Ahead of his 2025 Super Bowl halftime show, Kendrick Lamar reflects on the personal narrative that informs his artistry. As a cover star 2024 issue of Harper Bazaar’s ‘Voices’The “Not Like Us” rapper was interviewed by fellow artist SZA for an article written by author Kaitlyn Greenidge. In an intimate conversation, the artist, affectionately known as “K-Dot”, discussed three elements which have contributed to his evolution and self-transformation in recent times.

“The power of honesty and being honest with myself, looking at the person sitting across from me and learning that vulnerability is not weakness,” Lamar said. “I’m probably still developing that last one.”

Although he often avoided dwelling on his childhood because “it was traumatic,” Lamar admits it was fundamental to understanding his relationship with vulnerability. The Compton rapper explained that his “tough” “warrior” father showed no weakness, as an alternative showing him the responsibilities of “being a man” by working and providing for his family. Lamar noted that his father “never showed any emotion that could uplift the person sitting across from him” – a trait he acquired naturally.

“I learned to experience it without knowing that I had (these) same characteristics,” he continued. “But in what I do, there is certainly no growth without vulnerability. If I had understood the power of sensitivity earlier, I could have gained more depth and greater connection with the guys who were around me in my neighborhood… Our parents never had the opportunities to express themselves the way they wanted. I always looked at us as a beacon of hope (for them).”

Featured Stories

While he’s widely known for the flexible lyricism heard on his albums, Lamar’s music also serves as an outlet to explore his sensibilities. In fact, the rapper reveals that some of his most vulnerable moments have happened in the public eye. In addition to crying during songs like “Mother I Sober,” Lamar says it was the first time he allowed himself to cry publicly on stage.

While performing with other West Coast rappers, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, the star explained that he broke down in tears as the two veterans passed the “torch” to him on stage.

“A burst of energy just came out and I had to let it come out… My tears are online. And now that I look back, I love that moment. I love that this happened. Because it showed me how I could express myself in real time and see all my work actually come to life in that moment,” he added.

Even though hip-hop stays a male-dominated industry, the Compton resident says his musical journey has shown him how to balance his masculine and feminine energies.

“The more I delve into my music and the more I express myself… it’s this feminine energy. This is not the bravado I grew up with all the time. This is who I’m, I speak softly and I actually have to simply accept it,” he said, explaining how he sees music as a form of communication. “Because if my job is to speak, I actually have to have the opportunity to speak with everyone… and I am unable to try this if I’m behind a wall. I am unable to try this with my full manhood… That’s my superpower.

We might imagine of our children as our everlasting children, but their bodies don’t all the time tell the same story.

Research shows that more black children experience the changes and challenges of puberty sooner than other racial groups. For example: Report 2024 of the TH Chan School of Public Health at Harvard says that black girls from lower socioeconomic statuses start menstruating sooner than average age. AND 2012science reported an earlier onset of puberty for boys in the US, with black boys reaching puberty sooner than other groups.

That’s why Redd is publishing his latest book “The Real Body Manual”, designed to facilitate conversations about puberty. Known for her groundbreaking work on body literacy, Redd’s latest book tackles the complexities of adolescence with cultural sensitivity, providing a photographic guide to the body that features medically accurate information.

The problem of early puberty in black girls

One of the key issues Redd raises is the phenomenon of black girls particularly experiencing puberty sooner than in previous generations. Factors reminiscent of weight loss program, stress and possible epigenetic influences are often cited, but they are true no clear single cause. Redd emphasizes that no matter why this trend is happening, it highlights the need for early and honest discussions about body changes.

Redd, a Harvard graduate, mother of two and former Miss Virginia pageant winner who grew up in the state, says it is important to understand the nuances of “body talk” in African-American families. In many households, there could also be a generational discomfort with discussing body changes, often due to past trauma or cultural taboos. Redd believes breaking the silence is crucial.

“My mother, bless her heart, she is the most prim and proper Southern woman on the entire planet. She’s just adorable. She was very nervous (about the book),” Redd explains, noting that she selected to include the photos in the textbook for the sake of providing medically credible visuals explaining every thing from sexually transmitted diseases to growing pains. The book features multicultural photographs that show how body condition manifests itself otherwise on different skin tones, making it more accessible and accessible to Black youth.

How parents take care of adolescence

For parents scuffling with the considered their children growing up, Redd offers a straightforward message: knowledge is power. While it could not lessen the emotional impact of seeing your child mature, there may be a way of pride in watching your child grow. She encourages parents to educate themselves with their children, noting that her book is meant for each parents and young people.

