To Pimp A Butterfly, the 2015 hit album by Kendrick Lamar, is regarded as one of the best hip hop albums of all time. He references racial prejudice in his albums, along with referencing his situation growing up in Compton. In this album, Kendrick Lamar experiments and samples a lot of jazz in his songs, making for some more funky/groovy beats throughout the entire album. All in all, To Pimp A Butterfly is rightfully dubbed as one of the greatest musical projects of the 21st century.

Introduction:

While his sophomore album Good kid, m.a.a.d city threw Kendrick into the hip-hop mainstream, this album reinforces him as one of the best. Off initial listen, you may not grasp the true meaning of some of the songs, as nearly each line packs a punch of the thematics Lamar delves into.

Kendrick’s production is top notch on each track, seamlessly tying his flow within. Contributing to the project, his deliveries and flow help elevate the project to the top of the century. Finally, his samples used furthermore add to the level of production.

Story Telling:

There are multiple themes throughout the “story” of To Pimp A Butterfly. Some of these themes are exploitation, living up to responsibilities, the importance of staying true to yourself, and finding strength in the face of adversity.

Throughout the album, he tells us the story of a rapper finding fame and essentially learning how to “pimp” a butterfly for its talent. Along with the fame and wealth, he deals with the burden of his position of influence, often tying to Black history and looking at his ancestry for guidance. He eventually buries his “survivor’s guilt” from leaving Compton, finding self-belief and wisdom that he shares with his community.

Another aspect of his storytelling is his references to the darker parts of U.S. history, including slavery. These references cause the listener to feel conflicted as to how the narrator feels. Along with his references to the “dark side” of the industry, Kendrick also provides solutions to all of these issues through various songs on the project, whether it’s personal struggles or the reality of an African American’s life.

One of Kendrick’s inspirations for To Pimp A Butterfly was the everyday struggle of living in Compton, notoriously one of the biggest ghettos in America, and what most people tend to overlook when the subject is brought up, something he grew up in. Helping Compton to Kendrick means helping African Americans everywhere who have similar struggle. This ties back into finding the right influence amongst the fame.

Production

Production is credited to the infamous Dr. Dre, who is known globally as one of the founding fathers of N.W.A. It is widely said that although Dre is credited as the head producer, Kendrick had most of the ideas for how he wanted production to go. Regardless of how took the throne of production, they masterfully crafted a theatrical listen for all fans.

To Pimp A Butterfly shows heavy influences of jazz and old school hip hop within the production. While no stranger to the latter, Dre’s influence is definitely apparent, and when partnered with Lamar’s deliveries, elevates the project to the next level.

“Alright,” while the most popular track, demonstrates a tremendous amount of skill and detail. It lives up to the “hype” vibe. Lamar’s flow throughout the chorus and verses, as well as the fluid and consistent storytelling, certainly create the floorplan for a flawless song.

Conclusion

Overall, Kendrick proves to us how he is the greatest rapper of the 21st century. This album alone is an instant classic and as previously stated, one of the greatest rap albums of all time. The production, story telling, and his flow on this project is flawless.

Strongest Track: The Strongest Track on the album is “i,” which was released as the lead single for this project. The production, impeccable storytelling, and, of course, Kendrick’s deliveries show why it was the first single.

Rating: Essential Listen

Final Notes:

As always, take the reviews as opinion pieces. Not everyone will share the same views. These pieces are meant to bring music listeners together. Finally, go give To Pimp A Butterfly a listen for yourself and leave your thoughts below.