He’s fuelled many of my late-night editing sessions, but my respect for this groundbreaking artist stems far beyond the playlists that keep me awake and his musical prowess. I’ll admit — I had been a somewhat tepid fan before GNX (2024) dropped, but then everything changed. My love flourished until suddenly, I wasn’t just listening — I was tracing the threads and diving deeper into the lore of what makes Kendrick Kendrick.
So let’s unpack this legend’s career together, shall we?
Initially performing under the name K. Dot, Lamar quickly made waves after launching his debut album, Section.80, in 2011. He was discovered at 16-years-old when he signed with Tiffith’s Top Dawg Entertainment in 2005 which later led to a joint deal with Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. Lamar’s second studio album and first major release, good kid, M.A.A.D City (2012) explored his experiences growing up in Compton, California. Through its narrative structure, the album depicts how young people in his community were profiled by police, brutalized, exposed to gang violence, and forced to navigate the nuances of coming of age in this challenging environment.
In 2018, Lamar won the Pulitzer Prize for Music, awarded for his album DAMN. (2017). This recognition marked a historic moment for hip-hop as this was the first time an artist in a genre outside of classical or jazz music won the Prize. DAMN. is more than just an album — it blends Black American struggles with Lamar’s poetic lyricism, exploring themes of race and faith while calling out systemic issues, in tracks like “DNA” and “HUMBLE.” The Pulitzer Committee praised the work for offering “affecting vignettes capturing the complexity of modern African American life.”
Now in 2026, Lamar has once more made history — this time on Feb. 1 at the 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards. Surpassing Jay-Z as the most awarded rapper, he now holds 27 total GRAMMY wins, including five this year across categories such as Best Rap Album, Best Rap Song, and Record of the Year. Lamar and SZA took home Record of the Year for their duet “luther,” which samples Luther Vandross’s “If This World Were Mine.”
In honour of the big Bowl having just passed (go Hawks!!), I’d be remiss not to point out that Lamar was the first solo rapper to headline the Super Bowl. Not only did he make history (again) at SBLIX in New Orleans, but he transformed the biggest stage into a cultural exhibition, featuring an all-Black ensemble of dancers and bold political statements.
“The revolution about to be televised; You picked the right time but the wrong guy.”
A reference to Gil Scott-Heron’s poem “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised,” Lamar opened with an inverted line that extends Heron’s critique of media erasure. Heron highlighted the invisibility of revolution and how Black violence has systematically been left off-screen. Lamar used the reference as a call for people to actively fight against modern media’s selective storytelling. His opening also served as a critique of the current United States president, emphasizing that meaningful change comes from individuals, not media institutions or large corporations. The line challenged the audience directly, asserting activism on the biggest stage in America. Not to mention his fierce performance of the five-time GRAMMY-winning song, “Not Like Us,” openly dissing Drake in front of roughly 128 million viewers — and permanently cementing my respect after lots of debate on whether he’d perform the song.
With so many celebrities integrating political issues into their acceptance speeches at this year’s GRAMMYs, it brings up the question “are celebrities doing enough with their platform?” Kendrick Lamar stands out as a model for what making a real difference can look like. He uses his voice — both within his music and beyond — to take firm political stances, and he backs that up with tangible actions. Lamar has donated to school districts in his hometown, and organized charity tours, including one in 2011 supporting homeless women and children and another in 2014 where all proceeds went to Habitat for Humanity and the city of Compton.
All of this speaks to Lamar’s impact on culture — but on a personal level, one question comes up: what’s my favourite song? For me, “euphoria” takes that spot, and if not my all-time number one, it’s definitely sitting in my top three. It gives me an outlet to express the rage I feel toward the “Drake” in my life. Come on, we all have one.
One of the greatest lyricists of our generation, with bold lines and no fear, Lamar delivers what very few others can — and he does so without apology.
Kendrick said it best himself: “he deserves it all.”
