Modish rapper and godlike talent Kendrick Lamar has been discussing his recent Pulitzer win for 2017 LP Damn with Vanity Fair magazine.
Graciously, the Compton superstar – real name Kendrick Lamar Duckworth, yes, like the old dear in Coronation Street – said he was honoured to be "recognized in an academic world" but is nonetheless of the opinion that this recognition is a bit overdue, and that the prize should have been awarded to a hip-hop artist "a long time ago."
"It took a long time for people to embrace us,” he says, “People outside of our community, our culture – to see this not just as vocal lyrics, but to see that this is really pain, this is really hurt, this is really true stories of our lives on wax.
"And now, for it to get the recognition that it deserves as a true art form, that's not only great for myself, but it makes me feel good about hip-hop in general.
“Writers like Tupac, Jay-Z, Rakim, Eminem, Q-Tip, Big Daddy Kane, Snoop ... It lets me know that people are actually listening further than I expected."
In the same interview, Kendrick Lamar shared his insight on fellow hip-hop star Kanye West’s (most) recent meltdown:
"He has his own perspective, and he's on this whole agree to disagree thing.
“And I would have this conversation with him personally if I want to."
This has been a busy old week for Lamar (née Duckworth, you remember Vera Duckworth, the noodle-haired Rovers Return landlady, oh actually maybe you don’t I’m crazy old). He was one of a record 928 people to have been invited to become members of The Academy, the organisation behind the Oscars.
Lamar earned his place at the table by producing and curating the soundtrack for Black Panther.
