Kendrick Lamar never fails to stun us and his performance at the 58th Grammys last night was no exception. Before performing, Lamar had already won four out of the 11 Grammy awards he was nominated for, taking home the prestigious Rap Album of The Year for To Pimp a Butterfly.The Compton rapper hinted via social media last week that there was going to be some prison imagery and symbolism in his performance but he far exceeded our expectations. Not only did he deliver an unforgettable and heart pumping performance, K Dot unabashedly addressed the racism running rampant in our culture today.
The performance starts with L.A producer/singer Iman Omari‘s “Omari’s Mood”, a saxophone driven melancholy piece that fits the jazz inspired themes of To Pimp A Butterfly. K Dot leads a line of men in prison garb, shackled together at the wrists and ankles. This historical reference to “chain gangs” was another indirect criticism at the disproportionate number of incarcerated black men versus their white counterparts in the United States. He quickly moves into “The Blacker the Berry” and ramps up the performance with a barrage of lights, neon dancers and a bomb live arrangement from his band jamming out in the jail cells behind him.
After “The Blacker the Berry”, the prison scene is dismantled and replaced with a large bonfire and dancers clad in outfits inspired by traditional garb from various African cultures. K Dot launches into “Alright”, a modern anthem and celebration of blackness in a world that tries to constantly erase black presence. The scene looks like something that world renowned musician Fela Kuti would’ve incorporated into his live performances. Lamar is then left on the stage by himself with an image of Africa in white projected behind him with “Compton” written in the heart of the continent.
The symbolism and message behind Kendrick Lamar’s performance is what makes it touching and unforgettable. There will inevitably be some salty tears from those who think that the performance was “race baiting” and/ or “racist” (like those protesting Beyonce’s performance at this year’s Superbowl Half Time show). But for now, we’ll hold this cultural triumph close to our hearts. You can check out the performance below to see the epic, powerful message for yourself.