Do yourself a favor and get a mirror that mirror grievance Then point it at me so the reflection can mirror freedom -Kendrick Lamar The Friday that Kendrick Lamar’s album came out, I listened to it in full, in the space of an hour and a half, between work meetings, some water breaks, and excursions out onto my neighborhood stoop. That night, I fainted twice while at a rave, my eyes fully rolling back into my head, according to my friends. I had to be wheeled out to a medic tent, after which, upon regurgitating the malcontents of my sparse diet that day, I started to come to, and grew more accustomed to my surroundings.
I've been meditating on Kendrick's new album, how it fits in the wider scheme of his discography, how his growth as an artist has one constant that keeps me eager for his work: the humanization of black people, specifically those in the hood. That you are also paying attention to him and his work fulfills me and leaves me eager to do my own work and do it well. Standing ovation.
Great essay. Thanks so much for sharing. I resonate with a lot of what you've written here.
Beautifully written, the weaving of honest personal story and broader cultural reflections is compelling.
Goodness this is so beautiful ❤️ I need to read The Body Keeps the Score!!
Thank you, Chloe, for your thoughtful piece
I like the careful way you see the world 🙂
I've been meditating on Kendrick's new album, how it fits in the wider scheme of his discography, how his growth as an artist has one constant that keeps me eager for his work: the humanization of black people, specifically those in the hood. That you are also paying attention to him and his work fulfills me and leaves me eager to do my own work and do it well. Standing ovation.