Kendrick Lamar shocked the 2024 graduating class at Compton School with a graduation speech, telling college students he was happy with them and town.
The Grammy and Pulitzer winner is a Compton native who had nothing however appreciation for town he grew up in, saying that it was nonetheless “rising” not simply bodily however spiritually as properly.
“I needed to come back out right here simply to inform y’all how a lot I admire y’all. I’m happy with town of Compton, I’m happy with Compton School, most significantly I’m happy with the graduates out right here,” Lamar mentioned.
“I do know what it takes. You had a variety of hardship, not solely in your home, in your communities, however most significantly, inside your self, and that’s the hardest factor to beat.
“We nonetheless rising daily, brick by brick, ensuring that we develop, not solely in bodily type however within the non secular as properly.
“Seeing y’all out right here, it isn’t solely a illustration of the world, but it surely’s a illustration of me. Once I stroll out in these cities, in these nations, I could be proud and say, ‘That is the place I’m from.’
“I nonetheless consider in Compton, Compton all the time been a future for me. I believe we convey a number of the most unimaginable people: Creatives, intellectuals, expertise. We had since day one, that’s why I all the time scream this metropolis. I travelled the world, there’s no place like this one proper right here.”
The “Not Like Us” rapper instructed the graduates to use what they’ve learnt in school to change into impartial thinkers.
“I nonetheless consider it’s time that we modify the narratives. , some individuals inform us this technology don’t have what it takes… They’re fallacious, although – why? As a result of not solely do y’all have what it takes, however y’all have one thing even larger,” he mentioned.
Get pleasure from limitless entry to 70 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music
Join now for a 30-day free trial
Get pleasure from limitless entry to 70 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music
Join now for a 30-day free trial
“Y’all have a coronary heart. Y’all had the braveness to be impartial thinkers. There’s nothing extra precious than that. Y’all can exit right here and inform and specific your ideas and say it with conviction and fervour and stand on it and be unapologetic about it.”
Reminding college students that their levels from Compton School was “simply as massive as any diploma,” Lamar requested the scholars to make use of what they’ve learnt on the planet.
“It’s all about taking these sources, taking what you discovered and making use of them.
“I would like y’all to exit right here, have fun your self, get pleasure from your self.
“Or preserve that spirit inside you, as a result of it don’t cease. From right here, it don’t cease.”
Lamar has beforehand talked in regards to the points plaguing his neighborhood, and included them into his music, saying: “Being from town of Compton and realizing the parks that I performed at within the neighbourhoods, I’ve all the time considered how nice the chance can be to present again to my neighborhood off of what I do in music.”
The graduation speech marks Lamar’s first look in public since his feud with Drake took over each the charts and the information. Lamar will even be acting on 19 June on the The Pop Out – Ken & Associates live performance on the Kia Discussion board.
