Jude Magnotti ‘26
EE Co-Managing Editor
Looking back at the past 10-15 years, it would be an understatement to say that the most recent generation of music was anything but a colossal disappointment. Artists have slowly shifted away from the complex songwriting and the inspirational themes introduced in the generations preceding them, and have moved into music designed to draw attention, chart of the billboard, and most importantly get played in clubs around the world.
Needless to say, it has been an untasteful departure from the once great symphonies composed before the 2010’s. Even the remaining artists we once knew as gods of music have slowly withered away over time lost to the new more GEN-Z focused style of music.
With that being said, there is one artist who has risen above the uninspired music today and has transcended their art and work beyond that which we have seen from both newer and older generations. This artist has sold out arenas, gone on world tours, and added a shelf full of Grammys to their name all while inspiring an entire new generation of future musicians. You probably think that I am talking about someone like Taylor Swift. Hell no. I am talking about the one and only: Kendrick Lamar.
Born into poverty in Compton, California, Lamar has gone on record as to say that he had almost no shot to be anything outside the many young men and women lost to violence and gang culture within urbanized cities. Growing up in one of the most dangerous areas in America, Lamar had to fight to survive day in and day out all while holding on to his dream of becoming an accomplished musician.
Eventually, he rose out of his circumstances signing with Top Dawg Entertainment in 2005 after releasing tapes in high school under the name K. Dot. Since then, Lamar has released 5 different critically acclaimed albums, performed at the Super Bowl halftime show, and has asserted himself as arguably the greatest and most influential artist of his generation.
Despite his success, K.Dot has not gotten through without his fair share of controversy. As recently as March 2024, Kendrick clashed with fellow rap superstar Drake in what some consider to be the most important rap beef of all time. Nevertheless, as violent and bloody as such a conflict was, it ultimately gave Lamar some of the most success he had ever seen in his career up to that point.
With the release of his smash hit, “Not Like Us” along with several other devastating diss tracks including “Meet The Grahams”, “Euphoria,” and “6:16 In L.A.”, Lamar found himself on top of the world with the most monthly streams and attention he had ever drawn in his career.
Just a few months later, Lamar is now slated to perform at the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show in front of the biggest audience he has ever had.
With all that being said, what is it that makes Lamar’s music so special and so appealing to so many people? While most of his discography centers around experiences from his own life, Lamar has attracted a massive audience even from people who are not able to directly relate to his experiences.
Whether it be race, class, or gender, no barrier is strong enough to stop people from finding something within Lamar’s music that appeals to THEM.
Much of Lamar’s music deals with sensitive topics and themes of racism, drug addiction, and gang culture. Topics that many people have brushed away as not being relevant to the music industry. Despite the critics, Lamar has pushed his music forward in his own unique way all while maintaining his moral and artistic character and refusing to sell out.
Ironically, as influential as Lamar’s ideals have been, few other artists of this generation have even gotten remotely close to his level of art. As previously discussed, most modern day artists have sold out to only making hits for the club rather than embracing their true artistic vision. This has disrupted the output of truly incredible and pure music, curbed by a generation that only wants to listen to head bangers and rave songs.
Despite his upbringing, despite the odds against him, and despite everyone else in the music industry selling out for success, Lamar has disregarded everything and everyone around him to deliver his unfiltered, incredible artistic vision all while racking up more success and accolades than almost every artist in the industry. And the scariest part…he isn’t even done.
Photo courtesy: Taylor Hill / WireImage file: NBC News