Kendrick Lamar and singer-songwriter Janelle Monae were given the rare honor of performing at the White House last night, July 4th.
The concert was attended by President Obama and his family, as well as an audience of government staff, military veterans, and their families. Obama, a self proclaimed avid fan of hip hop and rap, has invited numerous hip hop artists, including Jay Z, Ludacris, Killer Mike, and Common, to the White House, but only a rare few have been given the opportunity to perform at an official White House event.
Kendrick Lamar has received a lot of mainstream attention and praise for his socially conscious lyrics, political activism, and eclectic musical style. President Obama is apparently a big fan of the Grammy award winning, Compton native's work: Obama mentioned earlier this year that Kendrick Lamar's "How Much A Dollar Cost" was his favorite song of 2016.
R&B singer Janelle Monae has been an outspoken supporter of Obama administration's efforts to increase voter registration, reform the criminal justice system, and institute better gun control.
Besides performing solo sets, the two artists joined President Obama on stage to sing "Happy Birthday" to the President's daughter, Malia, who turned 18.
By Michael Lacerna for RAPstation.com
