Why is Kendrick Lamar called Kdot? Drake’s rap rival’s nickname explained

KENDRICK Lamar is causing a stir as the boils.

But there are some facts about the Compton-raised lyricist that are not as well known.

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Why is Kendrick Lamar called Kdot?

Lamar originally went by "K.Dot" as a mixtape rapper when he was still in high school.

It was under this stage name he began making waves in South Central LA, engaging in freestyles and rap battles.

He released multiple mixtapes as K.Dot from 2003-09, often freestyle rapping over popular tracks.

Why did Kendrick Lamar change his name?

After a six-year stint as K.Dot, the 17-time Grammy Award winner adopted Kendrick Lamar as his new stage name.

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He told HardKnock TV in 2011: “The name change was just me basically developing myself.

"When people heard the name K-Dot, they were like, ‘The kid is dope, he can rap; but who is he?’ That went on for years—just another kid in the streets that can rap good, right?

"So I was like, you know what? I want people to know who I am as a person and what I represent."

What is Kendrick Lamar's real name?

His full name is Kendrick Lamar Duckworth.

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He is the son of Kenny Duckworth, and is said to be named after Eddie Kendricks from 1960s R&B group The Temptations.

Lamar pays tribute to his surname in the final track of 2017 album Damn, telling stories of his father in a four-minute song titled Duckworth.

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