I remember you was conflicted, misusing your influence. Sometimes, I did the same.
It’s hard to believe those opening lines, from the groundbreaking poem that laid the foundation of Kendrick Lamar’s third studio album, “To Pimp A Butterfly”, are now ten years old. On March 15, 2015, Kendrick Lamar dropped an album that breathed new life into hip-hop, helped change the direction of the genre for an entire year, and inspired new artists forever. A confluence of gritty West Coast hip-hop, Soul, Jazz, and lots of experimentation, Kendrick brought about a masterpiece of music and political commentary. Released by Top Dawg Entertainment and Aftermath Entertainment, “To Pimp A Butterfly” is a masterfully made record.
The Review
“To Pimp A Butterfly” is, quite possibly, the most emotionally raw album ever made. An album steeped in real-world pain, anger, and a desperation for change, the album manages to be conscious and political, without being pious and preachy. The album carries along a continuous thread, where Lamar finds himself surrounded by evil, with “Lucy” representing these evils.
Starting off strong, the song “Wesley’s Theory” not only introduces you to the messages of the album, it also introduces the tone and sound of the album. The album is at times beautiful and smooth (“These Walls”, “For Sale?”, and “Complexion (A Zulu Love)”), while at other times being gritty and rugged (“King Kunta”, “Hood Politics”, and “The Blacker The Berry”). He has various criticisms, ranging from the United States government and police (“Wesley’s Theory”, “Alright”, and “The Blacker The Berry”), to the culture he represents (“You Ain’t Gotta Lie (Momma Said)”, “i”, and “Mortal Man”), to even himself (“u”, “Momma”, and “The Blacker The Berry”). Kendrick is the voice for his community, and no doubt a strong one at that.
While certain songs work very well as playlist-friendly, ordinary rap songs on the surface, no song is without multiple layers to peel back. Songs like “u”, “For Sale?”, and “The Blacker The Berry” are all great examples of this.
On “u”, Kendrick confronts himself. Kendrick derides himself, due to his belief that he abandoned a close friend who needed him, who has now died. His bitterness towards himself leads to an emotionally charged and heart-wrenching piece of art. According to Dave Free, Kendrick Lamar’s manager and business partner, the song is based on real events. After Lamar’s rise to fame, he lost a number of close friends, with “u” specifically being about Chad Keaton, who died from wounds from a drive-by shooting in 2013. According to Free, Jason Keaton, Chad’s older brother, personally asked Kendrick to look after him, making his death all that harder on Lamar. The grief of his loss led to an emotionally charged studio session.
Every song on this album carries forth a mastery of hip-hop and storytelling that solidifies Kendrick Lamar’s place in the genre. “For Sale?”, a hauntingly and eerily beautiful tune, depicts a deal with the devil. “The Blacker The Berry” depicts Lamar’s anger towards police brutality and his own feelings of hypocrisy due to having lived a destructive lifestyle. King Kunta criticizes his peers (with the main target most likely being Drake, years before “Not Like Us”).
Every piece of the album feels like a Leonardo da Vinci level artistic masterpiece. It’s no wonder this album was such a success, winning the Grammy for Best Rap Album and being nominated for Album of the Year. At the end of the album, Kendrick Lamar finishes his poem, and manages to connect the entire story of the album. I would highly recommend anyone who has not listened to this album, to listen to it immediately because it is the only way to fully pick up on the artistry of Lamar’s work.
Song Ratings:
- Wesley’s Theory (5/5)
- For Free? (4.5/5)
- King Kunta (5/5)
- Institutionalized (5/5)
- These Walls (5/5)
- u (5/5)
- Alright (5/5)
- For Sale? (5/5)
- Momma (5/5)
- Hood Politics (5/5)
- How Much A Dollar Cost (5/5)
- Complexion (A Zulu Love) (5/5)
- The Blacker The Berry (5/5)
- You Ain’t Gotta Lie (Momma Said) (5/5)
- i (4.5/5)
- Mortal Man (5/5)
Overall Rating: 4.93/5
