Kendrick Lamar Receives the Key to the City of Compton

Kendrick Lamar (Photo: Getty Images)

In an emotional ceremony Saturday, Kendrick Lamar was awarded the key to the city of Compton, his hometown.

Lamar often references Compton in his music; during the ceremony Mayor Aja Brown said: “Kendrick Lamar is a phenomenal artist whose work has served as a catalyst to raise a new level of consciousness for this generation. His message challenges the status quo and motivates listeners to rethink our society’s institutions.”


“It’s the biggest thing. It’s really not about how famous I get, it’s really about me utilizing my platform and giving it back to these kids because that’s what I wanted as a kid,” Lamar said during the ceremony. “Everything that I do is a reflection of how I felt when I was younger.”