‘Pulitzer Prize Winner Kendrick Lamar’
• Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it? Recording artist Kendrick Lamar made some more musical history today when he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in music for his TDE/Aftermath/Interscope album Damn. As reported by Variety, this isthe first win for a non-classical or jazz musician — except Bob Dylan‘s win for his autobiography, Chronicles — since the awards began including music some 75 years ago.
According to the Pulitzer Prize Board, the award it given “for distinguished musical composition by an American that has had its first performance or recording in the United States during the year.” Released on April 14, 2017, Damn.is described by the Pulitzer committee as a “virtuosic song collection unified by its vernacular authenticity and rhythmic dynamism that offers affecting vignettes capturing the complexity of modern African-American life.”
Damn.debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart last year and spent four nonconsecutive weeks atop the list. The critically acclaimed album was also Lamar’s third million-selling set in the U.S., according to Nielsen Music, after his 2015 album To Pimp a Butterflyand his 2012 album good kid, m.A.A.d city.
The Huffington Post says Lamar’s win comes on the heels of his two guest performances at Coachella this weekend, appearing during Vince Staples‘ set and also alongside his Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) labelmate SZA.
The Pulitzer is the latest prestigious honor to be bestowed upon Damn., which in January won the Grammy Award for “Best Rap Album” and was ranked No. 1 on Rolling Stone‘s list of “Best Albums of 2017.”
