To Pimp A Butterfly

10/10. No notes

Quite a few cool tracks on this record. /A lot/ of N words, though 'a lot' may actually be an understatement. Highlights: King Kunta, both tracks with Thundercat were absolute bangers, Wesley's Theory and These Walls, and The Blacker the Berry.

A masterful album. Really enjoyed the Snoop and Thundercat features. Not the usual type of album I'd listen to, but it kept me engaged the whole time.

I don’t know where to start with this album. As much as I LOVE music, I still feel incapable having a full understanding of why this is a genius piece of art, but I know that it is. Musically, there is very little, or maybe nothing, in the hip hop world, that comes anywhere close to this. It’s like the album is equal parts rap / funk / jazz. Lyrically, Kendrick takes you on a trip through the corners of his mind with themes ranging from self love to systemic racism to the current climate of today’s hip hop culture. This is not just a collection of songs, this is a work of art. I’m not sure people have realized the true genius of this piece of art yet, me included.

Not my thing

For those leaving 1-2 star reviews, I may not be able to help you but I might know someone who can. Let me introduce you to Cole Cuchna the host of Dissect. Dissect is a podcast where each season does an in depth, song by song break down of an album. Season one tackles To Pimp a Butterfly. I’ve been a fan of Kendrick Lamar for a long time but had no idea how much of a genius he was until listening to this podcast. And I don’t use the term genius lightly. This album is an incredible work of art. Musically, I’m still preferential to good kid maad city, but tpab is a masterpiece. So even if you love this album, and especially if you don’t, I encourage everyone with an interest in music to check out Dissect. It’s not only given me new insights into this album and others. It’s altered the way I listen to music in a good way. I still enjoy music for what it is, just like surface level enjoyment. But I find myself noticing more when I actively listen than I did in the past.

Ronnie O'Sullivan is one of the most naturally gifted snooker players of all time. Watching him play still bores the tits off me. I am not built for rap and hippity-hop; rap and hippity-hop isn't built for me.

don’t trust anyone who doesn’t give this a 5. Is and will always be the best rap album of its time. every single song takes you on another journey. THIS DICK AINT FREEEEEE

This is probably one of the most important albums ever made. Nearly a perfect project.

this is one of the two albums i would say qualifies as the greatest album i've ever heard. there are at least a couple dozen i like more than it, to be sure, but almost nothing compares to the depth you'll find in the lyrics, the instrumentation, the theming, etc. - truly grateful to be alive at the same time as this

One of the greatest albums of all time

This was a collage of ideas, a tapestry of art and sound and perspective. I have to say, it probably beats out MAAD City. There's so much to digest here. Incredibly long but worth the journey.

Just not for me.

I was a little taken aback when first seeing that this record ran 40 minutes in length with only four songs. Right from the jump I could see why “Chameleon” is one of Herbie Hancock’s most popular works. The whole song is built on an infectious groove with a variety of keyboard improv galore. I was disappointed a bit that there was no guitars to be found on the album at all. Seems to be more of a passive listen. The songs display cream of the crop jazz-fusion musicianship, but as with buy and large instrumental compositions, a lot of it is not necessarily memorable to non-jazz enthusiasts, including myself. Sly was my favorite track.

I wasn't sure how it feel about this album going into it. When it comes to rap, there's a specific type that I like and Kendrick is usually not in that bubble, but this album exceeded my expectations honestly. I was expecting to have my review being along the lines of "I don't like it, but I respect it" but I genuinely enjoyed this listen. His lyricism and The smooth way in which she addresses tough subject matter is just flawless. To be honest, it takes a couple songs into the record to get what he is going for, but once it reaches track for or 5, it all starts to click and you can really just sit back and be immersed in the story he is trying to tell. Great lyricism, catchy instrumentals, addicting hooks. Just a great record that I would definitely listen to again. Definitely a nine out of 10

I’m feeling a light 10 on this one.

Creative and interesting; could be objectively a five but has too much rap for me

Always seen rap as the flip side of the coin of punk. Street music, street politics, rage against the system. This album was solid all the way through, with quite a few bangers I'm sure I'll listen to again: King Kunta, Alright, The Blacker the Berry (which is probably my favourite track on the album) though I also love Mortal Man, and the confessional/conversational nature at the end. I don't think I have a single complaint about this album, and I can see why you both own it,

Straight and clear, I've never been a huge fan of hip-hop. What I love about Kendrick is that he's not afraid to incorporate other musical elements into his tracks, thus eliminating my biggest gripe with hip-hop, repetitiveness. From the first track it immediately stands out as "This isn't just a a rapper on a beat". I remember listening to King Kunta for the first time and being absolutely blown away, from the opening all the way to the ending. Upbeat, catchy, funky.. one of my favourite lines "Most of y'all share bars like you got the bottom bunk in a 2 man cell". The biggest takeaway I had from this album was the poem that is read aloud after (almost) every track. You get a bit more every time and then an entire song is written about the last line he says in the poem. And by the end when he ties it all together, I was floored. Probably the first album, and maybe the only album, that did that to me. I think I remember sitting there in silence just taking it all in, trying to make sense of everything I just heard. I still don't listen to a lot of hip-hop, but I'll always listen to Kendrick Lamar.

absolute banger of rap soul and funk, fave track is King Kunta

GOATed rap album fr

I really liked this !!!

Really good album but it needs a few listens to appreciate fully I think. At least for someone like me that has english as a second language. I like the vibes and the mix of instruments in the songs. Works great even just on in the background with the chill beats.

I only knew a few Kendrick songs before listening to this album - and I'm surprised how much I enjoyed this! I recognised "i" straight away, didn't realise it was his song! Sadly it was just a bit too long for my liking, and I'm not a huge fan of the talking tracks/interludes A very high 4 ⭐️

Listed on so many music websites as THE #1 album of all time. I hadn't listened to it in awhile and really didn't have any memories on it. Upon relisten, however, I understand why it's earned it's place. Kendrick is King. Punches hard and rides smooth

It was good. It didn't catch me the rest that M.A.D.D. city did though

I was curious how this album would compare (or not compare) to good kid mAAd city and I was genuinely impressed. Compared to gkMc this album explored themes of grappling with fame for African Americans who find success, especially if it's at all related to a perception of gaining clout based on the historic struggles of the community. I could feel Kendrick's turmoil and exhaustion at trying to raise up instead of tear down, but was really moved by how fine a needle he was able to thread of pointing out huge social issues while giving glimmers of hope. His story-telling is unparalleled and I will definitely be giving this more listens in the future.

One or two tracks were ok

I was looking forward to trying out To Pimp A Butterfly. It is smooth, funky, and jazzy. Not my usual kind of thing, but I enjoyed it. The lyrics seemed to have a good message, though I felt like it wasn't always expressed in the best way.

lovely

Shimmering big band instrumentals, jazz, R&B vocals mixed into well thought-through verses. The album spends enough time having fun to balance the occasional angry, violent or drunken ramble. I don't know who specifically this album is for, but I think every American adult should listen to it. Not my favorite Kendrick Lamar album, but it is his best.

I know it's not the popular opinion, but I do like Good Kid Maad city a tad more than Butterfly. While the song writing and lyrical genius is on full display in butterfly I just find some of the songs not as catchy or exciting as some of Kendricks other stuff. With that being said, this album is SO good and one of my favorite rap albums for sure. Gotta give it a 4 since Good Kid is still my top though

I prefer old school hip hop. This is just not my thing, might have tolerated it better if it was shorter, but at 1hour and 19 mins I found it to be a chore. This review bucks the trend of popular opinion and makes me feel like an old grumpy man.

This was tough to get through and so long! At no point could I guess what was going to happen next - maybe for some that is innovative and exciting, but for me it felt frustrating and inconsistent. I seem to be one of the few who doesn't get the Lamar hype, but I just couldn't get into this at all

Strong point of view and throughline across the album. Felt more like poetry at times.

Absolute masterpiece that made me fall in music like no other album. I was blown away by the first 2 tracks I heard while shopping for CD's in the little booth where you used to be able to listen to CD's you put in it. The world of jazz has been an incredible discovery, and the discovery of hip-hop and its rich legacy and meaning has been as wonderful to discover. I still catch things from this album I hadn't noticed. This is such a classic, it's become standard that it's not going to be topped soon

Amazing. Got me thinking, made me feel, just beautiful and heartrenching.

Never listened to Kendrick Lamar before but I was floored by this. Is progressive rap a thing? The arrangements and choices here are wild. I didn't love all of it but it had my attention. I listened via a playlist on youtube and I think that was the right choice here, cause he's got some great videos that really add a lot to the songs.

I wish I had the words this album deserves. All I can say is it's one of the greatest albums ever made, and the one that solidified Kendrick as one of my favorite artists of all time. I am consistently awestruck by his artistic vision and and how brilliantly he realizes it. The rhythmic technicalities of his flow on this album blow my mind, and the way he works with his voice, the poem repeated throughout, the fusion of musical styles celebrating black heritage, the complexity of the subject matters covered - again, I really wish I had adequate words. It's a brilliant album that I learn from with every listen. Infinite stars out of 5.

multi layered. awesome.

Rap at its finest - in your face, politics, lyrical. Kendrick changed the rap landscape with this

Found additional songs I liked

Rap bof

Modern classic, amazing storytelling

I have some friends that just love this guy but I can't get into him.

The Good: There were actually several songs where I thoroughly enjoyed the beat. The Bad: Please tell me all about social (in)justice. The Ugly: Forced. I don't have any issues with people wanting to express their viewpoints on this that and the other thing... but I am sick and tired of having to listen to the same (c)rap since the '80s pointing fingers to all but the own damn community--sorry, this is supposed to be about music, not about politics, but this, for me, is a political album and I am tired of politics. Would have been 3*

(FIRST TIME LISTEN) wesley’s theory: 3/5 for free? interlude - n/a king kunta - 4/5 institutionalized - 2.5/5 these walls - 3/5 u - 3.5/5 alright - 4.5/5 for sale? interlude - n/a momma - 3.5/5 hood politics - 3/5 how much a dollar cost - 4/5 complexion (a zulu love) - 3/5 the blacker the berry - 3.5/5 you ain’t gotta lie (momma said) - 4/5 i - 5/5 mortal man - 4/5 overall rating: 4/5. it was really fun to listen to an album of a genre i don’t usually dip into, and i was really excited to listen to this because i’d heard just how good it was , and it really lives up to all the hype! honestly incredible

No bounce✌️

i mean. i get the hype. la realidad es q tenía 0 expectativas y me sorprendió bastante!! BANCO el jazz, banco el tema de 12 minutos, banco lo conceptual... pero simplemente no me encantó. definitivamente voy a darle una segunda escucha mas adelante pero dentro de todo fue una bastante buena experiencia. mis temas favoritos king kunta, i y how much a dollar cost 🙂‍↕️ 3.5(3)/5 ☆

Lyssnade mycket på denna i gymnasiet! Mer sällan nuförtiden. Fortfarande bra och coolt med P funk-influenserna.

To me, this is Kendrick's first truly experimental album. I remember listening to this for the first time back when it first came out in 2015 and not really liking it that much. After listening to 'good kid, m.a.a.d city' religiously, this album felt like a let down. I had kept some of the songs in my listening rotation, but mostly forgot about it. I can honestly say this is my first time relistening in its entirety since then, and I enjoyed it. Honestly, I think the non-popular/non-single songs are the best. There are a whole lot of themes going on and it makes for a great listen. It isn't all capturing, so I can't give it 5 stars personally, but it really is a great album.

Kendrick is generally considered the lyrical, insightful rapper of our generation. It upsets me because there's so many other artists making Hip Hop with more meaningful themes and subjects. Some of the songs were so full of nonsensical, abstract lyrics that it was difficult to follow exactly what was being communicated. There was a mix of profound ideas side by side with run of the mill sex drugs and money songs. With that being said, this album definitely deserves five stars. It has so many bangers and the production quality and style are fresh and unique. There was a consistent Jazzy undertone that worked really well with the different beats.

Great jazz/blues music, mid rapping

I'm not a hip-hop head whatsoever, but I appreciated this album. It is so eclectic that it shows some madurity in the songwriting but I find it pretentious in some way too. I'm not commenting on the lyrics as they are always second for me when listening to music; however, I'm aware that this has been praised as some of KDot's best. Way to open an album too.

can you give it anything else. Best songs:The Blacker the Berry, i

First track hits hard with an eerie funk groove. Sick. King Kunta is next, a big track with a catchy hook. Institutionalized is more low key, but I like These Walls, a smooth beat and an old school sounding chorus. Not vibing with 'u', but we're back with Alright and its stop-start beat and aggressive rapping. How Much a Dollar Cost and Complexion are other standouts for me. The Blacker the Berry is even better, a dark rumbling beat matching the angry lyrics. By the end, I'm feeling the weight of this album, there are parts that are harder to get through but the artistry is obvious.

Some stellar tracks on here, but a lot of filler as well.

Already listened. Already favourite. Wicked

I enjoyed this more than Ghostface Killah or the Kanye West albums I've been subjected to listening to that are on this list. A decent blending the samples that were used making this album give it a timeless sound, but I can't see myself listening to this ever again. "...don't change until you get up and wash yo' ass!"

It was decent at times and I understand why he is so revered. This genre just isn't my favorite

I said this in my review of Good Kid / mAAd City, but hip hop has never been a genre I gravitate towards, so I hadn’t really heard much Kendrick Lamar before doing this list. I was blown away by Good Kid / mAAD City. Gave it a 5. Got this album and expected similar. But somehow, I’ve been blown away again. Astonishingly good. Maybe the best hip hop album I’ve ever heard.

Mais um disco de rap que se prolonga irritantemente. E ao "dividir" o disco com pausa de metal não consegui melhorar minha experiência.

1. theory - 1 2. free - 0 3. kunta - 0 4. inztitution - 1.5 5. uuallz - 0 6. u - 1 7. allright - 1 8. zale - 0 9. momma - 1 10. hood - 1.5 11. dollar - 1.5 12. complezion - 1 13. berry - 1.5 14. lie - 1 15. i - 1 16. mortal - 1.5

Auf dieser tollen Challenge habe ich schon manche hervorragende RAP oder Hip-Hop platte entdeckt, obwohl ich nicht der Fan für dieses Genre bin. Dieses Album hat mich jetzt nicht überzeugt. Zu langatmig für mich. Obwohl ich schon betonen muss, dass es hervorragend produziert und gesammelt wurde. Reicht für mich nicht.

Listened to this album a few times before, and thoroughly enjoyed it each time. It’s engaging, lyrically dense, and makes me want to dance along to the songs.

2 out of 5. This was kind of a hard album to listen to and I kept getting distracted throughout. I like the jazz but at times the music felt disjointed. That being said These Walls was the standout track for me.

So this is the best album of all time according to the users of rateyourmusic.com and albumoftheyear.com (2 popular music rating sites). As you can imagine this album would have to be very very very good for me to not think it’s overrated. After this single listen, I am not convinced, but it definitely seems like an album worthy of multiple focused listens. I found quite a few songs didn’t really stand out but the others were really cool. The jazz influenced instrumentation is very nice and some of the bass playing is ridiculously good. I found his vocals a little bit annoying sometimes. Overall, although I’m not that into hip hop or rap, I can completely understand the hype this album gets and I definitely want to get into it more through repeated listens.

While I’m a big Kendrick fan and recognise his significance in lyricism and influence on hip-hop as a whole, I dont quite understand the position of this album as supposedly “the best album of all time”. Perhaps I’m missing something, but I’ve heard it plenty times and enjoy it as a very good album and not much more.

A really interesting album with many great highs and a few crass lows that knock it down a notch

I was expecting a lot but was left disappointed. When I looked at the list of contributing artists it was either someone I'd never heard of, or someone I'd always enjoyed and admired. Musically it was ok in places, but generally I felt it was trying too hard to be edgy. The rapping was pretty similar, too edgy for me and made my ear hurt. On reflection, maybe it's my age, I am in my 50's - but I grew up listening to rap, funk, soul, hip-hop etc and they are my preferred genres. I'm confused, maybe if I listen to it again I will like it, but that is not on my agenda.

