A photographic look at Pulitzer winner Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar, shown at the Nokia Club in downtown Los Angeles in 2012, won the Pulitzer Prize for music for his album "Damn."

April 17, 2018 7:42 PM PT

Their names are inked in history books and on the walls of hallowed concert halls as winners of American music’s most esteemed award, the Pulitzer Prize for music: Aaron Copland, George Crumb, John Luther Adams, Ornette Coleman, Caroline Shaw and dozens more.

Add to that list the man nicknamed Kung Fu Kenny.

In news that caught many off guard, celebrated Compton-born rapper Kendrick Lamar was awarded the Pulitzer on Monday for his work on his 2017 album “Damn.” With the announcement, the committee praised Lamar’s album 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.”

Translation: It’s an amazing album that documents South L.A. black life with wildly accomplished beats and verses.

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Kendrick Lamar, left, and Schoolboy Q perform during the first day of the Rock the Bells Festival at the San Bernardino Nos Events Center on Aug. 18, 2012.

Jay Rock, from left, Schoolboy Q, Kendrick Lamar and Ab-Soul of Black Hippy are shown backstage at Fader Fort during SXSW on March 16, 2012 in Austin, Texas.

Kendrick Lamar performs at the Fader Fort presented by Converse on March 16, 2012 in Austin, Texas.

Kendrick Lamar performs during Day 1 of the 2012 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival held at the Empire Polo Club on April 13, 2012 in Indio, Calif.

Kendrick Lamar poses backstage before his performance for HTC One Presents Social Sounds On VEVO at Santos Party House on June 4, 2012 in New York City.

Kendrick Lamar makes an announcement over the public address system while visiting students with the Get Schooled victory tour at Mt. Pleasant High School on May 10, 2013 in Providence, Rhode Island.

Rapper Kendrick Lamar performs during "Ditch Fridays" at the Palms Pool & Bungalows at The Palms Casino Resort on Aug. 30, 2013 in Las Vegas.

Imagine Dragons and Kendrick Lamar perform at the 56th annual Grammy Awards at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Jan. 26, 2014.

Kendrick Lamar plays at the Made in America festival at Grand Park in downtown Los Angeles on Aug. 30, 2014.

Kendrick Lamar performs as part of the Real Show concert held at the Forum on Nov. 8, 2015.

Kendrick Lamar performs during the Nike Air + Style combo concert and snowboarding event at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Feb. 21, 2015.

Kendrick Lamar performs during the BET Experience at Staples Center in Los Angeles on June 27, 2015.

Kendrick Lamar's "Kunta's Groove Session" tour at the Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles on Nov. 11, 2015.

Kendrick Lamar performs at the Grammy Awards at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Feb. 15, 2016.

Kendrick Lamar performs at FYF Fest at Exposition Park on Aug. 27, 2016.

Jonathan Virula, 7, of Bellflower gets an autograph from Kendrick Lamar at a store signing on April 20, 2017 in Compton.

Kendrick Lamar takes the stage at L.A. Live during the NBA All-Stars weekend road show concert on Feb. 16 in downtown Los Angeles.

Music

Randall Roberts

Former staff writer Randall Roberts covered Los Angeles music culture for the Los Angeles Times. He had served various roles since arriving at The Times in 2010, including music editor and pop music critic. As a staff writer, he explored the layered history of L.A. music, from Rosecrans and Sunset to Ventura Boulevard and beyond. His 2020 project on the early Southern California phonograph industry helped identify the first-ever commercial recording made in Los Angeles.

A photographic look at Pulitzer winner Kendrick Lamar

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