For the Love of Culture

 "We don't wanna hear you say 'nigga' no more" - "Euphoria" by Kendrick Lamar

Lamar at the 2026 Grammy Awards 

On February 1st, rapper Kendrick Lamar set a new record at the Grammy Awards. Winning five out of his nine nominations, Lamar is now the most awarded rapper in history with 27 Gramophones—surpassing Jay Z's 25.

This morning, two of my white classmates were discussing this year's Grammy Awards. Particularly that Kendrick Lamar didn't deserve his wins for Best Rap Album or Record of the Year—that the prestigious award show just likes to throw awards at him, among other denigrations of gnx and Lamar's artistry as a whole.

Once upon a time, white people would have never dared to insert themselves into rap and hip-hop spaces. The music industry has always been a money-making business, but some spaces prioritized musical integrity more than others. 

Rap and hip-hop were born out of a need to be heard—to critique the systems that enabled poverty and racism. Passing the torch to a new generation of artists was never taken lightly. This stamp of approval said, We see you. You're one of us. You're ready to carry on this piece of culture.

Now, it's a free-for-all. White people feel comfortable indulging in hip-hop without any appreciation or recognition of its unique history. Wearing cornrows and grills and saying the "N" word with abandon. Watering down the revolutionary role the genre has played in raising consciousness and empowering Black Americans throughout the 70s, 80s, and well into today. 

Once upon a time, the music industry wouldn't touch rap with a ten foot pole. 

Now, Eminem holds the record for the most wins for Best Rap Album. It feels like I'm living in the Twilight Zone.

But this isn't exclusive to music. The world runs on Black American culture. American popular music, "Gen Z slang" (ewww), the fashion industry, and so much more are built on the backs of those deemed "ghetto".

I'm just sick of non-Black people—especially white people—talking down on a genre they are extremely disconnected from. If all you like about rap music is the aesthetics and "hardcore" nature of it, I don't think your voice matters in the conversation, actually.

They want our rhythm but not our blues. They want to play in the culture without understanding its historical significance. You wanna enjoy some Public Enemy and Doechii, great. But you are not entitled to it just because you like some songs.

Happy Black History Month.

XOXO, Michaela