Kendrick Lamar Sparknotes

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Mitchel Alghoul
Ms. Maciejewski
Honors American Literature D
3 February 2023
Kendrick Lamar is an influential musical artist
Kendrick Lamar is a highly popular and educational rapper, known for incorporating elements of African American history and culture in his music. Through his references to historical figures, events, and cultural elements, Lamar is able to explore and express his own cultural identity and share it with his listeners. Additionally, his music addresses social and political issues facing the African American community in a way that anyone can understand it easily, highlighting the main points of the issues. This not only educates his listeners on topics that may be foreign to them, but also sets him apart from other rappers. …show more content…

Within these references, he is able to explore and express his own cultural identity on a whole other level. Kendrick Lamar addresses these issues in an enticing and educational way where it would not even seem like you are learning something from just listening to a song. Additionally, his music connects and uplifts the African American community, making him a voice for them. Examples of this can be seen in lyrics such as: "Visions of Martin Luther staring at me. Malcolm X put a hex on my future, someone catch me” (Lamar HiiiPoWeR) which references the civil rights leaders and the impact of their activism on the African American community. Through the lyrics, Kendrick Lamar is acting as a voice for the African American community showcasing those important activists who helped shape the new world for current African Americans. A further example of Kendrick Lamar’s incorporation of African American history and culture in his music can be seen in the lyrics "I got loyalty, got royalty inside my DNA” (Lamar DNA). This line from his song, “DNA” highlights the true and not stereotyped views of the African American