Kendrick Lamar’s performance was the topic of discussion for this year’s Grammys. He performed Alright and The Blacker the Berry. Honestly, “performed’ is an understatement. From the time he walked on the stage in chains to the time he exited, Lamar captivated the audience with his show—a work of art, a work of beauty, a message to white America. USA Today gave their props on capturing the several angles Kendrick Lamar used in his performance: “And shouts to CBS as well, who for the one time on the night stepped their game up at the exact right moment. The rapid cutting between cameras zoomed in on Lamar’s face for the stunning conclusion was perfect, giving even more immediacy to his fiery delivery. By cutting over and over, showing us multiple angles of his face, he ceased to be one man and instead became the voice of many, a furious, righteous voice speaking directly into the living rooms of America.” They quickly take them back after learning that CBS censored out Lamar’s lines, “we hate po po.”
An unnecessary act which somewhat attempted to diminish the whole reason for the show. I’m certain that everyone was equally shocked by the passionate, historic performance given by Kendrick Lamar, but obviously he made up in his mind that his views will be heard, and what better place than a worldwide awards show like the Grammys. He has definitely let the world know that the issues of the black community are still prevalent and they must be addressed. Though his album hit home with all the racist issues, it wasn’t enough; he acted out the hardships of African Americans from the past, and also let us know that it is still happening today.
If you haven’t seen his performance, it is a must watch. No matter your culture, no matter your race; it will be impossible to deny that he absolutely shut down the Grammys with this one. His fiery performance about the dark history of America put pressures on the world to discuss the issues and was the most interesting event of the night. The internet full of soccer and gymnastic moms complained about the harshness of the performance—something young audiences shouldn’t be exposed to. Wake up! This is the type of real world stories they should be exposed to (I think that was kind of Lamar’s point). If you disagree, you are obviously uncomfortable hearing the truth about the world we live in.