Kendrick Lamar is one of the greatest artists of all time.
This is not because of the musical talent he possesses, and it also not thanks to the notorious well-deserved accolades (such as the Pulitzer Prize or his 11 Grammy nominations) that he has received. Lamar is instead one of the greastest because of one thing — his lyricism, sung poetry directed to the black community and all issues surrounding it.
Kendrick’s upbringing are traced to the tough streets of Compton, California. He was one of the few kids in his neighborhood that grew up with both parents, and he was able to keep his head straight and be one of the few that stayed away from doing the wrong things.
As Kendrick grew, his music caroling grew with him. He got into music young, and dropped mixtape after mixtape before truly reaching the people on a mass scale. It took hard work and perseverance, but he got the job done. Now, Kendrick, whose name is recognizable everywhere, is one of the biggest artists worldwide, and his story — his message — reaches the black community in ways they never knew they needed.
On his album “To Pimp A Butterfly,” Kendrick took a trip to Africa to reconnect with the roots of black culture. He then started recording about how black people are royalty — kings and queens — and how they must never forget that.
Besides praising the black community, he also makes songs pertaining to social justice: police brutality and how innocent black lives are taken away. This is a message that, given the latest national uproar, the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, is as relevant today as it was yesterday.
Of course, Lamar is not the first Hip-Hop artist to use music as a way to talk about social issues. Black artists have been doing so for decades now, consequently given birth to rap. What differentiates Lamar is that he has been the most audible artist across Pop Culture, where he has used his superstar-space to unify black folks through accounts of the Black-American experience. He is unapologetically black and proud.
His response to all the recent innocent killings in the song “Alright” was simply “We gon’ be alright,” which is the chorus of the song . The message, with its self-reassurance that sings of hope, echoed within the community instantly. That’s why when hundreds gathered in Cleveland State University to protest the death of Sandra Bland, and someone played this song, the entire auditorium broke into chorus — “Alright” is a protest song that also celebrates black pride.
The song “Alright” was first (and it still is) seen as an anthem for the black community, reminding that at the end of the day, black folks should always strive for more. Racial injustice, with its painful history and modern issues, is not going to stop black individuals from going out there and making strides, or being successful. It is a joyful song that helps everyone in the black community keep their head elevated.
At the end of the day, the black community has no choice but to pick up the broken pieces and make things alright for themselves and their future generation.
Kendrick’s message is indeed plausible, so it was no surprise when he became the first rapper and black Hip-Hop artist to win a Pulitzer Prize. He and his album “DAMN” wrote history, an inclusion in the books that was long overdue for black rappers. But like stated before, his work goes beyond awards and praise. It cannot be measured with recognition and accolades.
Lamar is simply iconic. He will go down in the history books as an artist with a major impact, but the fact that he is an advocate for his people will always be seen above anything.
That, with all its weight, is honorable beyond measure.
