearThe year he turned 25, he signed with Interscope and Aftermath, and his major-label debut, good kid, m.A.A.d city, started at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with 241,000.
The year he turned 26, he appeared on Big Sean’s “Control,” and in December he received seven Grammy nominations. The year he turned 27, he performed “i” on Saturday Night Live in November. The year he turned 28, he won two Grammys in February, released To Pimp a Butterfly in March for his first No. 1 on the Billboard 200, and in May appeared on Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood,” a Hot 100 No. 1.
The year he turned 29, he won best rap album at the Grammys, and untitled unmastered. debuted at No. 1 in March. The year he turned 30, DAMN. debuted at No. 1 with 603,000 equivalent album units, and “HUMBLE.” became his first Hot 100 No. 1 as a lead artist. The year he turned 31, he won best rap album at the Grammys in January and the Pulitzer Prize for music in April.
The year he turned 32, he signed a long-term worldwide deal with BMI. The year he turned 33, he announced pgLang in March. The year he turned 34, he appeared on Baby Keem’s “Family Ties” in August. The year he turned 35, he performed at the Super Bowl LVI halftime show in February, and Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in May.
The year he turned 36, he won four awards at the BET Hip Hop Awards in October. The year he turned 37, “Like That” and “Not Like Us” both reached No. 1 on the Hot 100, and he released GNX in November.
The year he turned 38, “Not Like Us” won all five Grammy categories it was nominated in, and a week later he performed at the Super Bowl LIX halftime show, which Fox Sports reported drew 133.5 million viewers. The year he turned 39, he won best male hip hop artist at the BET Awards in June and BMI’s R&B/Hip-Hop Songwriter of the Year in August.
Kendrick Lamar (born Jun 17, 1987) debuted with the mixtape Hub City Threat in 2004, the year he turned 17, and became known in 2012, the year he turned 25, when his major-label debut good kid, m.A.A.d city started at No. 2 on the Billboard 200. He won the Pulitzer Prize for music in 2018, the year he turned 31.
Ages are by calendar year (the year minus the birth year), birthdays aside.
Made the tape with Dave Free, and Rolling Stone says it helped him land a deal with Top Dawg Entertainment. He has said he was 16 when he made it, though the reviewer places its finish at 17.
Source 01 · Rolling Stone · Mixtape Primer: Reviewing Kendrick Lamar’s Pre-Fame Output · opens in a new tab Rolling Stone dates the tape to 2004 or 2005; 2004 is used here.Released Training Day on Top Dawg Entertainment and No Sleep ’Til NYC, a collaborative tape with Jay Rock.
Source 01 · Rolling Stone · Mixtape Primer: Reviewing Kendrick Lamar’s Pre-Fame Output · opens in a new tabReleased the Kendrick Lamar EP on Top Dawg Entertainment.
Source 01 · Rolling Stone · Mixtape Primer: Reviewing Kendrick Lamar’s Pre-Fame Output · opens in a new tabReleased the tape OD: Overly Dedicated on Top Dawg Entertainment.
Source 01 · Rolling Stone · Mixtape Primer: Reviewing Kendrick Lamar’s Pre-Fame Output · opens in a new tabThe Los Angeles Times wrote that he, Jay Rock, Ab-Soul and Schoolboy Q were Black Hippy, and that none of them had yet seen much commercial breakthrough.
Source 02 · Los Angeles Times · Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul and Schoolboy Q form quasi-supergroup Black Hippy · opens in a new tabReleased the independent studio album Section.80 over the July 4 holiday weekend. Rolling Stone wrote that autumn that he released his music independently and had no breakout radio single.
Source 03 · XXL · Kendrick Lamar, Section.80 · opens in a new tabSource 04 · Rolling Stone · Kendrick Lamar Makes New Friends · opens in a new tabSigned a deal with Interscope and Aftermath. Billboard wrote that June that he had signed the previous March.
Source 05 · Billboard · Kendrick Lamar, A$AP Rocky Announce Album Release Dates · opens in a new tabSource 06 · Spin · Kendrick Lamar: Not Your Average Everyday Rap Savior · opens in a new tab Day not confirmed in the reports opened; Billboard gives only the month.His first major-label album started at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with 241,000. Rolling Stone later called it his breakthrough album.
Appeared on Big Sean’s 2013 single “Control.” Billboard reported that he gained more than 200,000 Twitter followers in its wake.
Source 09 · Rolling Stone · 9 Ways Kendrick Lamar’s “Control” Verse Changed the World · opens in a new tab Month not confirmed in the reports opened.Earned seven nominations for the 2014 Grammys, including album of the year and best new artist.
Source 10 · Billboard · Grammy Awards 2014: Full Nominations List · opens in a new tabPerformed “i,” the first single from his unnamed next album, on Saturday Night Live.
Source 11 · Rolling Stone · Kendrick Lamar Makes a Triumphant Return to SNL · opens in a new tabWon best rap performance and best rap song for “i” at the 57th Grammy Awards.
Source 12 · The Hollywood Reporter · Grammys 2015: Kendrick Lamar and Eminem Win Big in Rap Categories · opens in a new tabThe album, moved up from a planned March 27 date, started with 363,000 equivalent album units and gave him his first No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
Source 13 · Billboard · Kendrick Lamar Earns His First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart · opens in a new tabTaylor Swift’s “Bad Blood,” featuring Lamar, reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Source 14 · Billboard · Taylor Swift’s Bad Blood Blasts to No. 1 on Hot 100 · opens in a new tab Date is the Billboard article date.Entered the 58th Grammys with 11 nominations and won best rap album for To Pimp a Butterfly, plus best rap performance and best rap song for “Alright.”
