Kendrick Lamar’s First-Ever Mixtape Surfaces: Listen (While You Still Can)
Before Kendrick Lamar put “Poetic Justice” to song and instructed not to kill his vibe, he rapped to well-known tracks like Jay-Z‘s “Hovi Baby” and released his first mixtape at age 16 (get ready): Hub City Threat, Minor of the Year, Youngest Head N—- In Charge. The title and samples say it all — K. Dot was young, but he already wanted to be the best, so he figured he’d learn from the best first.
When Lamar last talked about Y.H.N.I.C., he talked of how he distributed the mixtape around Compton, California, and caught the attention of independent label Top Dawg — but he also sounded embarrassed. (“Kind of ignorant, right?” he said to TDK of its title.) Songs from Y.H.N.I.C. have since been taken down, then resurfaced and then taken down over the years, but despite all efforts Y.H.N.I.C. is available once again. Stream and download it after the jump, before it disappears.
[via Fact Mag]
