The Pulitzer Prize for Music was established in 1943, decades after the first journalism prizes were awarded. For most of its history, the prize was almost exclusively awarded to classical composers. This narrow focus led to significant criticism and controversy. In 1965, the jury recommended a special citation for Duke Ellington, but the Pulitzer Board rejected it, causing two jurors to resign. It wasn't until 1997 that Wynton Marsalis became the first jazz musician to win the award. The most dramatic shift occurred in 2018 when Kendrick Lamar won for his album 'DAMN.', making him the first rapper and the first non-jazz or non-classical artist to receive the honor. The Board described the album as a 'virtuosic song collection unified by its vernacular authenticity.' This decision was hailed as a milestone in recognizing hip-hop as a serious literary and musical art form, bridging the gap between high culture and popular music.