Celebrity Kendrick Lamar Engaged to Whitney Alford The actor announced his engagement to his high school love, Whitney Alford, on Friday By Andrea Park Andrea Park Andrea Park is a former contributing writer at PEOPLE. She left PEOPLE in 2016. People Editorial Guidelines Published on April 3, 2015 02:15PM EDT Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Wedding bells are in Kendrick Lamar’s future! The Grammy-winning rapper confirmed Friday that he is engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Whitney Alford. In an interview with The Breakfast Club on Power 105.1, Lamar, 27, responded to rumors that he had proposed to high school sweetheart Alford. “Yeah, definitely,” the rapper said. “I’m loyal to the soul.” For the most part, Lamar has managed to keep his personal life private, but in a 2014 New York Times Magazine profile, the musician opened up about Alford, saying, “She’s been here since Day 1.” He echoed those sentiments in Friday’s interview, describing the importance of always having “real people” around you. “Everybody that’s been around me has been around since Day 1 and I can’t change that. I don’t change for nobody,” Lamar said. “People that have been by your side – you’re supposed to honor that.” 2015 has already been a big year for Lamar. He won a Grammy for best rap performance in February, and, a month later, released his critically acclaimed third studio album, To Pimp a Butterfly. RELATED VIDEO: How Well Do the Newly Engaged Bachelor Couple Know Each Other?