i had known kendrick's music for a very long time from a very close friend, terrence martin, who hadwith kendrick. he introduced me to his music in 2008. and he told me back then that kendrick was going to be the john coltrain of hip hop. charlie: amazing. kamasi: yeah. because kendrick is such a pure artist. that's what they have him in connection -- john coltrain's music is so pure, so untainted with the world. it's like really from a different place. kendrick is, too. he does stuff like go on tv and play the song and only play it that one time. you know, he's a real, true artist. charlie: he was magnificent at the grammys. kamasi: unbelievable. one of the most amazing performances i've ever seen. charlie: you call kendrick's album this generation's thriller. it was a big album. kamasi: yeah. it was a big album and a changing album. i think that, you know, the idea of the ultimate performer was what michael jackson kind of brings to music. i think what kendrick is doing, e's bringing the -- he's bringing, like, the expression of experience to music again. music had become michael j

i knew terrence martin who introduced me to his music in 2008, and he told me back then that kendrick's amazing. the john coltrane of hip top. >> yeah, because kendrick is such a pure artist. john coltrane's music is so pure. it's so untainted with -- i don't know, with the world. it's really like from a different place. kendrick is, too. that's why he does stuff like go on tv and play a song and only play it that one time, you know, and not even put it out. he's a real true artist. >> rose: he was magnificent at the grammys. >> unbelievable. one of the most amazing performances i've ever seen. >> rose: you call ken kendricks album -- >> he's like what michael jackson brought to music. kendricks brought back the expression of music. michael jackson took it to a place where it's so much about entertainment. that's beautiful. i love being entertained. but what kendrick is doing is he's bringing the entertainment along with the message and he's taking it to another level. >> rose: the interesting thing about your band is you've known most of them since you were very young. >> the first p

. >> martin scorsese, mick jagger and terrence winter.ng before. you did a skype thing. >> yes, we did a skype thing. it was nerve-racking. >> you had to get his blessing. tell me about that. >> we couldn't see each other. he was in l.a., i was in new york rehearsing a play. it was winter. i remember the skype came up and i was nervous about what i should wear, what the lighting should look like. i have an apartment. it was dark. it was very dark. i wore black because i thought that was cool. he was in a white shirt, it was sunny. our vibes were off. i think he was put off by me. i had to go down to d.c. and see him at his concert. we had dinner and hung out in his hotel. i said that before, we went back to his hotel and sealed the deal. we had a good conversation. >> did he give you notes on what life was like in the '70s in the music business? >> he tells great stories about the time and era. and his interactions with some music execs. he does, he has really wonderful stories and contributed a lot, yes. >> you hadn't worked with marty s