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Kendrick Lamar Meets With President Obama During 'Pay it Forward' Video

He spoke with him about ways of “embracing the youth.”

Anytime hip hop gets involved in presidential politics it helps move the conversation forward and promotes the culture in a positive way.

That’s what Kendrick Lamar did last October. The Compton native is just now sharing a video as a part of his “Pay It Forward” campaign during which he reveals pictures of himself in the White House with President Obama. The two apparently had a brief meeting during which Kendrick says they discussed “topics concerning the inner cities, the problem, the solutions,” and ways everyone can start “embracing the youth.”

While the visual was only just over a minute long it relayed a powerful message. The “Alright” rapper narrated the importance of mentors in a young person’s life especially if they come from the inner-city.

“As a kid, having a mentor was vital to me,” he said in the video. “Always being there when it counted allowed me to make some of the most important decisions while growing up. So it’s only right that I mentor a younger person with the same wisdom that was given to me. If it helps the next kid become a better person in life, I will forever be aware of my influence and pay it forward.”

Kendrick Lamar’s White House visit comes just after Barack Obama revealed that his favorite song of 2015 was K Dot’s “How Much a Dollar Cost?” So we know he’s a fan of the TDE headliner.

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