Kendrick Lamar and Achebe

Chinua Achebe is probably the most influential Nigerian of his time, as evident through the many film adaptation of Things Fall Apart. His influence can also be seen in Kendrick Lamar To Pimp A Butterfly. In the most popular song, King Kunta, off Kendrick's third studio album released in 2015, Kenrick refers Achebe's novel through the use of yams. In Things Fall Apart, yams are representative of wealth, power, and influence throughout Umofia.  Kendrick in King Kunta says "the yam is the power that be." Kendrick is obviously referencing the fact that yams brought influence and were a symbol of social status in Igbo culture. Kendrick is claiming that he is the most influential rapper alive but also warns that yams or power is not all good. In the next verse, Kendrick says, "the yam brought it out of Richard Pryor, manipulated Bill Clinton with desires." Here Kendrick refers comedian Richard Pryor, who after fame struggled with addiction and depression most of his career. Kendrick also claims that power led Clinton to temptation and corruption. King Kunta is filled with literary references, as even the title references Alex Haley's novel Roots. Achebe's novel is clearly very influential, as evident through its references in pop culture nearly 60 years later.