To Pimp A Butterfly

an immaculate album that i had played to the point that i couldn’t hear it anymore.. twas nice to listen to the whole thing.. man, king kunta still slaps

6/5

Enjoyed it more than I expected to

Ok I could almost give a 4, despite my hatred for rap/hip hop music, but it's just too long. I can see the value, good job Kendrick

A masterclass in storytelling, groove, flow, and lyricism. This album is as close as you can be to perfect. As someone who doesn’t necessarily listen to lyrics, I still enjoy this album a whole lot. After paying attention to the lyrics and meaning, this album reaches a new level. It’s absolutely amazing.

Great overall album propped up by some iconic songs. The concept of the album sometimes detracts from it being a regular rotation, but serves a larger purpose of making a more legacy achievement that moves the genre forward.

A modern classic

THIS IS A WORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRLD PREMIERE

It's currently May 5th, 2024 when I write this and I feel like this generator just gives out albums at the most perfect time. For future reference there is an ongoing beef with Kendrick and Drake and Kendrick is just killing him with the hardest diss songs. So for that to happening while it generated this is truly funny. Another great coincidence what literally the day the Queen of England died, this site recommended The Queen is Dead by The Smiths. To move on to the actual album itself, I mean, how can I sum up a perfect album like this. It's been in my rotation since I first heard back in 2017. The mix of jazz and the hardesr drum beats (especially on The Blacker The Berry). The messages each song are still as relevant and more hard hitting nearly 10 years later. From police brutality on Alright, to the topic of survivors guilt and un-dealt trauma from the past and how no matter how successful Kendrick might be, he still feels like he is a hypocrite for being to busy to help his friends and family who still live in Compton. Or how his success might be making lose his sense and connection to his culture with what fame has brought and that leads to the song How Much A Dollar Cost where because Kendrick has achieved such wealth and success after going to through a rough childhood as detailed in Good Kid mAAd City, he became more selfish and wouldn't give a homeless man a dollar and it metaphorically and litteraly lost him a spot in heaven because he ignored a message that even his mom told near the end of the last album "When you do make it, give back with your words of encouragement and that's the best way to give back to your city" and just how he chose to value his material belongings and couldn't give back to held a person in need just one dollar. Going back to him being a hypocrite, even he knows that he can be in the wrong and might care because the song These Walls, despite being one of the best sounding songs on the album. It's about him getting the most petty revenge by having sex with a girl who's boyfriend shot Kendrick's friend in Sing About Me on GKMC, and is now in prison, basically humiliating this guy to the world that his girl in unfaithful and sleeping with his opps. I think one of the top 3 songs though has to be The Blacker The Berry. Kendrick is pissed in this song and you can hear the hatred and anger in his voice, not only towards racist white people, but near the end when he explains that he can reclaim stereotypes of black people, and he can twist any insult towards him or his people, but he still feels like a hypocrite when he showed remose for the murder of Trayvon Martin, but still lead a life where before he would gun down black people as well showing how he want's the unnecessary and cruel violence towards black people to stop but knows he was in a similar situation himself and continued that cycle of violence. I could go on and on about each track but I'll just say, this is a required listening experience. From the obvious poem that Kendrick reveals more and more at the end of songs and you only hear the full poem and understand it's meaning from where it stops to what song comes immediately afterwards. The lushish jazz influenced beats, the songs U and I, and the last song Mortal Man with that last part of the song, if you know you know because I don't want to spoil it for someone who hasn't listened before and doesn't know what to entail because there's still a bunch a stuff I haven't yet talked about. Just give this a listen it. It's truly one of the best albums in the last 10 years and maybe ever.

instant 5/5, replay value is immense

It was ok. Few great tracks.

Куда уж нам, православным, до проблем черножопых.... Не понять нам этого.....

I first heard this on an Amtrak to Chicago on a trip to visit my best friend. When I asked him what I should listen to he told me Good Kid, M.A.A.D City and this one. In that order. I didn't know what to expect, just that I had heard a lot of great things about Kendrick and wanted some new rap to listen to. I had no idea that anything like this existed. Sure, jazz has been used as a backdrop for hip hop since its inception, but this was the first time I had heard it being used as original compositions rather than samples. Not to mention the power behind the lyrics on so many levels. I'm glad I listened to the two albums back to back like that. And I'm glad this album holds up nearly 10 years later.

