Be Humble: What Military Leaders Can Learn from Kendrick Lamar

By Chaveso “Chevy” Cook and Chris Slininger from Military Mentors

Kendrick Lamar and military leadership don’t seem to belong in the same sentence.

One is a Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper who chronicles the raw complexity of urban America through layered storytelling, and the other is a sprawling institution rooted in hierarchy, tradition, and discipline. But as one delves beneath the surface, Kendrick Lamar has something to teach military leaders that field manuals don’t fully cover: the power of authenticity, the burden of representation, and the virtue of humility.

Military leaders are taught tactics, strategy, and systems thinking. There is the doctrinal military decision-making process, key and developmental jobs, and command supply discipline. Rarely do military leaders dive into the uncomfortable introspection that Kendrick Lamar demands both of his listeners and himself. But if we’re serious about developing well-rounded, emotionally intelligent leaders who can navigate the human terrain as well as the physical one, then it’s time we “listen up.”

1. “Sit down, be humble”: Leading without ego

Kendrick’s now-iconic line from “HUMBLE” isn’t just a catchy hook, but a tried-and-true leadership principle. Every branch of the U.S. military, and many industries beyond it, talks about servant leadership, but too often it is drowned out by rank, ceremony, and the pressure to appear infallible. Kendrick reminds us that real leadership begins with humility.

Consider how Kendrick approaches fame. Even as one of the most critically acclaimed artists of his generation, he often disappears from the public eye, lets the music speak for itself, and returns to Compton, CA, not as a king, but as a student of his community. In a profession like the military, where decisions affect lives and careers, a dose of Kendrick-style humility can help leaders remember. It’s never about you. It’s about the people you serve.

A small portion of an officer’s career is in the “spotlight.” Most of their time is spent on staff, working for and supporting commanders. These are the periods to embrace and learn about our community, dive into the roots of the organization, and learn best how to serve and support the Soldiers and commanders, so when you must step into the spotlight, you’re ready.

2. “I got power, poison, pain and joy inside my DNA”: Embrace your full story

Military culture often prizes a stoic, even sterile professional image. But Kendrick has made a career—and a cultural impact—by telling the truth of his life, unfiltered. From “good kid, m.A.A.d city” to “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers”, Kendrick doesn’t flinch from trauma, contradiction, or complexity. And that’s precisely what gives his art such a leadership depth.

Military leaders, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds, carry complex personal histories that don’t always fit into neat doctrinal boxes. In a profession that values and mandates standardization, our stories are what make us unique and give us the personalization of a career we all desire. Instead of hiding that history, Kendrick shows us how authenticity can inspire others, challenge groupthink, and build trust. If you want to mentor, command, or connect across lines of difference, own your whole story and give people permission to do the same.

3. “Ain’t nobody praying for me”: The burden of leadership and loneliness

Kendrick’s lyrics often wrestle with the isolation that comes with visibility and responsibility. Sound familiar? Senior military leaders often experience a similar kind of loneliness. The higher you go, the fewer peers you have – as they say, it is lonely at the top. Additionally, the more senior you get, the more you feel like you’re not allowed to be unsure, vulnerable, or human.

In “DAMN” and “To Pimp a Butterfly”, Kendrick gives voice to this burden. And in doing so, he models what emotional courage looks like. In a career that fosters brotherhood and sisterhood, members often feel isolated due to their suffering. As leaders, we don’t need to perform emotional stoicism to maintain respect, we need to connect to foster trust. They need to build spaces where honesty is allowed, especially at the top. Recognizing your own isolation is the first step toward making sure your junior leaders don’t experience the same in silence.

4. “We gon’ be alright”: Inspiring hope through truth

Kendrick’s anthem “Alright” has become a group-wide chant and a lifeline for many during times of difficulty and reckoning. Not because it offered platitudes, but because it delivers hope through pain and resilience.

That’s a critical lesson for military leaders. We are often asked to lead through hardship, be it deployments, loss, bureaucratic fatigue, or cultural transformation. It’s tempting to gloss over challenges with slogans. But Kendrick shows us that when leaders speak truthfully, even painfully, they can build credibility and offer genuine hope.

Don’t be afraid to tell your unit the hard truths. And then, show them how we’re going to get through it. Not alone, but together.

5. Kendrick’s cypher and the power of peer mentorship

Kendrick didn’t get to where he is alone. He sharpened his skills in hip hop cyphers, or circles of peers trading verses, feedback, and often support. The military has that same spirit in a different way. We have After-Action Reviews (AARs) and counseling sessions, but they could be taken a bit further. Ask yourself, when was the last time you saw leaders really challenge each other to grow, that didn’t just have to do with a briefing, a mission, or some other requirement? The military rarely just challenges for challenge’s sake.

Military leaders need to build their own “cyphers” in the form of networks of trusted peers who provide honest feedback, creative collaboration, and mutual accountability. In mentoring literature, this is often called a constellation or circle. In a culture that often confuses mentorship with hierarchy, Kendrick reminds us of the power of horizontal growth.

Final Bars

You don’t have to love hip-hop to learn from Kendrick Lamar. You just must be willing to listen. His work pushes us to ask uncomfortable questions, to value the unvarnished truth, and to lead with a blend of grit and grace. The battlefield may be different, but the leadership lessons resonate just the same.

In a profession that prides itself on being grounded in values, maybe it’s time we let an artist from Compton help us refine them.

Be humble. Be human. Be real.

We gon’ be alright.

Chaveso “Chevy” Cook is an Army officer, a 2025 LTG (Ret) James Dubik Writing Fellow, and co-founder of Military Mentors. He believes that leadership development should be as much about introspection as it is about instruction—and that good leaders can learn from anyone, anywhere, including a Pulitzer-winning rapper.

 Chris Slininger is an Army officer purpose-built to help people realize and actualize their potential, using leadership and mentorship to achieve meaningful success. Chris is the Director and Founder of the Army Junior Officer Counsel and a 2025 LTG (Ret) James Dubik Writing Fellow.