Is Kendrick Lamar Signed to TDE? Everything About His Record Label History

Is Kendrick Lamar Signed to TDE? Everything About His Record Label History

By Marcus Bennett

December 3, 2024 at 06:41 PM

Kendrick Lamar is currently signed to two record labels: Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) and pgLang. While he maintains his relationship with TDE, he co-founded pgLang in 2020 with Dave Free, marking a new chapter in his music career.

Throughout his career, Kendrick has also been associated with Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records through distribution deals. His major-label debut "good kid, m.A.A.d city" was released in 2012 through a joint venture between Top Dawg, Aftermath, and Interscope.

The structure of Kendrick's record label affiliations looks like this:

• Primary Labels: Top Dawg Entertainment and pgLang
• Distribution Partners: Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records
• Publishing: Universal Music Publishing Group

In 2022, Kendrick's album "Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers" became his first release under pgLang while maintaining his connection with TDE. This album marked his final release under his TDE contract, though he continues to collaborate with both labels.

It's worth noting that pgLang is more than just a record label - it's a multi-disciplinary media company that focuses on music, film, and creative content. This allows Kendrick to expand his artistic vision beyond traditional music production.

For new music releases, Kendrick's work is now primarily released through pgLang, while still benefiting from the distribution network established through his previous label partnerships. This arrangement gives him greater creative control while maintaining the professional relationships he's built throughout his career.

The transition to pgLang represents Kendrick's evolution as an artist and businessman, allowing him to have more direct control over his artistic output while building a platform for other artists and creators.

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