Lamar likes to play with a theme throughout an album, as an extended story. This was clear from m.a.a.d., which was a better album with songs that might linger. This one had none.

Oh yes, hell yes. I've listened to this dozens of times. This is undoubtedly one of the greatest albums of all time. The best conscious hip-hop you can find. "Mortal Man" gives me ASMR every time I listen to this album. Kendrick conveys emotion so easily. His delivery leaves nothing to be desired, The production is scary good. Just amazing.

Better than J Cole. Better than Drake. Better than your favorite rapper. Singer songwriter. Better than pancakes on a Sunday. Wish more artists took the time to be this thorough and specific. Anyways, I thought you was conflicted.

Above average hip hop/rap album. It's a genre a dislike but the production is ace and the jazzy backing is distinctive.

And here's Kendrick *second* masterpiece in a row, right after official debut album *good kid, m.A.A.d city*. Just like the artwork on its cover, it's unruly, wild, provocative, filled to the brim with brilliant ideas and nice touches--its questioning of the American dream as African Americans can perceive it, its autobiographical musings, its different "characterizations", the wide variety of different rap flows and intents performed according to the "character" (or side of Kendrick's persona) this genius rapper puts under the spotlight, plus music styles so varied--drawing from P funk, hard funk, jazz, r'n'b, and of course hip hop--that the whole shebang is bound to make your head spin when you reach the end of this record. The last five minutes where, through an editing trick, K-Dot interviews the idol of his youth 2Pac and then leaves his final "thoughts" to him (and to the listener), is a moment that can easily make you shiver--even if, like me, you're not really a fan of Tupac Shakur's work. Evidence enough that Kendrick Lamar is a genius songwriter and storyteller. Of course, many other stellar moments abound in this essential LP. First you've got the highlights, which are too numerous to be all mentioned here, from "King Kunta to BLM's unofficial anthem "Alright", from enticing "These Walls" to the draker "How Much A Dollar Cost", and from the tense and intense "The Blacker The Berry" to the moving closer "Mortal Man". And then you have all the secondary tracks and 'interludes", which never distract from the whole but actually strengthen it--adding layers upon layers on the "fabric" unspooled here. A rare occurence for a hip hop LP, often pestered with too many unnecessary "skits". Versatile, multi-facetd, infectious, conceptually ambitious... One of the best rap albums of all time, which left us so many details to discover (again), and whose "rough" and raw power of attraction is potentially inexhaustible. Number of albums left to review: 215 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 344 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 199 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 251

Some good tracks, moments he comes across as eloquent and observant. But other tracks that are too far in the other direction for my liking. Probably found more tracks that I liked than I knew before though, so enjoyed listening to it.

