Fact Finder - Music

Kendrick Lamar’s 'Alright' from the album 'To Pimp a Butterfly' became a modern hit song that transcended the charts to become a social anthem. Produced by Pharrell Williams, the song's hook 'We gon' be alright' was adopted by Black Lives Matter protesters across the United States. It was the first time since the 1960s Civil Rights Movement that a hip-hop song served as a primary chant for street demonstrations. The song won two Grammy Awards, including Best Rap Performance. Its success highlighted a shift in the 2010s where hit songs began to reclaim their role as tools for social commentary and political resistance. The striking black-and-white music video, featuring Lamar floating through Los Angeles, added to the song's mythological status. Critics often cite 'Alright' as the definitive track of its era for its blend of jazz-influenced production and optimistic yet realistic lyricism.