LOS ANGELES, Feb 16: Kendrick Lamar, the big winner at the Grammys, set the stage on fire with his riveting and politically-charged performance at the ceremony.
The 28-year-old “Alright” hitmaker’s powerful performance kicked off with a stunning visual as his backup dancers handcuffed and shuffling across the stage in a jail like setup, as a reference to the police atrocities against African-American community.
The musician, who took home five Grammy trophies, slowly slid his handcuffed wrists around the mic stand before launching straight into “The Blacker the Berry”.
As the song took its pace, Lamar’s dancers broke free from their chains and began to move around the stage in sparkling outfits to the cheers and applause of the crowd.
Lamar’s performance also saw a giant and flaming bonfire at the backdrop to into his hit “Alright”, which has become an unofficial anthem for protesters against police abuse.
“I’m African-American, I’m African,” Lamar rapped at one point.
“I’m black as the moon, heritage of a small village / Pardon my residence / Came from the bottom of mankind / My hair is nappy, my nose is round and wide / You hate me don’t you?,” he continued.
The rapper’s passionate performance ended with him against a giant light-up map of Africa, with the words “Compton” emblazoned in the middle. (PTI)
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