Now, Kendrick Lamar is standing in front of sold-out arenas, listening to fans rap every word of his chart-topping album.

Back in 2010, he was Jay Rock’s hypeman on Tech N9ne’s Independent Grind tour.

Though he has come along way, Kendrick hasn’t forgotten what he learned from that experience.

Last night, when his Damn. Tour hit KCMO, Kendrick made sure to shout out Tech and Krizz, crediting them for helping show him how to take it from the booth to the stage.

Man, Kendrick paused last night on stage to tell the HUMONGOUS Kc crowd how much he learned on his very first tour we took him on and how @krizzkaliko and I showed him what real professional performing is! Thank you K Dot! For all the kind words and THANK YOU KC for all the loud cheers and Kc MO chanting! Love, T9!

A post shared by Tech N9ne (@therealtechn9ne) on Aug 17, 2017 at 6:07am PDT

When your Lil bro, and the biggest rapper in the world @kendricklamar shouts you out and the biggest independent rapper in the world @therealtechn9ne out on stage. Not only shouts you out, not only says Krizz MUTHA FUCKIN’ Kaliko. But says part of the reason he is what he is today, knows about professionalism and how to preform like he does is because of the 2 of us 😅. Amazing show. An amazing artist. Much love brother. Keep rising.

A post shared by krizzkaliko (@krizzkaliko) on Aug 17, 2017 at 7:04am PDT

In an industry where artists constantly tear each other down, to see Top Dawg come together with the Strange empire, whether through a song like “Fragile” or a concert shout out, is incredible.

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