An alleged classmate of Kendrick Lamar has shared photos of him in a 2022 lecture, describing the rapper as “incredibly kind and humble”.
Unbeknownst to the world, Lamar took a Psychology course at UCLA in 2022. Last Wednesday (February 26), photos taken by a fellow classmate were posted online, showing the Compton star attentively writing down notes and using his phone while on a table by himself in the lecture hall.
The classmate also commented (per Instagram fanpage Kendricklamarzz): “He was incredibly kind and humble. I didn’t realise who he was at that time – I just saw people asking for photos, and I took some too. It wasn’t until later that someone told me who he was.”
UCLA also confirmed that Lamar had enrolled and taken classes at the university, tweeting: “Photos from 2022, but the lesson stays the same – UCLA is where you level up 📚✍️.” Check out the posts here:
Photos from 2022, but the lesson stays the same—UCLA is where you level up 📚✍️ https://t.co/RHaPIYOlEF
— UCLA (@UCLA) February 26, 2025
Lamar hasn’t commented on the revelations at the time of writing.
2022 was the same year he released his critically acclaimed fifth album, ‘Mr Morales & The Big Steppers’. NME gave the record a full five stars, calling it “a cathartic, soul-baring autobiography” which “serves up vignettes about what it’s like to be a Black adult whose trauma still haunts them”. Lamar also closed out Glastonbury that year, headlining the final day.
Since then, he released his sixth studio album ‘Gnx’ under his pgLang label, which ranked Number 12 on NME‘s best albums of 2024 list.
He engaged in his ongoing feud with Drake, which peaked when the two went back-and-forth in a rap battle last spring. The ordeal birthed ‘Not Like Us’ – Lamar’s fourth Number One single, which is now the most decorated rap song in Grammy history. He performed the song during his history-making Super Bowl headlining set last month.
Lamar became the first solo rap act to headline a Super Bowl Halftime Show, and his set is now the most-viewed in history. SZA, Serena Williams and Samuel L Jackson also made guest appearances.
‘Not Like Us’ has since become a bone of contention between Drake and his label, Universal Music Group. The Canadian juggernaut has sued UMG, alleging they knowingly released and profited from a song that contained “defamatory” claims against him. Interestingly, Drake deliberately did not include Lamar in the case.
Drake recently “agreed to withdraw certain key allegations in his complaint”, according to UMG.
In other news, Chance The Rapper recently praised the backing dancer who held up a Palestinian flag during the Super Bowl. Elsewhere, Serena Williams clapped back at those who believed her dancing during Lamar’s performance was a way to throw further shade at her former boyfriend Drake.