I doubt I’m going to like this one… I will say the jazz elements are interesting and stop this from getting a 1, and the instrumentals in general. However, there is nothing at all original about the lyrics. Excessive swearing, violence, bragging. Why do all these hip hop albums on this list talk about the same stuff?

Great album.

Nicht meine Richtung

Fav: Wesley’s Theory Least Fav: For Free? - Interlude Incredible album, and u has got to be the greatest song I never want to listen to again.

made me black

Far from my favourite kind of music, but actually listenable

King Kunta Alright The Blacker the Berry i

I am in a strangers basement. I am 16. Kendrick said, hey do you mind if I redefine an entire genre for the next decade??

I can appreciate the artistry here (interesting blend of genres, styles, subjects), but it doesn't really absorb me like it does many others.

Statins! Some people choose to take them. Some people need to take them. Some people just don’t need them in their life… Kendrick Lamar tracks! Some people…

Killer. As with lots of rap, there were plenty of lyrics and ideas I wasn't completely down with, a lot I didn't quite catch on the one listen, and others that landed good and hard. The diversity of styles was impressive and the music was quality throughout. And, no question, dude's got chops. I get why he's a titan in the rap game.

A towering achievement. Dude's firing on all cylinders on this one. What a fantastic synthesis of sounds, music, and lyrics. The performances are stellar; the creativity is through the roof. This is peak music.

How Kendrik Lamar and my kids expanded my worldview I've heard so many good things from the young kids about Kendrick Lamar. I started this album and was like, "it's gotta be me. I'm not hearing 'it.'" Adler heard me listening to this album and was like, "no way. that's my favorite album." Then Sylvia walked in the kitchen and said something about how To Pimp a Butterfly is one of the greatest of all times. So..tell me why. And off they went. I was so enthralled with what they were saying and the intelligence and thought behind it I started to lose focus. Adler spoke about Kendrick Lamar's quadruple entendres, Sylvia spoke to systemic racism in American culture and encourage me to think about history from outside my white woman perspective.(Like mom, don't be so freaked out by the N word. there is so much more going on) They both said to pull up the lyrics and really spend some time with the album. I went back and restarted the album and followed their suggestions. The layers of sound and meaning started coming through. There is so so much going on here. I need to spend more time with Kendrick. I really enjoyed this lesson, the beats, the story behind Kenrick's fame and his successful transformation. It's dense and complex and I want to know this story more.

I think I might be too white to get it

Loved it on a previous listen. This time Less so. Still a good record.

I think listening to this album on YouTube over 2 days is not the way to listen to this album. Also I'm tired and this needs your full attention to appreciate, on vinyl. This wasn't the time to listen to this album for me, so factor that into my review. It's very very good

at its best when it’s playing with genre, samples, and expectations. some really great music here with really fun production. the lyrics go so absolutely insane from personal to more intense topics from sex to politics to race its amazing. and beautifully written. this speaks about an experience i can’t relate to but really fun despite this for me. love when it’s silly and love when the lyrics are deep and referential. will listen again. favs: wesley’s theory, i, and mortal man. didn’t expect to like it this much and i understand why it’s so acclaimed. think it’s a 3.5-4 but really solid!!

Been meaning to listen to more from him, glad i did (better late than never!)

A slightly-overrated follow-up to the generational masterpiece that is "good kid, maad city." Musically, one of the most impressive hip-hop albums, maybe ever. Lyrically dense with introspection and concepts. A great project that should absolutely be heard at least once, but has lost some of its luster over the years.

felt kinda special to listen to like a big movie just ended when the album was over

I guess it’s ok for rap. But I hate rap.

Tosh. And I consider myself a fan of hiphop

Not my cup of tea, but I’m sure it’ll appeal to someone out there

The highs were high. Good enough album.

I get why people like this but it’s not typically a choice I’d make

This one brings back a lot of good memories. I like everyone of theses songs, but MAAD City is one of my top Kendrick songs. Big fan of Kendrick, and appreciate his lyricism and influence on the hip hop genre.

Very layered, complex, powerful. These Walls made me sit up and pay close attention. U grabbed me as well. It’s not an easy listen though.

This is my second listen, and it's a little better on the second pass. Some great lo-fi-esque beats accompanying a standard (if not slightly substandard) vocal. The lyrics are all over the place in terms of rhythm, rhyming schemes, and general themes, towing the line between being oppressed and being the goshdarn king of the world. This is a problem I have with most hip-hop lyrics, and while Kendrick Lamar makes a small improvement on the generally bad poetry in the genre, it's a small improvement only. The lyrics in the interludes are particularly suspect: "Fuck you, motherfucker, you a ho-ass n-a / I don't know why you trying to go big, n-a, you ain't shit / Walking around like you God's gift to Earth, n-a, you ain't shit / You ain't even buy me no outfit for the Fourth / I need that Brazilian, wavy, twenty-eight inch, you playin'" ...Yeah. If this is the best the rap/hip-hop genre has to offer (and it clearly is, based on reviews from rateyourmusic), then that's a very bad sign. I'm also not a fan of Kendrick's husky, almost raspy voice, though it does somewhat stand out amongst the crowd. The instrumental behind the vocals, though, is pretty solid. Kendrick pulls out all the stops for adding little bits and bobs to the music – sound effects, synths, horns, backing vocals, and so on – to really spice up the texture. And he does it better than most, to the point where you feel like you're listening to something truly incredible. (Whether you are actually doing that is up for debate.) Tracks that are more texturally busy, like King Kunta and Alright, are some of the stronger ones for this reason. The cover art is iconic, and possibly my favourite aspect of this entire album. But the music could use a little work. Bin the interludes and some of the lyrically-suspect full tracks, and you have the scaffold of a masterpiece. 3/5 Key tracks: King Kunta, Alright, Momma, i

Definitely enjoyable and had some serious hits on here. My favorite is “King Kunta”

Couldn’t make it through another rap album about dicks, bitches, hoes, and N words.

Great album. Lyrically and musically, it's good! I prefer Damn as his masterpiece, though.

I tried this album years ago when it came out. I didn't like it then, I don't like it now. It teeters between a 2 and a 1 for me cause its creative and the skits are cool and all but there are just some parts that make me feel like someone is rubbing my hair in the wrong direction. Wish I could tell you why...

Never listened to this album in full or the Ramones intentionally really ever but I'm familiar with most of their music already. 3 tracks in and it's my favorite album I've heard on this so far. Started off strong but it really lost steam towards the latter half

my bf loves him. I liked the Album but not too much.

Slow start, but finishes strong 3.75

Kendrick’s album is like opening up a diary and reading through dozens of poems. It’s raw and emotional and sometimes unsettling. At parts it’s like we are in the same room and he’s singing a gospel. My favorite part is the story at the end of the songs that keeps growing. It kept my attention and peaked my curiosity. Mortal man finally recaps the whole story and to tell it as though he is speaking in an interview with his role model Tupac… brilliant.

A long introspective journey by Kendrick. Riddled with poetry and spoken word inserts the multitude of tracks is accompanied by gospel, and classic hip hop ad libs. It’s tough to define any song as a pure bop or radio hit (despite some being so). I feel like this album would be undervalued if you don’t sit in a chair and listen to it front to back with no distractions, like a movie. As such, I’m booting my ranking up into the high 4s.

Love this album great to listen to it again in full

A must listen rap album. Love the way the narrative is woven between all of the songs. The songs are fun, loud, funky, introspective, and impactful. I’ve listened to it before, and I don’t like coming back casually because I enjoy sinking my teeth into the music. Standouts: Wesley’s Theory, King Kunta, These Walls, u, Alright, Momma, How Much A Dollar Cost, You Ain’t Gotta Lie (Momma Said), and i.

Not in this world enough to know how influential this album has been, but it was captivating. I feel like an observer rather than a participant, but as a white person, I think that's probably the point. It is still very hard to get past the language, it's just so much all the time

I've listened to this so many times, but still one of the all time great albums. Great songs, great variety, great storytelling, great features and sessions musicians, an overall thematic journey that ties the whole album together. Few albums reach the level this one does on any level, let alone across so many fronts at once. I probably prefer GKMC to this at the end of the day, but this album is easily one of the GOATs and it's criminally underrated on this site seemingly because its rap/hip-hop and contains profanity. Unfortunate.

