Kendrick Lamar: To Pimp A Butterfly
(9.7/10)
Mainstream music today is often criticized. People will tell you that popular music today does not hold any true meaning or that all the songs are about the same things, but these people probably do not listen to Kendrick Lamar. While maintaining radio success with smash hits such as Swimming Pools and Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe, Kendrick spouts out some of the best lyrics in hip-hop today. The man's lyrics are just rapid. They keep coming and they truly take a long time to fully digest, but the man has a lot to say. His debut album Section .80 established him as a force right away. Tightly executed songs such as A.D.H.D and Ronald Reagan Era showed Kendrick's lyrical skills. Good Kid, M.A.A.D City showcases Kendrick's amazing storytelling ability. He draws you in to this character he paints through the album, and it really keeps you begging for more. I know many people revere this album as a hip-hop classic, which in this day and age is truly an accomplishment. So the big question was what does he do next? How will he top the legendary Good Kid Maad City? Honestly, I'm not sure how he pulled it off, but Kendrick Lamar has outdone himself once again. To Pimp A Butterfly is a resounding achievement that will be talked about for years to come.
The album starts out with the funky Wesley's Theory which is led by crazy bass grooves by Thundercat and a dramatic vocal performance by George Clinton. This track immediately pops out because it doesn't sound anything like a typical Kendrick track. On this track he ditches the trap influenced beats for funkadelic-jazzy beats, and this continues throughout pretty much the whole album. The stylistic change is pretty applaudable. These aren't the most mainstream sounds, so bringing these instrumentalists and sounds to a wider audience is actually very commendable. The rapping on this track is also very good. Kendrick makes obvious references to Wesley Snipes, but he also digs into more personal stories. The hook is a little cheesy for a Kendrick song, but honestly I still dig it. The next track For Free? sounds like a crazy poetry slam over vast free-form jazz. It is one of the most jaw-dropping songs on the album initially. It definitely has a lot of bars in it, but at first I couldn't tell if I dug it, but actually this track is a grower and now it is a favorite of mine. The lyrics on this song are just overwhelming and the song is only 2 minutes. Kendrick can do a lot of damgage in a short period of time. King Kunta is a braggadocios funk-rap tune that is very energetic. The tune is rather simple lyrically for Kendrick, but honestly it's still so well put together. It sounds so natural, but also so unique. Nobody is making this kind of music, and for that reason I love this song. After this song Kendrick starts unveiling this poem. Throughout the album he reveals more of the poem, and the poem is strategically placed to fit the songs it follows. It is actually really impressive. The whole thing is revealed in the finale Mortal Man. Institutionalized is a very creative song that shows many different forms. The song starts with a mid-tempo hymn by vocalists, but eventually goes into a wandering rap track which is led by a sprawling personal narrative by Kendrick, a goofy hook, and a pretty inspired Snoop Dogg Performance. Overall, this is another solid track. These Walls is a song about sex, but not in the way one may think. Kendrick shares some pretty revealing personal anecdotes about himself which actually portray sex as a very shameful thing. Maybe not, but Kendrick at least seems ashamed of what he's done. The song details his relationship with a girl who had a husband in prison. Overall, it's a pretty creative track. u is an absolutely heart-shattering song. It starts with a grim hook and some pretty lyrics towards someone. Kendrick puts his heart and soul into this one and you can really hear it in the second half of this song. He sounds so emotional and you can hear the pain and sorrow in each and every word he spouts. Overall this track is very challenging, but possibly the most rewarding on the whole album. Alright calls back a more simple approach. While I do like it very much, I would have to say it hinders the progression of the album a little bit. This song is more trap influenced, but Kendrick definitely spits some bars on here. Still an amazing song. For Sale? is another wandering track that is actually pretty catchy. It does not have too much content on it, but I would never skip this track. It's pretty fun to listen to, and after all it's just an interlude. Momma includes 3 minutes or so of minimalistic beats under a Kendrick rap, and it's not a favorite of mine, but the fun singalong Kendrick does at the end pushes it over the top to make it a solid track. Kendrick's lyrics yet again are potent are powerful. Hood Politics actually has a pretty annoying hook, but the verses are undeniably amazing. Kendrick makes a very detailed comparison of hood life and political life and it makes a lot of sense actually. Kendrick describes the scandalous nature of both occupations. How Much A Dollar Cost? is another sprawling track that sucks you in immediately. This track is lead by a piano motif with some overdubs of other instruments. This track is deep lyrically. I think it really means how much does money really mean in our society. Is it worth the pain and frustration it costs some people? Complexion is a song of empowerment. This song attempts to lift up minorities in the world with a beautiful hook. Complexion don't mean a thing! It truly doesn't mean anything, and Kendrick wants people to know that while race is still an issue, it really shouldn't be for either side of the equation. Blacker The Berry is a slick rap song which reveals some nasty stereotypes that Kendrick may want the African-American community to avoid. The song is a lyrical monster. The song empowers the community, but it still questions some of its actions. I think that overall this song is really thought-provoking and it is a favorite of mine for sure. You Ain't Gotta Lie is a nice track about being yourself. We shouldn't hide ourselves just to fit in with a crowd. Kendrick exposes the fact that many people today do this. i is a total empowerment song. It tells us that no matter who you are, you deserve to love yourself. Mortal Man is an excellent closer. It ask the audience if they will stay loyal to Kendrick after things become different. He parallels this by using examples of the public shooting down their former heroes. The song is another lyrical monster and it closes out the album beautifully. We finally hear the full poem here, and we also hear an interview of Kendrick and famous West Coast rapper (RIP) Tupac Shakur. This interview is haunting, yet beautiful. It almost feels like the passing of the throne. I don't know how they made that interview, but I do know one thing; it's great to have King Kunta here with us.
Overall this album is immense. It is a true lyrical journey, but it also includes great instrumentals drawing from jazz, funk, trap, and electronic music. The amount of work put into this LP is staggering. The way the message cuts through so well in every song blows me way. Kendrick Lamar hasn't just solidified his name as a rapper today, he has solidified his name in the Hip-Hop history books. If you don't like Kendrick, check this thing out! It's not really like anything he's ever done. If you do, obviously still check it out! This album is not going to be for everyone, but for me it is an unbelievable piece of art that reflects our society beautifully.
Best Songs: Wesley's Theory, For Free, u, How Much A Dollar Cost, Complexion, These Walls, Mortal Man
Worst Songs: None. (Literally None)
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