Which rapper's 2015 single 'Alright' became a protest anthem?

Kendrick Lamar’s 2015 single “Alright” became a protest anthem.

The song appears on Lamar’s third studio album, To Pimp a Butterfly, and was released to radio as the album’s fourth single on June 30, 2015. Its upbeat, gospel-influenced refrain—built around the assurance that “we gon’ be alright”—contrasts with verses addressing struggle, fear, racism, police violence, and personal pressure.

Youth-led demonstrations against police brutality and racial injustice helped transform the song from a celebrated album track into a public rallying cry. Protesters, particularly those associated with the Black Lives Matter movement, chanted its chorus at demonstrations in 2015 and afterward. That association is why the song is often described as a modern protest anthem, even though its lyrics also contain deeply personal and spiritual themes.

Pharrell Williams and Sounwave co-produced “Alright” with Lamar credited as its writer alongside Williams and Sounwave. The track won Grammys for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song at the 58th Grammy Awards.