Gikk meg hus forbi. Varte lenge

Ikkje så glad i hip hop, men bra innimellom

i'm not surprised people talk about kendrick lamar so strongly when it comes to modern pioneers in the circle of hip hop. there's nobody like him, at least not that i know of. lamar's flow is unlike any other, unpredictable, fresh and varied. conscious and at the same time absolutely innovative and almost downright MAD when it comes to writing his bars. paired with his jazzy beats, it's a perfect mix of sound you don't hear in a lot of albums, let alone any hip hop albums.

I don't come back to this often because it's such an undertaking that requires so much attention. But every time I do I finish it thinking it might be the best album of all time. Kendrick's pinnacle. The poem and the Tupac track have maybe lost a bit of their initial impact but overall this is a masterpiece, and I'm amazed at the level of genius to create something like this, a record which you will never fully unpack.

I wasn't expecting much from this album - I decided a while ago that Kendrick is overrated (not untalented, just overrated). I still can't say I'm a big fan, but I did gain an appreciation for him after hearing this. It's similar to Common in the sense that it's spoken word-y and poetic in a lot of ways. I can get behind that.

Die Musik und die Stimme des Künstlers sprechen mich weder in Person oder Stil an. Zudem finde ich die häufige Verwendung von F- und N-Worten störend und unsinnig. Auch die Ausführungen über Söhne, die ihre Mutter lieben, empfinde ich nicht als ätzend wen will er beleidigen?

I could do without all the skits, but overall a great album.

Nah

Solid album. Much better than his other one I got from the generator. Listening to this on headphones sounds better than my phone or car speakers. A bit long but lots of good tracks on here if you're willing to look for them.

Emotionally resonant and complex. Between the freeform jazz production and Kendrick's impactful lyrics, it's hard not to rate it this high.

Couldn't get through it. And that makes me feel old and out of touch...

I understand the allure at some level but just cannot get into it. Not my jam.

Cuando empecé hace ya casi un año a hacer esto de los 1001 álbumes, no tenía muy claro qué es lo que iba a sacar. Supongo que conocer nuevos artistas y reafirmarme en los que conozco de los géneros que ya amaba (rock, electrónica, dance...). Y si bien es cierto que me ha ayudado a conocer bastantes cosas chulas, yendo ya por una quinta parte de esto, lo que más me ha ayudado sin duda es a apreciar y amar el buen hip-hop/rap. Nunca había sido alguien de estos géneros, pero obligándome a oír primero a Kanye West (cosa que me ha hecho adentrarme y amar su carrera antes de que se volviera lo que es ahora) y ahora a Kendrick Lamar empiezo a apreciar lo que todo el mundo ama de esto. Y es que este álbum es la ostia. Quizá es el primer 5 en el que no puedo elegir un tema muy favorito porque el álbum fluye de principio a final como una entidad. Seguro que no llego a entender del todo todos los temas que trata, pero es que la forma de componer y rapear me tiene enamorado. Como ya hice con MBDTF, agradezco a esta página haber hecho esto para que, aunque a veces tenga que tragar mucha mierda, obligarme a escuchar joyas como esta que nunca habría escuchado hace un año. 5 estrellas.

A rap album I like? Must be dreaming. yeah this was different. Lots of interesting stuff start to finish. Didn’t have me poking the skip halfway through the tracks. Well done.

Kendrick’s second full length album, I’ve always adored gkmc, in fact I consider it to be the closest to a modern illmatic if not better simply because it has the benefit of time on its side, As a sequel Kendrick smashes this out the park, pimp a butterfly is full of incredible lyricism , fantastic beat selection and deals with a range of topics, Kendrick is at his almost finest here and it’s a modern rap masterpiece.

Not for me

Finally, an album that I was actually excited to listen to. The past 6 albums have ranged from albums that I really like to albums that I actively hate. But now, I can finally say that I have listened to the top album of all time on Rate Your Music. The people have called To Pimp a Butterfly the greatest album of all time. So, do I agree? Well, I personally wouldn't go that far, but I can absolutely see why others would. This is a truly wonderful album of a caliber that we only see every once in a while. I really only have praise to give to this album. The production on this thing is magnificent. The strong influences from funk, soul, and jazz create an aura that not many other hip-hop albums have. Even the interludes have a sense of musicality to them that you don't usually find in the interludes of other hip-hop albums. The writing is top-notch. The overarching themes of race, fame, and culture are utilized flawlessly alongside a few other songs that dive more into the mental state of Kendrick Lamar himself. Speaking of Kendrick, his rapping is some of the most unique rapping I've ever heard. The flow is certainly impressive and him changing the way he raps based on the perspective of the verse is just amazing. There's a deep personal core to this album that isn't the most accessible for newcomers. And yet there's still some pop sensibilities that allowed this album and Kendrick's music as a whole to become as popular as it has. I really don't know what else to say. Though I may like a few albums more than this, it would be hard for me to say that TPAB is anything less than a masterpiece. I get it. I see the appeal. To the surprise of nobody, I will be giving this album a 5/5.

Im not a rap lover only old school stuff usually. I do listen to the mew up amd comers to compare and shit on them and lack of skill or topics. That being said. This album is the best rap album Ive heard probably ever as an album. I had heard songles but thisbis not an album that you can take a song and listen. Its a real album with amazing storytelling and chronological order. It wrenches my gut to say it but its a masterpiece. I like Kendricks music but never a real consumer of it. I looked for his other albums amd listen to them as well and the are on the same level. Just some crazy producing and delivery. Every human on earth should listen to this.

no condoms they fuck with you, Obama

Y'know, while I was listening to this album I wasn't sure what exactly I was gonna say about it. 'Cuz, I mean, come on. It's TO PIMP A BUTTERFLY. Without a doubt, it's the most important and highly praised hip hop record I can remember. I know there's a lot of people who'd **heavily** disagree with that, but for my money, nothing else comes close. And therein lies the problem: I'd want whatever I'd say about the album to match how big I feel this thing is. But even after nearly ten years of living with it, I struggle to really come up with the words. It's not even a typical case where I can excuse myself 'cuz I don't really "understand" the album, because I do, and pretty well. Maybe I just don't have the vocabulary? I'm not sure, and I don't wanna bore you with speculation, so allow me to get to the one definitive thing I know I have to say. This album begins with a spectacular run. "Wesley's Theory" is... Like, maybe the best track on the album, honestly? "King Kunta" bangs so hard. "u" is, exactly as it set out to be, fucking depressing. And "Alright" is such an incredible groove that I can't even. But then we hit a strerch of songs where... Honestly, they just don't do too much for me? Excepting "How Much A Dollar Cost" and "The Blacker The Berry" (phenominal, both of them), the stretch from "Momma" to "You Ain't Gonna Lie (Momma Said)" just doesn't do it for me. Even understanding their place in the narrative. Now, of course, I don't not enjoy them enough to not give the album as a whole the 5 I believe it fully deserves, but... I'unno. I think it's just the beats? Comparing it to every think that comes before it and everything that comes after—well, there's some outros I love, but as a whole, they're just too laidback for me. So much smaller than what I expect from the rest of the album. It's always been a sticking point for me, and it's probably why whenever I listen to stuff from this album it's usually just the first three or five songs or just "Alright". Ultimately, at the end of the day. though, it's a nitpick. Not nearly enough to knock this thing upon the towering pedestal of importance where I've placed it. It deserves all the praise it's gotten, and whatever more can be said about it. So... I'unno, yeah. That's my perspective on that. What do you think about that, Pac? Pac? Pac—?

One of the greatest albums of all time, simple as. 5.

