45 Alright

KENDRICK LAMAR 2015

Lamar dropped “Alright” in early

2015 — when the

Black Lives Matter movement was just gathering momentum. The song instantly became part of that movement — a jazzy political protest, but also a statement of rage and hope in the face of oppression. “Alright” was a standout on his epochal album To Pimp a Butterfly. “It was a lot goin’ on, and still to this day, there’s a lot going on,” Lamar said. “I wanted to approach it as more uplifting — but aggressive. Not playing the victim, but still having that ‘We strong,’ you know?” That spirit is at the heart of “Alright.”