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In 2018,Kendrick Lamarwas awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music . Kendrick Lamar was present the Pulitzer Prize for Music for releasing his fourth studio apartment album , DAMN . Before then , all old musicians had been awarded the honor for their contributions to either the jazz or classical music genres . This grade the first clip that someone outside of either genre was given the honored honor .
As much as this distinction paint Kendrick Lamar as a distinguished player , winning the Pulitzer Prize has put the Compton knocker under examination . At the time , the moment was extremely controversial . euphony purist question why a rap album was deserving of a Pulitzer , while passionate rose hip - hop point deliberate whetherDAMN.was suitable of make headway a Pulitzer , permit alone being the first rap record album to win such an honor .
Before explaining why DAMN . is so deserving of the award and why some may dispute that , it ’s worth breaking down the contents of first depict the contents of DAMN .
Breaking Down Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN
What Is Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN. About?
Kendrick Lamar’sDAMN.came two years after his third album , To Pimp a Butterfly . IfGood Kid M.A.A.D. Citywas K. Dot ’s breakout , Pimp’sfour Grammy profits - include Best Rap Album - showcased his consistency that would be on display throughout his discography , as well as proving he was here to stay . By late 2016 , he was work on his follow - up album , DAMN.It ’s an album that tells a dissimilar report both forrader and backward , depending on when and where lecturer adjudicate to listen . A by and by - released Collector ’s Edition , released with the same tracklist in reverse order , would confirm this .
“ I intend like a week after the album came out , [ fans ] actualise you’re able to play the album backwards , ” Kendrick Lamar toldMTV ( cite by Consequence ) . “ It dally as a full story and even a good rhythm . It ’s one of my favored rhythms and tempos within the record album . It ’s something that we in spades premeditate while we ’re in the studio . ”Kendrick has kept a tight - mouth over what the narrative is about , allow auditor to make their own interpretations of what each song could mean and what level they severalize when compiled together .
Dragon Ball rooter might ’ve been confused about a post from the prescribed Toei X write up about Mustard , and it turn out Kendrick Lamar is the intellect .
Some fans have theorizedDAMN . is another spiritual meditation , make it a sister subsequence ofTo Pimp a Butterflywhere Kendrick recalls Lucy ( Lucifer ) , while others consider Kendrick assert himself as a seer character . Regardless of how listeners resolve to condense the album , DAMN . most certainly evokes topic revolving around morality , organized religion , and the duality of men . The 14 - part tracklist is highlighted by features from the likes of U2 and Rihanna , product assistance from masters like The Alchemist and Mike Will Made It , and a litany of genre infusion .
Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN. Is Infused with Jazz
Not Out of Place Among Other Pulitzer Winners
Kendrick Lamar’sDAMN . won four Grammy statue , admit Best Rap Album , but its Pulitzer Prize profits is what particularly gain the undertaking worldwide attention . What made the latter so shocking is that the jurywoman of the Pulitzer Prize board have traditionally and exclusively award that honor to roll in the hay and/or classical album . Special citations have been award to Bob Dylan , Hank Williams , and Aretha Franklin , but a special citation is the eq of award an Academy Honorary Award to someone who never advance an Oscar at the end of their career .
Kendrick , meanwhile , is the first non - classical or idle words musician to win an official Pulitzer Prize . This addition does n’t palpate totally out of place in retrospect when readers moot thatDAMN . - while not a wind album - has its roots in the genre of jazz . Much of the album is influenced by jazz , feature sample from malarkey instrumentals like " Wah Wah Man " by Young - Holt Unlimited for " XXX . " idle words lie at the heart ofDAMN , helping it not feel too out of billet among other Pulitzer Prize - winning record album .
Why Do Critics Argue Against Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN Winning A Pulitzer?
Some Call it Non-Traditional, While Others Say He’s Done Better
Before advocating for DAMN ’s Pulitzer Prize winnings , it ’s of import to empathise why critics have been so abashedly against its winning the accolade . The most obvious critique is that it is such a non - traditional choice compared to succeeder of the past times . It actively founder the cycle of mainstream music being optioned for a Pulitzer in favour of the more overlooked piano , trumpet , and authoritative melodies out there . For some , DAMN . being non - traditional is enough to discredit it , but such a mainstream record album receiving the laurels also take on attention from an underseen classic / nothingness option that could have been chosen that yr .
Wins like this do n’t just reinforce greatness but spread consciousness about a gem that some music enthusiasts may have miss . As well - deserve asDAMN’swin could be , it did beat out a more unmarked gem that could have do good from that form of pic . Meanwhile , fans of Kendrick have argued thatDAMNsimply was n’t the record album in his discography that was deserving of a Pulitzer Prize . Out ofall of Kendrick Lamar ’s album , some sayTo Pimp a Butterflyand evenGood Kidwere more impressive , timeless options .
Why Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN IS Deserving of a Pulitzer
One of the Best Albums of the 2010s
There are many things about Kendrick Lamar’sDAMN . that hold it suitable of its Pulitzer Prize profits . In being the first to break the cycle of traditional classic or nothingness music being awarded , the win showcased a shift in a culture that ’s become harder to abnegate . At the time ofDAMN’swin , rap was the most pop genre of its time . This winnings reflected the forward-looking meter in showcasing how modern rap carry just as much artistic merit as a Greco-Roman or wind album .
It also helps thatalmost eight long time since its release , DAMN . still holds up , not just in terms of tone , but in full term of cultural relevance . Alongside its relatable radical , DAMN . insure matter that were prevalent in the news program at the time , like police brutality and systemic racialism , topics which still hold precedency in today ’s political climate . The album feel innovative despite being almost a decade alone . He carries that same timeless , replayable consistency intorecent project likeGNX . That timeless significance is what makesDAMN . Pulitzer - worthy , one of the best album inKendrick Lamar’sdiscography , and all time .
informant : Consequence