It’s a 10. I knew it was gonna be a 10 before I listened to it again, but I just had to be completely sure. Too many people have written too many words about this album for me to add anything truly meaningful to the praise it gets – hell, I even wrote a paper about “How Much a Dollar Cost” once, so I’m worn out on writing things about this album already. I can’t wait to read all of the thinkpieces when this album hits its 10th anniversary next year to reflect on just how special of a piece of art this is – people with bigger vocabularies and more introspection than I will be able to write some beautiful one-liners about its impact and its legacy in ways that I’ll only be able to appreciate and agree with. For my money’s worth, I truly have nothing but praise for it, and it’s praise that everyone else will regurgitate – brilliant lyricism, incredible flow, fantastic features, genre-bending instrumentals, great vocal work, and ultimately, just one of the more clear and concise visions ever laid out for a single album with damn near flawless execution, especially via the framing of the album provided by the poem and the payoff with the 2pac “interview” at the end. This is the easiest 10 I could possibly give. I’m sure there are better rap albums out there, I’m sure there are albums with bigger impacts out there, and I’m willing to admit that I know it so well inside and outside from the amount of times I’ve listened to it that I can’t really look at it with a deeply critical eye… but I just don’t care. I truly think it’s the best album of the 21st century, regardless of genre, a top 10 album of all time, and it cemented Kendrick Lamar’s legacy by just his third studio album. Everything since this has been a bonus, and they’ve been incredible bonuses in their own right. I hope this guy drops again soon. Drake could fucking never.

Not that big a fan of rap but I liked King Kunta and Hood Politics.

Oh, the familiar pattern of the rap album I am finding. Starts off strong and intriguing, even with the dodgy lyrics, but then the novelty wears off. And they go on far too long. They don’t half overindulge. Still prefer him to Drake though

Conscious Hip Hop, West Coast Hip Hop, Jazz Rap

Modern classic

This album proves that Kendrick is one of the all-time greatest.

Pretty awful

I am more of a fan of 90s and early 2000s hip hop, but this one was surprisingly good. This album is cohesive and extremely well produced.

I liked this but I definitely didn’t listen enough to understand EVERYthing about it, but it was much more enjoyable than some of the other hip-hop records I’ve gotten here.

Na, don't like it.

one of the best rap albums ever.

This didn’t win the Grammy and I will never forgive Taylor swift for it

Not really sure why I've never listened to this one. Definitely should have. Will I listen to again: 90%

Eh, I feel like good kid and damn are better. This seems too overblown

I enjoyed the jazz very much. The rap didn’t catch my interest.

If the intention was to tap over a chill compilation from the 90s then it's a success. Boring.

could i write poetry to this? n

Not nearly as good as Good Kid

Interesting listen. More of a political statement than MAAD City. Worth of at least a listen.

All the people who don't like this are wrong.

I don't see what all the hype is about this guy

I think this is about the 15th KL album that has appeared as a recommendation to me on here and to be honest it's the first one I listened to because... ANOTHER RAP INDUSTRY RAP ALBUM PRODUCT But I opened my mind up and prepared to be delighted by the lack of cliche and ground breaking originality that this vital modern artist would provide... Wasted my time again didn't I? Swearing, N-Words, boasting, P-Funk rip offs. Man where is the innovation in Hip-Hop? Again, this is wasted on me, just like hair-metal and country there's a market for it and I am not the market. I'm going to listen to The Isleys now until I feel better. Fuck.

This record is so sonically rich I can forgive some of the questionable lyrical choices. Though the Untitled, Unmastered record that followed was even better.

being someone who tends to hate modern rap, i was not expecting this to be good at all when going into this i leave with it being at least top 15 albums of all time, this shit it incredible and i finally understand the hype

non lo capisco nonostante gli sforzi. sorry

I'll Wesley Snipe your ass before thirty-five!! 🔫 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

schöner fetter soul-Hiphop

This is utterly awful, is this what passes for hip hop these days????

I've listened to this album multiple times, and each time I've enjoyed more than the previous listen. Some of the tracks on this album are absolutely top class (the first track may be one of the finest openers to an album I've heard so far), which does mean that a few of them fail to live up to those lofty heights.

shit

An absolute classic.

No notes required, it's my favourite album and I listen to it multiple times a month.

Kendrick Lamar is one of the most revered, respected hip-hop artists of this century, and the fact that this record is often considered his best just goes to show his quality of work. Between the beats, instrumentation, flow, and social issues touched on, this album is nearly flawless. Admittedly I don't listen to a ton of rap, but even with the 1 hour 17 minute runtime, I found myself engrossed throughout this record. For the life of me there's hardly anything to nit-pick about this album, so I won't! Notable Tracks: - Wesley's Theory - For Free? - Interlude - love the jazz backing track - King Kunta - Hood Politics - Complexion (A Zulu Love) - The Blacker The Berry - i - not as good as the live version from SNL, one of the best SNL performances all-time in my opinion 10/10

Are we nearly there yet? This album is so long I'm still not sure if I listened to it all, but it seemed varied, tuneful and with some great vocals. Three stars.

If I had a dollar for every time I had to tell someone that, "this dick ain't free." I prefer my hip hop to be Wu, or Nas or NWA, but this was better than the watered down shit that gets passed off on people.

Hard hitting, inventive, mature, badass yet beautiful. Kendrick raps incredibly about fame, wealth, guilt, institutional racism, the black experience and above all the transformation of one's self through art. Music and instrumentation has a whole lot of inspirations from classic Gangsta rap, Jazz, Funk and soul yet feels so original and fresh. Lamar's monologue of 'I remember you was conflicted' gives a very human touch to the record and sort of encapsulates the album theme. Absolutely amazing! Favorites: Wesley's Theory, King Kunta, u, Alright, For Sale, The Blacker the Berry, i, Mortal man

Some good beats and bass lines, terrible content.

Second Kendrick album and I am just as impressed as the first time. He is so talented (not sure why Drake thinks he even has a chance of being this good). He speaks of a world and a life I am far removed from, but his words help me see that world. He makes it seem so natural, simple and easy but it is soooooo deep and complex.

Kendrick is such a talented writer and rapper, and this really feels like a complete album and not just a bunch of songs that sort of go together. Love his depth and his creativity.

4/5

I barely know how to describe this other than as it being one of the most artful, revolutionary and emblematic releases in music history.

Not explaining.

I would rather listen to a concussed Frank Zappa perform the complete works of Weird Al Yankovic than listen to this again.

Rap-storytelling, a cohesive album, ending with a poem and conversation with 2Pac, mixing a lot of musical elements and at times reminding me of the innovative sound of André 3000. It's not every song I want to listen to for the vibe-sake, but I like the complete work.

That's not my taste in musik. But a lot of interesting Songs.

Way better then the other I was listening to. Now wonder it influenced so many artists out there. I really liked this!

uppfyllingarefni. hlaðin oflofi. galbürg er betri. 4,5.

I knew nothing about rap/hip-hop until I started this project. And I’ve been exposed to much more gorgeousness than awful, and this is gorgeous. Weirdly, the Apple version is some kind of radio-safe version with silenced profanity. And it takes away from it. Beautiful album.

The kind of rap that makes me want to listen to more rap.

Just not ma jizz man.

Very good

To Pimp a Butterfly I saw this was on the list when Paul recommended it after Good Kid, so I wanted to wait until it came up before I listened to it. The list of guest stars and also musicians and producers is nuts - I counted 60 on the Wiki page - but it’s also nuts how much it all hangs together when you take all that into account. Wesley’s Theory is great, squelchy bass and funk vibes, despite neither Thundercat or Gorge Clinton actually playing bass on it. King Kunta is excellent, superb samples and interpolations and great, driving bass and percussion. Sounds like an instant classic to me. Institutionalized is also very good, really like the drum sound and drum pattern, and Snoop’s rap is great, his voice sounds really different, older and worn. These Walls is very Thundercat, I love that warm synth sound and again the drum sound is excellent, as are the little guitar lines. Alright I remember from Glastonbury the other year, and I’ve definitely heard it in other places. Momma is great and Hood Politics too, love the ‘bending’ synth sound. How Much a Dollar Cost feels like a succinct distillation of the themes he raps about, kind of despairing but not hopeless. Ronald Isley sounds fantastic on it. The Blacker the Berry is also excellent, has a similar feel to King Kunta, but brilliantly atmospheric and creepy. You Ain’t Gotta Lie has a similar feel to some of The Roots. I is excellent, great sample and interpolation. Great delivery and awesome drums/percussion. Mortal Man, what a closer. As a privileged person from the UK it’s hard to understand his experience, but this is very powerful. It’s definitely one of those albus where it all just sounds right. The feel of the whole album is great, again a bit nuts considering the disparate cast of people, players and producers. It feels like a very modern soul record, with funk and jazz all being big elements without being overbearing or distracting and all layered brilliantly with the instrumentation, and a great drum and percussion sound throughout. Lyrically and thematically it’s great too, carrying on from the previous album, but with a broader more widescreen feeling. I can easily see this becoming a favourite, up there with Illmatic, but I need to listen more and let it percolate further. It’s very dense, musically, lyrically and thematically, and it is long, but I’m looking forward to getting to know it more. It’s maybe a 4 right now, but I know with time it will be a 5, so I may as well give it the 5 now. 🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋

Relaxing, tanzbar, political

No my style, plus too much profanity and mysoginy.

