Kendrick Lamar & Dr. Dre Attend Centennial High School Groundbreaking

Full Circle

Kendrick Lamar and Dr. Dre Return to Alma Mater for Their High School’s Groundbreaking Ceremony

The artists were joined by will.i.am during the new Centennial High School campus' event

By Charisma Madarang

Charisma Madarang

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May 7, 2026

Kendrick Lamar and Dr. Dre attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Centennial High School campus on Thursday in Compton, California. The artists, who returned to their alma mater, were joined by will.i.am.

During the event, Micah Ali, board president of Compton Unified School District, invited Dre to give a speech. The music mogul reflected on the significance of the moment when addressing the crowd. “Today is really nostalgic for me,” said Dre. “Sometimes you hear that term ‘full circle.’ This is really a full circle moment for me, because I did actually attend this high school.” The artist digressed, “Well, sometimes I attended. I was enrolled, I was here, sometimes,” before continuing, “I’m making a commitment, and that commitment is to let go of the notion of giving back. Instead, I’m embracing the power of investing forward.”

Dre emphasized, “Today isn’t just about a new building, it’s about a promise kept to the city that made me — point blank. Period.” He added, “This groundbreaking is where the vision we’ve shared for years finally hits the pavement. We aren’t just moving dirt today. We’re investing in the next generation that’s coming straight out of Compton.” Dre added, “We’re tearing down walls and opening doors for our next scholars, innovators, creators, pioneers, technicians, and engineers that absolutely have the potential to change this world.”

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_Originally reported by [Rolling Stone](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kendrick-lamar-dr-dre-new-centennial-high-school-ceremony-1235559450/)._