To my wife, Mabinty: You are the love of my life, my heart, and my soul. It’s been an honor to witness the grace through which you navigate life. You are the living embodiment of spirituality and persistence, and your spontaneity keeps me human. I adore your ambition, the way you command every room you enter. I’m your biggest fan and cheerleader, and I’m thankful to God for having met you all those years ago. Your patience is immeasurable; you gave me space to write this book while holding me close. You were there for me every day and I’m very grateful. You’re a divine light and the world is better with you in it.
And now for the customary disclaimer (though I mean what I’m about to say): sincerest apologies to anyone I may have forgotten. The last two years have been something else; I hope you understand. If you’ve been an active part of my life during that time, please know that I appreciate you, and God willing, I will tell you so personally. Thanks to everyone who’s shown interest in this book. May it resonate in your spirit.
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About the Author
Marcus J. Moore is a music journalist, editor, curator, and pop culture commentator whose writing can be found in The Nation, Pitchfork, Entertainment Weekly, Bandcamp Daily, NPR, The Atlantic, BBC Music, and MTV, among others. He’s created nationally syndicated playlists for Google, discussed new music live on FM radio, contributed to national shows and podcasts, and hosted live interviews and guest-hosted live shows on Red Bull Radio. In 2009, Moore launched his own site—DMV Spectrum—which covered music and entertainment in Washington, DC; Maryland; and Northern Virginia. He is originally from the Washington, DC, area, and now lives in Brooklyn, New York. The Butterfly Effect is his first book.
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Notes
Chapter 1: How “You Got Robbed”
He was shy: Josh Eells, “The Trials of Kendrick Lamar,” Rolling Stone, June 22, 2015, https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-trials-of-kendrick-lamar-33057/.
With guest appearances: Rob Markman, “Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d. city Is Now Certified Gold,” MTV News, December 2, 2012, http://www.mtv.com/news/2499851/kendrick-lamar-good-kid-maad-city-certified-gold/.
Though the town wasn’t: Angel Jennings, “Compton Selected to Receive Federal Aid to Reduce Violent Crime,” Los Angeles Times, September 28, 2015, https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-compton-selected-to-receive-federal-aid-20150928-story.html.
But he did: “2013 Grammy Winners,” Grammy Awards, Recording Academy, accessed March 24, 2020, https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/56th-annual-grammy-awards-2013.
“You got robbed”: Tom Breihan, “Read Macklemore’s Apology Text to Kendrick Lamar for Winning Best Rap Album Grammy,” Stereogum, January 27, 2014, https://www.stereogum.com/1644301/read-macklemores-apology-text-to-kendrick-lamar-for-winning-best-rap-album-grammy/news/.
“I think it was uncalled for”: “Kendrick says Macklemore went too far + who ‘i’ is for & the state of HipHop,” YouTube video, posted by “HOT 97,” November 3, 2014, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tItZsMcLSRM.
“It felt cheap”: “Drake Calls Macklemore’s Grammy Apology Text ‘Wack as F——k,’ ” Rolling Stone, February 12, 2014, https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/drake-calls-macklemores-grammy-apology-text-wack-as-f-k-81580/.
“Then he came back on”: “Kendrick says Macklemore.”
“Knowing how the Grammys”: Rebecca Tucker, “Macklemore on Kendrick Lamar’s Grammy Snub: ‘I Had an Unfair Advantage Due to Race,’ ” National Post, January 28, 2014, https://nationalpost.com/entertainment/music/macklemore-on-kendrick-lamars-grammy-snub-i-think-i-have-an-unfair-advantage-due-to-race.
“The language that I used”: Elias Leight, “Macklemore on Hip Hop & Cultural Appropriation: ‘I Need to Know My Place, and That Comes from Me Listening,’ ” Billboard, December 30, 2014, https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6422361/macklemore-race-hip-hop-cultural-appropriation-hot-97.
had shot quickly: Gil Kaufman, “Adele’s ‘25’ Hits Diamond Status in Less Than a Year,” Billboard, September 27, 2016, https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7525493/adele-25-hits-diamond-status-10-million-less-than-a-year.
“They absolutely, positively”: Joe Coscarelli, “ ‘More Artists Are Going to Boycott’: The Grammys Face Fallout after Fraught Grammys,” New York Times, February 13, 2017, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/13/arts/music/beyonce-adele-grammys-backlash.html.
“Believe the people”: “OK Ken and David…,” Frank Ocean’s Tumblr page, February 12, 2017, https://frankocean.tumblr.com/post/157125310721/ok-ken-and-david-as-much-as-i-hate-to-make-you.
In 1989, rap duo: Joe Coscarelli, “The Boycott Before: Rap and Resentment at the 1989 Grammys,” New York Times, February 11, 2016, https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/11/arts/music/the-boycott-before-rap-and-resentment-at-the-1989-grammys.html.
According to the Recording Academy: “Grammy Awards Voting Process,” Grammy Awards, Recording Academy, accessed April 3, 2020, https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/voting-process.
“human like we are”: Melinda Newman, “Jay-Z Honored as Clive Davis’ Pre-Grammy Gala Draws Performances from Alicia Keys, Migos & More,” Billboard, January 28, 2018, https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8096635/jay-z-honored-as-clive-davis-and-recording-academys-pre-grammy-gala-beyonce-alicia-keys.
“Along with the official guidelines”: Rob Kenner, “Hate Me Now: What It’s Like to Be a Grammy Voter,” Complex, January 20, 2014, https://www.complex.com/music/2014/01/how-does-grammy-voting-work.
“Richie was far”: Kelsey McKinney, “The Grammy Voting Process Is Completely Ridiculous,” Vox, February 15, 2016, https://www.vox.com/2015/2/4/7976729/grammy-voting-process.
“We need a culture change”: Melinda Newman, “Recording Academy Invites 900 New Voting Members Based on Task Force Recommendations to Increase Diversity,” Billboard, October 4, 2018, https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8478236/recording-academy-invites-900-new-voting-members-task-force.
“I think it’s mostly the music”: Christopher R. Weingarten, “Macklemore Talks ‘Gemini,’ His Upcoming Career Reset without Ryan Lewis,” Rolling Stone, September 14, 2017, https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/macklemore-talks-gemini-his-upcoming-career-reset-without-ryan-lewis-124464/.
“Fight on!” Mandela once wrote: Sahm Venter, ed., The Prison Letters of Nelson Mandela (New York: Liveright, 2018).
“This is a place”: Dave Chappelle, “Kendrick Lamar by Dave Chappelle,” Interview, July 12, 2017, https://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/kendrick-lamar-cover.
Chappelle had inked: Christopher John Farley, “On the Beach with Dave Chappelle,” Time, May 15, 2005, http://content.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1061415,00.html.
The shooting death of Chad Keaton: “LA’s Most Wanted: Murder Victim Chad Keaton,” Fox 11 Los Angeles, September 11, 2016 (the incident occurred July 12, 2013), https://www.foxla.com/news/las-most-wanted-murder-victim-chad-keaton.
“It was something that just accumulated”: Dorian Lynskey, “Kendrick Lamar: ‘I am Trayvon Martin. I’m All of These Kids,’ ” The Guardian, June 21, 2015, https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/jun/21/kendrick-lamar-interview-to-pimp-a-butterfly-trayvon-martin.
“I felt like I belonged in Africa”: Andreas Hale, “ ‘To Pimp a Butterfly’: Kendrick Lamar shares history,” Grammy.com, May 15, 2017, https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/pimp-butterfly-kendrick-lamar-shares-history.
traced back to kwaito: Sabelo Mkhabela, “Hip-Hop & Kwaito’s Long Love-Hate Relationship,” OkayAfrica, April 20, 2017, https://www.okayafrica.com/south-african-hip-hop-kwaito-long-love-hate-relationship/.
Forbes
