Kendrick Lamar has won the Pulitzer Prize for music for his album Damn. Lamar is the first rapper to win the award which has previously only gone to classical and jazz artists, including Wynton Marsalis and Ornette Coleman.
The Pulitzer Prize board on Monday called Damn, “a virtuosic song collection unified by its vernacular authenticity and rhythmic dynamism that offers affecting vignettes capturing the complexity of modern African-American
He released Damn in 2017 to great acclaim with its lead single “Humble” topping the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. On May 4, 2017, Damn was certified platinum.
He was nominated for seven Grammy awards, including Album of the Year and Best Rap Album for DAMN, and the Record of the Year, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, Best Music Video for “HUMBLE”, and Best Rap/Sung Performance for “LOYALTY” with Rihanna. Lamar ultimately won five awards: Best Rap Album, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, Best Music Video, and Best Rap/Sung Performance.