Most things I do I believe in challenging the status quo for the better good. I believe in changing the world however one ordinary person who lives in a semi-urban town definitely does not have the same impact as a widely known artist or singer on the world. For example, Kendrick Lamar, rapper and songwriter raised in Compton has become one of the most influential rappers of the 21st century. He commenced his musical journey as a young teenager, releasing a mixtape that compelled local attention, and soon after signed with Top Dawg Entertainment. He increased even more awareness after his first release in 2010. Before long he gained a massive online fan base and began collaborating with several well-known artists such as Snoop Dogg and Busta Rhymes.
One of his major hits that sprung him off into his immense success was his album titled, “good kid, m.A.A.d city” debuted in 2012. In the song, “m.A.
A.d city,” Lamar confesses his childhood in Compton and the effect it had on him. He mentions Rosecrans Avenue and to smoking a laced blunt, the reason he stopped, and being fired to his previous job due to a robbery. Additionally, he mentions the traumatic event of witnessing his uncle being shot at a local burger stand.
At the end of this song, Lamar defines the title as “My Angels on Angel Dust” referring back to drugs and the laced blunt he once smoked. He states, “That’s the reason I don’t smoke. That was me. I got laced. The reason I don’t smoke, and it’s in the story. It was just me getting my hands on the wrong thing at the wrong time, being oblivious to it.
” and another meaning being “my angry adolescence divided.” This album and song gained worldwide attention praising the cinematic masterpiece sung by Kendrick Lamar and his story. Lamar’s newly released album titled “DAMN.
” explores the ongoing themes of racism, empowerment, and politics in American society. The album contains his most popular song titled “DNA” mentioning his loyalty to his black culture and heritage which he appraises considerably. He states in the song, “I got power, poison, pain, and joy inside my DNA” conveying a deeper meaning that all the experiences in his songs happened to him and that in that kind of community it’s impossible to talk about these type of problems.
Kendrick states, ” Its already in your blood because I am Trayvon Martin, you know. I’m all of these kids.” Showing that his lyrical geniuses are a connection back to the streets and his home life, made to have a voice over the unspeakable. Currently, Lamar supplies four studio albums, one compilation album, five mixtapes, and 44 singles at the age of 30.
So why have I chosen Kendrick Lamar for this and how does this relate back to you? Hate him or love him, he is a trendsetter, and consistently evolving the rap game, turning his music and every song he produces into a cinematic masterpiece with every lyric. Each containing some deeper meaning, sparking emotion and feeling especially to the black community. Lamar also challenges the status quo and the problems on the streets that no one seems to really talk about it, voicing it to the world in the form of art, others can listen to and form a connection. Lamar has also become a worldwide success by creating his own sound and making his own music instead of running after fans and producing things he think they would rather want to hear. Most importantly, Kendrick Lamar’s journey through making it out of the streets in Compton and becoming a prestigious successful artist at such an early age has given hope to the others who think they will never make it out. Kendrick Lamar’s rap career and his journey through life has made others think, “I can do it too, I can get out.”
