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Politics and Activism

Why Kendrick Lamar is Man of the Year

Southern California rapper makes waves with latest album.

Troy Michael Burke
Dec 14, 2015
Texas State University
133
Why Kendrick Lamar is Man of the Year
Consequence of Sound

Kendrick Lamar has had a whirlwind of a year. He released his critically acclaimed album To Pimp A Butterfly back in March of this year and he hasn't slowed down with the moves he has been making.

Most critics agree that To Pimp A Butterfly is one of the best hip hop albums of 2015 but it also came out at the most appropriate of times causing many Americans to look at how they view the world around them.

The album is filled with many self-reflective lyrics that hold up a mirror to not only Lamar's face--but the face of the American people. When we are reading stories about unarmed black teenagers being shot down by police in the news every other day we have to ask ourselves are we really the greatest nation in the world?

With powerful songs like "The Blacker the Berry" and "Alright" Lamar caused controversy when he performed on top of a cop car at the BET awards in June. Fox News correspondents said that his music "has done more damage to young African Americans than racism."

These comments came as a surprise to Lamar. In an interview with TMZ Lamar responded by asking "how can you take a song that's about hope and turn it into hatred?"

While Kendrick was surrounded by controversy over the course of 2015 he was also surrounded by a positive attitude of change. People really started to believe in his music and the message it was bringing them. Some protestors even began to sing his song "Alright" during a Black Lives Matter demonstration in Cleveland.

Kendrick Lamar is sending out a message of positivity and hopefulness with his music. He has even been such a role model to young teens that the California State Senate even awarded him the "Generational Icon" award which recognizes leaders who address issues within their community.

In the crazy year that was 2015 Kendrick Lamar came out on top. With a hit album that critics loved as well as fans he was able to spread his message to everybody in America. Lamar is such a big influence on young people in America right now and hopefully he continues to use that influence for positivity in 2016.

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