US rapper Kendrick Lamar has bagged in a Pulitzer Prize in Music for 2018 for his 2017 album DAMN. It is the first time in the prize’s history that it has been given to an artist outside of the classical or jazz community, which recognises the artistic brilliance of a piece of music. The Pulitzers, particularly the music category, have long focused on more traditional forms of artistic expression. Kendrick’s album DAMN was met with widespread acclaim when it was released last year.

“A virtuosic song collection unified by its vernacular authenticity and rhythmic dynamism that offers affecting vignettes capturing the complexity of modern African-American life,” said the Pulitzer board of his album. As told to New York Times, prize administrator Dana Canedy said the win was ‘a big moment for hip-hop music and a big moment for the Pulitzers’. In addition to topping many year-end best lists, DAMN was awarded five Grammys, one of it was the Best Rap Album, though it lost out on album of the year to Bruno Mars’ 24K Magic.

The recognition comes on the heels of growing acceptance of hip-hop from reigning cultural institutions over the past year, including LL Cool J becoming the first hip-hop artist to be acknowledged by the Kennedy Center Honors and Jay-Z the first rapper to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Kendrick’s album beat two other finalists, a string quartet performed at Carnegie hall and a cantata written for chamber choir, guitar and percussion.

The Pulitzers are best known for the journalism categories, and this year the top awards in that area went to investigations of sexual misconduct that sparked the #MeToo movement. The New York Times and The New Yorker shared the prestigious Public Service award for their ‘explosive and impactful’ investigations into the actions of Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 17, 2018 09:29 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).