✊🏾🎤 all eyez on Kendrick Lamar
hip hop's new daily operation | 6.8.20
photo: Saul Lopez ⤴️
TheMotto No. 36 is here, and yes, that is indeed Kendrick Lamar above. The past few weeks have been filled with social chatter about Kendrick’s possible whereabouts. Back in 2015, Lamar’s classic song “Alright” became an anthem of the Black Lives Matter movement. It’s 2020, we have the world’s ear — folks want to know: can we get a new song? A musical masterwork to have in the earbuds while on the frontlines? Something to soothe our souls through the pandemic? What about or at least a IG post? A tweet?
photo: Taco Mell ⤴️
the first shot that emerged ⏫ K.Dot with fellow Compton native, DeMar DeRozen of the San Antonio Spurs. The Houston Rockets’ Russell Westbrook was there too (Westbrook is from Long Beach and Hawthorne).
supported by Mayor Aja Brown, local churches, and community organizations, it was a Compton Peace Walk from Gateway Towne Center to the Martin Luther King Jr. monument near City Hall. Always remaining devoted to his hometown, Kendrick even flicked it up with some fans. As far as new music soon? Doubt it like Rih Rih.
Until then: ⬇️🦋
top billin’:
the author of “FDT,” YG has never been hesitant to lead. Officially partnering with Black Lives Matter, Keenon Jackson peacefully turned Hollywood upside-down with 20,000 + protestors. The view is crazy — courtesy of Yakooza ⤵️
YG addresses the crowd.
“a lot of people when they heard I was doin’ a march, they got nervous. ‘Cause they look at me as a nigga. But I’m a black man. And I’m black and I’m proud.”
and later YG shot a music video for his new single, “FTP”.
he caught some criticism for shooting the video, and here’s how YG responded ⬇️
The Obamas created a star-studded virtual ceremony to salute the Class of 2020. The main highlights were a pair of Houston women. Beyoncé gave an encouraging speech to the graduates and made it clear: “real change has started with you.” ⏬
Meg kept it fun with a medley of visuals from a handful of her biggest songs ⏬
Thee Stallion even hit a split ⤵️
what more can I say:
great art is being created as new leaders and a new activation is changing the world. let’s highlight a few photographers ⏬
Wale. Los Angeles, California 🗝 photo: MM Vision ⤴️
Jhene Aiko. Santa Monica, California 🗝 photo: Created By Eyes ⬇️
J. Cole. Fayetteville, North Carolina 🖤 photo: Tasha Swanson
speaking of Cole, he tweeted his support of the Minneapolis police department disbanding ⤵️
And Cole’s manager Ib is coming thru for us all.
“Be Free” needs mass consumption and to have its rightful place alongside records like Kendrick’s “Alright”. Glad I could help.
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Danyel Smith + Elliott Wilson