To Pimp a Butterfly

After listening to "To Pimp A Butterfly", I can say it's a pretty decent hip-hop album. It may not be perfect due to some of the intermission tracks being a bit annoying and nonsensical but beyond that, It was a good album with some good rapping and beats. I am still nostalgic for King Kunta back when I heard it in 8th grade. This album was a pretty good listen.
Best Song: King Kunta
Worst Song: For Free?

Bitch where you when I was walkin'?
Now I run the game got the whole world talkin', King Kunta

With To Pimp a Butterfly, Kendrick Lamar has created a modern day masterpiece that transcends the boundaries of hip-hop. The album is a musical and lyrical tour de force, exploring the complex realities of African American life and culture in the 21st century.

He combines diverse influences, from jazz and funk to spoken word and soul, to craft a rich and innovative sound that showcases his poetic prowess and social consciousness. The album tackles themes such as racism, oppression, self-love, depression, and redemption, with honesty, courage, and creativity.

In addition, the album features some stunning singles, such as “King Kunta”, “Alright”, “u”, and “The Blacker the Berry”, which are up there with Kendrick’s best. For instance, “King Kunta” is a powerful homage to his roots and influences, while “u” is a heartbreaking confession of his inner struggles and guilt.

To Pimp a Butterfly is not just an album, it is a cultural phenomenon that will resonate with generations to come. It is a work of art that deserves to be studied and celebrated for its artistic excellence and its profound message. This album is a masterpiece that earns 5 stars. Thank God for Rap.

Fantastic execution

We did it everyone, a rap album has received a five! It took over a year, but I kind of figured this would be the first, and I hadn't even heard it before. Kendrick Lamar has certainly become someone I highly respect since I got Good Kid a while ago, being such an excellent artist that I will happily praise in my free time, and this artist was my white whale that I was waiting for the right time to listen to, and after finally getting to, I understand all of the hype. Not only is the story and lyrical content interest enough that I'm invested throughout, something that a lot of hip-hop albums struggle to get me attached to, but the jazz influences throughout make the album something so wildly different from everything else in the genre that there is nothing to match it. Each song fits with the ones before and after it while still feeling wildly unique. Even the songs I would consider "lesser" on the album had me getting into them pretty closely, and despite the length of the album, I never once was dreading the next song. Features were well thought out and used incredibly well, and again I just have to praise the instrumentation. I can totally see why Bowie was influenced so much by this on Blackstar, and that just earns the album more praise from me. A true masterpiece.

Possibly the best hip hop album of the century so far. The man is a genius, and I am now going to watch his Glastonbury headline set (for the 99th time!).

Ik moest even het internet op om te lezen hoe dit album zich onderscheidt. Het antwoord is eenduidig. Er is een invloed van veel verschillende 'zwarte' muziekstijlen terug te horen. Dat is wel zo. Maar dat is op heel veel rap-albums niet anders. Buiten dit aspect is het niet echt een vernieuwend album. De thema's bevestigen vooral de vooroordelen. Sex, drug en geweld, dat laatste bij voorkeur tegen de ordehandhavers. Ik vraag me af waarom iedereen dit puberaal provocerende album zou moeten horen. Normaal vind ik dat iedereen elk album in de lijst een kans moet geven. Maar als je dit album tijdens de tweede track afzet. You're excused...Daar nog bij opgeteld dat we veilig kunnen stellen dat de artiest zich niet op de gehele bevolking richt. Waarom moet iedereen dit dan wel horen?

Zelf kan ik hier prima naar luisteren, al skip ik wat gehijg en passages over geslachtsdelen. Er is veel variatie in rap-stijl. Er zijn wat dipjes, die ruimschoots worden gecompenseerd door een nummer als 'I'. Al is dat ook weer provocerend, gelet op de plek waar hij zijn kogels wil achterlaten.

I tried to listen objectively, but about halfway through I couldn't stomach any more.

