On Friday (June 7), Kendrick Lamar was spotted speaking to a class of college graduates in his hometown of Compton and offered a few words of encouragement. While talking to the graduates at Compton College— a public two-year community college — Lamar spoke of love for his city and admired the student’s hard work. “I wanted to come out here just to tell y’all how much I appreciate y’all. I’m proud of the city of Compton, I’m proud of Compton College, most importantly I’m proud of the graduates out here,” he began.
Lamar noted that he “knows what it takes,” regarding balancing school, life, and work. “You had a lot of hardship, not only in your house, in your communities, but most importantly, in yourself, and that’s the toughest thing to overcome,” the “Alright” rapper said. In Kendrick Lamar’s opinion, as human beings, we are always growing and changing. “We still growing day by day, brick by brick, making sure we develop, not only in physical form but in the spiritual as well.”
“Compton has always been [the] future for me,” Lamar says
Later in his speech, the rapper mentioned that seeing the students was not only representative of the work but also personally meaningful to him: “When I walk out in these cities in these countries, I can be proud and say, ‘This is where I’m from.’ I still believe in Compton, Compton always been [the] future for me.” Kendrick Lamar believes that Compton has produced “incredible individuals.”
Lamar continues: “I think we bring some of the most incredible individuals: Creatives, intellectuals, talent. We had since day one, that’s why I always scream this city. I traveled the world, there’s no place like this one right here. No place.” The rapper tells the students that whether it’s a two or four-year degree, it still matters: “This degree you have right here is just as big as any degree. I don’t care what school, what institution. Compton College, this Compton degree is just as big.”