In 2018, Kendrick Lamar received the Pulitzer Prize for Music. Kendrick Lamar received the Pulitzer Prize for Music for the release of his fourth studio album, DRUG. Prior to this, all previous musicians had received the honor for their contributions to the jazz or classical music genres. It was the first time anyone outside of either gender had received the prestigious honor.
As much as this distinction portrays Kendrick Lamar as a distinguished musician, winning the Pulitzer Prize has put the Compton rapper under scrutiny.. At the time, the moment was highly controversial. Music purists questioned why a rap album deserved a Pulitzer, while hip-hop lovers debated whether DRUG. was worthy of winning a Pulitzer, let alone being the first rap album to win such an award.
Before explaining why DAMN. is so deserving of the award and why some may dispute this, it is worth analyzing the content first by describing the content of DAMN.
Breaking Kendrick Lamar's DAMN
What is Kendrick Lamar's DAMN. On?
Kendrick Lamar DRUG. came two years after their third album, To pimp a butterfly. If Good boy MAAD city it was K. Dot's escape, pimp four Grammy Awards – including Best Rap Album – showed his consistency that would be on display throughout his discography, as well as proving that he was here to stay. At the end of 2016 he was working on his next album DRUG. It's an album that tells a different story both forward and backward, depending on when and where readers decide to listen.. A later released collector's edition, released with the same tracklist in reverse order, would confirm this.
“I think a week after the album came out, [fans] I realized you can play the album backwards,” said Kendrick Lamar MTV (quoted by Consequence). “It’s a complete story and even better pacing. It's one of my favorite rhythms and tempos on the album. It’s something we definitely premeditate while we’re in the studio.” Kendrick remained silent on the subject of history, allowing listeners to make their own interpretations of what each song could mean and what story they tell when compiled together..
Some fans theorized DRUG. is another religious meditation, making it a sister sequence to To pimp a butterfly where Kendrick resembles Lucy (Lucifer), while others believe that Kendrick asserts himself as a prophet character. Regardless of how listeners choose to digest the album DRUG. certainly evokes themes that revolve around morality, faith and the duality of men. The 14-part tracklist is highlighted by artists like U2 and Rihanna, production assistance from masters like The Alchemist and Mike Will Made It, and a litany of genre infusions.
Damn Kendrick Lamar. It's infused with jazz
Not out of place among other Pulitzer winners
Kendrick Lamar DRUG. won four Grammy Awards, including Best Rap Album, but the Pulitzer Prize was what especially brought worldwide attention to the project. What made the latter so shocking is that the Pulitzer Prize board jurors have traditionally and exclusively awarded this honor to jazz and/or classical albums. Special mentions were given to Bob Dylan, Hank Williams and Aretha Franklin, but a special citation is equivalent to awarding an Honorary Oscar to someone who never won an Oscar at the end of their career.
Kendrick, meanwhile, is the first non-classical or jazz musician to win an official Pulitzer Prize. This addition does not seem entirely out of place in retrospect, when readers consider that DRUG. – although not a jazz album – has its roots in the jazz genre. Much of the album is jazz-influenced, featuring samples of jazz instrumentals such as Young-Holt Unlimited's “Wah Wah Man” for “XXX”. Jazz is in the heart DRUGhelping it not feel too out of place among other Pulitzer Prize-winning albums.
Why do critics argue against Kendrick Lamar's DAMN winning a Pulitzer?
Some call it non-traditional, while others say it did better
Before defending DAMN's Pulitzer Prize win, it's important to understand why critics have been so shamefully against its winning the prize. The most obvious criticism is that this is an untraditional choice compared to past winners. He actively breaks the cycle of mainstream music being chosen for a Pulitzer in favor of piano, trumpet, and more neglected classical tunes out there. For some, DRUG. being non-traditional is enough to discredit it, but such a mainstream album receiving the honor also diverts attention from an overlooked classical/jazz option that could have been picked up that year..
Wins like this not only reward greatness, but also publicize a gem that some music enthusiasts may have missed. As deserved as Drug could be the victory, it overcame a more overlooked gem that could have benefited from this kind of exposure. About that, Kendrick fans argued that DRUG it simply wasn't the album in his discography that deserved the Pulitzer Prize. Of all Kendrick Lamar's albums, some say To pimp a butterfly and even Good boy they were more impressive and timeless options.
Why Kendrick Lamar's DAMN Deserves a Pulitzer
One of the best albums of the 2010s
There are many things about Kendrick Lamar DRUG. who consider it worthy of winning the Pulitzer Prize. By being the first to break the cycle of traditional classical or jazz music awards, the win showed a shift in a culture that has become harder to deny. At the time of Drug victory, rap was the most popular genre of its time. This victory reflected modern times by showing how modern rap has as much artistic merit as a classical or jazz album..
This also helps almost eight years since its launch, DRUG. still remains, not only in terms of quality, but in terms of cultural relevance. Along with its relatable themes, DAMN. covers topics that were prevalent in the news at the time, such as police brutality and systemic racism, topics that still take precedence in today's political climate. The album feels modern despite being alone for nearly a decade. It carries that same timeless and repeatable consistency into recent projects like GNX. This timeless meaning is what makes DRUG. Worthy of a Pulitzer, one of the best albums of Kendrick Lamar discography and all times.
Source: Consequence