Kenneth “Kenny” Duckworth Sr. is Kendrick Lamar’s father. He reached stardom as a result of his son’s fascinating, outstanding, and consistent music career. Kenny is also known for being the subject of a number of Kendrick’s songs such as Die Hard and Father Time.
Away from his being the father of a famous Grammy award-winning rapper, Duckworth was a Gangstar Disciple – an African-American street gang. He is also known for his contributions to the “tough love” life of the influential Kendrick Lamar Duckworth.
12 Intriguing Facts About Kendrick Lamar’s Father
1. He Had a Difficult Life
For Kenny, life was not always smooth, and was even raised in Robert Taylor Homes, a public housing project in Chicago.
He came face to face with everyday struggles and could barely make ends meet.
When his partner and Kendrick’s mother, Paula Oliver gave him an ultimatum to better himself, the family moved to Compton, California with their things in 2 garbage bags. At the time, they had only $500.
Life was still not easy for the couple and circumstances forced them to sleep in their car, motels, and sometimes parks.
2. He Worked at KFC
Duckworth worked with Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) – an American fast-food chain restaurant. He worked with the company while in Compton.
Kenny is not the only Duckworth to have worked at an eatery. His long-term partner and mother of Kendrick also worked with Mcdonald’s.
3. How He Lived a Life as a Gangsta
Kenny was a gangsta years before he had Kendrick. He had a life as a “Gangster Disciple” while he was living in Chicago. This became a contributing factor to Paula’s demand that they move to Compton.
Although he stayed away from gangsterism at a point in his life, Kenny later found his way back to the street as he could barely take care of his family.
His being a gangster affected his children’s lives in different ways, and Kendrick has openly talked about it over and time again.
Kenny is not the only man in Kendrick’s life to be involved in street life. His uncles were locked up for robbery. Also, his uncle Tony was shot in the head.
4. He Once Kicked Kendrick Lamar Out
Kenny and Paula raised their son in a neighborhood filled with crime, drugs, and killing. One day, the police arrived at their home and claimed that their son was behind a neighborhood crime.
Kenny and his wife kicked the young rapper out of their home for 2 days.
5. Kenny Led Kendrick to the Record Label That Propelled Him to Stardom
In the song Duckworth, Kendrick revealed that “Ducky” (believed to be Kenny) was working at KFC when he met a notorious gangster and robber, Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith.
When Lamar’s father came across Top Dawg at the restaurant, he started to give him free chicken and extra biscuits. When Anthony returned to rob KFC, he speared him.
Although Dawg and Kenny formed a good relationship at the time, it was when Lamar was 15 that Dawg knew about him when he heard the rapper’s mixed tape through Dave Free.
Dawg took interest in him and signed him to his Top Dawg Entertainment. Through the label, Kendrick (previously known as K. Dot) released a 26-track mixtape titled “Training Day” (2005).
He currently regards Top Dawg as a father, friend, and boss.
6. Kenny Duckworth Exposed Kendrick to Music and Tupac Motivated Him
When Lamar was growing up, the older Duckworth played a track from Big Daddy Kane. He told his wife, Paula, that their young son was going to be listening to music his entire life.
Kenny further contributed to his son’s love for music by buying music tapes.
However, he was motivated to do music when he was 9 in 1996, he watched Dr. Dre and Tupac film their video of California Love.
7. Kenny Duckworth Has Been a Subject of a Number of Kendrick’s Lyrics
While Kendrick Lamar is often praised for his lyrical prowess, his father has equally contributed to giving him lines to some of his greatest songs.
Some of these Lamar’s lines came as a result of his tough and unstable relationship with Kenny. According to the musician, Kendrick, he had a difficult upbringing as his father toughened him so much that he couldn’t show his emotions.
This would push the influential rapper, Kendrick, to battle different challenges. Rather than holding dear to his heart his “tough love” life with his father, he pours his emotions into his music and has given an insight into his relationship with his father in some songs such as Worldwide Steppers, Die Hard, Father Time, and Count Me Out.
Some of Kendrick’s most famous lines about his father include:
My niggas ain’t go no daddy, grow up overcompensating… learned shit bout being a man and disguised it as being gangsta (Father Time)
Every emotion been deprived, even my strong points couldn’t survie… If I didn’t learn to love myself, forgive myself 100 times (Count Me Out)
Daddy isssues made me learn losses, I don’t take those well… Daddy issues hid my emotions… never expressed myself… man should never show feelings, being sesnsitive never helped (Father Time)
8. Duckworth Featured in Good Kid M.A.A.D City Skit
Kenny and Paula were involved in the skits of one of Lamar’s most successful albums. Their voices pop up after some songs in the album.
In a report, the multi-Grammy-winning Kendrick said he was raised by them and so he decided to put them in the skit as themselves.
9. His Wife was Sexually Assaulted
Duckworth’s wife, Paul Oliver was sexually assaulted when Lamar was 5 years old. Kendrick made the revelation in his song Mother I Sober.
In the lyrics, he talked about how he couldn’t do anything to save her because he was too young.
The thought of Kenny’s son not intervening left him with scars for so long.
10. He Does Not Talk About His Past Dirty Deals With His Son
Growing up, Kendrick Lamar knew that his father may have been involved in some shady businesses that he used the proceeds to take care of the musician and his siblings.
Nonetheless, Duckworth never talked about business with his children while they were growing up.
It was reported that the father and son never talked about that phase of their lives.
See Also: Fukkit- 10 Unknown And Interesting Things About The Mysterious Rapper
11. His Children and Grandchildren
Kenny is reportedly a father of 5. There are different reports with respect to who the Chicago native’s oldest child is. While some sources claim that Kendrick (born on June 17, 1987) is the first, others claim that Kenny’s oldest child is named Kenneth Duckworth Jr.
Whatever the case, there are reports that he has 2 other sons and a daughter named Kayla Duckworth.
Among the children, Kendrick, named after singer-songwriter, Eddie Kendrick is the most famous. He has been named one of the most influential people in the world in 2016, he made it to Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2017. Also, 3 of his studio albums ranked in the top 500 Greatest Albums of All Time by Rolling Stone in 2020.
Looking into another aspect of the patriarch, Kenny, is also a grandfather of Kendrick’s 3 children. His other son, Kenneth Duckworth Jr. is married to a woman named Sharon Kekana and may have children who will in turn become the grandchildren of the former gangsta.
12. How Rich is He?
Although the older Duckworth had a difficult life through his childhood and adulthood, his financial life is more stable at the time of this writing. Despite this, his exact net worth remains shadowy.
Whatever the case, he made his income from different sources. In his earlier life, he earned from his jobs at KFC and from other businesses that he never mentioned.
At present, he may be enjoying a part of Lamar’s estimated $75 million net worth.
His son makes his wealth majorly from his music career. In the United States alone, he has sold more than 70 million records as well as certified platinum or higher.
Lamar has equally won numerous awards, including winning 14 Grammy Awards.
