Taking the 2018 Grammy Awards by storm, Kendrick Lamar beats out other big names to win Best Rap Album and four other trophies.
In his speech for the Best Rap Album, the renowned musician talks about hip-hop and rap opening doors for him on the stage, around the world, and even in supporting his family.
"Most importantly, it showed me what the true definition of what being an artist was," Lamar continues. "It's really about expressing yourself and putting that paint on the canvas for the world to evolve for the next listener, and the next generation after that ... Hip-hop has done that for me."
"Jay for president!" he ends his speech, referencing the recent beef between his fellow nominee Jay-Z and U.S. president Donald Trump.
The Grammys category for the Best Rap Album is stacked this year as Lamar beat out Jay-Z's 4:44, Migos's Culture, Tyler, The Creator's Flower Boy, and Rapsody's Laila's Wisdom to take home the award.
Dave Chappelle, who presented the Grammy to Lamar, gave a shout-out to hip-hop collective A Tribe Called Quest before handing out the award. The group gave a stirring performance at last year's show but failed to snag a nomination this year for it.
With a whopping seven nominations at the 2018 Grammy Awards, Lamar emerges as one of the night's biggest winners. The acclaimed musician took home the trophy in five categories: Best Rap Album, Best Rap Song, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap/Sung Performance, and Best Music Video.
It's not just his trophy haul that's the buzz of the show, though. Lamar also opened this year's awards show with a powerful performance that earned him a standing ovation from the star-studded crowd.
The rapper took to the stage with Dave Chappelle and U2's Bono and the Edge for the opening performance that began with Lamar and soldiers standing with a backdrop of the American flag.
Lamar starts rapping the politically charged words of his song "XXX" before Bono and the Edge join him onstage for U2's "American Soul."
Chappelle also makes a cameo, striding out to offer a few choice words.
"I just wanted to remind the audience that the only thing more frightening than watching a black man be honest in America is being an honest black man in America," the comedian says. "Sorry for the interruption. Please continue."
While the words "This is a satire by Kendrick Lamar" do flash in the background, the effect of the performance is electrifying on the crowd as the medley ends with a standing ovation.
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