To Pimp A Butterfly

It's no wonder that TPAB is almost universally cited at the best album of the 2010s. There is so much heart in every moment of this album. It is exceptionally poetic and well constructed. Sure not every song is a pure bop, but those ebbs and flows give breathing room. I know there are a lot of "boo hoo I don't like hippity-hop music" folks on here, but you gotta be a musical neanderthal to put AC/DC or U2 over this. 5/5

I remember when To Pimp a Butterfly came out in 2015 and just how much buzz surrounded it. I had heard Kendrick Lamar before, and while I've never been the biggest hip-hop fan, I always admired what he was doing. His music felt like a breath of fresh air compared to a lot of mainstream rap. There was something more genuine about it, and I appreciated that. But I never actually got around to hearing this album until now, and you know what? It's pretty good! It's obvious Kendrick put a tremendous amount of thought into this album, both musically and lyrically. Some tracks stand on their own, while others blend together, incorporating jazz, funk, and soul into some really creative hip-hop. Songs like "King Kunta" bring some fantastic grooves, while others take unexpected turns that kept me wondering where the music was heading next. And I love that! Admittedly, the first couple of tracks didn't immediately grab me, but by the third, I was starting to get it. Lyrically, Kendrick really shines here. He's got a great sense of humor, but he also knows when to get serious, tackling racism, politics, identity, and social issues with genuine anger and passion. That kind of energy is something I've found missing from quite a few rap albums I've listened to throughout this project, and Kendrick absolutely delivers it. That being said, I wouldn't call this a masterpiece myself. There were a handful of tracks that didn't do much for me, and at nearly 80 minutes, it's a lot of music to take in. I definitely felt the length toward the end. Still, I can appreciate the ambition and creativity behind this thing, even if every song didn't land. I don't know how often I'll return to it, but I'm glad I finally heard what all the excitement was about. A solid 3.5 out of 5, rounded up to a 4!

Yeah, I'm just a middle aged white dude who doesn't listen to much rap anymore and if I do, it's the stuff that I listened to in high school and college. Kendrick is talented and his singles are fucking no doubt catchy. King Kunta? Can't not like it. Alright? Yeah, it's a great song. The rest? I guess I'm just old school and I like mid 90s to mid 2000s rap. There's a lot of shit on this album that just...I guess it's cool, I guess it's experimental. For Free? Don't really need to listen to it again. But it grooves...and I like his voice when he's not trying on other voices and personalities. And, honestly, tired of white people intellectualizing Kendrick Lamar...the whole graduate seminar force field around him is just exhausting. That said, I'd much rather listen to Kendrick than the "mumble rap" shit that's popular. Giving it a 3 cause I respect it but I also don't need to hear just how important Kendrick and his art is and it's also entirely too goddamn long.

Pre-listening: This shit better live up to all the buzz I've heard about it Update: So far, I think I'm halfway through or so, I like it a lot. Hoping it keeps up this pace. Super interesting album. Rap has been one of the most innovative genres in the past two decades imo Listened in full. Yeah it lived up lmao, I don't think it's an album I'd put on repeat all the time but it's a pretty masterful piece of art so I'm giving it my flowers first w/ the first 5 star I've given so far I was reading some of the reviews of this album and I think it's a damn shame how many people dismiss this album literally right off the bat cuz it's rap. Like literally people just being like "ewww I don't wanna listen to an album about hoes and drugs and N-words." Y'all limiting yourselves for no fucking reason or shitty reasons at least, open your minds up

Not my cup of tea.

