Background

Compton, California. June 17, 1987. A legend was born. Kendrick Lamar is part of a long succession of famous rappers from South Los Angeles. From Dr. Dre to Eazy-E to YG, Lamar carries the torch of great rappers from Compton.

In 2004, a 16-year-old Kendrick Lamar released his first mixtape, under the pseudonym K-Dot. He released several mixtapes under the nickname K-Dot. This experience is discussed in his song, black boy fly. Lamar started rapping with others in 2001. He is in a group with Jay Rock, Ab-Soul and Schoolboy Q.

Style

Lamar is known for having a very unique style. Hall students appreciate his lyrical proficiency. “I think Kendrick has very timely and deep lyrics in his songs,” said senior Jon Peikes. Senior Ryan Rocheleau highlights how fast Kendrick can rap, “Kendrick Lamar can fit 87 rhymes in 24 bars.” Overall, he has a lot of fans at Hall High School.

His style has not only been noticed by students at Hall, but also by various awards. Lamar has been nominated for 123 awards, by 23 different organizations, and won 43 awards. Hip-hop’s biggest awards, the Grammys, nominated him for 22 awards, and he won seven. Some awards he won were best album, for To Pimp a Butterfly, best rap song, for i, and best rap/sung collaboration, These Walls.

Activism

However, his most awarded song, Alright (nominated for four grammys, won two), has been an anthem for protesting against police brutality. Specifically, Black Lives Matter uses the line as an anthem. This theme is prevalent throughout the song, which also focuses on hope, faith in God, and having a better life in the future. Lamar is a christian, and he often references God, like in Alright. The music video especially highlights the themes, by using imagery. In addition, Rolling Stone has compared this song to “We Shall Overcome,” as a similar hopeful protest anthem.

Some of his songs aren’t as hopeful as Alright. For example, good kid maad city describes some of his horrifying childhood experiences.

“Eight years old, walking home from McNair Elementary. Dude was in the drive-thru ordering his food, and homey ran up, boom boom — smoked him,”   -Kendrick Lamar

In the song, he struggles with his tough upbringing, while trying not to succumb to the pressures of gangs and drugs. Overall, this song is a lyrical masterpiece. As in many of his songs, he weaves together his negative experiences with positive outlook.