Kendrick Lamar Named Generational Icon By California State Senate

Good Kid Proud City. Kendrick Lamar was honored yesterday by the California State Senate, who named him the 35th Senate Districts Generational Icon. Fellow Compton native Senator Isadore Hall III presented Lamar with the honor and praised his rise from local rapper to global star. He commended his continued ties to his neighborhood and contributions to helping keep kids in school and off the streets.

"It's definitely an honor to be right here in front of you guys," he said. "Being from the city of Compton and knowing the parks played at and the neighborhoods, and I always thought about how great the opportunity would be to give back to my community off of what I do in music. So in order to do that from a city all the way to a state standpoint and have these young kids look to me as some type of inspiration is really an honor and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for honoring me today.

In a recent interview with Mass Appeal, Lamar spoke about his ability to influence the youth of his generation.

"A lot of people that tell the story they already old and they really can't talk to the youth because the youth don't respect them," he said. "I got the power in my hands where the youth respect me. Not only as an artist but as a person. It's only right for me to put that energy out there, and let 'em know what's goin' on in the world."

Lamar's latest album To Pimp A Butterfly dropped back in March and has since been certified gold and peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 when it was released.

Check out Lamar's acceptance speech below, and leave us your thoughts in the comments section!

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