California State Senator Isadore Hall III honored Kendrick Lamar Monday,
giving him the 35th Senate District's Generational Icon Award on the
Golden State's Senate floor. Hall's district includes Compton, where
Lamar grew up.
"In less than 10 years as a professional artist, Mr. Lamar has gone from a local Compton young boy to become a multiplatinum, Billboard
chart–topping, two-time Grammy Award–winning musician, an incredible
achievement for anyone 27 years old," Hall, who said he too was a
Compton native, told the room. "But Mr. Lamar has not let his recent
fame get the best of him. If you visit Compton, and I would encourage
all of my colleagues to do so, Mr. Lamar is a familiar face in the
neighborhood."
He went on to commend the rapper for donating hundreds of thousands
of dollars to support local sports, after-school and music programs. He
also praised Lamar for working with a non-profit organization to lead by
example. "He is demonstrating the best of what it means to work hard,
do well and give back to his community," Hall said. "His story is indeed
a uniquely California one and a story that should encourage others to
accomplish their goals and give back to their community."
Lamar then posed with his plaque and made a statement. "It's
definitely an honor to be right here in front of you guys," he said.
"Being from the City of Compton and knowing the parks that I played at
and the neighborhoods, I always thought how great the opportunity would
be to give back to my community off of what I do in music.... I thank
you from the bottom of my heart for honoring me today."
Lamar recently celebrated Compton in his video for "King Kunta," a track off his critically acclaimed To Pimp a Butterfly, which came out earlier this year.
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