American rapper Kendrick Lamar on Thursday received the Pulitzer Prize in music at Columbia University for his acclaimed 2017 album “DAMN”. The rapper while talking about the receiving the honour said that the experience was beautiful, as he became the first hip-hop artist to ever win the prize. 

While the rapper did not give any interviews at the university, he spoke on the Pulitzer Prize’s Facebook live video to highlight the experience. He said that he has been writing his whole life and so to get this type of recognition is beautiful. He is also the first non-classical, non-jazz artist to win the prize for the album which is about his years growing up in his hometown Compton while also giving people a glimpse of the African-American life.

The President of Columbia University, Lee Bollinger praising Lamar’s album said that it is a virtuosic song collection unified by its vernacular authenticity that offers affecting vignettes capturing the complexity of modern African-American life. Earlier in 2018, Lamar also won four Grammys including best rap album this year for "DAMN".