I love Kendrick but to pimp a butterfly isn’t my end to end favorite. Great tracks and classic Kendrick story telling. Listenability drops off for me a few times but overall still a very sticky album

One of those albums that is an experience in and of itself. Manages to have a unique sound across its entirety, every track is distinct but flows into the next effortlessly, production is impeccable. My favorite of his albums, one of the greats

I don't understand it, some interesting samples choices but it's just not my thing. can't stand the vocals

No thanks ! 1*

It was OK as it went.

Interesting. This album is far more soulful than I anticipated, both musically and lyrically. I don’t see me ever listening to it again, but I wasn’t compelled to skip through it, either. I can see this being a stand out in a genre that I am not terribly familiar with, especially compared to others in its field that have also been on this list.

Overrated but good

Very good album. From start to finish i loving it

Although I am not normally into rap. This rap has melody rhythm and good vocals with narrative. I found myself enjoying it.

I didn't get this. It's strange to me, I really enjoy a lot of hip-hop and funk, but I generally don't like rap. It's just not a style I enjoy. There is the occasional exception, like I really enjoy Public Enemy, but typically anything that is rap dominant and from the 2000s or later, well, it just doesn't do anything for me. I'm not really interested in gratuitous profanity, or misogynist tropes, or gangster posing.

Not my kind of music but it's influence is undeniable, the roster of musicians is incredible and certainly Lamar is an amazing rapper who seems to stand head and shoulders above his peers.

Another solid rap album on this list.

Hieno crossgenrelevy! 4/5

Hmm, ei ollu ihan yhtä hyvä kuin muistin. 3/5

was interesting background as I cleaned, but nothing I'll seek to put on again.

Decent album. Some interesting sounds and different styles used throughout. Some good lyrics too. but i still dont get the whole rap gangbanger thing - THIS DICK AINT FREE. I'll have to come back to this one. And thats something i cant say about many rap albums...

Very much a poetry jam rap album. Nothing really stood out as a banger song that I would go back to. Best Song: Alright

One of my favorite albums of all time, this maybe cemented Kendrick as one of, if not the best rap lyricists of all time.

Good Kid M.A.A.D City is better. This one has its moments though. Kendrick is a bit overrated, but only because people talk about him like he’s the GOAT

6 / 10 Musicalmente la mezcla de estilos es una pasada. El rap es lo que no me atrae. Pero sin duda merece una escucha detenida.

I don't think I can write an adequate review for this album. It's amazing and dense. There's a whole season of Dissect dissecting this album line by line. It's very dense and experimental and incredibly interesting. My favorite art is the kind that gets better and better the more you listen to it and I think this album is that. It's dense enough and weird and creative enough that you could probably listen over a hundred times and still pick up new things. It feels like this album is the type to drive forward a genre and music in general.

This album really has everything you would ever want and need to create an incredible rap album. The music behind the rhymes alone would be enough. I could seriously just listen to an instrumental version of this record and still find it super cool and interesting. I love how he mixes so many genres but never in a way that it gets distracting or overbearing. The funk, soul, gospel, jazz influences make it so captivating and interesting. I also love how consistent this album is. In a lot of ways it feels like a concept album, there are themes in the music that appear and reappear throughout. And then the lyrics could wrong anyone to the core. He hits on the entire spectrum political and social issues in America and among Black Americans. I always finish this record with things to think about. For as groovy as this record is, there's always a few songs that make me uncomfortable. They're heavy, emotional and not comfortable. But they're true, honest and vulnerable. It's like a watching a really good movie, there's always that part of the story where the hero hits an all time low and you don't want to tarry there. I know DAMN gets all the praise and the Pulitzer Prize, but this is the record that I always come back to with Kendrick.

i thought that this album had a very interesting take on a mix of jazz and hip hop rap, i really enjoyed it (^O^)

I listened through the album once and also spent time just reading the lyrics, because I don't pick up enough just hearing it. I appreciate that Kendrick has more to say than just "I'm all this n that". It's refreshing to see a successful rapper dissect his inner demons: guilt about using his success/influence to take advantage of people, or of neglecting his close relations, plus questioning what he even knows about life (after his trip to Africa). The backing music is rich and varied. I think I'll need more listens to really appreciate it. Anyhow, I'm glad I finally started getting to know him as an artist because for me so far he's just been part of some headlines with his dis track battles with Drake.

I had a Kendrick-sized hole in my hip hop knowledge leading into this, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but this wasn't it. It's messier, more complex, introspective, more uneven, less accessible but ultimately better than I thought it would be. It's also an excellent arguement for the value of albums as a single piece of art, versus just a string of songs. Was going to give it 4 stars, but a stronger second half and a desire to revisit it earn it 5.

SO many hip hop artists are knee capped by success - which maybe shouldn't be surprising given how Black urban culture is essentially baked into the genre. Either gritty authenticity gives way to out-of-touch commercialism (the best song on 'Life After Death' is still crappier than the worst song on 'Ready to Die'), earnest religiosity (there's no contest between 'Coloring Book' and 'Acid Rap,' see also West, Kanye), or the warping factors of fame and power combined with mental instability mean any artistic output takes a backseat to concerning antics (RIP ODB, see West, Kanye part two.) But Kendrick Lamar not only avoids the pitfalls of power, fame, and success, he has the self-awareness to assess those things and find them wanting - or even burdensome. Whether his lyrics touch on survivor's guilt, imposter syndrome, the fear and reality of being exploited and the through line in American history of how that exploitation is baked into our culture - or, in keeping with the tradition of the genre, how insanely dope and talented he is - his output remains raw and real and also unmitigatedly Black. In retrospect, To Pimp a Butterfly feels like just the beginning of Kendrick turning his focus to art & truth and giving a middle finger to commercial success. While it maybe isn't as cohesive as Damn or Mr. Morale, it's still an amazing album with so many references (Ralph Ellison, Alex Haley, Wallace Thurman, breaking out of hip hop constraints to bring in jazz instrumentation) that lift up and reflect Black culture – simultaneously proving success doesn’t have to be a barrier to doing so, while also demonstrating just how and why that happens.

This impressed me, but didn't move me. It puts a striking variety of sounds into a coherent package, and has a strong wobble, but I caught neither earworms nor rockers It’s clearly intelligent and sounds like it wants to be behind a glass case in an art gallery rather than on the radio. I admire this modernity, yet I want more. As a friend put it, To Pimp A Butterfly feels machine-tooled.

Part virtuosic, part annoying, this confounds me every time I hear it. Love me some Kamasi Washington, and the tunes in general outweigh some pretty dumb lyrics throughout. Tupac worship baffles me, such a tedious poser. Scrapes a 4* despite all the bullshit

Parts of this album were pretty cool (King Kunta. Alright), and other parts were, uhh, not (Institutionalized). It was cool hearing George Clinton after getting Funkadelics and Parliment this week. I think overall i liked it more than Good Kid, M.A.A.D City.

Not my jam

Solid. Conceptual.

Лучший альбом эвер 8/10

really good album. Some of the songs seemed very experimental. Different than what you hear as popular tracks from Kendrick.

A bit of a fever dream. The opening tracks are from a completely different level, but I honestly think they lead into a bit of a lull before going full throttle at the end. Even if I think parts of the album are slightly boring, the total score can only be a solid 5.

Kendrick is simply the best. Every release of his demands attention, and this is no exception. Favorite track “King Kunta”.

Good album. This is just a really good hip hop album with a lot of great textures from jazz, soul, R&B, etc. It's a good vibe album and the kind of hip hop/rap that I enjoy. ****

Almost perfect album. There are a few songs I don’t listen to but work well in the context of the album. Rating: 4.8

Eh. 2.8.

KL is a good producer. He is a shit lyricist and is full of himself. The lyrics are just trying too hard. Personal Enjoyment: 2/5 Relevance to this list: 4/5

rap...shrugs

It's frustrating, but at least there's some ambition here.

- king kunta - momma - how much a dollar cost

Best album of the 21st Century so far? It could well be. A seminal effort from a seminal artist. Nothing alike it before, now or after. A shining example of what humans are capable of. Unparallelled.

Wesley's Theory King Kunta Alright How Much a Dollar Cost The Blacker The Berry I Mortal Man (Listen to the podcast 'Dissect' that analyzes this album)

A jazzy, soulful hiphop record, which is considered one of the best hip-hop records of 2015, arguably the 2010s. The fast paced Wesley's Theory to the chilled out yet meaningful 'Institutionalized', to the chaotic 'u' to the track more reminiscent of its gangsta rap roots 'Alright', to the darker sounding 'The Blacker The Berry', to the happy, motivational live song 'i' that slowly decends into a riot in the audience, ending with an inspirational speech by Lamar, to the 12 minute finalising 'Mortal Man' which also completes the poem said throughout the album. A solid listen at its finest. Even if you're not a fan of rap, anyone can at least have something to appreciate about this record, whether it be the detailed, complex production, the jazzy, acoustic instrumentals or simply some chilled beats to kick back to. A lot of Kendrick's lyrics throughout the album really make you sit there and think 'wow. he just said that?' and even if you didn't grow up in Section 8 housing in Compton, anyone, privileged or not, can relate to this album. Overall, it doesn't sound like much at first listen, but once you let it grow on you, it really sticks in your mind, at least for a while.

Great, musically.

When you open an album with a song like Wesley's Theory, then it's bound to be a masterpiece.

Pretty groovy

I hear Thundercat in the first track, nice. Thundercat came into my radar thanks to this 1001 albums project. Hip hop is not a genre I listen to, so I have a hard time rating these albums (what's good? what's not?). Overall I enjoyed this.

K-dot!

Ngl this album pre fire. Language gets intense but their messages are powerful. Beats are also fire

A sonic and lyrical challenge. One of my favorite albums. A gold standard of what makes the last decade in music so special.

This is one of the best albums ever!!!

Good samples. He uses a ridiculous voice half the time and his rapping is exhausting half the time. When they're just talking, I tune out.

5+

Generational quality

Very dense and good but still not my thing particularly

very good songs

Not for me. Good to express views on society etc, but the excessive swearing is a big no for me, and meant that any interesting jazzy bits, etc, were lost to my wincing. Sorry. Just personal, not saying it's no good, in fact I get that it's eclectic and interesting.

Didn’t make it very far in before I realised that life is short and I didn’t want to spend 80 minutes of it listening to this kind of shite

I enjoyed the unexpected creativity of this

Really enjoyed this, I knew I like Kendrick Lamar from Swimming Pools; but this was a really interesting and eye opening adventure of an album to listen to.

Sensacional, maravilhoso!!

Ok, so the first half of this album was total crap, the second half was smart and creative. I’m glad I kept listening, but truly, I almost gave up after a couple songs.

Don't really need to explain why this is 5 stars

This album was my introduction to Kendrick back in 2015 which was a memorable year as I became a father for the first time. Listening back has given me flashbacks to memories I had forgotten. The power of music. Great album, even without the reveries.

#244. I know this dude is held in high esteem as far as modern rap music goes, but this was my fist time listening to his music and there was nothing in particular that stood out to me as being particularly impressive. Maybe it's just that a lot of other rap these days isn't really all that good, so this stands out in comparison? Who knows. I thought it was alright I guess. 3/5: acceptable Song added to playlist: Alright I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link

The only thing I knew about Kendrick Lamar is that he famously has beef with someone. But I forgot with whom. As far as rap goes, this seems to be pretty high quality (to the extent I'm able to judge). In terms of instrumentation and songwriting it's quite varied and complex. But still, rap is just not a style of music I enjoy. This was listenable to me and didn't annoy me, which is quite a feat. But I didn't enjoy it either.

Really don't like it

A third listen for me and I still know I'm missing things. A true masterpiece full of layers. Wesley's Theory - 4.9/5 For Free? (Interlude) - 4.7/5 King Kunta - 5/5 Institutionalized - 5/5 These Walls - 4.9/5 u - 5/5 Alright - 5/5 For Sake? (Interlude) - 5/5 Momma - 4.9/5 Hood Politics - 4.7/5 How Much A Dollar Cost - 5/5 Complexion (A Zulu Love) - 5/5 The Blacker The Berry - 5/5 You Ain't Gotta Lie (Momma Said) - 4.6/5 I - 5/5 Mortal Man - 5/5 Total - 4.9/5

An iconic album, K Dot won that Pulitzer for a reason. Fave is King Kunta.

A modern masterpiece and a perfect album.

When To Pimp a Butterfly first came out, I was firmly in the camp of “It is technically flawless, but it has very little replay value because there’s no song on here that I would play outside the context of the album.” I liked it, but I revisited GKMC way more. Time has proven that critique wrong. If GKMC was a standout designer perfume like YSL Libre that could be enjoyed by anyone regardless if they’ve developed a nose not, TPAB is a popular niche house that pulls from different influences and incorporates it into something unique, like D.S. & Durga’s Debaser. You can still appreciate TPAB without a nose, and walk in blind, but a developed nose will get more out of it, and the longer you let it macerate, the better it smells. I think songs like “King Kunta” and “Alright” have transcended culture, and their impact has made them more timeless than they felt upon release. Meanwhile, songs that were initially panned by fans like “i” or “u” or “These Walls” for being a bit stranger make a lot more sense in retrospect when reflecting on Kendrick’s career and hip-hop’s aesthetics today. Some of the deeper cuts that used contemporary synths that I thought would age poorly (“Mortal Man,” “Hood Politics,” “Institutionalized,” “How Much a Dollar Cost”) all won me over this time because of their strong songwriting. And then there’s still bangers throughout, like “Wesley’s Theory” and “You Ain’t Gotta Lie,” and most obviously “The Blacker the Berry.” TPAB has also benefited from its own creative incubation. As people like Kamasi Washington, James Fauntleroy, and Thundercat have grown in popularity, the sounds being explored on TPAB are a lot more digestible than I thought they were initially. And I would say the same for a lot of the more overt lyrical topics, especially on “How Much a Dollar Cost” and “Complexion,” where that blunt writing style is a bit less jarring today. If you asked, I would still say I prefer GKMC over TPAB. But I think it’s just a taste thing, and GKMC fits more neatly into what I traditionally listen to in my day to day life. That said, TPAB has a lot of replayability, and is arguably the more masterfully crafted record. To say it’s not a classic would be an insane statement, and it is neck-and-neck with GKMC. Both records are incredible, and easily some of the greatest offerings in hip-hop history, and even in music history in general.

Sick beats so smooth they slap, but Kendrick’s lyrics? Like your wild uncle at Thanksgiving, brutally honest, super explicit, and definitely not for polite company.

