Grammy-winning hip-hop artist Kendrick Lamar was honored with a key to the city of Compton, his hometown, on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016.
The city of Compton presented Grammy-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar with the key to the city on Saturday.
The 28-year-old entertainer who grew up in the city was honored in a ceremony in front of the Martin Luther King Monument at City Hall.
"Kendrick Lamar is a phenomenal artist whose work has served as a catalyst to raise a new level of consciousness for this generation,'' said Compton Mayor Aja Brown. "His message challenges the status quo and motivates listeners to rethink our society's institutions.''
In May, Lamar received the California State Senate's "Generational Icon Award" from State Senator Isadore Hall III (D-Compton) who represents California's 35th district. From the senate floor, Lamar told the legislature, "Being from the City of Compton and knowing the parks that I played at and the neighborhoods, I always thought how great the opportunity would be to give back to my community off of what I do in music."
Lamar was born in Compton and was a straight-A student at the city's Centennial High School, according to a Compton city statement. Last year, he was grand marshal of the Compton Christmas Parade.
Lamar, 28, received a total of seven nominations at the 2014 Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year. A year later, at the 2015 Grammy Awards, he won Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance for his song "I".
