Kendrick Lamar's Grammy-winning and Grammy-nominated album To Pimp a Butterfly is a politically-charged masterpiece that explores race in America, so it should be no surprise that he brought that message to the Grammy Awards. In one of the most epic performances of the night, Lamar took to the stage to perform a medley of tracks from TPAB while making bold statements.
It was shocking when Lamar walked out on to stage with a chain gang, leading fellow black men. From the first few seconds when he took the stage with his hand in chains, you knew this performance was going to make a statement. As Lamar blasted in to "The Blacker the Berry," with a performance so intense that the infusion of saxophone and trumpets and Lamar's rapping seemed like it way about to blow the roof off the Grammys.
As if the opening stage wasn't enough, soon Lamar transitioned over to a stage reminiscent of an African tribe as he moved into his Grammy-winning Best Rap Song "Alright," charged with traditional African dancers along with his prison chain geng.
Lamar then returned to his center stage, giving one final powerful image of standing in front of an illuminated Africa with "Compton" written on it.
Like To Pimp a Butterfly, this is a performance that critics and fans will be unpacking for weeks to come.
Lamar is nominated for a record 11 Grammys tonight, including Song of the Year ("Alright") and Album of the Year (To Pimp a Butterfly). He won for Best Rap Album, Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance.
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