Years after claiming hip-hop’s throne on Big Sean’s "Control," Kendrick Lamar has reached creative and commercial heights most musicians can only dream of. This year’s "To Pimp A Butterfly," acclaimed for its ambition and creative rigor, has brough the L.A. rapper significant renown outside of hip-hop circles.

And on Tuesday, for a one-night only performance, King Kendrick undertook his most elaborate collaboration yet—one with the National Symphony Orchestra, bringing to life orchestral and live-band versions of songs from "To Pimp A Butterfly" and 2012’s breakthrough "good kid, m.A.A.d city." In front of a sold out audience at Washington, D.C.’s Kennedy Center, K-Dot and the Orchestra (alongside members of his backing-band) tore through 18 songs with technical sophistication and piercing clarity.

Check out videos of their performances of "These Walls," "i" and "King Kunta" below.

 

 

 

(H/t Okayplayer, USA Today)