Kendrick Lamar Performs On ‘Ellen,’ Discusses Taylor Swift

Kendrick Lamar has run the rap game since the release of To Pimp A Butterfly a couple months ago, but it wasn't until his Taylor Swift collaboration "Bad Blood" that the rapper made his first appearance at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Lamar appeared on The Ellen Degeneres Show this afternoon (May 27) to perform "These Walls," and he also talked about his first No. 1 single. Check out video of the performance and conversation below:

Lamar said that Swift reached out to him about appearing in the video for "Bad Blood," saying, "I've always been a fan of hers, and she was a fan of my music, and she reached out and we got it done."

The Compton rapper, who recently also given the Generational Icon Award by the California state senate, expressed the importance of being a positive role model in his position: "It means everything to me because I know there's a lot of kids in my neighborhood that's watching TV and saying, 'You know what? I want to be a positive influence just like Kendrick Lamar,' or whoever is out there doing something for the good."

Speaking of Kendrick Lamar collaborations, "Partynauseous," a track he recorded with Lady Gaga meant for inclusion on good kid, m.A.A.d city but that ultimately did not make the cut, found its way online the other day.