Не дуже зашов, але під фон ставить можна. Прикольні саксофонні партії. For Free? - Interlude більше всього зашла, хотя на хіп-хоп вона не похожа, більше джаз. Кароче на задній фон ставить можна

Julian’s lovingly curated hip hop playlist strikes again! My first exposure to Kendrick was through King Kunta’s pride of place in that playlist; the timing coincided with the airing of Roots so the track got a looooooootta play back then. I was excited to hear it in situ on this album. Unsurprisingly it is far and away my favourite track; I feel invincible when listening to it (it in fact took me many attempts to listen to the album in full because I just kept going back to it). I love the sentiment and cadence of “I was gonna kill a couple rappers but they did it to themselves / Everybody's suicidal they don't even need my help” and I think it’s emblematic of when Kendrick is at his best, which is to say, when he’s got a score to settle. The album on the whole is expansive; I love the throughline of “I remember you was conflicted” and the influence of black music at large. I was reading some of the other reviews and someone had a bone to pick with the “academic frenzy” that surrounds Kendrick’s work. Well I have a bone to pick with them, because while I think you’re free to rate this album on vibes alone, I do believe that doing so is a disservice to Kendrick’s pen. This is such a rich text and deserves to be seen and understood as such.

I have never heard a Kendrick Lamar track, yet alone an album, before. I am only familiar with the hype. Certainly lives up to it musically anyway. Elements of Jazz and Soul and R&B in this. It's interesting to listen to and the album seems so curated and really flowed very well. I didn't notice the 70+ minutes at all. 4*

Not a top favorite, but interesting and I understand why Kendrick is so respected.

Honestly I like this album a lot but less than good kid mad city which I feel like I am not allowed to say or admit to the public. But its how I feel. King kunta is so good

Loved it! Every song

okeeeeej do dokladniejsze zapoznania sie

Album #186: To Pimp a Butterfly - Kendrick Lamar Genre (W): Experimental hip hop, progressive rap, conscious hip-hop, jazz rap, G-funk, neo-soul Singles: i, The Blacker the Berry, King Kunta, Alright, These Walls I have listened to this album once before. Thoughts?: I love the story on this album. Kendrick Lamar is a masterful storyteller and I love the way the story progressed, however I felt as though some songs didn’t stick as well with others, or needed other songs to be fully appreciated. The main thing is, I loved the story! Favorite tracks: Wesley’s Theory*, King Kunta*, These Walls*, u*, Alright*, For Sale? (Interlude)*, Momma*, How Much a Dollar Cost*, The Blacker The Berry*, i*, Mortal Man*

4.5

Wesley's theory - 4 For free? (interlude) - na King kunta - 5 Institutionalized - 4 These walls - 4 u - 3 Alright - 5 For sale? (interlude) - 3 Momma - 3 Hood politics - 4 How much a dollar cost - 4 Complexion (a zulu love) - 4 The blacker the berry - 4 You ain't gotta lie (momma said) - 4 i - 5 Mortal man - 3

Incredibly moving. This album is a masterpiece, and it's also a bit too intense for me to listen to on a regular basis. When I'm in the right state of mind though, it's quite the ride.

10/10

so far alright, for sale (interlude) and the blacker the berry has stood out to me. However, overall the album has been a good vibe to listen to while studying. It's not something id consistently listen to but if i needed an album to put in the background while with friends id put this as its chill and doesn't require too much focus overall 7/10

🥱 nah

It’s an extraordinary album. His lyricism, the themes, the bops. Honestly, each time I listen there’s something new. There’s a reason it has spawned so many essays, podcasts and prizes. It’s in a different class to some of these albums I’ve listened to.

The album is really good and the marriage between bars and production. Lot more focus on politics and social issues that captures the era during which it was created.

For free????!!!!! Genius

An amazing album with an insane amount of love and thought poured into it. Kendrick is at his best here. Provocative lyricism and incredibly solid flow. From start to finish every track is an insane compliment to the overall theme. Weird that a lot of the reviews put this album down for being a rap album, refusing to see the message that’s right in front of you. Regardless, 10/10 for me and my second favorite album ever right next to the Divine Feminine by Mac Miller. Let me ask you, How much a dollar cost?

Liian pitkä, pari hyvää biisiä

good album, remember seeing him in 2013

Top notch. One of my favorite hiphop albums if not the one...

Admittedly I already knew this album, but you can’t deny its influence over the music scene and its historical impact when it first came out. I believe Kendrick did a good job of making this through composed, yet catchy and each song is linked throughout the album. Great relisten.

