After absolutely killing 2015 with his To Pimp A Butterfly album, Kendrick Lamar looks to capitalize on his recent buzz with J. Cole by gracing the cover of XXL. During the sit-down with the publication, Kendrick shares his views on To Pimp A Butterfly, the politically-charged realm of today, Black Lives Matters, Michael Brown and much more.
“The past few years or so has been very politically charged and controversial. From Trayvon Martin, to Eric Garner to Michael Brown and issues of police brutality and racism and for so many other reasons. All of it has really struck a nerve with me because when you experience things like that personally and you know the type of hardships and pain that it brings first-hand, it builds a certain rage in you. It brings back memories of when I’m 16 and the police come kicking the door in. They don’t care that I’m a little boy and they stumped me in my back two times and they dragged me out the house and have us all handcuffed. It brings back those memories. Memories of losing loved ones. It brings back some of the most painful memories and deepest thoughts of real life situations that I didn’t even want to address on good kid. Or wasn’t ready to. Rage is the perfect word for it.”
