Kendrick Lamar Performs with National Symphony Orchestra Pops Tonight

Kendrick Lamar, "the most talented rapper of his generation" (Rolling Stone) and multiple Grammy-winner, will appear for the first time with an orchestra when he performs with the National Symphony for one night only in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall. Principal Pops Conductor Steven Reineke will conduct the program, featuring selections from Lamar's second studio album, To Pimp a Butterfly, in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall, tonight, October 20, 2015, at 8 p.m.

To Pimp a Butterfly broke the previous record for the number of streams in one day, reaching 9.6 million streams in the first 24 hours after the album was released March 15, 2015. With social commentary embedded in songs that cross musical boundaries-jazz, funk, R&B, gospel, hip-hop and spoken word-Lamar's impact has been so great that the California Senate recently awarded him the state's "Generational Icon" award.

Kendrick Lamar's rise was fueled by the endorsements of hip-hop icons Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and others early in his career, and last year he was named the "future king of hip-hop" (The New York Times). With his searing insights and impeccably stylish renditions, his work is known for both its quality and its message.

In the session naming him a "Generational Icon," Lamar was commended for his generous donations to local sports, after-school programs, and music programs, particularly in his hometown of Compton. The track "King Kunta" from To Pimp a Butterfly is a celebration of Compton.

Steven Reineke's boundless enthusiasm and exceptional artistry have made him one of the nation's most sought-after pops conductors, composers, and arrangers. The 2015-2016 season will be his fifth as Principal Pops Conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra. In that capacity he has led performances of Broadway favorites, jazz, hip-hop, and shows featuring such notable performers as Nas, Trey Anastasio, Seth MacFarlane, and Fantasia.