Kendrick Lamar wasn't nervous when he first met with Dr Dre.
The rappers worked together on Kendrick's 2012 album 'Good Kid, Maad City', with Dre appearing on the track 'Compton', but Kendrick didn't feel anxious before he came face-to-face with the music mogul.
Kendrick told i-d.vice.com: "I was very excited. I wasn't nervous at all. I was more excited, 'cause I knew that this was my shot, everything that l've worked for, everything I've built up to came down to that moment."
The 26-year-old rapper, who was nominated for a Grammy Award last month, has also been inspired by Dre's work outside of music, after he launched his own headphones line and Beats Music streaming service.
Kendrick said: "I [still] talk to him. At the moment he's just working on Beats by Dre. Doing a lot of promo and press for that, getting buried in life right now.
"You know when you conquer one thing, you want to move on to the next and be able to challenge yourself? He inspired me to want to do that, once I get the years behind me, of being exceptionally great at music."
And he thinks his songs prove he has more than just creative talent, adding: "My lyrics say that I have confidence, say I have weaknesses, say I have strong points, say I am a human being."

James Franco is to open his own acting school.
The 35-year-old actor has teamed up with Playhouse West to launch Studio four at The Sherry Theater in Los Angeles, California, according to Deadline.com.
The 'Spring Breakers' star plans to run two classes every week, where he'll be accompanied by additional guests, and will teach different acting techniques and a number of projects.
The hunk - who has taught classes in filmmaking, movie production and screenwriting in the past - will watch his students put on performances and will create potential roles through the use of his production company Rabbit Bandini Productions.
Meanwhile, James is so invested in his various projects that he rarely has any time to sleep, but his hectic lifestyle eventually takes its toll and he "crashes" in inappropriate places.
He said previously: "I don't need sleep. And then you do enough of those [late nights] and you eventually crash - you know, odd places, on set, or in class, or wherever."
Despite juggling many different careers ranging from an actor, director, professor, PhD student and artist, James still has some unfulfilled ambitions to cross off his list - including the stage.
He added: "I love theatre. I'm actually supposed to act on Broadway in 'Of Mice and Men'. So I think that's gonna happen. [And] I'd like to write a play."

Tom Hiddleston is to star in 'High-Rise'.
The 32-year-old actor has joined the cast in the movie adaptation of JG Ballard's 1975 novel, which is being directed by Ben Wheatley, after he landed the lead role.
Wheatley announced the news on his Twitter page and personal blog, writing: "HIGH RISE: Here we go. Cant quite believe this is happening. Tom Hiddleston! Jeremy Thomas! Script by Amy Jump (sic)."
The movie follows the lives of an affluent community which descends into chaos when it is cut off from society in a luxury block of flats.
Wheatley - who is currently filming an episode of 'Doctor Who' with Peter Capaldi - admitted last year he was a fan of Ballard, who died in 2009.
He said previously: "I love Ballard's work. This project started out with me looking at my bookcase, seeing the book, and thinking, 'That would make a great film'.
"The idea is to be true to Ballard. I was born in 1972, so one of the attractions of the film was that I kind of imagine myself as one of the kids running around on the estate and my parents as the adults."
Meanwhile, Hiddleston will next be seen alongside Tilda Swinton in Jim Jarmusch's vampire film, 'Only Lovers Left Alive.'
Filming for 'High-Rise' will kick off in June this year.

Denise Van Outen is "itching" to dance again after 'Strictly Come Dancing'.
The 39-year-old TV star came second on the tenth series of the BBC One dancing competition in 2012 and she admits she and fellow runner-up Kimberley Walsh want to embrace their newfound ballroom skills after growing to love dance.
Denise said: "I realised that I loved it when I did Strictly. You can't really keep it up as you need a partner for ballroom, but Kimberly Walsh and I are itching to do something involving dance again because we loved it."
The former 'Big Breakfast' host grew incredibly close to Girls Aloud singer Kimberley, 32, through 'Strictly' and their charity hike up Mount Kilimanjaro for Comic Relief in 2009.
Denise revealed: "It was through Kili that I became so close to Kimberley Walsh and of course then we worked on 'Strictly Come Dancing' together and we just had that common bond. You realise how strong you are, because if you've climbed a mountain you feel like you can do anything."
Denise is a staunch supporter of Comic Relief and Sport Relief and thinks the public should get involved in a Sport Relief charity activity this year.
She said: "I'd say do it because it's fun and it's an experience you can do on your own or with your friends. It's just fun and it keeps you fit and active, so why not?"
Sport Relief 2014 takes place on March 21-23.

