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Kendrick Lamar shut down the Grammy stage on Monday night, delivering a powerful performance that everyone watching at home unanimously dubbed the moment of the night.
The rapper walked on stage dressed as an inmate in chains while kicking off his performance of "Blacker the Berry," before transitioning into his Grammy-winning track "Alright." His band performed in jail cells, before fires broke out on stage. Lamar ended by singing in front of a giant map of Africa, the word "Compton" written in the center.
In a pre-show interview with Billboard, the show's Ken Ehrlich made it clear they knew this was going to be a special performance -- and one people would be talking about.
"Kendrick came to us and said that we live in a time where these issues confront us every day and that it's important that they be given a public forum, and he would like to use his x number of minutes to create a great performance that is consistent with his this year. It is overtly political and it is overtly provocative, and I think if nothing else it's going to give people something to think about and talk about."
Well, looking at Twitter, they definitely were -- and it was all very positive!
Kendrick just dropped all of the mics. Damn. Damn damn damn.
@SophiaBush
Sooooooo powerful and moving and on time and TRUTHFUL AND FEARLESS @kendricklamar again so proud!!! #GRAMMYs #WeGonBeAlright 💪🏾
@TherealTaraji
Wow. @kendricklamar One of the absolute best performances I've ever seen on @TheGRAMMYs
@teganandsara
This is GREAT outta Compton.@kendricklamar #GRAMMYs
@piersmorgan
YES! @kendricklamar #GRAMMYs killin it #musevibe
@kobebryant
Oh HELLO @kendricklamar giving us drama, theatre, lyricism, and layered soulful music! Thank you for the revolution! #GRAMMYs #JustWow 🙌🙌
@JulietteLewis
.@kendricklamar, you are brilliant. #GRAMMYs
@TheEllenShow
@kendricklamar slay that stage with that flow, that message and production. #GRAMMYs
@Lavernecox
Wow @kendricklamar So Dope !! Congrats !!! #GRAMMYs 🔥🔥🔥
@DJPaulyD
.@kendricklamar!!!!!!! Slaying
@rikerR5
Hands down #grammys is the best award show!! @kendricklamar, cast of #hamilton, @steviewonder, just WOW!!!!!
@echriqui
I'm still high from your performance. THANK YOU @kendricklamar! #GRAMMYs #Grammys2016
@ricky_martin
salute king @kendricklamar ✨👊🏾🏆
@SnoopDogg
Rearrange the letters in ARTIST and it spells @kendricklamar #GRAMMYs
@larrywilmore
@kendricklamar #Grammys2016 and THERE IT IS
@indiaarie
I could literally feel the heat from the flames in that @kendricklamar performance. So fucking grateful I got to see that.
@AnnaKendrick47
God bless whoever has to perform after @kendricklamar. That was the best performance of the night! 🔥🔥#GRAMMYs
@mrbradgoreski
Check out toofab's picks for the best and worst dressed stars at the Grammys below:
