Kendrick Lamar may get a lot of attention for his lyrical prowess, but the rapper has been known to keep his love life out of the spotlight.
The 17-time Grammy winner began dating his fiancée, Whitney Alford, when the pair were in high school. The private couple are parents to two young children, a daughter, Uzi, and a son, Enoch.
Lamar’s fiancée and children made a rare appearance alongside him in the video to his song, “Not Like Us,” one of his many recent diss tracks about — who else?— fellow rapper Drake. (WARNING: Lamar’s video contains profanity.)
The video, released earlier this month, features footage of Lamar, Alford and their kids dancing playfully together in a living room.
Lamar’s fiancée and kids also appeared in a family portrait that graces the cover of his 2022 album, “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.”
Read on to learn more about Lamar’s longtime love, Whitney Alford.
Lamar and Alford began dating in high school
The “HUMBLE” rapper and Alford began dating as teenagers in high school, according to a 2015 Billboard story about the rapper.
Lamar has called Alford his ‘best friend’
Lamar said Alford was more than his “companion” during his 2015 interview with Billboard, calling her his “best friend.”
“I wouldn’t even call her my girl,” the rapper told the publication. “That’s my best friend. I don’t even like the term that society has put in the world as far as being a companion — she’s somebody I can tell my fears to.”
Kendrick Lamar and Whitney Alford (Christopher Polk / Getty Images )
During an interview with The New York Times Magazine published in 2014, Lamar was asked to name someone in his life who had the “power to call him out.”
“One particular young lady,” he said, referring to Alford. “She’s been here since Day 1.”
The longtime sweethearts share two kids
Lamar and Alford are parents to two young children, a daughter, Uzi, and a younger son, Enoch.
The rapper opened up to W magazine in 2022 about how the couple’s kids had taught him about “unconditional love.”
“My children allowed me, in their development as human beings beginning to walk and talk, to remove my ego, to know that my children, too, will have their own independence,” he said.
“That allows me to understand the unconditional love on my end,” he added.
Lamar announced the couple’s engagement in 2015
Lamar announced that he and Alford were engaged during an interview with the New York station station Power 105.1, E! News reported at the time.
Alford has provided vocals for Lamar
Alford recorded back-up vocals on Lamar’s 2015 album “To Pimp a Butterfly.” She appears on the tracks “Wesley’s Theory” and “King Kunta.”
Alford later provided narration on several songs on Lamar’s 2022 album “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.”
She shared a cute video of Uzi reacting to her dad’s 2023 Grammy speech
In February 2023, Alford proudly shared a sweet video of the couple’s toddler-aged daughter Uzi watching her dad accepting an award at the Grammys.
After hearing her father mention his “family” in his acceptance speech, little Uzi exclaims, “He’s talking about us! He’s talking about us. He’s talking about his family … Uzi and Enoch and mommy.”
The couple and their kids dance together in the video for ‘Not Like Us’
The whole family made a rare appearance in Lamar’s video for his 2024 single “Not Like Us.”
Lamar and Alford can be seen dancing with their children, Uzi and Enoch, in black-and-white footage in the video.