Two iconic murals honoring Kendrick Lamar in Compton have been vandalized, including one that directly inspired the song “Wacced Out Murals” from his latest album GNX, released last month.
The first mural, painted by Mike Norice on the side of Tam’s Burgers—a location prominently featured in Kendrick’s “Not Like Us” music video—was defaced last month. The second, created by Sloe Motion and Gustavo Zemeño Jr. on the back of Mi Sabor, a Honduran restaurant, has suffered multiple acts of vandalism since its unveiling earlier this summer.
Mural Artists React to the Vandalism
The defacement resonates with the opening lines of “Wacced Out Murals”:
“Yesterday, somebody whacked out my mural / That energy’ll make you n—as move to Europe.”
For the artists behind the Mi Sabor mural, Kendrick’s song offered some consolation. Sharing security footage of the vandalism on Instagram, they wrote:
“A couple 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 immortalized by one of the greatest to ever do it. Thank you, @kendricklamar, for making this situation a little better.”
Speculation Surrounding the Motive
While the motives behind the vandalism remain unclear, some fans speculate a connection to Kendrick’s ongoing feud with Drake. Tensions between the two artists have escalated following Kendrick’s diss track “Not Like Us” and Drake’s subsequent lawsuit against Universal Music Group.
Cultural and Musical Impact
Adding another layer to “Wacced Out Murals” is the haunting introduction by Mexican mariachi singer Deyra Barrera, whose Spanish vocals set the tone for the track. In an interview with Billboard, Barrera reflected on her involvement:
“I don’t know if you know the story of [Norice’s] painting. It was scratched, vandalized, even from Kendrick’s previous album. That’s why he made the song.”
Barrera also revealed her collaboration with Norice for an upcoming episode of his YouTube series, Art & Soul, where they’ll explore the mural’s cultural significance and the intersection of visual art and music in Kendrick’s work.
Looking Ahead: Documentary in the Works
The story of the murals and their connection to Kendrick Lamar’s music is set to be explored in a forthcoming documentary. Featuring interviews with mural artists, community members, and Kendrick’s collaborators, the film aims to spotlight the cultural impact of Kendrick’s artistry and the resilience of Compton’s creative community.