It was fine - I see how this album meant a lot to a lot of people and why it won a Pulitzer. It's still not my jam but I'm glad it exists

This is twice now that I have given this album a shot. The first time was in 2015 when everyone was saying how great it was. I couldn’t do it then and didn’t do any better this time. I love old school funk and typically am up for an artist trying to be experimental, so it seems like this would be right up my alley, but it just doesn’t work for me. While the lyrics, thankfully, seem to try to say more than hip hop’s usual themes of “I have money and deal drugs and am good at sex and prone to acts of violence”, they didn’t do so in a nuanced or intelligent way. The only thing worse than stupid people are stupid people who think they’re smart. “Ooh the homeless person was really God 😱 So deep!” Don’t get me wrong, every genre’s lyrics are stupid on the whole but have the rare exception with intelligent lyrics. But grading hip hop on a curve and acting like a rapper is a “street poet” because his lyrics aren’t quite as dumb as “she blow my dick like a cello” strikes me as racist pandering. In addition to the lyrical content being r/I’m14andthisisdeep-worthy, Lamar’s whiny voice is insufferable. The song where he calls everything “boo boo” twenty times is like nails on a chalkboard to me. A combination of a grating voice and too much experimentation and dissonance just doesn’t work for me. See Radiohead. I appreciate the fact that this album tries to be different, but it falls flat for me.

One of those albums where I can tell there's a lot more depth to it than I really appreciate, however not really my thing

Day148 - could be a good instrumental album

I like some of it. A bit more hip hip heavy than my usual fare.

Great album. Well known for me. A lot of great beats. One of the best HH albums of all time.

Modern fucking masterpiece. Got me back into rap when it was first released, such a genius move to incorporate jazz. Socially conscious and forever relevant.

One of THE best albums of all time

Not a big fan of Rap but I can understand why people enjoy this album. Still can't believe this lost to Taylor Swift

While I can truly appreciate the talent, effort, musicality, social commentary and art behind this album, as I listen to it I feel it is just not intended for me. I am not offended by it. Musical expression must be free for all to say what they need to say how they want to say it.

Wowza! No matter how many times I listen to this landmark release in West Coast hip-hop, I always feel like I'm just a step away from fully grasping what it's really trying to say. I mean on the surface level, it seems to be an album about Kendrick's struggle with fame and self in a society that thrives on dwindling African-American achievement, growth, and agency - but its nuances run deeper than that and each track offers some variant spin on that overarching theme. Grapples with self-love and hate, sexuality, consumerism, and institutionalism are all key topics discussed in the various songs here. I can't lie, this is a dense album, and I can see why some may prefer the predecessor to this one 'GKMC' for that exact reason. In that album, the story is linear, while here, it's divided into little chunks, and there is no plot, just an overarching concept. I prefer GKMC, but more so for nostalgic reasons (and I just enjoy the songs there more). Conceptually though, this album always won for me. Each song is like an insightful deep dive into a section of Kendrick's psyche relating to his status at the time. Sonically, it feels like all of Hip-Hop's ideas in the past 25 years (at the time of its release) coming to a head in one of the most immaculately intricate productions in the genre. Jazz, rock, funk, and soul fuse seamlessly on many of these instrumentals. The opener 'Wesley's Theory', for example, has so many layers of synth, vocals, and brass constantly panning in and out that it's almost overwhelming upon first listen. 'King Kunta' is an absolute bop with one of my favorite outros and 'The Blacker the Berry' has the most ferocious boom-bap beat here. The imbalanced panning during the 'u' transition and the bass on 'Mortal Man' or two other highlights here. This album is ginormous, and Kendrick and his production crew pull out all the stops to make sure each sound and detail here is as fleshed out as can be. Lyrically and flow-wise, it'd be redundant to call Kendrick Lamar an all-timer. His overt "gimmickiness" on many of these songs where a single rhythmic motif is established over a unique cadence can turn some people off - it works wonders for me though. My favorite has to be 'u' which is a song that until this day, blows me away with just how emotive Kendrick is with describing his feelings of self-loathing and guilt. I really didn't need to write all that much for this album, it speaks for itself. 'To Pimp A Butterfly' defies all of what mainstream hip-hop was pushing around 2015 (a trend that I particularly like still), while still managing to do numbers on the chart with songs like 'i', 'King Kunta', and 'Alright'. It's a one-of-a-kind release in a decade and deserves all the praise it got - and continues to get.

Nothing much to say about this beside…

Too artsy fartsy. Not enough bangers

It took me a few days to get through this album because it's so long and dense. I really enjoyed most of it, but less as a musical experience and more as a work of literature. I had to sit down with the lyrics and read a lot of annotations to truly understand the meaning and depth of a lot of the lyrics, like I was back in high school studying Shakespeare. In terms of writing, there aren't many rappers out there better than K.Dot (I'm writing this only weeks after the Kendrick-Drake rap beef of 2024). The imagery, the layers of meaning, the depth of personal storytelling and vulnerability, the recurring motifs and refrains — this is some deep stuff. As a rapper, Kendrick has good flow and excellent phrasing, though the voices he puts on can be a bit jarring and even annoying at times. Musically, the beats and melodies sometimes take a back seat to the words/story, but I didn't mind it most of the time. It's definitely not as "hooky" as most rap/hip-hop, though. I can't give this a 5 for a couple reasons. I didn't love the sound of "Hood Politics" — it's one of the few songs I found annoying to listen to. The final track is also way too long and gets a little too artsy and esoteric for my tastes. The whole weird discussion in the middle is awkward to listen to. And then when he feels the need to explain the symbolism of the entire album, it feels too much like being lectured at — your audience can figure it out on their own. It's an ambitious concept album that mostly succeeds, but it does fall flat in a few places. And I'm not sure how much I'd listen to it again. I'm not sure individual tracks would stand on their own either. 4/5

STANDOUTS: King Kunta These Walls Alright OVERALL: 2.5/5

Not really my genre of music. The rapping was fine, and some of the songs had some catchy grooves and were recorded well, but most of it just sounded like a mush of verbal diarrhea. Two stars.

Just so good.

Liked the jazzy tracks, the others not so much

Not really my bag

wenn i für jedes nigga an euro bekomm brauch i nimmer hackeln gehen In other news: die letzten 4 oder so songs actually ziemlich gut, der anfang naja, semi würd i mal sagen (mir egal ob er air max hat oder schnelle autos toll findet)

All explicit

I had kinda given up on modern rap music until this came along. I was enticed into listening to it after seeing the production credits and features - Flying Lotus, Thurdercat, Kamasi Washington, some of the best from the LA best scene - not to mention George Clinton. The blend of Jazz, P-funk and the overall concept of the album was so refreshing, even if it didn’t tick the boxes for fans of rhyming triplets over 808s and trap hi-hats. I haven’t heard anything like it since, solidifying this as a stand out classic.

I don't listen to much hip hop now but that was pretty good.

a personal favorite

It was okay

I was really surprised by this. Does that mean I hate Drake?

Didn’t expect to even want to listen. This is an artistic album. Definitely worth the listen. Not sure I’d go to it again though.

Not for me

Very disjointed

Ovo će bit predvidljivi pet dva rating gog krlo

Fantastic

Quality is good. But it's not easy to get through.

1950's in the Hood

Some bangers but too many mid songs to justify a higher rating. Best: These Walls Alright King Kunta Wesley’s Theory

Not really my genre but that was a really good experience, a lot of jazz influences in that album and I kinda get the message he was portraying.

I just... don't know what to do with this. I tried, but maybe my mistake was in trying to make sense of the lyrics. I either found them incomprehensible, or somehow troubling (and not in a way that made me feel empathy for Kendrick). I think I could have enjoyed an instrumental version of this album, or at least made it more than halfway through a song before feeling an overwhelming urge to skip to the next song. He's exploring themes that seem intensely important to him, but I feel confused and bounced out instead of understanding the issues more deeply. My stars are going to the musicians and producers who layered up the jazz/funk/experimental arrangements. Sorry, K-dot, I don't seem to be your target audience for this one, and I'm having trouble seeing through the window into your world.

I wish I had more to say, but it's not an album that has grabbed me and I don't wish to work on it more. I have listened, and I can't find it in me to do more. It's probably really good in its own way, I just can't gell with this style or this message..

Best hip hop album of the decade

I understand why this album is so highly regarded, but as someone who has almost no history with rap, I had trouble those reasons for myself. Maybe the pace was just too fast and unrelenting for someone like me to grasp

Me suena pero no conosco, otro disco de musica de la black people. Experimental i tot lo que vullgues pero prou mierdón. Es veu que tens que conectar en el mensaje o ser del rollo (nig*a) o viure en Brooklin o algo aixina pa que te resone per que vamos a mi plim. Raruno i parlan de pitos i xingal. 2/5