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FIRST TIME:

KENDRICK LAMAR

HIP HOP

Written By: Jewels Alexandria

(4 Minute Read)

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Kendrick Lamar is an artist I did not know about until his first studio album. good kid, m.A.A.d city. As I sat in the car of a friend of mine who had just returned from military basic training, he put on Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe. I can remember laughing because I confused the lyrics to the song where he says, “you don’t know what pain is,” with, “you don’t know a panus (penis). We both laughed at the silly confusion and from then on I fell in love with the message he was attempting to convey. During that same year I was dating a guy who didn’t believe in the greatness of Kendrick. I can remember telling him and his friends he would be our generational Tupac. They all laughed at me and told me I was pushing it. But I never let up on that thought. Fast forward 12 years later and Kendrick is exactly who I thought him to be. Tupac for our times.

There are countless stories and memories I have that have benefited my life from Kendrick Lamar’s music. But most recently would be his album, Mr. Moral and the Big Steppers. The year that album dropped, my grandmother passed. That morning I went for a 2 hour walk that typically would have taken me 30 minutes. I heard the album multiple times, even listened to it for the first time with the same friend. But once my grandmother passed, United In Grief spoke almost in another language to me. A language I could not understand the first time around. It was the language of agony over a lost loved one. An unconditional love. And what I gathered from it was that everyone goes through grief and that we are all ‘united’ in that way. I spent that two hours listening to the album from beginning to end and by the end, made it back home where I could finally stop crying. For a few. I still refer to this album when feeling lost and needing a reminder of my greatness.

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In a world that no longer has great leaders on a scale of Malcom X or Angela Davis, we must find other ways to educate ourselves of our past and future. Sometimes, I feel our last chance of hope for pushing the black agenda is through music. It is now critized to be educated. Social media has killed that. No one can be taught. But for the few who understand, there are people like Kendrick Lamar. Who humble and remind us who we are and keeps the eminence of blackness alive. Even when called boring or not hype enough, he uses his status for higher purpose and pushes through.

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Kendrick has a way of doing that for people. Helping put things in perspective or relating to his fans in a way that most famous/rich people forget how to do. Each album displays maturity and growth which is something he encourages all his fans. But he also has a side similar to Tupac that says, “don’t fuck with me.” I call it balance. His teachings of black excellence, love and family are top tier advice and I’m proud to be around to witness his greatness.

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What is your story of the first time you heard Kendrick Lamar?

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