Kendrick Lamar: Revolutionary in Rhymes

Gr 8 Up–In 2018, Kendrick Lamar won the Pulitzer Prize for music for his album DAMN. As the first hip-hop artist to win this prestigious award, and the first musician outside of classical or jazz music to do so, Lamar entered the national spotlight. Mooney explores Lamar’s world, from his start in the Compton neighborhood of Los Angeles to his multi-platinum selling ­albums and 2025 Super Bowl performance. Mooney looks at how Lamar’s personal experiences and upbringing impact his music and commitment to advocacy and social justice. She details how Lamar tackles racial justice and police violence as he addresses the experiences of Black communities throughout the United States. Mooney does this through easily digestible chapters, color images with detailed captions, text blocks that explain specific topics, such as a “diss track,” more in-depth, and detailed sidebars about people or events important to Lamar’s life. Geared toward middle grade readers, the book gives a strong overview of Lamar’s personal history and work without getting lost in the weeds with details. ­