Kendrick Lamar's Record Label: Which Company Has Signed the Rapper?

Kendrick Lamar's Record Label: Which Company Has Signed the Rapper?

By Marcus Hartley

December 3, 2024 at 06:41 PM

Kendrick Lamar is primarily signed to Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) and Aftermath Entertainment, with distribution through Interscope Records. He first signed with TDE in 2005, which marked the beginning of his professional music career.

In 2012, Lamar expanded his record label affiliations by signing a joint venture deal with Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records, while maintaining his original deal with TDE. This partnership has proven instrumental in his mainstream success, combining the independent spirit of TDE with the major-label resources of Aftermath and Interscope.

Through these label partnerships, Kendrick has released several critically acclaimed albums including:

- good kid, m.A.A.d city (2012)
- To Pimp a Butterfly (2015)
- DAMN. (2017)
- Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers (2022)

In 2022, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers marked Lamar's final album release under Top Dawg Entertainment. Following this, he launched his own creative company and record label called pgLang in 2020, which he co-founded with Dave Free. While pgLang represents Lamar's newest venture, it's important to note that his music distribution still involves Interscope Records.

The multi-label arrangement has been crucial to Kendrick's success, combining TDE's artistic nurturing, Aftermath's industry expertise, and Interscope's global distribution network. This structure has allowed him to maintain creative control while accessing major label resources, contributing to his position as one of hip-hop's most influential artists.

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