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On This Day in 2018, Kendrick Lamar Makes History by Winning Award No Other Rapper Has Received to This Day

A Pulitzer Prize for a rap album may have seemed out of place, but the narratively rich artistry of ‘DAMN.’ was undeniable.

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On April 16, 2018, Kendrick Lamar made Pulitzer Prize history as the first rapper to win the award in music. But beyond that, it was the first time the award didn’t go to a classical or jazz musician.

Typically, the prize recognizes classical compositions, traditional orchestration, jazz, opera, a cappella, and similar artistry. But that year, a mainstream rapper was given the honor, and he remains the only one since then.

At the time, and to the uninitiated, the decision to bestow the award upon Lamar’s 2017 album DAMN. may have seemed out of place. But just because the Pulitzer Prize had never been given to a rapper doesn’t mean it wasn’t deserved.

Generally, the jurors look for technical proficiency, narrative richness, social consciousness, and cultural relevance. They might ask, “Does this music share important, often personal experiences?” Does........

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