Far too self-referential, far too self-indulgent, far too much profanity - I'm not against profanity, but only if it holds value and if it's gonna be overused to the verge of losing all value, then what is the fucking point?

This was a pretty challenging album for me. Some of it was simply uncomfortable to listen to (way too much n-word for me - I realize this album wasn't made for me; also, lines like "this dick ain't free" - needless to say I'm not playing this album where anyone else can hear). But the last section, starting with "How Much a Dollar Cost" really blew me away. If the whole album was like the last 6 tracks I'd be calling it a 5. But the earlier stuff often doesn't do it to me. Sometimes really odd (even though I like odd music) or just lyrics I didn't like. So, I was down to a 4 or a 3 and chose 3, mainly because I'm not sure that I want to continue digging into it (which is part of my definition of a 4). But, like I said, I thought the last section was outstanding - powerful lyrics, great music. Maybe I'd feel that way about the earlier tracks if I gave them more time, but I'm kind of done for now. Favorite Tracks: King Kunta, How Much a Dollar Cost, Complexion, The Blacker the Berry, i, Mortal Man.

It's a well put together album, and it's got a lot to it, lots of different vibes and styles, and some interesting things going on - that gives it an extra star, as I don't like it at all.

I like his voice, and I *really* like the variety of stuff he’s doing in this

It's simply not for me. I just don't like this kind of music, no matter how much I listen to it. I can recognize that there is some real musical talent here, but it's just an absolute slog to get through.

Jazz, funk, soul, electronic and hip-hop, in an electrifying concept album mix. Listening to this I realise what I've missed when I stopped listening to hiphop due to the insane amount of dribble that kept flooding the market.
I'm glad to know things like this exist. One of the better hiphop albums I've heard in my life

Let's go Kendrick. I don't have the best ears for lyrics, but Kendrick's beat and instrumentation is a real treat for the ears. i is such a release from a lot of the heaviness inside the album.

Delving even deeper into the vein that 'M.A.A.D City' opened, this album is a genuine and vulnerable telling of one man's struggle in a violent and oppressive world. What stands out on the surface may sound like bravado and avarice, but lying just underneath that facade is fear, self-doubt, and despair. In sharing that story, Kendrick has lent his voice to the telling of many people's stories. The list of examples is nearly as long as the entire album, but I'd point to 'Institutionalized', 'These Walls', 'Alright', and 'How Much A Dollar Cost' as prime examples of what I'm talking about.

The tracks themselves are filled with the life and a diversity of numerous artists and musical elements from a wide array of genres. Check out 'For Free?' (spoken word), 'These Walls (R&B), 'u' (jazz), and 'Alright' (hip-hop) to get a sense of just how dynamic this album is. I think the statement from the Wikipedia article which says the album is, 'supremely "cinematic" production qualities but [with] "the freedom of a mixtape",' summarizes it perfectly.

The rhymes and rap techniques are simply on another level. The internet has covered this thoroughly, so check that out if you don't hear it for yourself. My absolute favorite flow is on the tail end of the track 'i' and I only wish that it could carry on, instead of being broken up by the fight in the crowd.

Please. Take the time to listen past the language and the talk about pussy and bitches! This album has so much to offer on every level, and it would be a shame to misjudge this book by it's cover.

Is it hip-hop? Is it jazz? Is it funk? Is it ALL of them in some kind of gritty dinner party album? Excellent work of art.

Definitely the most important hip-hop album of the 21st century so far in my opinion. Musically, it's incredible with gorgeous, jazzy, varied production. Lyrically it's Kendrick's peak which is saying something considering how consistent he is. The recurring poem to Tupac ties it together perfectly.

What a combination of influences.He brings so much together here. Nothing else sounds like this. This is one of the most original/experimental hip hop albums ever. All over the place in a great way. Love his different voices throughout. Very theatrical and atmospheric all at once. Got some great people on this too - particularly Thundercat. King Kunta is my favorite track and the one that immediately drew me in to him.