Kendrick Lamar: The Narrative Of Young Black Men In America

Lamar’s specialty has always been narrating and rapping about racism, and the problems black people have to face in their everyday lives just to stay alive while being treated unethically, but his compositions have never explored themes outside this dilemma. This album gives a different feel from his previous albums due to this. ‘Damn’ illustrates Kendrick’s frustrations throughout the years that can only be described as a deep depression. Contradicting and complicated feelings that can never be expressed through words alone, which is ironic considering Lamar has been constantly cited as one of the greatest lyricists of his generation. These feelings have been built up as a result of his rising fame. In one song, Kendrick feels that nobody is looking out for him and his well-being and that his fans only care about his music and their perceived image or persona of him that they only see in the media, despite not being his true personality. He then mentions that he desires self-isolation because of this, and later contradicts himself in another song, expressing that he wants more attention and stating

Annotated Bibliography Lamar, Kendrick. To Pimp A Butterfly. Top Dawg Entertainment. 2015. CD One of my sources is Kendrick Lamar’s “To Pimp A Butterfly”, the reason behind the choice of this sources is relation it has to my topic “Race in America: The Unifying Nation”.

Well-known American rapper and songwriter, Kendrick Lamar, in his influential performance at the 2016 Grammy Awards while singing "Blacker the Berry" off his 11 time nominated album "To Pimp a Butterfly," recounts issues of racism in society, however, conveys a deeper meaning of hypocrisy towards the end of the song. In this essay, I will be doing a contextual analysis of Kendrick Lamar 's 2016 Grammy performance. I argue the significant meaning throughout Lamar 's performance, then I go outside the event and describe events in the outside world that related or could have perhaps provoked him to decide to perform those particular songs and I’ll conclude by examining how those outside events could potentially alter our perception of the performance and the importance of knowing that information. The message Kendrick is trying to convey are very blunt and explicit throughout the entire song. “Or try to celebrate February like it’s my B-day” (Lamar 2016), shows his use of metaphorical language and imagery to portrays his frustrated attitude towards current racial views in America.

Even though those are just some of the past historical facts surrounding the negligence that justice and liberty have provided, Tupac Shakur's fast forwarded interpretation of key moment's in history give light to the obvious review that need dedicated time for amends to be underway. Despite all that has occurred throughout the span of history in the name of justice and liberty, whether it being honest or manipulated, steps have been taken withing communities which offer hope for those whom justice and freedom do not visit. In the Journal for Social Action in Counseling and Psychology, pertaining to Addressing Social Injustice with Urban African American Young Men Through Hip-hop, it states: “Since its inception, hip-hop has been and continues

Kendrick Lamar and his works were prominent at the 58th Grammy Awards, as he was a part of 5 Grammy Awards. Lamar’s greatest accomplishment was winning the “Best Rap Album” category, as he was awarded this for To Pimp a Butterfly. Songs off of the album To Pimp a Butterfly were awarded as well, as his songs “Alright” and “These Walls” earned a combined three Grammy awards. By gaining these awards, Lamar added accomplishments to his already successful career. This article relates to Invisible Man because of the messages and themes discussed on the album To Pimp a Butterfly. While Lamar’s work is primarily hip hop, it contains

As the decade of the 1970’s came to an end, a new Black music emerged like much of the others - wrapped in social realities of an genuinely Black experience. Rap/Hip Hop bursted on the seams relating many of the same political messages and ideologies heard decades before. Echoing the Black Power movement and using the musical culture as a way to rebuild Black communities constantly under attack, rap brought real life stories of an urban, younger

Kendrick Lamar’s third studio album, “To Pimp a Butterfly,” sheds light on the struggle of achieving rich and fame and the trials that come with. Rolling Stone and Billboard praised the album awarding it the best album of 2015. The album depicts the difficulties of fame by putting the trials and tribulations on display; the inability for those to adjust to their new lifestyle and the potential temptations that creep in. “To Pimp a Butterfly” has been both a divisive and uniting factor in its emergence in popular culture.