What more can I say it's the greatest rap album of the 2010s

#121 It's hard to find new things to say about one of the most acclaimed hip-hop albums ever made. It flows well from beginning to end, both thematically and stylistically, and is so deep that I continue to notice new things with every listen. It's worthy of all the praise it gets, though I still prefer GKMC to it. Highlights: King Kunta, Alright, These Walls

iconic Kendrick flow and musical prods.

The soundscape is fantastic 95% of the time (the other 5% it's just... sound). The lyrics will take a while for me to unpick, but his delivery is amazing. I'm already tired of the earnest speeches/skits, but yeah, this is good. And who would think to sample House of Pain!

I believe this to be a near perfect album. The storytelling is outstanding, Kendricks flow is amongst the best in rap history, and the top 3 or 4 songs from this album are some of the best songs of the 21st century and in hip-hop some of the best ever. A joy to have this appear on the list for randomized listening :)

A weird one this. First there’s the misogyny and the culture of bad language all run through with anger. Then there’s thought provoking lyrics and almost poetical outpourings. Some of the instrumentation was superb.

Insanely good. Varied tunes, heavy beats, a pleasure to listen to from start to finish

There were several random sound effects ins some of these songs I found annoying and distracting. I know I have a bias against rap music, and sure enough, this was not for me. I did find very amusing the line, “Shit will never change unless you get up and wash your ass.”

I’m more a fan of 80’s- early 00’s rap but I definitely prefer Kendrick’s more recent projects. Not saying this album isn’t great or doesn’t deserve to be on this list just more not my thing. I can tell he’s grown though since this album.

Wonderful beats and lyrics. I wonder if it will suffer from age like other similar albums seem to

Quite a slog. Enjoyed some of the stories, but ultimately I don't like rap

Anyone who has been on the online music scene over the last now decade since this album has come out is aware of the reputation this has as perhaps the greatest album of its time. Its so full of double meanings, anthems and ideas written in such a way that no other album really can. It's so revered in some circles that it's artist basically had a mental breakdown over being called a savior a few years later. It's also an extremely black album in a way a white man like me should not be able to fully appreciate. Because of it's density It's one I don't quite come back to as often as some other in Kendricks discography. And if we're being honest I always preferred the narrative tightness of GKMC over the sprawling larger than life TPAB, but there is a reason why this album is consensually considered so highly. 10/10. Always a great day when you can break out the vinyl for one of these.

01) Wesley's Theory - 7,5 02) For Free? - 6,0 03) King Kunta - 8,0 04) Institutionalized - 6,0 05) These Walls - 7,5 06) u - 6,0 07) Alright - 7,0 08) For Sale? - 6,0 09) Momma - 6,5 10) Hood Politics - 6,0 11) How Much A Dollar Cost - 7,5 12) Complexion (A Zulu Love) - 7,0 13) The Blacker The Berry - 9,0 14) You Ain't Gotta Lie (Momma Said) - 7,0 15) I - 8,0 16) Mortal Man - 7,5 TOTAL: 7,03 (70/100)

Very original creative tracks. It’s decent.

To be fair, I do like some of the musical infusions on some tracks. But the basic lyrics, lazy rhyming, and the insane amount of profanity threw me away from liking this album. Not my kind of thing. Favorite Song: King Kunta

Day 65 THEY SAY THEY TREAT ME LIKE A SLAVE CAH' ME BLACK 🔥🔥🔥🔥 Fav track: Mortal Man

This was my gateway album to hip hop, believe it or not! It opened my eyes to the possibilities of the genre, and I’ve been a fan ever since. Here is my track ranking (They are all bangers by the way): 1. Wesley’s Theory 2. King Kunta 3. The Blacker The Berry 4. How Much A Dollar Costs 5. Complexion 6. Alright 7. For Sale? 8. These Walls 9. Mortal Man 10. Hood Politics 11. i 12. For Free? 13. You Ain’t Gotta Lie 14. Momma 15. Institutionalized 16. u

not a great list and playlist duplicated same videos

Interesting. Some mix of R&B, rap, smooth jazz, and a little bit of scat. Not for me and I will not be listening to it again, but definitely original and there is artistry here.

Tried a few times, I just can't get into this album.

Me and Kendrick can agree to disagree on what constitutes listenable music.

I know I listened to this when it came out but I don't remember it at all. I appreciate it more now though!

Good, not my thing as much but even I enjoyed listening to

Rarísimo

He’s clearly the best rapper currently in the game.

I loved M.A.A.D, after never hearing anything by him before, this album was not as good, shame as I was looking forward to listening to it…..

Too slow for me.

Absolutely phenomenal. Loved it when it came out but it still lived in Good Kid Mad City’s shadow for me. Not listened for ages and hooooooly shit does it SLAP. My one reservation is the repetition of the spoken word bit that runs through it, I’m not sure we need the full thing quite so many times, but it’s a very minor gripe.

I admire the ambition of this album, but it is really not for me. I think I'm just not a massive fan of hip-hop.

This album gets better on every listen. Immaculate.

Grauenvoll

No.

Fabulous album, Kendrick is a master at his craft. This is more a 4.5 to me than just a regular 4.

Liked this way better than the other album by him on here.

some were ok

Listening to this album felt like watching a movie. It’s so theatrical - the songs feel like they in constant conversation with each other - a stage play depicting the most vulnerable and intimate moments of someone’s anecdotal experience of being a black man in America. Lamar crafts a story with the finesse of an architect, and the sincerity of a poet. I haven’t really been much of a rap listener in the past, but this album turned me. “Authentic” and “real” and “raw” seem to be the buzzwords of the music industry these days, but this album actually embodies them. Lamar has given us, the listeners, deeply personal insight into his life, soundtracked with a symphony of sound that immerses you into his world. I would genuinely be interested in seeing him score a film, I think he would be brilliant. His lyricism (and of course rhythm) is beyond anything I’ve ever heard before. If this album doesn’t prove to you that rap is poetry, I don’t know what will.

4/5

Definitely am biased, but i still think this album is incredible from an objective point of view, even if its now considered cringe to gush about it. It has a few songs that arent super enjoyable outside of the context of the album, but even those are interesting either way. This album is still wildly cohesive and unique, and its influence is pretty undeniable. The lyricism is still some of Kendrick's best, and his flows on this album are the most creative hes gotten with rhythm. Banger. Favorite songs include "i" and "how much a dollar cost"

Yeah it's undefeated Highlights: "These Walls", "The Blacker the Berry", "i"

Good kendrick lamar for a change

a few good songs but just felt like a lot of filler around 2 pretty good songs. Not consistent enough for me

Wesley’s Theory: I like production. Feels experimental which is good. I like the beat. After a while it just gets painful to continue listening to. 3/5 For free?- interlude: I LOVE saxophone. Strong start with that choir. I like talking feel. Maybe it’s just not my style but I really didn’t enjoy it as it went on. 3/5 King kunta: another strong start. I like the beat. I like Annie r u ok reference. Was more bearable as it went on than others but it didn’t have anything super exciting like others. 4/5 Institutionalized:

Often heralded as one of the greatest achievements in modern hip-hop, Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly didn't shock me when it popped up as my album for the day. As someone whose rap tastes are mostly old school (Wu-Tang Clan, Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, and NWA) or experimental (Death Grips, Run the Jewels, Clipping, and ho99o9), I'd never even heard a single Kendrick Lamar song before today. Musically the album feels revolutionary. It's an absolutely stunning record to hear and the headphone experience is immersive. Unfortunately I did not enjoy Lamar's vocals, though his flow is impeccable. I'm also not a slow jam fan and there were far too many. I can usually deal with one...any more and I'm not really there for it. Same with interludes, which I hate regardless of genre. As such this full take has probably turned into a hot take, but it is what it is.

I didn't think I would enjoy an album that references ducks so much, but het I am. This sounded like no other rap album that I have ever heard in a good way.

A good start.

Not for me

Art. Phenomenal.

Its To Pimp a Butterfly.. I do not need to explain my score

An album that was not for me. An uncomfortable listen due to the language.

This album is a solid, four out of five stars, not having the skits, and Interludes would’ve helped

Шит

Masterpiece would be an understatement, this was an instant classic and it keeps holding up in a way very few albums from very few artists do. It’s the album that made me take hip-hop seriously and get to know the genre but almost no one does it as well as Kendrick.

has some hits but didnt like the rest

About as good as everyone agrees it is.

Listened previously. Expectations: High - Verdict: Masterpiece - Wesley's Theory is a tour de force that sets out everything Kendrick is looking to do on this album. The funky beat, the jazzy touches, the female vocals and the unorthodox rapping style. For Free? goes into a really cool jazzy place that feels incredibly immediate. King Kunta is a banger that grooves very hard. It also introduces the start of the poem that ties the whole album together. Institutionalized and These Walls are both fantastic. U goes into a very interesting space musically and with Kendrick's rapping as well. Alright is another catchy hit. The album is so well balanced between catchy bangers and more arty moments. Hood Politics is a dark, groovy tune that has two separate sections that both roll along brilliantly. How Much A Dollar Cost might be the spiritual core of the album and it is genuinely stunning. The way it opens from the poem at the end of Hood Politics is beautiful and there is such a sense of rising tension. When we reach the climax it is a genuinely incredible moment. Complexion is a more chill tune with a great vibe. The Blacker The Berry is brilliant and might be the best moment on the album in terms of more traditional hip hop and rapping from Kendrick. You Ain't Gotta Lie is the last chill moment before the crazy energy of I. It's a great, joyous track with a fantastic sample. Mortal Man is nothing short of genius. What a brilliant way to close out one of the greatest artistic statements of modern times.

Heard many times before; 5; Easily one of my favorite albums, and in my opinion, one of the best albums ever. Everything here is meticulously done, and the album flows through diverse styles of music, including free jazz, funk, hip-hop, rap. Whenever I listen to this album, really sucks me in to its world - there's something cohesive about the sound throughout, and every track flows from one to the next. One of the most perfectly balanced records that I can think of, going from dark to light, disturbing to upbeat, difficult to accessible. And on top of all that, incredible lyrics. Favorite Track: Wesley's Theory A very intimate record, while still hitting hard

No puedo explicar la 0 fe que le tenía. Ya que dure 1 hora y 20 minutos me hacía no querer escucharlo. La verdad que me cerró el orto, estuvo bueno.

A great album. One of the best rap albums in recent memory.

didnt like. I guess I appreciate its jazziness

That was a really good nap.

It’s To Pimp A Butterfly, very arguably one of IF NOT the best album of the 21st century so far. 11 years later and this still hits like a catchy sledgehammer, there will never be enough words to describe how impactful and iconic this is - the building of the poem to the conversation of Tupac actually does still hit so hard too. Its getting a 5.

Nice

His best album. King Kunta is so good.

Denna är bättre än good kid. Ändå i stort sett olyssningsbar. Bättre melodier. King Kunta bästa låt. Bättre än Kanye sämre än Common. 1.5 av 5.

sabe muito

Ahhh the correct AOTY winner in 2016 (sorry Taylor). I love this album and I’ve loved it since it came out. It’s energetic, it has powerful messages, it is incredibly well written, it’s brilliantly composed. I loved all the elements it incorporates from different genres (inclusing jazz). I also really like how he throws in snippets of the final poem in between the songs, and they get longer as the album progresses until he says the entire thing.

It's good. I see why it's popular. Not always in the mood. Definitely some jams, King Kunta and Momma.

3/10

Didn’t like rap but this made me think that I do. Enjoyable

not for me

Y SÍ PAPAAAA

Shit goes hard! I really appreciate the mix of influences on this album and the jazzy elements are incredible. Just a brilliant record start to finish

Not my thing. Interesting