'The New King of the West Coast': Rapper Kendrick Lamar's critically acclaimed debut album lands at no.2 on the Billboard chart

PUBLISHED: 06:32 EST, 2 November 2012 | UPDATED: 08:41 EST, 2 November 2012

Ready to take the crown: Rapper Kendrick Lamar's debut album has debut at no. 2 on the Billboard chart

He's received plaudits in the world of music from the likes of Lil' Wayne, Pharrell Williams and Lady Gaga.

And now Kendrick Lamar has been granted the ultimate praise with his album, good kid, m.A.A.d city, debuting at number two on the Billboard's Top 200 albums chart.

The 25-year-old rapper, who was dubbed the New King of the West Coast by Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Game, also managed to top both the R&B/Hip-Hop and rap albums by shifting 241,000 units in his first week.

Speaking to the Huffington Post , Kendrick revealed that prior to the release of his first album on a major label he believed that the LP needed more songs.

However, when he submitted the record to his mentor Dr. Dre, real name Andre Young, the legendary producer told him it was ready for the world.

Lamar said: 'When I brought it back to him, he said, "You know what, you're done. This is a classic for your generation and time, and we're going to put this out now."'

Kendrick was born in Compton, California and released his first independent mixtape in at the age of 16 in 2003 which led to him bagging a record deal with Top Dawg Entertainment.

With three more mixtapes under his belt, Lamar gained the attention of Dr. Dre who requested to work with him and eventually signed him to Aftermath Entertainment in a joint venture deal with Top Dawg and Interscope Records in March 2012.

Talking about his recent success he said: 'I'm sure half of the industry probably thought an underground artist or a person with content and substance would probably not see numbers like that.'

Kendrick's album placed second on the Top 200 behind Taylor Swift's offering Red which sold 1.208million copies in its first week on the shelves.

Critically acclaimed: The 25-year-old topped both the R&B/Hip-Hop and rap albums by shifting 241,000 units

Last month, Lady Gaga released a new track, entitled Partynauseous, on which she collaborated with the Swimming Pools rapper Lamar.

Announcing the news in August, she tweeted: 'I am so excited to announce that a record I've been working on has now become a collaboration with Kendrick Lamar for HIS ALBUM (sic).

'Kendrick Lamar and I are dropping the record September 6. It's called 'Partynauseous'.'

Gaga explained her part of the song would be based on an incident earlier this year, when she was banned from performing in Jakarta, Indonesia, on her Born This Way Ball tour after hardline extremists in the Muslim country complained her sexy clothes and dance routines would corrupt young people.

She added: 'I wrote "PARTYNAUSEOUS" about Jakarta, and my relationship with that country (sic).

'Wishing I could "get high with the enemy" and make peace (sic). Once @kendricklamar + I started talking about life + his forward thinking views about love + hip hop, the song became something more (sic).'

Fans in high places: Kendrick has worked with Lady Gaga, Drake and Rick Ross, to name a few

Along with the Judas singer, Kendrick has worked with Rick Ross, Drake and Busta Rhymes.

On November 12, Kendrick will be taking to the stage at the O2 Academy Brixton as part of BBC Radio 1Xtra Live London.

Following on from that in January 2013, he will also be touring the UK.

Including a show at the Hammersmith Apollo on January, which is sure to be a sold out performance.

Add your comments

Comments (40)

The comments below have not been moderated.

View all

But is it better than public enemy's second album? "It Takes a nation of millions to hold us back"..the greatest rap album ever made.

- Funklord , Forest gate, 02/11/2012 21:18

Click to rate Rating 6

Well done GM . P.at only a soulless person would not understand rap.

- Eva , London, United Kingdom, 02/11/2012 19:48

Click to rate Rating 4

And he deserves it! I've been a fan of him for a while and I'm happy his getting the recognition he deserves, his lyrically better then so many of those so called hip-hop artists such as Lil Wayne who have ruined hip-hip! Kendrick is real hip-hop and deserves everything what comes his way and he still stays humble over his success

- Rachael , London, 02/11/2012 18:36

Click to rate Rating 24

WACK

- ordinary , cambridge, 02/11/2012 18:18

Click to rate Rating 30

Rap has a letter missing at the front 'C' - pat, bucks, United Kingdom, 2/11/2012 17:50 Pat, your name has a missing "r" after the "P".

- GM , Godalming, 02/11/2012 18:04

Click to rate Rating 66

Truly an incredible. Probably the best hip hop album of the year, if not THE best album of the year in all genres, the only competition I see is Frank Ocean's debut. I hate the term "real hip hop" but this certainly brings back the old reminisces of genuine lyrical music with real heart and soul behind it. This is possibly the best hip hop debut since Game's debut "The Documentary". I'm really proud of Kendrick as I have been supporting him since his first EP and its great to see him not only achieve commercial success but most importantly that critical acclaim. A definite frontrunner for a Grammys sweep in 2013.

- heisenberg , London, United Kingdom, 02/11/2012 18:03

Click to rate Rating 20

It wont be long before they water down :(

- CA95616 , London, United Kingdom, 02/11/2012 17:54

Click to rate Rating 8

For me 2Pac is and always will be the greatest rap/hip hop artist of all time......... - Diliyla, Woolwich - London, 2/11/2012 there are ALOT of better lyricists than 2pac. e.g Nas, Rakim, KRS-1 etc.

- hh_ , glasgow, United Kingdom, 02/11/2012 17:52

Click to rate Rating 2

Rap has a letter missing at the front 'C'

- pat , bucks, United Kingdom, 02/11/2012 17:50

Click to rate Rating 47

A legend in the making. None of the generic money, hoes etc. A good listen!

- James Sullivan , Ipswich, United Kingdom, 02/11/2012 17:45

Click to rate Rating 26

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.