Photo: Frazer Harrison / Getty Images
The 16 April 2017, the Award Board Pulitzer Awards the Pulitzer Prize for Music to rapper Kendrick Lamar for his album by 2017, DAMN. It was the first time the award had gone to a musical work outside of the classical and jazz genres, a watershed moment for the Pulitzers and Lamar and a sign of the recognition of the hip-hop by the American cultural elite as a legitimate artistic medium.
Born and raised in Compton, California, Lamar grew up in a community with a unique connection to the genre, and even witnessed two rap idols from the 90, Tupac Shakur and Dr. Dre, were filming the video for their legendary single “California Love” in his bar I when he was a child.
Even when rap took over the American music scene, many art and music critics refused to take it seriously, an attitude that only began to change in the decade of 1200 when artists like Kanye West, whose tour of 2013 had Lamar as the opening act, they took it to new levels.
Many of Lamar’s lyrics reference police brutality, systemic racism, and other political issues, but many critics have praised her albums, DAMN, in particular, for placing personal stories within this context of social conflict.
The Pulitzer committee called DAMN: “a collection of virtuosic songs unified by their authenticity and rhythmic dynamism that offers v poignant illustrations that capture the complexity of modern African-American life.” Administrator Dana Canedy said the decision to award Lamar the award was unanimous, adding that it was “a great moment for hip-hop music and a great moment for the Pulitzers.” ”.
Lamar’s victory was widely viewed as a well-deserved recognition of his talents, as well as overdue recognition of his contributions. from hip-hop to American culture. Although some members of the classical music community criticized the selection, past winners and nominees praised it. Ted Hearne, a songwriter who was nominated alongside Lamar, called him “one of the greatest living American songwriters, hands down.”
Keep reading:
- Myrka Dellanos hates ‘The View’, the show that inspired Telemundo’s ‘La Mesa Caliente’
- Ana Patricia Gámez went from living humbly in LA to having a beautiful house in Florida
- Mark Wahlberg on Father Stu: “I am willing to put my money where is my faith”