Photo by Stephanie Sian SmithA man of strong values and deep soul, 25-year-old Compton lyricist Kendrick Lamar is responsible for the highest selling album of 2012. His first official record, good kid, m.A.A.d city has shifted one million albums since its release via Interscope on October 22nd. Popular with the most successful hip hop artists of our generation: Drake, Rick Ross, Kanye, Busta and Pharell, Kendrick was originally discovered by his teacher in tenth grade. Today that same man, Dave Free, is also his manager.Overcoming the kind of gritty adversity that would jade a lesser man, Kendrick’s music is positively game changing. Everything that he has achieved and built, Kendrick hard earned. Citing the moment he stepped into the studio with hip hop don, Dre, to consult on the Detox album as the moment that everything changed, today the powerhouse duo keep in touch on a daily basis; Dre also features twice on good kid, m.A.A.d city. Bringing a crazy energy to his live shows, the deep-voiced artist writes with stirring intent and delivers his rhymes with mad flow and bare conviction. Comfortable with being vulnerable and open to whatever, Kendrick’s unwavering self confidence is overwhelming. i-D online caught up with the competitive conceptualist to find out how he’s handling his sudden and insatiable success, ahead of the release of his massively anticipated second album courtesy of hip hop giant Top Dawg Records.Read the interview over at i-D