Rapper Kendrick Lamar is, as many know, a pioneer in the music world. A self-made rap icon from the streets of Compton, his humble personality mixed with his willingness to deal with dark topics have drawn many people to his music.
Lamar reminds us that our past can never be forgotten, and, in fact, can be where we can find new inspiration.
His recent video for the hit song, ELEMENT., takes direct inspiration from the seminal African American photographer Gordon Parks, who passed away in 2006. From the 1940s up until his death, Parks produced many iconic photographs, including Emerging Man (1952). He called his camera his ‘weapon of choice’.
While Lamar and Parks come from different moments in time, their work is deeply interconnected. Both have brought attention to issues of race relations, urban poverty, and civil rights through their art. The problems in today’s society that Lamar brings attention to are directly related to the issues Parks focused on throughout his career in the 20th Century.
“Gordon Parks’ work is continuing to have a great impact on young people—and particularly on artists like Kendrick who use the power of imagery to examine issues related to social justice and race in our country,” Executive Director of the Gordon Parks Foundation, Peter W. Kunhardt, Jr., said in a statement.
“With the “Element.” music video, Kendrick has helped to call attention to one of the most important artists of our time.”
Watch the video and see how history overlaps:
