In 2018,Kendrick Lamarwas awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music. Kendrick Lamar was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music for releasing his fourth studio album,DAMN. Before then, all previous musicians had been awarded the honor for their contributions to either the jazz or classical music genres. This marked the first time that someone outside of either genre was given the prestigious honor.
As much as this distinction paints Kendrick Lamar as a distinguished musician, winning the Pulitzer Prize has put the Compton rapper under scrutiny. At the time, the moment was highly controversial. Music purists questioned why a rap album was deserving of a Pulitzer, while passionate hip-hop heads debated whetherDAMN.was worthy of winning a Pulitzer, let alone being the first rap album to win such an award.
Before explaining why DAMN. is so deserving of the award and why some may dispute that, it’s worth breaking down the contents of first describing the contents of DAMN.
Breaking Down Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN
What Is Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN. About?
Kendrick Lamar’sDAMN.came two years after his third album,To Pimp a Butterfly. IfGood Kid M.A.A.D. Citywas K. Dot’s breakout,Pimp’sfour Grammy wins - including Best Rap Album - showcased his consistency that would be on display throughout his discography, as well as proving he was here to stay. By late 2016, he was working on his follow-up album,DAMN.It’s an album that tells a different story both forward and backward, depending on when and where readers decide to listen. A later-released Collector’s Edition, released with the same tracklist in reverse order, would confirm this.
“I think like a week after the album came out, [fans] realized you may play the album backwards,” Kendrick Lamar toldMTV (cited by Consequence). “It plays as a full story and even a better rhythm. It’s one of my favorite rhythms and tempos within the album. It’s something that we definitely premeditate while we’re in the studio.”Kendrick has kept a tight-lip over what the story is about, allowing listeners to make their own interpretations of what each song could mean and what story they tell when compiled together.
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Some fans have theorizedDAMN. is another religious meditation, making it a sister sequel ofTo Pimp a Butterflywhere Kendrick recalls Lucy (Lucifer), while others believe Kendrick asserts himself as a prophet character. Regardless of how listeners decide to digest the album,DAMN. most certainly evokes themes revolving around morality, faith, and the duality of men. The 14-part tracklist is highlighted by features from the likes of U2 and Rihanna, production assistance from masters like The Alchemist and Mike Will Made It, and a litany of genre infusions.
Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN. Is Infused with Jazz
Not Out of Place Among Other Pulitzer Winners
Kendrick Lamar’sDAMN. won four Grammy statues, including Best Rap Album, but its Pulitzer Prize win is what especially earned the project worldwide attention. What made the latter so shocking is that the jurors of the Pulitzer Prize board have traditionally and exclusively awarded that honor to jazz and/or classical albums. Special citations have been awarded to Bob Dylan, Hank Williams, and Aretha Franklin, but a special citation is the equivalent of awarding an Academy Honorary Award to someone who never won an Oscar at the end of their career.
Kendrick, meanwhile, is the first non-classical or jazz musician to win an official Pulitzer Prize. This addition doesn’t feel totally out of place in retrospect when readers consider thatDAMN. - while not a jazz album - has its roots in the genre of jazz. Much of the album is influenced by jazz, featuring samples from jazz instrumentals like “Wah Wah Man” by Young-Holt Unlimited for “XXX.” Jazz lies at the heart ofDAMN, helping it not feel too out of place among other Pulitzer Prize-winning albums.
Why Do Critics Argue Against Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN Winning A Pulitzer?
Some Call it Non-Traditional, While Others Say He’s Done Better
Before advocating for DAMN’s Pulitzer Prize win, it’s important to understand why critics have been so abashedly against its winning the accolade. The most obvious critique is that it is such a non-traditional choice compared to winners of the past. It actively breaks the cycle of mainstream music being optioned for a Pulitzer in favor of the more overlooked piano, trumpet, and classical melodies out there.For some,DAMN. being non-traditional is enough to discredit it, but such a mainstream album receiving the honor also takes attention from an underseen classical/jazz option that could have been chosen that year.
Wins like this don’t just reward greatness but spread awareness about a gem that some music enthusiasts may have missed. As well-deserved asDAMN’swin could be, it did beat out a more overlooked gem that could have benefitted from that kind of exposure. Meanwhile,fans of Kendrick have argued thatDAMNsimply wasn’t the album in his discography that was deserving of a Pulitzer Prize. Out ofall of Kendrick Lamar’s albums, some sayTo Pimp a Butterflyand evenGood Kidwere more impressive, timeless options.
Why Kendrick Lamar’s DAMN IS Deserving of a Pulitzer
One of the Best Albums of the 2010s
There are many things about Kendrick Lamar’sDAMN. that deem it worthy of its Pulitzer Prize win. In being the first to break the cycle of traditional classic or jazz music being awarded, the win showcased a shift in a culture that’s become harder to deny. At the time ofDAMN’swin, rap was the most popular genre of its time.This win reflected the modern times in showcasing how modern rap holds just as much artistic merit as a classical or jazz album.
It also helps thatalmost eight years since its release,DAMN. still holds up, not just in terms of quality, but in terms of cultural relevance. Alongside its relatable themes, DAMN. covers topics that were prevalent in the news at the time, like police brutality and systemic racism, topics which still hold precedence in today’s political climate. The album feels modern despite being almost a decade alone. He carries that same timeless, replayable consistency intorecent projects likeGNX. That timeless significance is what makesDAMN. Pulitzer-worthy, one of the best albums inKendrick Lamar’sdiscography, and all time.
