As one of the hottest commodities in West Coast hip hop, Kendrick Lamar has quickly risen to the top of the New West movement.

Bred in the hostile environment of Compton, Kendrick Lamar managed to evade all of the stereotypes, and instead focused his efforts on building an independent career. Releasing his first mixtape at age sixteen, Kendrick arrived on the scene as K. Dot, giving fans a new twist on West Coast music. His unique ability to string together syllables and deliver precisely timed flows garnered him a considerable buzz among the local community. Taking notice of the young MC, Top Dawg Entertainment soon signed him to a deal that saw him join the likes of Jay Rock, Schoolboy Q, and Ab-Soul. On top of concentrating on a solo career, Kendrick also formed the supergroup Black Hippy with his Top Dawg Entertainment labelmates.

Keeping up a public profile with numerous freestyles and videos, Kendrick continued pushing on in 2010 with his mixtape, O(verly) D(edicated). Not long after joining Jay Rock on Tech N9ne’s Independent Grind Tour, Kendrick Lamar found himself grabbing the attention of gangsta rap legend Dr. Dre. With Dre eager to work with Kendrick Lamar, the two soon found themselves in the lab working on Dre’s long awaited Detox album. Since the meeting, rumors have circulated of Kendrick Lamar signing to Dre’s Aftermath imprint. 2011 saw the release of Kendrick’s Section.80, which was powered by the smash single “HiiiPoWeR” featuring J. Cole. The album went on to sell over 5,000 copies in its first week, signaling the worldwide arrival of Kendrick Lamar.

Joining his Top Dawg partner Jay Rock, Kendrick brings his blazing hot rhymes to Follow Me Home. On the album’s hit single, “Hood Gone Love It”, Kendrick holds nothing back and aggressively attacks the J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League produced anthem. Even a summer jam like “Hood Gone Love It” can’t keep Kendrick from flipping rhymes like a next level MC. His confident demeanor plays off Jay Rock’s hardened growls, and gives listeners one of the most unorthodox guest spots on the entire album. Loading up on elite wordplay, Kendrick Lamar puts on a clinic with a single verse.

The Top Dawg Entertainment collective is stronger than ever on Jay Rock’s Follow Me Home.

Click here to pre-order Follow Me Home.