The accolades continue for Kendrick Lamar. Today, it was announced that the Compton rapper has been awarded one of the most prestigious prizes in the game, the Pulitzer Prize for Music, for his work on DAMN. The Pulitzer staff tweeted the news, congratulating Kendrick Lamar, Top Dawg, and Interscope for their accomplishment. It's a good look for Kendrick, who makes history as the first hip-hop artist to take home the prize. Natrually, the news has been met with celebration from most; there's no disputing that Kendrick is one of the genre's defining songwriters, and it's cool to see him being rewarded for his efforts.
For some context, the previous five winners have been Du Yun for Angel's Bone, Henry Threadgill for In for a Penny, In for a Pound, Julia Wolfe for Anthracite Fields, John Luther Adams for Become Ocean, and Caroline Shaw for Partita for 8 Voices. Kendrick certainly finds himself in some interesting company, and his work no doubt stands out from his predecessors. Still, it's a an amazing milestone for hip-hop music, and a testament to the lyrical brilliance of Kendrick Lamar.
Granted, the prestigious nature of the prize is bound to invite some elitism, so expect the victory to elicit at least mild controversy. Either way, Kendrick's legacy only continues to grow. Congrats!