Photo by Nihal Demirci Erenay via Uplash.

In 2025, Kendrick Lamar solidified his place as one of the most influential artists of the 21st century. With his unique blend of lyricism and cultural commentary, Kendrick Lamar has become a force to be reckoned with. This year, Lamar’s continued success at the Grammys, his role in the ongoing discussion about Black culture and social justice, and his culturally significant Super Bowl halftime performance have all further cemented his legacy.

Kendrick Lamar Dominates the Grammys 

2025 marked yet another historic year for Kendrick Lamar at the Grammys. This year, he not only added more trophies to his already impressive collection but also triumphed in some of the most prestigious and highly competitive categories.

Lamar’s critically acclaimed track “Not Like Us” emerged as a standout of the year, earning him an impressive five awards. The song took home Rap Song of the Year, Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Rap Performance, and Best Music Video, solidifying its cultural and artistic impact.

These Grammy wins in 2025 weren’t just personal victories for Lamar; they symbolized the increasing mainstream recognition of rap. As Kendrick said himself, “This is what it’s about man, because at the end of the day, nothing is more powerful than rap music. We are the culture, it’s gonna always stay here and live forever.”

 Black Artists and the Grammys – Is 2025 a Turning Point?

Kendrick Lamar’s triumph at the Grammys in 2025 also raises important questions about the relationship between Black artists and the Recording Academy. Historically, Black musicians, particularly in genres like rap and R&B, have faced systemic barriers to receiving proper recognition for their work. The controversy surrounding Beyoncé’s repeated losses in major categories, such as her 2023 “Renaissance” loss for Album of the Year, has fueled debates about the Grammys’ treatment of Black artists.

But 2025 seems to mark a shift in how Black artists are being recognized. With Lamar’s sweeping wins in major categories, especially in categories like Song and Record of the Year, traditionally dominated by pop and rock artists, there is a growing sense that the Grammys may be moving in a new direction.

This year Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Cater” also won Album of the Year, a win that was widely celebrated. Critics and fans alike are hopeful that 2025 represents a turning point, one where Black artists are no longer sidelined but celebrated for their contributions to music and culture at the highest level. While questions remain about whether this shift will be permanent, the success of artists like Lamar and Beyoncé in 2025 is a promising sign. It may mark the beginning of a more equitable future for Black musicians in the music industry’s most prestigious award show.

Kendrick Lamar’s Symbolic Super Bowl Halftime Show

Kendrick Lamar’s performance at the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show was impactful. In a year where social justice continued to dominate conversations, Lamar used his platform to make a powerful statement about race, identity and resilience. 

Throughout the halftime show, Kendrick relied heavily on imagery and symbolism to make his point. The giant PlayStation controller that dominated the stage may have represented the idea of life as a game, with the American Dream being something that is “played” and often controlled by larger systems. At one point,  the dancers were arranged in formations of red, white, and blue, which at first seemed like just a standard patriotic gesture. However, the dancers often shifted in ways that fractured the imagery of the American flag, symbolizing a nation deeply divided by race, class and political tensions.
In addition, the decision to have Serena Williams perform the Crip Walk was laden with meaning. As Dr. Sequoia Maner, a professor at Spelman College in literature, explained. 

“A lot of people said, ‘Oh, you know, that’s a jab at Drake,’ right? Serena is Drake’s ex. But we forget in 2012, Serena was lambasted for doing the crip walk on the world stage at the London Olympics. And that was a moment in which we really saw this vitriol aimed at one of the most excellent top performers, saying that she was too loud and that she was too ghetto for a kind of respectable sport like tennis, right?” 

For a deeper dive into the symbolism in the half time show  you can read more in Halima Jibril’s article titled,  “America Has a Problem: Unpacking Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl symbolism.”

As 2025 continues, Kendrick Lamar’s influence on music, culture and social justice shows no signs of slowing down. His Grammy wins represent a new era for Black artists in the Recording Academy, while his Super Bowl halftime performance stands as one of the most significant cultural moments of the year. Lamar’s ability to use his platform to address difficult social issues while pushing the boundaries of his craft makes him one of the most important artists of our time. 

The first part of the album is very much about the artist. It is very introspective and examines how Lamar’s past and rise to fame has effected his perspective on the world. With “YAH.” Lamar tackles a subject he hasn’t yet with this intensity: his own image. In this track, he examines how his image and fame are being used for the wrong reasons, like being labeled as a representative or advocate of ideals that he doesn’t subscribe to, due to his style of music or his look. “FEEL.” is classic Lamar, with a West-Coast beat and background bolstering his old-school rap style. With this track, Lamar is again introspective on a subject that he hinted at in “To Pimp a Butterfly:” his own introverted nature and how alienated he feels from the rest of the world and the subsequent paranoia about the intentions of those around him. These themes of paranoia are also examined in “ELEMENT.”.

“LOYALTY.” is another classic Lamar track with the same West-Coast-Dr.-Dre samples that he used in “m.A.A.d. City” and showcases, in my opinion, the best Rihanna feature in a hip-hop song since “FourFiveSeconds” with Kanye West and Paul McCartney.

“LOVE.” is my favorite song from the album, not because it is the best or has the best bars, beat or rhythm, but because it is so divergent from Lamar’s norms and it seems to be so far outside of the box for him. The track is Lamar’s take on a love song. He mixes his west coast style with some R&B work, which certainly isn’t something he has done before. This is mixed with a beautiful message about imperfect people and how we can all find love, but often times problems and obstacles are ever-present and there isn’t a perfect ending.

The tail-end of the album contains the bulk of the larger message behind “DAMN.”. Tracks like “LUST.”, “XXX.” (feat. U2), “FEAR.” and “DUCKWORTH.” examine the societal and behavioral problems of urban, impoverished community lifestyles, and how the infrastructure of power in the country doesn’t help and often continues these norms. This part of the album offers a great perspective into these problems, while still posing tough and interesting ideas to the listener, all on top of some top-notch hip-hop tracks.

There is an important message behind “DAMN.” and Kendrick Lamar does a beautiful job delivering it. While the tracks in this album are very deep and complex, musically and lyrically, they are also just plain fun. The pulse-pounding beats, the unique rhythms and rhymes and the interesting choice of samples littered throughout the album make it a fun, casual listen in the car, and just as easily a listening and thinking piece of art.

Cover photo courtesy of Hypebeast.