During Compton College’s commencement ceremony, Kendrick Lamar gave a surprise speech that was broadcast to the world. Addressing the 2024 graduates, Lamar described the college as ‘not only a representation of the world, but a representation of me’. He went on to reinforce his belief in Compton, California as a breeding ground for talent and explained that, despite the negative narrative regarding the capabilities of the Gen Z generation, he believes that they have the necessary attributes to succeed.
During his speech, the rapper encouraged graduates to embrace their independence and thinking, suggesting this quality was much more valuable than any degree. “Y’all can go out here and tell and express y’all thoughts and say it with conviction and passion and stand on it and be unapologetic about it”, he said. The speech was concluded with a message of empowerment, as Lamar highlighted that no matter where a graduate earned their degree, the Compton degree meant as much as any other degree.
This year, Kendrick Lamar will host a one-of-a-kind concert called ‘The Pop Out – Ken And Friends’, which is to take place in Los Angeles. This event will include a line-up of performers, DJ Mustard being confirmed so far, and will livestream on Amazon Prime and Twitch. Tickets are up for sale, which comes as the rapper confirms this as his first performance since his feud with Drake. Top Dawg CEO, Anthony Tiffin, declared the battle to be ‘over’ and said it was a ‘win for the culture’.
This surprise speech was an excellent opportunity for Kendrick Lamar to praise his hometown and educate upcoming graduates on the importance of independence and following their convictions. The speech demonstrates the potential Lamar has beyond the studio to inspire and influence the next generation
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