The Compton rapper performed The Blacker the Berry, Alright, and a brand new song
In a fifteen minute long performance that took in To Pimp A Butterfly tracks The Blacker the Berry and Alright, Kendrick Lamar made a bold political statement at the Grammys last night.
Opening his performance dressed in uniform and surrounded by an oppressive prison, Kendrick then escapes into an African-themed set. The performance ends with the outline of the African continent with the word ‘Compton’ emblazoned across it.
In an interview with Billboard, Grammys producer Ken Ehrlich explained how the performance came about: “Kendrick came to us and said that we live in a time where these issues confront us every day and that it’s important that they be given a public forum, and he would like to use his x number of minutes to create a great performance that is consistent with his this year. It is overtly political and it is overtly provocative, and I think if nothing else it’s going to give people something to think about and talk about… It’s not necessarily that we endorse what’s being said, but we believe that it’s our right and responsibility to allow artists to express their visions.”
See the full performance below.