How to talk to children about puberty

1. Start early: Start the conversation as soon as kids start showing curiosity about their bodies. Use age-appropriate language.
2. Use correct terminology: Terms like “vagina”, “penis” and “breasts” ought to be standardized from the starting. This helps remove stigma and promotes a healthier understanding. You haven’t got to use cute nicknames to discuss body parts or discuss them with shame.
3. Be honest: Share what changes you may expect and when to seek the advice of your doctor.
4. Create an open space: Encourage children to ask questions freely, without fear of judgment.

Redd’s will probably be published on October 22 by Penguin Random House and will probably be available wherever books are sold.

Featured Stories

It’s homecoming season in African America – that joyful time of 12 months when graduates of our beloved Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) return to the backyards from where we got here to collect and remember the people we all know (and do not know) in celebrating good times. Homecoming is actually a special event, people from near and far come to literally look at people and hug others, wishing one another all the best in the hope of seeing the same people next 12 months. While I doubt most individuals will determine on a specific HBCU because of homecoming season, that first visit to the backyard during the most joyous time of 12 months on campus can actually make the decision easier, even years in advance.

(For the record, I’m fully aware that reunions are held primarily at white institutions with black alumni. I can’t be convinced that that is an analogous experience. Thank you for coming to my PanamaTalk.)

This brings us to this past weekend. My wife is a proud graduate of Howard University. We live in Washington, D.C. – which is where Howard lives – so every Homecoming Weekend he normally travels away to have interaction in the various healthful shenanigans that go on at Homecomings across the HBCU spectrum. Since the overwhelming majority of these activities happen at night, it normally doesn’t leave much room to bring your kids along to witness the wonders of life at an HBCU. Anyone who has ever tried to take kids on a tailgate trip in the spirit of exposition can let you know what a foul concept that is.

Lifestyle

Well, in 2023, Howard got here up with the great idea to include FamilyFest into the homecoming celebration. (Note: YardFest is Howard’s most famous homecoming event; it’s a concert that typically features the hottest black music bands of the 12 months.) FamilyFest is an on-campus event you can assume takes place earlier in the day and is built in order that younger kids can enjoy it while parents reminisce about one another before larger crowds of younger people get there doing things that younger kids do. people do in larger crowds.

This 12 months my wife decided we might take our kids to FamilyFest so that they could see the campus, so we could do this lovely touristy thing and see the buildings and spaces that meant a lot to her. It was cool for me too, because I had no idea which dorm she lived in or what her college days were like. It’s nice to take a walk down memory lane. It was also nice that our kids got to experience this part of her life. One of these kids loved it a lot that I’m now convinced he will Howard University. He is currently eight years old.

I actually have written lots about my children, and one of them has a personality that approaches every thing quickly and passionately. He discovered Michael Jackson and never let go. Same with football and WWE. It seems he had an analogous experience with Howard. From the moment we arrived on campus he had all the questions and desired to see anything and every thing.

He desired to enter buildings – any buildings. He desired to walk around the yard. He saw the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts constructing and got there. The constructing was locked, but I’d must take him there so he could scratch that itch; he loves “Black Panther,” so when he saw the name and the constructing, well, he was out. There’s a reason why, if I needed to bet on which of my kids would find yourself at Howard University before leaving last weekend, it might be this one; his personality seems prepared for school. I am unable to quite explain what it means, but what is known doesn’t must be explained, you already know?

My other kids enjoyed the experience, however it wasn’t the same. My 15-year-old daughter, a highschool sophomore, has Spelman College on her mind (understandably), so while I’m sure she was excited to come back home from college, that wasn’t the most vital thing. My nine 12 months old thought it was cool, but I am unable to say whether it was a memorable experience or not. We’ll see about the four-year-old; he was too busy adopting his aunts to care where he was.

As a Morehouse Man, I sit up for my children having the ability to see my institution and judge for themselves how they feel about the atmosphere there and whether it’s a place where they see themselves. You never know when or even when it is going to occur. I believe this has already happened with my eight-year-old. Even though Howard University shouldn’t be Morehouse College, I see him on this campus becoming the version of himself he desires to be.

Now if you happen to’ll excuse me, I actually have to look the couch for change. According to Howard, it costs almost $60,000 a 12 months to take classes, so I would like to start out saving now.