Kendrick Lamar is a renowned rapper famous for his amazing music and strong lyrics. He is admired by many for his talent and storytelling. However, behind every successful individual, there is usually a family that encourages them. Kendrick Lamar’s family has been instrumental in his life, and one of the main members is his older brother, Kenneth Duckworth Jr.
Quick Facts About Kenneth Duckworth Jr
Full Name | Kenneth Duckworth Jr. |
Birthdate | N/A |
Occupation | N/A |
Husband/Wife | Married (Wife’s name not known) |
Education | N/A |
Age | 30+ (as of 2025) |
Parents | Father: Kenny Duckworth Sr. Mother: Paula Oliver |
Siblings | Kayla Sawyer (Sister), Kendrick Lamar (Brother), Another Younger Brother (born in 2002) |
Children | Daughter (Name not known) |
Net Worth | <$1 million |
Who is Kenneth Duckworth Jr?
Kenneth Duckworth Jr. is Kendrick Lamar’s older brother. He is the oldest child among the Duckworth siblings. As much as everyone knows Kendrick Lamar, Kenneth tries to keep low-key. Kenneth is not involved in the entertainment sector, in contrast to his brother. One of the reasons why there isn’t much available information about him is this.
Kenneth resides in Chicago with his wife and daughter. He has opted for a private life out of the limelight, and as such, there are limited details about his personal life. His contribution to Kendrick’s life, though, is significant, even though he is not in the limelight.

Kenneth’s Family Background
Kenneth was raised in a household that went through a lot of adversities. His father, Kenny Duckworth Sr., was a part of gang life in Chicago. He belonged to the Gangster Disciples. Despite this, the family relocated from Chicago to Compton, California, to leave the risky lifestyle behind.
Kenneth’s mother, Paula Oliver, also struggled to take care of the family. She had multiple jobs, such as being a hairstylist and working at McDonald’s. Regardless of their efforts, the family went through hard times. They stayed in Section 8 housing and were homeless. Nevertheless, the Duckworth family was resolute to transcend these challenges.

Family Life in Compton
Once they moved to Compton, the Duckworth family attempted to rebuild. Although the family faced hardships, they remained united. This past affected Kendrick Lamar’s music and informed his outlook on life. It also gave him lessons about strength and determination.
Kenneth was the older brother, and it was his role to support the other siblings, including Kendrick. The experience of the family struggling to a life of stability forms a large chunk of Kendrick Lamar’s life story. In music, Kendrick is known to express how hard he had it in Compton and how much comes from the stories of his life and his family.
Siblings and Their Roles
Kendrick Lamar has a few siblings, and each plays an important role in his life. His sister Kayla Sawyer is a socialite and social media influencer. She’s well known for working online and for having a lot of presence online. The eldest sibling is Kenneth Duckworth Jr., and he’s well known for keeping low-key.
Two younger brothers also exist in the family. One is James Duckworth, but there is limited information about him. There is another younger brother who was born in 2002, and no information about him is found in general either. Though these siblings are not in the lime light, they are valuable figures in Kendrick Lamar’s life.
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The Duckworth Family’s Influence on Kendrick Lamar
The struggles and triumphs of the Duckworth family formed the character of Kendrick Lamar. In his songs, Kendrick frequently discourses upon his father’s life and the impact it had on him. Kendrick’s songs also discuss his mother’s working and sacrificing nature in order to take care of the family.
One of the most popular songs Kendrick produced is titled “DUCKWORTH.” This song narrates a life-altering meeting between his father, Kenny Duckworth Sr., and the father of another popular rapper, Top Dawg. The song brings to light how a single moment would have altered everything for Kendrick’s family, depicting how much his parents meant to him.