E-40 Knew Kendrick Lamar Was A Star, Praises Him & Jay Rock

BY Erika Marie 4.4K Views
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E-40, Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock,TDE
The Bay Area icon recalled being on the road with the rappers over 10 years ago & praised them for working as a TDE team.

We're not sure how much longer we'll have to wait for the next Kendrick Lamar album, but the Los Angeles rapper seems to be taking his time. The Top Dawg Entertainment star last released Damn back in 2017, and the critically-acclaimed project still has fans talking today. K-Dot is an artist who stays out of the spotlight and minds his business, amassing respect from his millions of fans and fellow artists alike. Rapper E-40 sang Kendrick's praises as he took a walk down memory lane and revisited touring with Lamar over a decade ago.

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"Everybody you can name. We was all one big—two and a half months," E-40 told HipHopDX. "Just every day, I would open up the studio after I performed or before and after. I have a portable studio so I have it on my tour bus or I have it in the room. I get a suite. Kendrick could hang out with me, him and Jay Rock, all of us. We really hung, real tough. And this is 2010, feel me?"

"This how you know they some real dudes. Kendrick was opening up, not opening up, but being Jay Rock's support," he added. "We all knew Kendrick was raw, but he was his support. And he never hated, he was right there on stage with him. Never hated. To see Kendrick blossom and now Jay Rock not hating on him, then next thing you know, Jay Rock end up getting him a big one [with 'Win']."

E-40 emphasized how the TDE artists are "teamwork make the dream work"-orientated while praising the evolution of the Los Angeles-based label. When asked if he saw K-Dot as a star back in those days, E-40 said there were "no ifs, ands, or buts," about the rapper's star power. "I knew it."

"He might seem quiet, but that's a little—that mothaf*cka got hella character to him. He know how to act and all that. You seen him on Power," said 40. Check out the Bay Area legend's clip below and let us know if you think the Kendrick Lamar praise is well-deserved.


About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.