To Pimp a Butterfly

If there's any textbook example of outdoing oneself, sure as hell Kendrick Lamar is doing it. GKMC was already an contender to be a pivotal rap album in the history of rap music, and then he drops this bomb. 2PAB is everything GKMC was, and then some. The lyrics are pure dope and are chock-full of references, innuendos and double meanings (I'm trying to understand them one by one through Rapgenius). The production is tight and loose at the same time: you have your wiggly radio-friendly beat-fests, soul, funk, g-funk, jazz, spoken word, a Capella which flows silky smooth throughout the LP. To top it all, you have this 27 year old kid effortlessly spitting it out about racism, consumerism, institutionalism, God and the bible, self-love, depreciation, idealism and a bunch of other topics. And the outro of the last track is downright chilling. When the album was over, my mind was blown from all that awesomeness. As a listener, sometimes it becomes a sensory overload to process all of it at the crazy pace Lamar often spat it out in the album. Yet whenever I listen to it, it feels fresh and new. I thought nobody could do all that. This kid, this damn kid my age did.Favorite tracks:Wesley's TheoryFor Free?King KuntaHood PoliticsHow Much a Dollar CostThe Blacker the BerryYou Ain't Gonna LieHeck the whole album is a must listen.

Don't expect a lot of instantly likable material: it will grow on you with time. He's somehow managed to be a socially conscious gangster

This album along with Lupe Fiasco's Tetsuo and Youth are the best albums that have released in 2015 till now. The best thing about the genre is how it heavily incorporates jazz.

Definitely not Kendrick's greatest, compared to Good Kid m.A.A.d City, but nevertheless its art in its purest form.

This will go down as classic. Eazy.

best rap music cd of 2015

a classic. must buy for your hip hop collection

#1No doubt.

Well what can you say about this album? Apart from that it is a perfect fusion of Jazz and Hip-hop with a hint of blues, mainly in the storytelling.Production is very strong, somthing that Kendrick Lamar is well known for having on his albums.The lyrical content is "thought provoking" yet balanced and paints vivid pictures in your mind.I have this on CD and Vinyl as i do all his other albums. The vinyl is not unfortunately the best pressing I've had, quite a lot of surface noise and fine surface scratches where it was rammed with no thought into the paper inlays.

Not my normal listening but bought this after hearing the CD raved about on a couple of "arty" music programmes, BBC Radio 3 etc. I must say that the music is really interesting but the lyrics are completely unintelligible and the CD does not have a lyric sheet (badly needed). Searching for the lyrics elsewhere I was surprised to see how poetic, extensive and really interesting they are and how much reading them whilst listening adds to the value of the piece. Shame Kendrick didn't record this in a way that made the lyrics stand out, but I guess that's exactly why I don't listen to more of this sort of music.

To Pimp a Butterfly, a musical play, where each song represents a scene of the unfolding drama. Through the course of the sixteen titles on the album, Kendrick describes his rise as a rap star, the temptations he faced with it, the self-hatred that ensued, and the epiphany that allowed him to remain grounded. Although he understands that he is part of a system that is ruled by “the evils of Lucy”, Kendrick feels that his influence can be used to heal, uplift, unify and inspire his community. By becoming an outspoken leader, Kendrick also realizes that he might be sacrificing himself – Uncle Sam and Lucy have no problems crushing those who stand up to them.In short, To Pimp a Butterfly goes against everything the music business is about. It is harsh, honest, difficult, brilliant, unpredictable, anti-mainstream, Afrocentric, a little religious and filled with clarinet solos. There is however one thing Kendrick needs to remember: Lucy does not give up that easily.

Everybody knows the album and it’s great ofc like we already knew from Kendrick. The only negative really is that the pictures that are shown on Amazon aren’t as it seems as it makes it seem as if you get 2 insert pictures of Kendrick included, which you don’t. Not the biggest issue but just a bit disappointing. Overall though a quality album and if you haven’t listened before it’s an incredible album to refresh your mind from all the ear diarrhoea mumble auto tune. Some real music here from Kendrick one of the all time greats

Best and most needed album in recent years, I've not been this impressed at 1 body of work since I can't remember. Everything from start to finish (especially finish) was tailor made for the worlds current affairs in race, youth, music and hip hop.I'm due to buy 2 more copies to give to my friends just because I feel what Kendrick is saying on this is essential for a lot of people to hear right now for some change to ignite thought in a commercially nonsensical platform of music.