Kendrick Lamar’s “TV Off” Lyrics Cited by FSU President Richard McCullough in Graduation Speech

Kendrick Lamar’s powerful lyrics have found their way into the heart of a university commencement speech, proving hip-hop’s enduring impact.

On May 2, 2025, Florida State University (FSU) President Richard McCullough captivated nearly 8,700 graduates by quoting Lamar’s song “TV Off” during the spring commencement ceremony at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center in Tallahassee. The reference, part of a motivational address, underscored the relevance of meaningful hip-hop in inspiring leadership and resilience, especially at a time when the genre faces criticism for losing depth amidst a wave of new artists.

McCullough, FSU’s 16th president, used Lamar’s lyric,

“Got my foot up on the gas, somebody gotta do it,”

to drive home a message of responsibility. He shared how the song personally motivates him, saying,

“Last week, and the week before, and the week before that, I’m going through a lot. One of the things I have to remind myself as a leader, president of Florida State University, is that people depend on me to get it done, and I have to continue.”

He added,

“I’m an energetic person. I like to do stuff, and that’s cool, and the job works well, a hundred million different things all the time, it’s great, but sometimes you gotta, I need that confidence.”

For McCullough, Lamar’s music provides that boost, as he noted,

“I can listen to hip-hop music and get a lot of confidence from hip-hop music. A song I really like right now is, I think it’s the right song, TV Off. Who’s that by? Kendrick, it’s by Kendrick Lamar, TV Off.”

The president’s connection to the song didn’t stop at personal inspiration. He tied it directly to the graduates, saying,

“I listen to that all the time. Got my foot up on the gas because somebody gotta do it. That means people depend on you to get it done. Somebody’s gonna do it, and you know who the people that can do it? It’s Florida State grads who can do it.”

The crowd responded with cheers and laughter, showing how Lamar’s words, through McCullough’s delivery, resonated with the audience.

This moment was particularly poignant in light of the ceremony context. FSU was graduating its largest class yet, with 8,926 degrees bestowed, in the aftermath of a horrific campus shooting on April 17, 2025, that took two lives and harmed six others. The ceremonies were preceded by a moment of silence in memory of the victims, so McCullough’s inspirational address was all the more so. His incorporation of Lamar’s lyrics and those by Mac Davis and Lana Del Rey demonstrated a conscious attempt to reach out to students in culture, specifically hip-hop culture, that is so influential as an expressive vehicle.

Kendrick Lamar, a Pulitzer Prize-winning artist known for his socially conscious lyrics, has long stood out in hip-hop for tackling themes like systemic inequality and personal growth. His influence, as seen in McCullough’s speech, highlights the genre’s ability to inspire across generations and settings.

In recent years, hip-hop has faced criticism for a rise in “mumble rap” and less meaningful content from newer artists. Yet, Lamar’s work, like “TV Off,” continues to prove that the genre can carry profound messages. McCullough’s choice to highlight Lamar over flashier, less substantive artists speaks to the enduring value of hip-hop that challenges listeners to think and act.

The significance of this moment extends beyond FSU. It shows how hip-hop, when rooted in purpose, can shape music charts and academic and leadership spaces. McCullough’s speech, delivered to a diverse graduating class, reinforces that artists like Lamar provide a soundtrack for perseverance, especially in challenging times.