Kendrick Lamar, ‘Alright’ (2015)
Album; To Pimp a Butterfly
Date: June 30, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-48u_uWMHY
https://www.boomplay.com/lyrics/3243241
Theme: The central theme of the song is police brutality and racism. In the song film “Alright,” Kendrick Lamar exposes a character who is facing the cruel realities of police cruelty as well as racism. The act in which the character is shot can be understood as a visual illustration of the injustice and violence that Black Americans frequently face at the hands of law enforcement. In the video, Kendrick is seen floating in the air, and several diverse individuals are dancing on top of police vehicles. This displays the unity of the Black American community against social unfairness (Manabe, 2019). The song’s video shows how Black Americans assemble themselves in large masses in the streets to protest for their rights. The unity gives the Black Americans great power to air their grievances on police brutality and racism. Thus, the central theme of the song is racism and police brutality because the video displays how police cruelty and social discrimination have been happening to Black Americans.
Self-examination: “Alright” states that the ancient does not have a fixed grasp on the current or the forthcoming. Kendrick expresses a feeling of hopefulness through the music, that even though their fights are ancient and current, he, his associates and family, and everybody in the black people “gon’ be alright.” The acts of chaos at the commencement of the song film are not requisite to be the future for black Americans; they can generate something more attractive for everybody. Kendrick expresses in the movie how Black people have been facing struggles in fighting social injustices. Also, the music was related to the Black Lives Matter movement after numerous youth-led demonstrations were overheard singing the chorus. Periodicals such as People, Rolling Stone, and Complex noted the significance of music in the demonstrations, calling “Alright” the “uniting soundtrack” of the movement (Manabe, 2019). Thus, Lamar’s work has been acknowledged for its frequent adaptability, categorized by his musical tempos, filmic songwriting, and outstanding performances. His steady infusion of political condemnation and community commentary impacted a rise of social awareness in the fight for human rights in society.
Existence: The song gives me hope and inspiration to fight for the protection of human rights without giving up. In the song, Kendrick states that despite Black people’s challenges when struggling to fight for their rights, ‘it’s alright.’The song has shown me how unity in people leads to great power. Through the unity of Black Americans, they could assemble in the streets in large numbers and protest for their rights (Costen, 2004). The protests resulted in a decrease in social discrimination. This shows that the black community is encouraged to continue fighting harder until they receive social justice. Also, the song inspires me to embrace justice, unity, and harmony in society among people of diversity.
Lines
Wouldn’t you know, we have been hurt, been down before
When our pride was low
Looking at the world, “Whe,We do we go?”
Why this song was recorded: Importance of the song
The song was recorded because the highlight of “To Pimp a Butterfly” had arisen by the completion of 2015 as what the New York Times acknowledged as “the uniting recording to Black Lives Matter remonstrations countrywide.” In that similar editorial, Lamar told the Times he could realize what the children singing his music in the boulevards were hearing. “Simple phrase,” he alleged. “We gon’ be alright (Manabe, 2019). It’s a chant of hopefulness and sensation that promoted the fight to end social injustices that were happening to black Americans.” he traces the main cause of the Black Lives Matter movement with “And we hate po-po / Wanna kill us in the street fo sho.’ The song ignited many demonstrations against social discrimination across the country.
The music has received numerous prizes, such as Numerous music periodicals, and is considered among the year’s best music and films. “Alright” music has also obtained several nominations at the 58th Grammy Awards incl, including Song of the Year, Best Rap Performance, Best Music Video, and Best Rap Song. When the song was recorded, it captured the attention of many media platforms in America and was called the best song of the year. Several magazines and newspapers posted the song, making it very populous (Manabe, 2019)
. Also, the song has been persistent for the ears since it was recorded to articulate the need for the fight for justice by Black Americans (Militz-Frielink & Flynn, 2023). Over the years, the song has triggered mass protests whenever social injustice, such as police brutality, happens to Black Americans. Therefore, the song was different because it captured the media’s attention, promoted human rights, and received many nominations.
I learned that I should be committed to promoting everybody’s social rights. This will promote peace and unity in the society. I also learned that liberation songs echo the essence of the fight as well as the determination to end oppression. African Americans have used liberation to fight for their civil rights. The songs have played a crucial role in liberating Black Americans from many social injustices that have happened to them. Also, Liberation songs give a feeling and hope of winning the fight against social discrimination. Therefore, the song has inspired me to champion the rights of black Africans to encourage peace and harmony in society.
References
Attas, R. (2019). Music theory as social justice: Pedagogical applications of Kendrick Lamar’sTo pimp a Butterfly. Music Theory Online, 25(1). https://doi.org/10.30535/mto.25.1.8
Costen, M. W. (2004). In spirit and truth: The music of African American worship. Westminster John Knox Press.In spirit and truth. (n.d.). Google Books. https://books.google.co.ke/books?hl=en&lr=&id=Ftktu7v_w0cC&oi=fnd&pg=PR11&dq=Costa,+Melva,+In+Spirit+And+In+Truth:+The+Music+of+African+American+Worship,+Westminster+John+Knox
Manabe, N. (2019). We Gon’ be alright? The ambiguities of Kendrick Lamar’s protest anthem. Music Theory Online, 25(1). https://doi.org/10.30535/mto.25.1.9
Militz-Frielink, S., & Flynn, J. E. (2023). African Americans and the arts: Liberation and resistance. Black History Bulletin, 86(2), 5-7. https://doi.org/10.1353/bhb.2023.a904145