Kendrick Lamar Announces Last Album Under Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE)
| LAST UPDATE 08/25/2021
Kendrick Lamar has broken his extended silence with an open letter to his fans offering an update on his mental state and new music. The letter was posted to a site called oklama.com – not to be confused with Oklahoma – and hidden in a folder labeled "nu thoughts."
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The revelation that had people talking the most is that K. Dot's upcoming 5th album will be his final release via his longtime label, Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE). "As I produce my final TDE album, I feel joy to have been a part of such a cultural imprint after 17 years. The Struggles. The Success. And most importantly, the Brotherhood," he wrote.
Just before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the U.S. in March 2020, Kendrick launched pgLang – a vague creative imprint touching music, film and other media – alongside his manager, Dave Free.
Their first signee was Kendrick's cousin, Baby Keem, who's dropped a couple of projects independently since 2018.
The founder of TDE, Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith, issued a statement expressing nothing but appreciation for K. Dot and the success they've fostered over the years. "With this being Dot's last album on TDE, this is more of a VICTORY LAP, a celebration," Tiffith explained.
Other notable highlights from Kendrick's letter include his claim that he spends "months without a phone" – fans understood that one – and enjoys collecting old beach cruiser bikes to balance out his "fleeting thoughts." The 34-year-old then signed off, "See you soon enough."
He's keeping things in the family for his next feature, as he's expected to appear on Baby Keem's new single, titled "Family Ties."
Fittingly, the cover art features a retro family portrait in which everyone's faces are covered except for a teenage Kendrick (far right) and a literal baby Baby Keem (bottom and middle). The style pays homage to K. Dot's cover for his 2012 sophomore album, 'good kid, m.A.A.d city.'
The track arrives this Friday and is produced by Cardo, who helped put Keem on the map. He played the role of executive producer for Keem's debut 2018 project, 'The Sound of Bad Habit.'
For those who can't wait, Keem shared a couple of snippets via @themelodicblue on IG, also the name of his upcoming album.