Source 15 · Rolling Stone · Grammy Awards 2016: The Complete Winners List · opens in a new tabThe project, released without advance notice on March 4, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 178,000 equivalent album units.
Source 16 · Billboard · Kendrick Lamar’s Surprise Untitled Project Debuts at No. 1 · opens in a new tab Date is the Billboard article date.DAMN. started at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 603,000 equivalent album units, the biggest week for an album in 2017 up to that point.
Source 17 · Billboard · Kendrick Lamar Earns Third No. 1 Album With Biggest Debut of 2017 · opens in a new tab Date is the Billboard article date.“HUMBLE.” rose to No. 1 on the Hot 100, his first as a lead artist, while all 14 tracks from DAMN. charted on the Hot 100.
Source 18 · Billboard · Kendrick Lamar’s Humble. Hits No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 · opens in a new tabSource 19 · Billboard · Kendrick Lamar Charts All 14 Tracks From DAMN. on Hot 100 · opens in a new tab Date is the Billboard article date.Won best rap album for DAMN., best rap performance and best rap song for “HUMBLE.,” and best rap/sung performance for “LOYALTY.” with Rihanna.
Source 20 · The New York Times · Grammy Winners 2018 · opens in a new tabWon the Pulitzer Prize for music for DAMN., the first winner from outside classical or jazz, according to the Associated Press.
Source 21 · The Associated Press · Commercial and critical darling Kendrick Lamar wins Pulitzer · opens in a new tabSigned a long-term worldwide deal with BMI to represent his catalog.
Source 22 · Variety · Kendrick Lamar Signs With BMI · opens in a new tabAnnounced pgLang, a multilingual, artist-friendly service company, on social media.
Source 23 · Billboard · Kendrick Lamar Announces Mysterious pgLang Project · opens in a new tabAppeared on “Family Ties,” a single by his cousin Baby Keem.
Source 24 · NME · Kendrick Lamar returns on collaboration with Baby Keem, Family Ties · opens in a new tabPerformed in the halftime show with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and 50 Cent.
Source 25 · Rolling Stone · Dr. Dre Leads One of the All-Time Great Super Bowl Halftime Shows · opens in a new tabWon best rap performance with Baby Keem for “Family Ties.”
Source 26 · Pitchfork · Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar Win Best Rap Performance for Family Ties · opens in a new tabThe album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 295,500 equivalent album units, and all 18 of its songs charted on the Hot 100.
Source 27 · Billboard · Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 · opens in a new tabSource 28 · Billboard · Kendrick Lamar Charts All 18 Songs From Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers on Hot 100 · opens in a new tab Date is the Billboard article date.Won hip hop artist of the year, best live performer, lyricist of the year and, with Dave Free, video director of the year.
Source 30 · Billboard · Kendrick Lamar Wins 4 Awards at the 2023 BET Hip Hop Awards · opens in a new tabHis feature on Future and Metro Boomin’s “Like That” debuted at No. 1 on the Hot 100, his third Hot 100 leader.
Source 31 · Billboard · Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar’s Like That Debuts at No. 1 · opens in a new tab Date is the Billboard article date.“Not Like Us” launched at No. 1 on the Hot 100, his fourth Hot 100 No. 1.
Source 32 · Billboard · Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us Blasts In at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 · opens in a new tab Date is the Billboard article date.Released the 12-track GNX without warning. It debuted atop the Billboard 200 with 319,000 units.
Source 33 · Billboard · Greatest Pop Stars of 2024: No. 1, Kendrick Lamar · opens in a new tab“Not Like Us” won all five categories it was nominated in at the 2025 Grammys.
Source 34 · Grammy.com · 2025 GRAMMYs: See the Full Winners & Nominees List · opens in a new tabPerformed a 13-minute set at the Super Bowl LIX halftime show. Fox Sports reported 133.5 million viewers, more than for any earlier halftime show.
Source 35 · theScore · Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show is most-watched ever · opens in a new tab“Luther” with SZA logged a 13th consecutive week at No. 1 on the Hot 100, one of 15 songs to lead that long since 1958.
Source 36 · Billboard · Kendrick Lamar & SZA’s Luther Rules Billboard Hot 100 for 13th Week · opens in a new tab Date is the Billboard article date.Won best male hip hop artist and, with Clipse, best collaboration for “Chains & Whips.”
Source 37 · Variety · BET Awards 2026: Teyana Taylor, Clipse, Kendrick Lamar Among Top Winners · opens in a new tabNamed R&B/Hip-Hop Songwriter of the Year at the BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards; “Luther” was Song of the Year.
Source 38 · XXL · Kendrick Lamar Named R&B/Hip-Hop Songwriter of the Year at 2026 BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards · opens in a new tabChartData reported that the 2025 Grand National Tour grossed $390.7 million from 2.037 million tickets across 47 shows, the highest-grossing touring year by a rapper.
Source 39 · XXL · Kendrick Lamar Earns Highest-Grossing Touring Year by a Rapper in History · opens in a new tab Date is the day ChartData announced the figures, per XXL.END OF SELECTED RECORDSSelected records, 2004–2026 · not a complete list of work. “Key moment” is an editorial label, not a measure of success.
What did they do, and at what age?
AgeTrail lines up the key moments of a life by age.
Debut and breakthrough are marked separately, and every record has a source.
Music · United States
Jun 17, 1987 —
Ages are counted from the birth year 1987: the year of the event minus 1987, birthdays aside. “Key moment” labels and the connecting story are AgeTrail's editorial reading.
Fact-checked: 2026.09.30 · An independent archive, not affiliated with the person or their agency.