Martine McCutcheon admits she would have returned to 'EastEnders' had her character not been killed off.
The former soap star claims she would have made a Walford comeback as Tiffany Mitchell had producers let her live, but it's a "blessing" that the character met her demise as she has been able to explore her other passions.
Martine - who scored a number one single with 'Perfect Moment' after leaving 'EastEnders' - said: "When I left I felt really exposed, so I do look back and go, 'Oh, why did they kill Tiffany off?' I felt so blessed to play such an amazing part and it wasn't my decision for it to end.
"I think I probably would have gone back. I would have panicked. I think the fact that I was thrown out there to sink or swim was actually a blessing, because I would never have got to work with the people that I worked with, or won an Olivier or had a number one or any of that.
"I would never have had those dreams come true, I would have been ticking along still playing Tiffany and never knowing about that whole world out there."
The 37-year-old star - who played Tiffany from 1995 to 1998 - says 'EastEnders' was the hardest job she's ever had but she enjoyed the camaraderie with the cast and crew.
She added to Digital Spy: "It was an unbelievably hard schedule; we were doing 22 scenes a day. It was the best training I ever had, and it is the most fun job because you do have your own little family there."

Modupe Adeyeye has been cast as Blessing Chamber on 'Hollyoaks'.
The actress has already begun filming and will grace our screens later this month, Digital Spy is reporting.
The new series regular will be introduced when Dennis Savage (Joe Tracini) pays a visit to the strip club where she works as a glass collector.
"Strong and colourful" character Blessing is left worried about her future when Dennis accidentally puts her job and her flat above the club at risk.
Modupe is best known for appearing as Faith Olubunmi in 'EastEnders' and soap spin-off 'EastEnders: E20' in 2011. She also had roles in TV dramas 'Our Girl' and 'My Murder'.
Fans can tune in to Channel 4 at 6.30pm on February 21 to see Blessing's grand entrance.
Her addition is expected liven the mood on 'Hollyoaks' in the wake of the recent dramatic rape storyline which saw teacher John Paul McQueen (James Sutton) assaulted by a pupil.
James revealed: "It's a really dark storyline. and it has taken its toll. I'm exhausted and I'm tired. I look like rubbish but this is what happens when people have been through what John Paul has been through."

Mary Berry has been named Oldie of the Year.
'The Great British Bake Off' judge won the prestigious title at the annual Oldie of the Year Awards hosted by Oldie magazine in London yesterday (04.02.14).
Mary, 78, has become a national treasure since appearing alongside Paul Hollywood on BBC Two's hit baking competition, which reached highs of nine million viewers for its fourth series last year.
The baking goddess follows in the footsteps of Sir David Attenborough and 'Absolutely Fabulous' star Joanna Lumley, who have both received the Oldie of the Year accolade in the past.
Despite being in her seventies, it appears Mary hasn't lost her youthful nature as 'Bake Off' hosts Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins revealed last year that she went clubbing in Ibiza at the age of 71.
Sue said: "I was saying to her, 'I'm going to Ibiza this summer, I've never been.' She said to me, 'Oh I went to Ibiza, darling. I went to somewhere called Pacha.' Mary was 71!
"She said, 'I saw some very interesting things. Took a couple of girlfriends there, some very interesting things happened.' "
Mary and the 'Bake Off' gang will return for a new series of the show later this year, which will now air on BBC One.

Paris Hilton enjoyed a shopping spree at Barney's of New York in Beverly Hills. The off-duty heiress hid behind oversize shades as she stepped out with her boyfriend River Viiperi.

Vanessa Hudgens was all smiles as she left the Svedka Vodka party in West Hollywood. The 'Spring Breakers' actress accesorised her animal print dress with matching red nails and a statement ring.

Candice Swanepoel braved the cold winter weather for a meet and greet with fans at the Victoria Secret's 34th Street store in NYC. The supermodel kept warm in a full-length black coat and pastel scarf.

Cat Deeley kept her cool in a khaki trench coat as she jumped into her car after lunch at Alfred Cafe in Los Angeles.

Nikki Read vamped up her look with a leather blue pencil skirt at the The SVEDKA Valentines Day Party in Los Angeles.