Cornrow Kenny

 


Blacker the berry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdPtVZDspIY
Lyrics: https://genius.com/Kendrick-lamar-the-blacker-the-berry-lyrics 
Alright: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-48u_uWMHY
Lyrics: https://genius.com/Kendrick-lamar-alright-lyrics

The style of Kendrick Lamar is a complex and conflicting one, and he is also highly aware of the conflicts that he and the rest of society face. In his songs, he goes back and forth between confidence and doubt mainly self doubt, leadership and self-blame, and this demonstrates that his mind is never focused on one particular thing. In “Alright,” he is optimistic and hopeful, singing “We gon' be alright,” and this shows that his mind is focused on getting through the struggle that he and the rest of the black community face. However, in “The Blacker the Berry,” he also shows that he is a complex and conflicting person, singing “I'm the biggest hypocrite of 2015,” and this shows that his mind is also focused on self-doubt and conflict, and this is something that is very real and relatable.


Kendrick Lamar: More Than Just Music

If you think about artists who are actually saying something real, then you should have Kendrick Lamar apart of that conversation. He is not just making music to make it sound good; he is making music that is actually about something, something real, something historical, and something that people actually struggle with. This is what puts him a step ahead of many other artists making music today.


Early Life and Background

Kendrick Lamar was born and raised in Compton, California, a place that is known for culture and poverty. As a young man, he was exposed to a lot of things that people struggle with, including violence, poverty, and racism. However, he did not use these things to blame his surroundings; he used them to fuel his music.

Hip-hop is a genre that was born out of a place like this. According to NPR, hip-hop was born out of “inequality and social tension” and was heavily influenced by cities such as Los Angeles. The music that Kendrick Lamar is making is doing the same thing, talking about something real that people struggle with.


Why His Music Matters


Kendrick’s music is connected to a broader historical context. The problems he sings about, such as racism, inequality, and injustice, are nothing new to American society, dating back to slavery, segregation, and even police brutality. 


The 2010s, when Kendrick was producing some of his best work, saw the resurgence of social movements such as Black Lives Matter, bringing these issues to the forefront once again, and making Kendrick’s music even more impactful because he was singing about what was happening at the time.


“Alright” – A Message of inspiration One of the more popular songs by Kendrick Lamar is “Alright,” which is all about perseverance and unity. “We gon’ be alright” (Lamar) This was more than just a song for people; it was a message they clung to during protests. This is why this song was used as a chant for protests. It gave people hope during uncertain times. “The Blacker the Berry” – Ugly truth On the other hand, “The Blacker the Berry” was a much more intense and critical song. “I’m the biggest hypocrite of 2015” (Lamar) This song was all about self-reflection for Kendrick Lamar. He talked about racfism, stereotypes, and conflicts within oneself. He even talked about history, like slavery and the Middle Passage. This song was not intended to give people hope like “Alright,” but to make people think. Kendrick Lamar is different from other rappers because his music is real and not sugar coded. He does not just talk about issues; he relates them to history, his own experiences, and what is going on in the world today. He doesn't rap for clicks or awards. That is why his music continues to touch and inspire young Black Americans.


Blacks on Rise. “The Lyric Review: Alright – Kendrick Lamar.”

Caramanica, Jon. “Kendrick Lamar and the Art of the Halftime Show.” The New York Times, 14 Feb. 2025.

Flick, Kyle. “The Blacker the Berry.” Penn State University Blog, 18 Oct. 2019.

“Hip-Hop at 50: Los Angeles.” NPR, 10 Aug. 2023, https://www.npr.org/2023/08/10/hip-hop-at-50-los-angeles

Genius Media Group. “Kendrick Lamar – Alright.” Genius, 2015, https://genius.com/Kendrick-lamar-alright-lyrics

Genius Media Group. “Kendrick Lamar – The Blacker the Berry.” Genius, 2015, https://genius.com/Kendrick-lamar-the-blacker-the-berry-lyrics

Lamar, Kendrick. “Alright.” YouTube, uploaded by Kendrick Lamar, 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-48u_uWMHY

Lamar, Kendrick. “The Blacker the Berry.” YouTube, uploaded by Kendrick Lamar, 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdPtVZDspIY

Wallace, David. “Kendrick Lamar and the Mantle of Black Genius.” The New Yorker.



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