TDE President Punch Henderson on Kendrick Lamar's Departure From Label: "It’s a Full-circle Moment"
Lamar has been signed to TDE for almost 20 years.
TDE President Terrence “Punch” Henderson has opened up about Kendrick Lamar‘s imminent departure from Top Dawg Entertainment, sharing nothing but words of praise and encouragement for the next phase of the rapper’s career.
In a recent interview with Mic, Henderson explained that K-Dot has been with TDE for so long — “almost 20 years” — that watching him grow and move on is completely natural:
“I don’t even know if I would describe it that way as ready to leave, as more so ready to build his own thing. That’s a grown man right now. We watched him grow from a teenager up into an established grown man, a businessman, and one of the greatest artists of all time. So how long do you actually be signed up under somebody? It’s been almost 20 years. So it’s time to move on and try new things and venture out. He’s doing a great job developing Baby Keem. It’s always been there, but now it’s just time and space where he can actually do it. It’s a beautiful thing to watch because that’s something that started with what we built in the beginning. To see it blossom, it’s a full-circle moment.”
The music exec also confirmed that Lamar’s final TDE album, which is yet to be officially announced, only feels different because it is different and “not because it’s his last project.” Henderson added, “It’s just the evolution of where we are. Kendrick doesn’t need anybody in the studio to coach him and help him make an album anymore. He’s well capable of doing everything on his own. It’s just the timeframe that we’re in.”
Less than a year after launching pgLang with Dave Free in October 2020, Lamar announced in August 2021 that he was producing his final album for TDE:
“As I produce my final TDE album, I feel joy to have been a part of such a cultural imprint after 17 years. The Struggles. The Success. And most importantly, the Brotherhood. May the Most High continue to use Top Dawg as a vessel for candid creators. As I continue to pursue my life’s calling.
There’s beauty in completion. And always faith in the unknown.”
Stay tuned for more info on Kendrick Lamar’s next album.
Elsewhere in music, Kanye West claims that the Stem Player’s one-day revenue of $2.2 million USD made more money than if DONDA 2 was on streaming services.
