DAMN. is the first non-classical or jazz work to pick up the prize.
Kendrick Lamar has just won the Pulitzer Prize for music, for his 2017 album DAMN.
The prestigious award is handed every year to “a distinguished musical composition of significant dimension by an American that has had its first performance in the United States during the year.” Usually it’s given to a snooty, highbrow jazz or classical album, so for it to be given to an album with bangers like ‘DNA’ and ‘Humble’ on it is a definite change from the norm.
According to AP, the Pulitzer board called the record “a work that captures the complexity of African-American life”.
DAMN won the Grammy for Best Rap Album earlier this year, but missed out to Bruno Mars’ 24K Magic for Album of the Year.