In his song, King Kunta, Kendrick Lamar successfully addressed several issues the society today. From the deteriorating standards of rappers today to the use of drugs in the hood by the youth especially the African American. With the broken justice system, the youths in the society today cannot go past 25 posing a major threat as the youths are the future of the society. The song thus successfully addresses issues in the society that are especially barring success and peaceful coexistence in the society

Rap and hip hop have been used as tools to explain the socioeconomic and political context of inner cities, as well as explore social and moral issues, and have done so with great success. However, critics have said that the recent commercialization of hip hop results in superficial rap. Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly pushes back against this idea, and explores complex themes. Kendrick explores how financial success has changed him, how US politics affects inner cities, and why the world needs racial harmony with three tracks on his album: “How much as dollar worth”, “Hood Politics” and “Complexion: A Zulu Love” respectively.

During the 1970’s, The Bronx in New York City was an incredibly poor, deteriorating, poverty-stricken area that was comprised of primarily Black and Latino residents. As a response to the systemic racism that these communities faced, young black men became vocal about their communities’ issues through the use of hip hop music. Thus, it was during this time that hip hop became a rising platform; and was predominantly influenced by the Black power movements which promoted black nationalism, liberation and empowerment as a response to systemic anti-black racism. This platform allowed many young black men to address and vocalize the issues that affected their communities due to systemic oppressions upheld by white hegemonic ideologies and institutions. Throughout this time, artist’s addressed issues of poverty, unemployment, wealth inequality -- essentially used as a critique of neoliberalism. It was not until the corporate profitization of hip-hop during the late 90’s/00’s that these issues became less frequent in the forefront of the lyrics.

I am proposing my lyric and politics essay to an American rapper name Nick Cannon to his latest politics rap song called “Stand for What”. The song called “Stand for What” written by Nick cannon demonstrated a powerful message to the reality in the movement of end racial injustice and police brutality. His song support Colin Kaepernick kneeling down for a peaceful protest during the National Anthem, which made Trump not liking Colin’s action. The “Stand for What” lyrics portray an image of the reality of whites’ oppression against black people for all the wrong deeds that should been amended. His song speaks out the truth for the police brutality, Colin Kaepernick protest, and our history of American racial injustice. After Nick Cannon retires

Unlike many other mainstream artists, Kendrick Lamar attaches great importance to the lyrics of his songs. Lamar’s song “DNA”, released last April, became a real breakthrough in the world of hip-hop music. In this song, Lamar reflects on various social issues faced by the modern African-American community of the USA. The song’s lyrics, as well as the music video, portrays the most common stereotypes and biases labeled to the African-American community. The central aim of the song is to sarcastically demonstrate the image of African-Americans as they are viewed by biased media. By the use of symbolical sarcasm and double meanings, Lamar underlines the acuteness of the race inequality that remains existing in the modern America.

Injustice has plagued society for years. An injustice could be described as an unfair treatment usually racially motivated. As a black male in America, injustices are practically thrown my way. People that look like me long for justice. The book “Between the World & Me” and the song “Mortal Man” both show the side of injustice with a strong need for justice by proposing solutions. Specially written by the 7 time Grammy Award winning Hip Hop artist Kendrick Lamar was born in Compton, California and is currently residing there as an signed artist to Dr. Dre’s record label, Aftermath. Kendrick Lamar first went as his persona, K-Dot, but as time went by he soon changed his name from K-Dot to just his Middle name as Kendrick Lamar. In the song,

In Kendrick Lamar’s “Poetic Justice” he discusses the importance of self love and the love he has for another being. Kendrick also discusses the relevance of communication in relationships, specifically the importance of him how he feels throughout his song work and art. A repetitive theme is confessing a love for a certain female, both Drake and Kendrick express how they feel attracted to their romantic partners throughout their respective verses in “Poetic Justice”. The focal point of Kendrick Lamar's “Poetic Justice” is that communication saves relationships when problems arise and that his artwork helps him speak to and show love for his significant other. Kendrick Lamar grew up in southside Los Angeles California, his father was a member of the street gang “Gangsters Disciples” and Kendrick himself has connection to the “Bloods” street gang.

At this moment, Kendrick’s monologue addresses the battle encountered by African Americans today and the frustration that comes with wanting and deserving more than they have. The backing vocals in this section of the song imply that American society wants African Americans to submit to it and praise it, even though many of them have suffered from it. This introduction signifies how dazed society is to the black people and how there is a constant battle between