Kendrick Lamar had an unbelievable 2015. His album, To Pimp A Butterfly, was adored, analysed and replayed by fans and critics. “Alright” found its home as a protest anthem for Black Lives Matter. President Barack Obama named “How Much A Dollar Cost” as his favourite song of the year, and last week, the Compton artist received 11 Grammy nominations. In XXL’s final issue of 2015, the 28 year old artist has written an open and honest piece that includes everything from police brutality to racism to success. This second written piece for the iconic publication gives us an insight to his younger years as well as his recent ones, a reflective look at how he defines success and how this has affected his frame of mind. He specifically recalls a memory from his 16 year old self when the police violently barged into his home and arrested him.
You can read a select excerpt from his essay below, and can also watch the behind-the-scenes video from the cover shoot. The full article can be found in XXL when the issue is released on December 22.
“I know I’m chosen. I know I’m a favorite. I know in my heart there’s a whole other energy and leadership side of me that I have probably run from my whole life. How much power do I want? How much can I handle? That’s the question I keep asking myself. ’Cause when you are a voice for the youth, nothing can stop you. The youth is what changes things. Can I lead that? Should I? I get confused because people are championing me to be that vocal point and it’s a challenge for me to be that because I have some fear of that type of power. This goes back to me being who I naturally am or who think that I am now, that 28-year-old kid that’s kind’ve a recluse. But 28 is old enough for me to figure out who I am and have that power at the same time, that’s the battle and it’s a trip.”
Words: Chandni Guram – @Chandni_Guram
