If we valued black art, Kendrick Lamar’s Pulitzer would have been for literature

The Guardian ^ | 04/21/18 | Dotun Adebayo

[Simon Green]

If we valued black art, Kendrick Lamar’s Pulitzer would have been for literature. When will the education system wake up to black creativity?

I can’t help thinking that the Pulitzer prize committee missed a trick in their award to the rapper Kendrick Lamar this week. If they had given him the Pulitzer for literature rather than for music it would have elevated his artform and sent a message that would have resonated around the world: that rap is a legitimate form of poetry and should be put on a par with, and treated with the same deference as, Shakespeare and Wordsworth.

Let’s be honest, Kendrick Lamar, Stormzy, BBK and Giggs have a greater impact and more relevance today than all the literary “greats” wandering lonely as a cloud on some dusty bookshelf in some crusty corner, waiting to be forced down the school curriculum gullets of young people.

If the Pulitzer people had only bitten the bullet and done the equivalent of what the Nobel committee did for Bob Dylan and rock lyrics when they said, “You know what? We’re going to get dissed and ridiculed for even putting Dylan on the same level as John Steinbeck, but what the heck. Let’s just do it and take the flak.” Who knows what the dividend would have been for wider society?

[Simon Green]

Now, let's be fair. While I can't stand the style of rap, the author of this piece is arguing for the recognition of this guy's lyrics....so let's take a look at a modern Shakespeare in our midst:

"i"

I done been through a whole lot
Trial, tribulation, but I know God
The Devil wanna put me in a bow tie
Pray that the holy water don't go dry
As I look around me
So many motherf-----s wanna down me
But an enemigo never drown me
In front of a dirty double-mirror they found me

And (I love myself)
When you lookin' at me, tell me what do you see?
(I love myself)
Ahh, I put a bullet in the back of the back of the head of the police
(I love myself)
Illuminated-
All ya'll come to the front
(I love myself)
One day at a time, tryna go shine

Lord, what fools these mortals be.

[Lee'sGhost]

Actually, I totally agree. Both Shakespeare and Wordsworth are dead and buried. Let’s do the same with rap.

[PGalt]

LOL! post and thread.

[lee martell]

No. The Ebonics , the gratuitous profanity, coupled with poor sentence structure is getting in the way of true refinement.
I got more enlightenment from reading my last Fortune Cookie.

[Cubs Fan]

If rap is art, its an even lower form of art than etcha sketch and stick figures.

[Paladin2]

I don’t think there is a higher rating than Grade C rap.

[a fool in paradise]

In Bizarro World prize for literature given to worst use of English language.

[MarvinStinson]

The Guardian (UK): Rap should be put on a par with Bach and Beethoven

[Jeff Chandler]

I’m not sure putting Dylan on the same level as John Steinbeck was a good precedent.

[dainbramaged]

RAP = Retards Attempting Poetry. With apologies to the retarded, of course.

[Telepathic Intruder]

Rap should be on par with vomiting and calling the mess art.

[onedoug]

Anyone who would make such an observation has clearly never read either Shakespeare or Wordsworth.

[Ace's Dad]

I’m not sure putting Dylan on the same level as John Steinbeck was a good precedent

I've read both. There is a difference between writing fiction and writing songs. I know, because as a tech writer I can be objective. I write neither; my analysis of Steinbeck and Dylan is based on my enjoyment of reading their work, not comparing it to mine. Both are superb.

[jiggyboy]

If we valued black art, Kendrick Lamar’s Pulitzer would have been for literature

"You can never be 'woke' enough for the Left."

[SunkenCiv]

Orrrr, we could stop playing the game of trying to equate racist **** chants from chanting angry racists with actual literature and culture, and while we're at it point out that Shakespeare has endured on merit for much longer than the Pulitzer Prize has existed, or is liketly to be taken seriously. Thanks Simon Green.

[lee martell]

I think the Hasty Pudding Awards are still given for such reasons. Worst theatrical performance is one category.

[PROCON]

Shakespeare was pretty edgy too:

[House Atreides]

Yes, it’s far past time that we recognize the BRILLIANCE of those with LOW IQs. /s

[2ndDivisionVet]

Hedly Lamar?

[KC_Lion]

Kendrick Lamar should have been charged with murder as an accomplice for ruining Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood” music video.