Kendrick Lamar Becomes First Hip-Hop Artist To Win Pulitzer Prize

Kendrick has definitely been a destructive force in the rap world, taking the world by storm and being critically praised while doing so. Kendrick is a Grammy award winning artist who has also claimed gold at the MTV Video Music Awards, NAACP Image Awards, iHeartRadio Music Awards, Soul Train Music Awards, and many others. Now the award-winning artist can add the Pulitzer Prize to his long list of accomplishments!

Kendrick Lamar’s “DAMN.”, which was released in April 2017, took home the prestigious award, with the Pulitzer Prize website calling the album “a virtuosic song collection unified by its vernacular authenticity and rhythmic dynamism that offers affecting vignettes capturing the complexity of modern African-American life.” Not only is Kendrick Lamar the first Hip-Hop artist to take home a Pulitzer Prize, but the first non-classical or jazz artist to win as well. 

This adds further proof to not only Lamar’s presence within the music industry, but the leverage that Hip-Hop holds as a genre in the world of music. In 2017, Hip-Hop and RnB officially surpassed Rock N Roll as the biggest music genre in the United States, according to a Nielsen Music report. While it’s apparent that Hip-Hop’s influence is continuing to grow, Kendrick’s award for his latest album may be further proof at the level of influence Hip-Hop has globally, with Kendrick being an excellent representation of the art form. 

It looks as if 2018 is truly Kendrick Lamar’s year! He has performed during the College Football Playoff National Championship. He took home Best Rap Album, Best Rap Song, Best Rap Performance, and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and 3 nominations at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards. With this latest accolade, King Kendrick is close to becoming the King of Rap music before 2018 is over!