To Pimp A Butterfly

As Kendrick Lamar’s fame reaches its peak, with seventy-two million monthly listeners (up twenty million from last year) and his multi-platinum 2024 album GNX, his other albums have been overshadowed by their success, despite their earlier popularity. Although it is certainly a great album, some might argue that past Kendrick albums are significantly better. An example of one of these albums is his 2015 album To Pimp a Butterfly, one of the highest-rated albums of all time, and considered to be one of the greatest ever. This album follows Kendrick’s struggles with racism, corruption in the music industry, as well as gang violence and police brutality. It does so with a funky, jazz-rap album with clever rhymes and storytelling that made Kendrick so famous. Each of the 16 tracks on this album is brilliant and lyrically genius, but there are a couple that stand out. 

The first track in the album, “Wesley’s Theory”, introduces the theme of a racist American institution exploiting Black artists for profit. The first verse in the song shows Kendrick blinded by money and fame after becoming a slave to the industry. This is a prominent theme throughout this album, as the industry tries to trick artists into giving in. The second verse builds off this idea, as “Uncle Sam” - the personification of the U.S. government - attempts to charm Kendrick and persuade him with more luxuries, and that he can have whatever he desires if he chooses to join them.

The next song, “For Free? (Interlude)”, continues Kendrick’s journey of falling victim to the pleasures of the industry, with a fast flow and a matching rapid jazz beat, with a beautiful piano.

 Next, “King Kunta” starts, one of the more popular tracks off this album, and for good reason. Again, Kendrick cleverly combines metaphorical meaning with his quick flow, referencing how he feels like a slave to the industry, yet due to his success, dominant like a king, looping back to the overall idea of the album.

 Skipping over a few songs is the platinum track “Alright”, with over a billion listens on Spotify. With a harmonic beat produced by Pharrell Williams, one of the most celebrated hip-hop producers of all time, Kendrick unleashes arguably his best rhymes and flow thus far. It’s no surprise that this track is so popular, as it provides an upbeat feeling with an even deeper meaning to back it. Kendrick speaks on his plan to deal with his mental and physical problems by placing his trust in God, as well as police brutality against African-Americans. In 2015, many Black Lives Matter activists used the lyric “We gon be alright” in remembrance of the murdered African-Americans, giving it further meaning than just a song. 

After a couple of songs, we arrive at “How Much a Dollar Cost”. Kendrick uses his signature storytelling with rapping, telling the story of his hesitation to give a homeless man in Africa a dollar, due to the worry he will use it to buy drugs. In the end, Kendrick chooses not to give him the money, and the old man reveals himself to be God, and the dollar was his ticket to heaven. The story connects back to Kendrick’s struggles with trust, drugs, and other illegal activities, considering he grew up in a violent and crime-filled area. It’s another work of lyrical art that he uses to express his feelings and how his previous life has affected him. 

The last two notable tracks, in my opinion, are “The Blacker the Berry” and “i”. “The Blacker the Berry” directly addresses racism towards African-American stereotypes and Kendrick’s pride in his heritage. He dives into his hypocrisy and inner struggles with it, as well as addressing others' racist beliefs. Kendrick has an aggressive and rough flow and voice on this track, reflecting his strong feelings in his words. The beat is also much more assertive and vigorous, reinforcing this idea.

“i” is a much more energetic and cheerful track, as Kendrick begins to accept himself, despite his flaws, the chorus yelling “I love myself!” repeatedly. The groovy guitar, Kendrick’s usual sharp bars, the female vocals, and fast and happy feel make this a refreshing change of pace and a danceable, enjoyable track for all. In an interview with Hot 97, Kendrick stated “i” is the best song he has ever written, as it is his successful attempt to make a positive track after his experiences in Compton. 

These are just a few of the songs on Kendrick’s To Pimp a Butterfly, and the other songs are equally masterful and ingenious. It’s no wonder that Kendrick won five Grammys for this album alone, due to its depth, influence beyond music, and his skillful combination of poetry and music. To Pimp a Butterfly isn’t just an album; it’s a deeper dive into the mind of Kendrick Lamar, the prejudice against African-Americans and musicians, and a masterpiece in the music industry. Each song tells a story and connects back to the other, giving a surreal experience that few other albums can. This album is one everyone should listen to at least once, as it stands as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time.