Kendrick Lamar was nominated for an amazing 11 Awards at the 2016 Grammys. An accomplishment that most artists haven’t even come close to touching, Kendrick is a true inspiration with a story to tell. His passion, integrity and authenticity have brought him to where he is today. Central to what Kendrick stands for is his connection to his fans and his message of inspiration, a message that is shared by Reebok Classics.
To celebrate Kendrick’s ground breaking achievement and pay tribute to his Compton roots, Reebok Classic treated students from his former high school, Centennial High School, to a once in a lifetime experience which honors Kendrick’s past while celebrating his future. Each lucky student exemplifies the attributes that shone in a young Kendrick and embodies the characteristics that Reebok Classic encourage; having the courage to express who they are and a willingness to stand out from the crowd.
The students spent time with Kendrick as he prepared for the ceremony ahead of being given a full red carpet experience, attending the GRAMMY Awards ceremony to watch their idol perform and pick up his multiple awards. During their time with Kendrick they were given the opportunity to have a Q&A session, during which they learned that he is just as inspired by them as they are by him.
A mere 11 miles separates Compton, Calif., from the red carpet of the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The students’ symbolic journey from Compton to Los Angeles was capped off with several epic surprises. In addition meeting the iconic rapper, the students were able to express their own creativity for Lamar.
With nothing more than a pair of Lamar’s favorite Classic Leather shoes and a black marker, the students created works of art on the pristine leather and gave the decorated shoes, along with their own words of congratulations, to the rapper before the ceremony.
The simple gesture spoke volumes in light of the glitz and glamour of pop music royalty that gathered in Los Angeles last night. While many were focused on award counts and performance details, Lamar practiced a raw exchange of respect and reverence with the students he inspired.
“Hopefully in the next 10 years, they’ll be even further from where I’m at,” Lamar explains.
Unpretentious and unapologetic, the Classic Leather shoe symbolizes the blank canvas offered to all of us in life. The style, the swagger and the story are what we make of it.
Source: Reebok