Forms of media often have critical consensus albums that are used as the benchmark for the top of the top. It’s become the tired cliché for writers to lazily dub their top pick as the “Citizen Kane” of its format. If I were to do the same with an album as the example. To Pimp A Butterfly would be the project of my choice. This album is the greatest album of all time according to users on RYM, AOTY, and many other sources. I’m coming out to the gate with no shame in saying that I strongly agree. To Pimp a Butterfly is the greatest album of all time, not by a complete longshot but if any album surplants its placement, it’s going to need to beat the sheer scale, influence, audience consensus, personal impact, and plethora of other factors that influence my placement. First off, this album was the album that got me into taking Hip-Hop and rap as an art form as well as listening to albums seriously. I was young at the time I first heard TPAB. When I first heard the impressive flows, creative lyricism, powerful performances, and unique jazz production, I was hooked. It showed me that Hip-Hop could be both mind-blowingly cool, intelligent, and mainstream. It showed me how music could sequence well to tell impressive expansive stories and give wonderful extended experiences. I fell in love with just playing tracks off of it, but I slowly fell more into listening to albums, I saw how well it was acclaimed, I started searching for more rap, more music that people rated highly collectively. By 2020, I was writing short reviews on as many albums as I possibly could during covid as my main hobby that brought comfort and peace during Quarantine. I wouldn’t be doing this right now without Kendrick Lamar and To Pimp a Butterfly As for the project itself, Kendrick Lamar took his colorful personal storytelling and internal introspection on good kid, m.A.A.d city and elevated it to a different intersectional level on To Pimp A Butterfly. The wonderful narrative device of a powerful yet memetic poem reveals itself track by track. The way it shows hardships and personal struggle caused by what should be a triumphant return to home as a hero who can do something about it only to find out he can’t. The wonderful things Kendrick Learns from it are taught through a multitude of excellently detailed musical elements. The intense Jazz heavy boom-bap production is something that is so unique and astounding that no one even dared to attempt anything similar in the rap world or revisit it due to how extremely well the talented cast of guest musicians and featured producers crafted it. It’s a musical style that will stand out well beyond time. Kendricks flows showcase his musical excellence through tight unwavering control and dynamic showcase. Even his singing is produced well enough to be pleasing. His lyricism is beyond another level, weaving tight layered references into mind blowing rhymes while constructing these impressive layered stories. There is an immense amount of depth to be uncovered from this project and it still keeps TPAB fresh every time I return to it. Tracklist and sequencing is extremely well done but it’s impossible to mess up when every song on this album is an arguable top five, maybe even best in his discography. It's easier for most people to pick a song they dislike from this project and say everything else is the best. Even decisions like throwing in a Live version of I and having the length of the project be decently overwhelming work well in its favor due to the quality of everything around it. As much as it could be a part of me not wanting to let something personal go, every time I’ve had an album challenge TPAB for the top spot, I go back and I listen to it and it wins. I’m open to the idea that there may be an album or two I come across during this project that may have the chance and I’ll know if it wins but this project is undefeated vs what has to be over 3,000 others I’ve put a rating and ranking on and many more that I haven’t. TPAB is the ultimate expression of love for everything that made Kendrick into the person he is despite everything in the world against him and especially the people around him who aren’t there, whether they are with him or not. It moves and motivates you through every challenge, difficulty, and challenge that seems to present itself through the artistic way Kendrick literally battles his demons. Not only did I get TPAB at the perfect time for myself but the world did for itself too. Kendick Lamar is the G.O.A.T. With the greatest album of all time A.K.A. To Pimp A Butterfly.

Didn't enjoy at all.

No thank you

😴

one of the greatest

Finally some rap. Complex album. I don't know if it's my favourite from Kendrick but still fantastic. Love 'Alright' and 'How Much a Dollar Cost.' King Kunta of course.

This is easily the best hip hop album of all time.

not as cohesive and catchy as good kid, m.a.a.d city but there's no denying Kendrick's talent and why this is critically acclaimed.

Kendrick bypassed me somehow, I never heard even one of these songs before let alone the whole storypiece, but it's a great group of collaborators he's brought together. Is this avant-garde-hop? Extra points for the 2pac interview.

Kendrick is like no other and has created a space that he and only he can occupy.

Good shit

This is a movie, with a story and a point of view.

Rap. Aber sehr interessante und abwechslungsreiche Musik.

Wow. Put this on to make some crafts on a Saturday night but by the end I was only staring at the lyrics and couldn't look away.

Awesome. Original. Eye opening.

Musically really ambitious and creative with solid production, but I'm not feeling it. Not a fan of Lamar's voice and tonally it's all over the place. You get a sense he's got something to say, but it's lost under all the details. Fave Songs: I, You Ain't Gotta Lie (Momma Said), Wesley's Theory, These Walls

Good beats. Filthy language.

not even ten years old, and it’s already a classic.

Great album - not written for me, but I can appreciate some of the wizardry of the samples and the musicality of his lyrics.

El mejor disco de la década de los 2010. En una mezcla perfecta de talento musical por parte de los productores del LP, las letras de Kendrick y de sus colaboradores, las cuales se centran en la realidad afroamericana, sus luchas y sus creencias políticas, Lamar nos entrega una obra maestra que será para siempre recordada en los panteones más altos del Hip-Hop norteamericano.

This was a WHOLE movie, I've never heard anything like it. I'll need to go back and listen to it a few more times because I'm absolutely certain I missed some things. Even if I'm not the biggest rap fan, I really like Kendrick's style of rap, especially with the jazz and funk influences. Favorite song: For Free? (Interlude) Least favorite song: Hood Politics

This is a stunning work of experimental and conscious hip hop. So many eclectic touches. Just a brilliant record.

