Friday, August 16, 2013 7:00pm ET by  
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Kendrick Lamar: 'Jay Z is more than just an artist, he's an innovator'

Rapper Kendrick Lamar has opened up about his admiration for music mogul and heavyweight Jay Z, describing the '99 Problems' star as a "tastemaker".

Speaking to the National Post, he addressed the hitmaker's longevity and explained that he is impressed by his career and hopes to follow suit:

"I look at Jay Z as more than just an artist. I look at him more as an innovator, tastemaker and that's something that takes years to get to. It becomes like a role or responsibility to show the kids, 'Damn, it's not just rap.' At 40, I definitely want to be a tastemaker."

Lamar joked that he has met some of his all-time idols, but was surprised that they didn't all live up to his expectations: "I'm fortunate enough to have some great heroes behind me, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, but there's a few that you look up to as a kid and then you meet them and it's a little sketchy."

 

 

 

 

 

Watch Lamar's music video for 'Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe' here: