K. Dot – Training Day (20 Years Anniversary)
Author: Rasha Sensei
Before he became “Kung Fu Kenny” and a Pulitzer Prize winner, Kendrick Lamar was simply K. Dot – a hungry kid from Compton trying to carve out his own lane. According to TDE archives, on this day, December 30, 2005, he released his second mixtape titled “Training Day“.
The title is a direct nod to Denzel Washington’s iconic film, and the massive 26-track project serves as exactly that — Kendrick’s “training” session. This is K. Dot in his rawest form, heavily influenced by Lil Wayne and the era’s dominant sounds. It’s worth noting that the mixtape was a work in progress; it evolved and was updated with new tracks until it reached its final, widely known version in 2007.
You won’t find the unique, original production Kendrick is known for today on this release. Instead, he “borrowed” popular instrumentals from heavyweights like Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, and Kanye West, using their beats as a testing ground to prove his flow and lyrical prowess. While the project might feel a bit overlong, it remains an essential document for anyone wanting to see how an average street MC transformed into the best in the world.
