A Shot From the Snub-Nose Heard Around the World

Kendrick Lamar and awards befitting a king…

The award show whose name shall remain nameless just snubbed the one album that narrates the life of a good kid growing up in the city of Compton.

Hip-hop has long put on display the bowels of urban decay and ineffective government policies. From police brutality to unemployment, the music has been an elixir of political action and journalistic integrity. Now, the anchor of a generation, a young wordsmith by the name of Kendrick Lamar, echoes the pain through triumphant beats and a Pulitzer-worthy account of gang warfare, peer pressure, and spiritual awakening.

Some of what has captured the ears of so many has been Kendrick’s intonation that is wrought with anger. He’s clearly pissed, yet carries the sly smile of someone who now enjoys the finer delicacies of life. You can see him brandishing typical West Coast garb with subtle flashes of luxury. Like him, many folks from his neighborhood bear the same bravado.

They are hardened and young.

So it is here, in the lyrics of a good kid you find the harsh realities that resonate with one generation and garners the respect of the one prior. This piece is not about Macklemore or awards. It is about Kendrick Lamar and the reward that comes from speaking in the collective voice of an entire generation. There is no greater validity, no better trophy, than to have an impact worthy of critical-acclaim.