Kendrick Lamar is Championing the Compton Youth

Kendrick Lamar discusses his creative process, making someone cry with one of his mixtape songs, the main message of his latest album, being a “champion” for his city’s youth and more in a newly-released interview with Essence. While Kendrick has been utilizing many of his recent interviews to push positive messages and similar ideals, he digs deep for his Essence Q&A. In particular, Kendrick had the following to say when a fan asked him about the importance of promoting and supporting his hometown:

“We don’t get a lot of celebrities or whatnot to come to the city and actually put their hand back in the city and say, ‘you know what, you can do it too.’ So, I feel like it’s only right that I champion them and let them know I’ll always be behind him, let them know I know the sacrifices and struggle they go through, and give them some sort of inspiration.”

Kendrick also boiled down the main theme and message of To Pimp a Butterfly to one word: “Leadership.”