Kendrick Lamar's latest offering, To Pimp a Butterfly, made music headlines for months, and thanks to this critical acclaim, the emcee was tapped to cover the special June edition of Ebony magazine in honor of Black Music Month.

In the issue, which recognizes millennial music artists who have been breaking down boundaries, pushing the envelope and changing the game of popular music, Lamar is in good company. Other trailblazing musicians highlighted include Janelle Monáe and her Wondaland label, Vic Mensa, Tink and FKA Twigs.

| A FINE LINE: CONTROVERSIAL MAGAZINE COVERS |

Speaking on his excitement to be Ebony's newest cover star, the "King Kunta" rapper said, "As you know, this is the 70th anniversary. So, with that being said, I feel honored, I feel privileged to be a part of it being that I am one of the few rap artists to actually grace the cover.

In a behind-the-scenes video of the photo-shoot posted by the publication, he also talks previous headline-making covers, like the "hoodies up!" tribute with Boris Kodjoe, Spike Lee, Dwyane Wade and the family of Trayvon Martin; NeNe Leakes; and Kimora Lee Simmons with Djimon Hounsou. "They've done a whole spectrum of controversial covers," he said. "It's a culture and identifyng with ourselves, and not only that, [but] the world, in general. So, to be a part of it is definitely an honor."

The special issue is a collector's edition and will hit newsstands next month.

See Kendrick Lamar live at the 2015 BET Experience in L.A. Click here for a chance to win a trip to the 2015 BET Awards!

BET.com is your No. 1 source for Black celebrity news, photos, exclusive videos and all the latest in the world of hip hop and R&B music.

(Photo: Ebony Magazine, June 2015)