The most devoted followers of Kendrick Lamar are likely aware of his respect for Lil Wayne. However, up until today, the general public might not have known. In an interview with The Coveteur, the Compton rapper lavished adulation on Lil Wayne, even going so far as to refer to him as the greatest.

“Yeah, man, we was heavy,” Kendrick Lamar said when discussing the influence of Lil Wayne. “That’s a real story like, we was just huge, still to this day, huge Lil Wayne fans. Lil Wayne is the greatest. Not only because of his music but also because of the culture he put behind it. It was a big part of what he was talking about, so we always hold Lil Wayne in high regards. Juvenile as well. And yeah, it’s the impact of them man. To be a part of it the same way he was a part of it years later is just a great feeling.

Considering the strong reactions that Lil Wayne can receive from hip-hop fans, particularly for his work in the post-Carter 3 era, this is quite the endorsement to get. Kendrick Lamar speaks to just how influential Lil Wayne has been in all different aspects of the game, and as one of the top contenders for the spot of hip-hop’s current crown, Kendrick’s word holds a lot of weight with the people.