Kendrick Lamar has spoken out in praise of US President Barack Obama for allowing rappers and hip-hop stars to visit the White House.

A number of musicians have graced the presidential building in Washington DC in the last number of years - often as part part of Obama's My Brother's Keeper project, which uses stars to use their influence to bring positive change in young people.

Speaking to XXL, Lamar said the entire planet should be grateful for outgoing president Obama's welcoming nature. He said: "I think the world, not just hip-hop, owes him. We all have to give him his credit due for even allowing us into the building.

"We would probably never get inside that house ever again. Think about it like that. Rick Ross, [J.] Cole, Nicki Minaj, he really went for us to come experience it."

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Watch Kendrick Lamar perform at the White House below: