I'm usually not the one for digressing away from actual music for think pieces. But after the biggest snub to Kendrick Lamar (and even to Alabama Shakes) for Album of the Year last night at the Grammy's, I just have to put my two cents in.
Now, in no way, shape or form am I surprised by the outcome of the biggest award of the night. I am simply fed up with the outcome always being the same. The Grammy's are historically known for throwing juicy bones to undeserving artists, e.g., Meghan Trainor winning over my girl Tori Kelly. But once the poster girl for celebrated white mediocrity Taylor Swift (did you see that corny handshake?) won Album of The Year, I was done. Because straight up, on my Ye tip, Kendrick Lamar has one of the greatest albums of all time.
Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A Butterfly should have won. Sorry, I'm not sorry. It was no competition in my mind. TPAB was without a doubt my favorite album. It's a phenomenal album that broke its own barriers for hip-hop, inside music. The LP fused jazz, funk, soul and poetry (in the classic use of the word) into one whole album. It should have been considered in multiple categories, not just marginalized in the rap box. Especially since Taylor Swift can be Country and Pop, but I digress. TPAB is an album that wasn't afraid. It wasn't afraid to be unapologetically black. It wasn't afraid to tackle depression. It wasn't afraid to tackle gang violence. It wasn't afraid to call for unity among colors. Kendrick's masterpiece captured a certain reality of the black experience in America. An album that divulged the eternal struggles mentally of a black man trying to become all he can be, while still facing the reality of where all his loved one's are at. TPAB is an album that put the physical hurdles black people go through on the table for all to see, giving a voice to the voiceless. This album embraced the deepest and the most beautiful of our African roots. To Pimp A Butterfly is more than just rap, it is poetry that goes deeper than most artists would dare to go. Kendrick goes at the listeners psyche while exploring his own. He made an album that not only bridged the generational gap for legends such as George Clinton, but he left us with something to talk about for generations. He gave us lyrics to analyze and decipher for years to come. To Pimp A Butterfly has a guaranteed enduring legacy, no one's words hold more weight than Kendrick Lamar. His song Alright became a chant at a Black Lives Matter rally -- that's how influential this man's music has become. Kendrick became a leader through this album. He threw his name in the hat for future legend with this album. And he should have won "Album of the Year" last night, making even more history.
But even given all of that, Taylor Swift gets Album of the year. Who was talking about 1989? Who was reciting lines from that album to uplift an entire race of people fighting the good fight? Who was praising Taylor's writing on the album? Who took 1989 to dissect its meaning and structure in classrooms? Out in the open, nobody. To Pimp A Butterfly surpassed Kanye West's masterpiece My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy for highest rated hip-hop album. It takes a genius to do that, and you're telling me 1989 deserved to win? Stop it. I'm sure Dot is happy for his friend Taylor Swift, but I know for a fact To Pimp A Butterfly has saved lives. u is one of the most powerfully vulnerable songs I've ever heard. I'm almost positive u will save my life one day. To Pimp A Butterfly means the world to me. As a young black man seeing that caliber of black excellence win such a prestigious award would have meant the world to me. Seeing my favorite artist who's music has changed my life win would have put a bigger smile on my face. But ultimately, their invalidation doesn't take away from the greatness. Kendrick Lamar, your album is a generation changer that is the true winner. Many of us black kids still feel we can do anything because of you. So, if it's any consolation, Mr. Duckworth, congratulations on your five wins last night. Well-deserved. And from the people to you, here's to what should have been your sixth.
Revisit greatness below.
Lead Photo Creds: genius.com/massappeal.com
Video Cred: youtube.com
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