" The Blacker the Berry " received rave reviews from music critics , who widely praised the production and Lamar 's racially charged lyrics . Steven J. Horowitz of '' Billboard '' gave the song four-and-a-half stars out of five , writing that " Lamar swings at racial injustice , letting rage break his usual cool veneer " . Pitchfork named it their " Best New Track " , with reviewer Jayson Greene saying that the song " might be Lamar 's most focused and upsetting performance . " Lamar performed a medley of " The Blacker the Berry " and " Alright " at the 58th Grammy Awards . Following an intro from actor Don Cheadle , the rapper marched out onstage in chains with a backdrop imitating a prison for " The Blacker The Berry " before creating a bonfire for " Alright " and wrapping his set with an illuminated image of his native city Compton in the outline of Africa . In the untitled freestyle finale , Lamar references Feb. 26 , the date of Trayvon Martin 's death in 2012 . " On February twenty sixth I lost my life too / It ’s like I ’m here in a dark dream / Man hear screams recorded / Say that it sounds distorted but they know who it was , " he rapped
58th Grammy Awards
58th Annual Grammy Awards
The Blacker the Berry (song)