LOS ANGELES: California based rapper Kendrick Lamar has just become the first rapper in history to win the esteemed Pulitzer Prize for music. Born and raised in Compton, which is known to be the birthplace of hip-hop and rap pioneers, Lamar began his musical career from the young age of 16.
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The 30 year old rapper won the prize for his album DAMN, which was released in 2017 and in the 100 year history of Pulitzers, is the first winner to come from beyond Classical or Jazz music. What sets Lamar apart from other contemporary rappers is his unique fusion of poetry, jazz and blues with themes ranging from religion, love, racial politics and self-struggles.
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The esteemed Pulitzer board spoke of the album as “a virtuosic song collection unified by its vernacular authenticity and rhythmic dynamism that offers affecting vignettes capturing the complexity of modern African-American life.” The album topped the Billboard 200 album charts and bagged five wins at the Grammy Awards in 2018.
