In a CNN interview, Fifty said that he has always “stayed away” after seeing family members use substances and witnessing the effect it had on them. A new wave of artists is illuminating the present day with often strange, experimental music that blends traditional and elemental sounds with notions of queerness, ancestry, diaspora and resistance. There’s vulnerability preached in the lyrics – an exposing of secrets in order to free ourselves. Kendrick reminds us that it’s complicated – and losing this complexity is to lose us, and to be content with the limited range of possibilities that makes a white world comfortable. Track after track we are pushed to look in the mirror and see us – and choose us. I hear Kendrick reminding us that too often we have played into this dehumanising story of an unfeeling physical hardness by demanding psychic toughness – toxic masculinity, abusive relationships, a disregard for ourselves.

Swimming Pools (Drank)

For example, Lamar’s commitment https://lesterjohnson.net/sober-living/methadone-a-medicine-used-to-treat-heroin-4/ to mindfulness and spirituality, as reflected in his music, suggests the value of incorporating reflective practices like meditation or journaling. By nurturing both internal and external support mechanisms, individuals can build resilience and sustain long-term recovery, transforming struggles into stories of triumph. In conclusion, Kendrick Lamar’s public statements about drinking habits are a masterclass in subtlety and control. By keeping personal details scarce and focusing on broader themes, he shifts the conversation from speculation to actionable principles. Whether intentional or not, his approach serves as a guide for maintaining autonomy over one’s narrative and habits in the public eye. In communities like Compton, where survival often depends on group dynamics, fitting in can mean adopting behaviors prevalent among peers.
She Talks to Angels – The Black Crowes
- Hip-hop, Kendrick’s current “lifetime” is explored as a descendant of jazz and blues.
- But it’s present across Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, and the record’s complex, cathartic lyrical content can sometimes obscure our understanding of just how sonically innovative this project is.
- The tension between ego and authenticity, pain and healing, pride and accountability – it’s not unique to him.
Because the life that used to shine through your eyes is no longer there anymore, only darkness. Later, he asks for someone to save him because he needs help to overcome this addiction. Brownstore” was written by a couple of band members addicted to heroin. “I used to do a little, but a little wouldn’t do it, So the little got more and more,” is a line that refers to their increased tolerance to heroin. They never set out to become addicted to the substance and express regret at trying it in Halfway house the first place. They say that he is not leaving them alone is a way to emphasize how hard it is for them to stop using it.

Why Mental Health is Important to Kendrick Too
- For those with severe dependencies, medically supervised detox programs may be necessary, often involving medications like naltrexone or disulfiram to manage cravings or withdrawal symptoms.
- Commonly applied to the position and momentum of a particle in quantum physics, it states that the more precisely the position is known the more uncertain the momentum is and vice versa.
- The combination of barely-there creeping bass, twitchy tribal drums, and off-kilter keys on opener “United In Grief” are deconstructed elements of a song, offering no obvious harmonic continuity.
- Lamar’s struggles, including his battle with sex addiction, have profoundly influenced his musical themes and storytelling.
- “Auntie Diaries” sees Lamar discussing the gender transitions of two of his family members, regretting his former exclusionary actions and connecting his new beliefs to his evolving maturity.
He’s bringing on his cousin Baby Keem and PG Lang artist Tanna Leone for support. His sobriety also spelt the beginning of better health and fitness for the rapper, who shed some serious weight. If recent pictures are anything to go by, it looks like Guwop has stayed sober. 50 Cent may have briefly dealt drugs does kendrick lamar do drugs as a youth, but he has always refrained from using them himself.
- As a result of the toll that addiction can take on an individual, many rappers have become sober and are inspiring others to do so as well.
- As reported by Mental Health America 5, the connection between mental clarity and creative expression has never been more apparent.
- In a study involving African American adults who had experienced trauma showed that a higher frequency of religious service attendance was a protective factor against mental illness.
- Using the metaphor of swimming pools to represent the abundance of alcohol at social gatherings, Lamar paints a vivid picture of peer pressure and the struggle to resist destructive behaviors.
- This contrast highlights the duality of alcohol’s effects – social lubricant vs. personal struggle.
- The reasons for choosing sobriety are personal, and it’s OK if your reasons are different from those of your friends, or anyone on this list.