George Clinton Compares Kendrick Lamar to a 'Psychiatrist' for Rapping About Topics 'Most People Are Afraid' to Address

Daniela AvilaTue, April 28, 2026 at 10:46 PM UTC

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George Clinton and Kendrick LamarCredit: Stefanie Keenan/Getty; Kevin Mazur/Getty -

George Clinton praised Kendrick Lamar's songwriting, comparing his impact to Motown, Sly Stone and the Beatles

Clinton highlighted Lamar's maturity and fearlessness in addressing taboo topics in his music

Clinton and Lamar previously collaborated on the rapper's 2015 album To Pimp a Butterfly

George Clinton is singing Kendrick Lamar's praises.

In conversation with the New York Times Magazine for the 30 Greatest Living American Songwriters list, the singer-songwriter — who's best known as the leader of funk bands Parliament and Funkadelic — offered up a tribute for the "Not Like Us" rapper.

"I'll put it like this: He, along with Motown, Sly Stone, the Beatles — that kind of institution is going to last. There are a lot of slick writers out here nowadays with lyrics and things, but he writes with soul," Clinton, 84, said.

The "Knee Deep" singer then praised Lamar, 38, for his maturity — which comes through in his music.

"He's a young kid, but when I met him, he sounded my age. He's like a psychiatrist on record — he talks about [expletive] that most people are afraid to talk about," he said. "He's at that point where he can move the conversation. Nobody will talk about these topics, and he talks about them so matter-of-factly that you don't even think, You can't say that."

Clinton also complimented Lamar's ability to stay relevant among younger generations.

"Kids today, they want their new artist; they don't want their older brother or sister's artist or their mother and father's. Kids don't like you after a few years," he said. "When you can go past that and have the next generation after that still talking about you, you're doing something."

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In closing, Clinton singled out Lamar's 2015 album To Pimp a Butterfly — which was named the Best Rap Album at the Grammys — and said it was "like one song to me."

"It was like Marvin Gaye's 'What's Going On.' And he's starting all over each time he puts an album out — he's like a brand-new kid," he said.

Kendrick Lamar at the Met Gala in New York City in May 2023Credit: Arturo Holmes/MG23/Getty

Lamar and Clinton previously collaborated on "Wesley's Theory," which was the opening track on To Pimp a Butterfly. They also collaborated on the Funkadelic remix single "Ain't That Funkin' Kinda Hard on You?"

In February, Lamar set a record at the Grammys by becoming the most-awarded rapper in history with 27 wins, surpassing Jay-Z's previous record of 25. During the show, he took home the award for Best Rap Album and Record of the Year.

"I'm not good at talking about myself, but I express it through the music," Lamar said during his acceptance speech for Record of the Year. "It's an honor to be here."

"It's Tyler [the Creator], Clipse. These are my brothers to be in this category. What's up Push man, Malice man. Every time I tell you this, hip hop is gonna always be right here," he said, praising his fellow nominees. "We gonna be in these suits. We gonna be looking good. We gonna be having our folks with us. We gonna be having the culture with us."

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”