*This* should have won the Pulitzer. (Well, no. But it is head and shoulders better than that dull and uninspired prize winner...)

The best rap album of all time. If you think this album is just about money and girls and usual rap stuff, you completely misunderstood both the lyrics and the background knowledge needed for it. Please do yourself a favour and listen to this album with genius lyrics so people with actual brain cells can help you understand what he is saying

Definitely has a lot of huge ideas, not totally sold on the content but have to respect what was attempted.

Doesn't have the carefree summer- time vibe of Good Kid, Maad City, but the more introspective turn doesn't disappoint. This album takes the listener on a rollercoaster through temptation and addiction with the light of salvation at the end. Still upset this album lost Album of the Year to Taylor Swift's '1989'

Many tracks started with interesting groves, but then they changed. I had to speed run through this album starting with track 2—basically I couldn't stand and of it. This album wasn't for me.

I wanted to like this more than I actually did. It wasn't bad, but it won't stick with me.

Very good album. Minus 1 star sexually explicit material that made me uncomfortable.

CLASSIC CLASSIC CLASSIC Ik vind zelf stiekem Good Kid, Maad City beter, maar dit is echt nog altijd top 5 albums van 2010s voor mij. Als je dit nog nooit hebt gehoord moet je dit gewoon aanzetten, er zijn weinig albums die zo impactvol zijn qua muziek, qua tekst, qua tijdsgeest. Kendrick Lamar is voor mij sowieso de allerbeste rapper op dit moment. Dat was hij na TPAB, dat was hij nog meer naar DAMN. en hij heeft zn positie verstevigd met Mr Morale & the big steppers. Er zijn hele essays geschreven over de teksten op dit album over alle dubbele en triple entendres. Maar zelfs als je dat buiten beschouwing laat is het ook gewoon nog een goed album om te luisteren. Echt insane als je het mij vraagt. Fuck it, ik wilde het eerst 4 sterren geven, maar eigenlijk kan ik geen matig nummer noemen op dit album, het heeft geen skips voor mij, dus dit moet gewoon 5 sterren zijn. Dan is GKMC wel 6 ofzo tegen dit tijd. FAVO: Alles. Misschien het minste zijn For Free? en For Sale? en dat zijn fucking interludes.

This album is a jazz rap fusion, It took me a while to get into, I can respect the work as a complete piece of poetry, but found it quite irritating..

4.5. Amazing album with a skip track. One of the greatest rappers of our generation

Much better than expected, would listen again

I didn't even have to re-listen to this album to know that I was going to score it 5 stars. It initially took me a while to get into when I first heard it a few years back, but when it hit, it hit HARD. I'd now put this album in my top 10 of all time; it's just that good. It's lyrically thought provoking, musically diverse, extremely emotional in places; just everything I want out of a record. The production is so layered and complex, I literally hear new things every time I listen to it. If I HAD to say something negative, it would b...nah, only kidding. Favourite songs: yes.

cant stay focused. i feel like im going insane.

Worth a listen

Check ich nicht

Jazzy conscious west coast hip hop. I mean there's a reason RYM has this rated as the best album of all time. I don't necessarily agree with it but there's definitely a reason. A beautifully introspective political concept album, TPAB is so dense that even though I have heard it many times before, I am still noticing new things I never heard before. Kendrick's flow and lyricism is nearly unmatched in all of the hip hop or rap I have ever heard. I love the poem that serves as a through-line for the whole album, popping up and adding more each time. With over an hour run time, it's amazing that it remained so consistently entertaining. I can't praise this album nearly enough, and others have already done so in ways I could never. This is an all time classic, people already look back on it as a decade defining release. A rewarding listen both for the brain and the heart. I will no doubt continue to revisit this album. Perfect album. 5/5

I've listened to this a couple times before and it never really did anything for me. Somehow after almost 130 albums, most of which I've just not enjoyed at all, this is actually landing on some level. Now, I don't really understand the cultural context of this album, or feel like the lyrics have any relevance to me. I don't think they're the best ever put down. I also don't like the jazzier elements, but I can appreciate the innovation. It's good, but not special. Not something I'll feel the need to listen to regularly or pull any tracks for any playlists. Nowhere near the best album of all time - Not even in the top 100.

