Award Recognizes Hip-Hop as a Legitimate Artistic Medium.
On April 16, 2018, the Pulitzer Prize Board awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music to rapper Kendrick Lamar for his 2017 album, DAMN. This marked the first time the award had been given to a musical work outside the genres of classical music and jazz, signifying a significant moment for both the Pulitzers and Lamar, and highlighting the American cultural elite’s recognition of hip-hop as a legitimate artistic medium.
Raised in Compton, California, Lamar grew up immersed in the genre, witnessing the filming of the video for “California Love” by Tupac Shakur and Dr. Dre in his neighborhood. Despite rap’s dominance in American music, it had long been overlooked by many music and art critics. However, attitudes began to shift in the 2000s, with artists like Kanye West pushing the genre to new heights of musical complexity and social relevance.
Known for his social commentary, Lamar’s music blends personal stories with themes of societal conflict. DAMN. was praised by the Pulitzer committee for its “vernacular authenticity and rhythmic dynamism,” offering poignant glimpses into modern African American life. Administrator Dana Canedy described the decision to award Lamar as unanimous, calling it a “big moment for hip-hop music and a big moment for the Pulitzers.”
Lamar’s win was seen as a well-deserved recognition of his talent and a long-overdue acknowledgment of hip-hop’s cultural contributions. While some in the classical music community criticized the selection, former winners and nominees praised it, with composer Ted Hearne hailing Lamar as “one of the greatest living American composers.”
