Monday 6 March 2017

Kendrick Lamar: Living Lyrical Legend

Kenrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar is a living legend. Kendrick (born Kendrick Lamar Duckworth) is a Compton born rapper and songwriter widely renowned for his powerful, innovative lyrical masterpieces.

With popular albums such as 'Section.80', 'good kid, m.A.A.d city' and most recently 'To Pimp a Butterfly', Kendrick has skyrocketed into fame.

"So Isaac, why is kendrick a legend?"

Well, thanks for asking. I was first introduced to Kendrick Lamar when I heard his song and watched them music video for 'Alright' and experienced the power of this track - both lyrically and musically. I sort of forgot about Kendrick for a little while, but after signing up for the Apple Music streaming service, I had the chance to explore many artists including Kendrick's music. I still remember the day where I sat down and decided to listen to the full album on my headphones. The album plays out like a story with so much emotion, feeling and lyrical prowess. The album tells about struggles and shows an entirely different side of the world. Essentially, I'd even say that Kendrick Lamar's 'To Pimp a Butterfly' is what was my first true exposure to real hip hop music and since then, it has been a personal favourite genre. It's not just that album of Kendrick's that is so good, but each and every album of his delivers what cannot be found anywhere else in the music world. It's not just one single thing that makes his music so unique, it's everything combined. The feeling, the story, the lyrics, the beats, everything.

Kendrick's next album is currently in progress, and is supposed to be a powerful set of tracks meant to convey the emotions of communities around the world, including some recent events. With the award winning 'To Pimp a Butterfly', the pressure is on for Kendrick to deliver.

No doubt, he will.


"I remember you was conflicted, misusing your influence.
Sometimes I did the same, abusin' my power, full of resentment
Resentment that turned into a deep depression
Found myself screamin' in a hotel room
I didn't wanna self-destruct
The evils of Lucy were all around me
So I went runnin' for answers
...until I came home
But that didn't stop survivor's guilt
Goin' back and forth tryin' to convince myself the stripes I earned
Or maybe how A-1 my foundation was
But while my loved ones was fighting the continuous war back in the city, I was entering a new one
A war that was based on apartheid and discrimination
Made me wanna go back to the city and tell the homies what I learned
The word was respect"
-Kendrick Lamar 'Mortal Man'

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