Analysis Of The Poem The Blacker The Berry And ...

To many Kendrick Lamar is just another west coast rapper; and to a diehard group of fans he is the king of west coast rap. But on the night of the 2016 Grammy awards, as he limped on stage, chained to his backup dancers, Kendrick suddenly became more than just a rapper. His six minute performance of â€Å"The Blacker the Berry† and â€Å"Alright† from his hit album To Pimp a Butterfly was captivating, electrifying and so powerful it had him trending on Twitter for days to follow. This reaction was the result of shock and praise as mainstream America was introduced to the unapologetic blackness of Kendrick’s art. Broadcasted on a network television station, the awards show presented the perfect platform and opportunity for Kendrick to reach out to beyond his usual fan-base. As all great artists do, Kendrick realized the rarity of the chance he was given and how he could use the moment to do more than just display his talents as a rapper. His performance gloried in its afrocentrism, with its medley of hip-hop, jazz, traditional African costumes and dance. But the message in the lyrics Kendrick rapped, spoke of a uniquely American issue: the high rates of police brutality against black men in the United States. One thing that is true is that rap music has a negative reputation among the mainstream audience because of its heavy references to gang violence, drugs, money, misogyny, sex, etc. Another truth is that rap music has been historically considered a large part of black culture.