While GQ nabbed Kanye West for their new issue, Complex has taken on West's "Yeezus" tour partner, Kendrick Lamar, as their lead for the August/September issue. Both artists are working on new albums with high expectations having been set by their respective audiences, although Kendrick doesn't reveal too much to Complex when it comes to his GKMC follow up.
Nonetheless he is apparently "flirting with ideas" when it comes to album title, and he's already recorded 30-40 songs for the new LP. He's been in the studio with TDE's in-house producers, Tae Beats and Sounwave of Digi+Phonics, as well as his Aftermath head Dr. Dre. Fans should be ready for a fourth quarter release, according to Complex.
"If I keep focusing on, ‘I need to make something better than good kid,’ it’s going to be just that," Kendrick says during the interview. "That’s not challenging yourself. I don’t want to become that person reflecting on what has been done. What I’m doing now is the question. I’m only as good as my last word, my last hook, my last bridge."
Through out their cover story on the rap wunderkid, we hear from TDE's president Punch, Nas, Dave Free (his manager), producers and more. Dave Free happens to reveal that the average Kendrick Lamar guest verse will set you back $250,000, although they once charged $400,000 (to who??). Among other interesting facts revealed in Complex's narrative: "Fuckin' Problems," A$AP Rocky's massive hit, was originally made for GKMC, but was left off because it didn't fit in.
Check out photos from the spread above, and read the full story here.
