Kendrick Lamar’s deep connection to his hometown of Compton, California, continues to shine through his work, including his latest album, GNX. The chart-topping project celebrates his roots and love for the city that shaped him. However, despite his dedication, Kendrick’s contributions have not shielded him from local negativity.
A mural honoring the “Squabble Up” rapper has been defaced once again, according to XXL. The artwork, located on Rosecrans Avenue behind the Honduran restaurant Mi Sabor, has been targeted multiple times. This follows a similar incident in September when the mural was vandalized with gang-related graffiti.
The most recent act of vandalism remains unidentified, but it has sparked frustration from the mural’s creator, artist Sloe Motions. Taking to the comments section of XXL’s coverage, he expressed his dismay: “I was one of the artists who painted the mural, and the guy who blacked out Kendrick’s face literally just made it worse.”
This isn’t the first time Sloe Motions has publicly shared his disappointment. Following the initial vandalism, Kendrick Lamar released the song “Wacced Out Murals,” addressing the incident. At the time, Sloe Motions shared his mixed emotions: “A couple of months ago, our Kendrick mural got hit. Of course, we were pissed and wanted to fix it, but it just kept getting worse. Flash forward to today, and Kendrick drops a song about the situation. It doesn’t necessarily make it okay, but it does feel good to have our hard work for the community immortalized in a song by one of the greatest to ever do it. Thank you, Kendrick Lamar, for making this situation a little better today.”
Kendrick Lamar has yet to comment on the mural’s latest defacement. While the repeated vandalism underscores the challenges of creating public art in urban areas, the mural remains a symbol of pride and resilience for Compton and its community.
