Man of the night, Kendrick Lamar, delivered the performance of the Grammys on Monday when he sang “The Blacker the Berry.”
Beginning his politically charged performance chained to a group of African-American men dressed as inmates while backed by a jazz band who performed in on-stage jail cells, Lamar and the men around him broke free and joined African dancers and drummers as his set transitioned to a fire pit that lit up the centre of the stage for Lamar to perform “Alright.”
He concluded his performance in front of a backdrop of an illuminated map of Africa with the word “Compton” in the center, his hometown in Los Angeles.
Many were moved by the performance, with some choosing this as a moment to make yet another statement.
“Kendrick is what Kanye would have been if the Kardashians didn’t get him,” Daily Show host Noah Trevor joked on Twitter. Although West has yet to respond, many have, targeting Noah for bringing another black artist – and the women around him – down.
Lamar was nominated for 11 Grammys, picking up five, including one for Best Rap Album for To Pimp a Butterfly.