How to Be More Like Kendrick for Dummies
Malcolm X said, “These leaders that they call leaders include Lena Horne, this includes Dick Gregory, this includes comedians, comics, trumpet players, baseball players. Show me in the white community where a comedian is a white leader. Show me in the white community where a singer is a white leader or a dancer or a trumpet player is a white leader. These aren’t leaders. These are puppets and clowns that have been set up over the Black community by the white community and have been made celebrities and usually say exactly what they know that the white man wants to hear.”
1963 and 2024 aren’t so different. We still live in a country perpetually on the brink of global war, governed by a party who’s objective seems to be to rid the nation of a select group of people they deem unfit to be citizens. Our leaders have been shot, killed, harassed, imprisoned or they don’t even turn an eye to their community. So when a man steps up to the plate and says, “I’ll do it”, does that make him a leader? An activist? A savior?
Kendrick Lamar may be the last Race Man standing, at least in the rap game. In an era where it pays more to not talk about anything and you get further by being unoriginal, the idea of a rapper like Kendrick being as successful as he is is, frankly, hard to believe. I’m sure Drake feels the same way. Kendrick has been able to cultivate a global audience by not just making catchy music, but also imbuing his songs with a message that transcends chart success or album sales. He’s uncompromising, releasing songs centered on topics ranging from acceptance of a transgender family member to calling out the music industry and America for pimping out Black artistry for monetary gain. It’s no wonder why many of his fans see him as the last of a dying breed, hip-hop’s true prodigal son, here to take the game back from the money-hungry ne’er-do-wells and bring it back to the essence. I mean, they’re partially right.
Hip-hop really did have a consistent message once upon a time. There were always hustlers, gangsters, pimps and poets but they all spoke on the crimes they witnessed, how it messed with their heads and, most importantly, how they wanted better. The ultimate rags-to-riches pipeline, hip-hop has been a conduit to wealth by which inner city Black and Brown kids can transform their lives. A rapper doesn’t just happen into the spotlight either, they more often than not have a mission. A key part of that mission is the message, relaying their experiences to the audience so that they can want better for themselves as well. In Kendrick’s case, his messaging has always been more critical and heavier than the average rapper and one might think these criticisms come with a bigger plan. But when does giving your opinion turn into a call-to-action?
On the last track of Section.80, “Ab-Soul’s Outro”, Kendrick raps:
“So the next time I talk about money, hoes, clothes, God and history all in the same sentence, just know I meant it. And you felt it. ‘Cause you too are searching for answers. I’m not the next pop star, I’m not the next socially aware rapper. I am a human motherfucking being over dope ass instrumentation, Kendrick Lamar.”
He’s kept this same attitude across all of his projects, rapping from his perspective as a Black man from Compton who made it as a musician. I personally feel like, for Kendrick, that’s all it has ever been about. Kendrick is unique in that he doesn’t have that many business ventures outside of music. Compared to other mega-successful rappers, he should have a label with a handful of artists or his own spirit brand or even a clothing line. But he doesn’t. He just has bars and his thoughts for us. And whether we want him to or not, a plan for the betterment of the people isn’t required to be a leader of rap. Or the leader of anything, really.
I’ve always felt hesitant about taking on leadership positions in the workplace, mainly because most of the time, it’s an aesthetic choice. Somebody has to appoint you and they have their own checklist they want their “leader” to check off and, like Malcolm was saying, the people aren’t picking these leaders or the checklist. So culturally, we often pick our own who we deem worthy enough of the title but there’s no real responsibilities outlined for the position. There probably shouldn’t be, I feel like these leaders were picked because they are authentic representations of the people. People see themselves in Kendrick. We’re hypocritical, overthinkers, money-hungry, pious. I’m not so sure people feel called to act on Kendrick’s words because they think he’s calling them to or if they just agree with him but I do think he wants the listener to be their own leader. Be your own activist. Be your own savior.
Just don’t act like it’s Jesus Christ saying it when he’s just another nigga.