¿Pero qué broma es ésta? Muy malo.

This is not pleasing to listen to. When rappers purposefully make their voices weird just to be different is not something I’m in to. Is he talented? Yeah, I guess. I think I could make a similar album if I was given the tools to do so. Not impressed.

I’m the wrong demographic hehe

Ok I know I’m not going to want listen to this album regularly, but like most of Kendrick’s stuff I find myself really with this album. Just feels so detailed and moves in unexpected ways with the jazz elements and spoken word etc. maybe would be good live…. It’s a 3.5

Fucking hell. Some of this sounds like it’s been written with irritating me specifically in mind. I’m sure this is ‘great’ but I tried every track and I just absolutely hate it. Best of luck to Kendrick.

Please stop

Just not that inspiring. Better than some of the more drab RnB but it’s not as fun or exciting as the classic Hip Hop that’s been on the list so far. Don’t really understand why he’s considered as highly as he is. It was very average for me.

I think I don’t know enough about hip-hop to have a good opinion on this, but I’ve been told forever that it’s one of the greatest hip-hop albums. It definitely packs a punch and makes me feel like I’m walking on an escalator, but it didn’t strike me as profoundly as I hoped, I liked it though.

This is not for me.

G.O.A.T K-dot album.

No me ha gustado mucho, no es malo, pero se me ha hecho largo y sin brillar en ningún punto. El rap de los 90/2000 me llamaba más que el que se ha ido haciendo después. Seré yo que me hago viejo.

Passion, rage, flow, beauty.

Ambitious, stylish, well-produced. I liked this better than “good kid, m.A.A.d city.” I’ll listen to this one again.

True Rating: 4.5 If not for the length, I might think this a masterpiece, not to use such a loaded term, but it’s hard to set time out for an album this long with an overarching concept. However, I don’t know if I could say anything is worth cutting to shorten. It’s just an endeavor to enjoy completely, and that’s a shame for 0.5 points.

I think everyone knew when this came out that it was something special, something that would become an instant classic and have immense staying power, changing the shape of modern music. It’s the 5th highest-ranked album of all time on Metacritic, and it’s quickly risen to #17 on Acclaimed Music, #19 on Best Ever Albums, #19 by Rolling Stone, #7 by Consequence of Sound, and #1 on Rate Your Music. With the possible exception of Rolling Stone, it’s the best rap album ever in all of these lists. Nearly 10 years after release, I’d say it for sure holds up. It’s an absolute masterpiece. Sometimes when you gather so much great talent together on one album, it doesn’t equal the sum of its parts. That’s not the case here. There’s a variety of producers including Thundercat and Flying Lotus. There’s a variety of guest musicians like Snoop Dogg, SZA, and Robert Isley. But it’s really Kamasi Washington who shines above all else (other than Kendrick Lamar himself of course): while he only plays sax on “U”, he arranged strings and instrumentals for most of the album, and in my opinion that’s what really skyrockets this album to the heights it achieved. Regardless of how good the lyrics are (and Kendrick’s are bar none), you need great backing music to get the songs to stick in your mind.

Kendrick is definitely skilled as a rapper, but I'm not a fan of his voice a lot of the time. Interesting funk and jazz influenced music, but sometimes gets a little too spacey and ponderous. I think I just don't get it... Highlight: "Momma" (interesting percussion, nice flow and R & B vocals. Lyrics are intriguing, boasting, but then realizes he "doesn't know shit". Turns more funky in the last minute), "How Much a Dollar Cost" (just a straight story song (with a warped R & B hook) with Kendrick using his more normal voice), "Complexion (A Zulu Love)" (90s vibe with smooth vocals and record scratching. Reminds me a bit of Digable Planets (female rapping)) Notable: "For Sale? (Interlude)" (weird panting leads into a soft jazz music with a distorted voice then Kendrick using his space alien voice, then a weird country accent ranting about Lucy (???)...wtf?), "Mortal Man" (jazzy boom bap, complete poem that we heard pieces of throughout the album. Then it becomes an interview with 2Pac (?). Then a poem about a caterpillar and butterfly...)

It is a really great album, no denying that, but as far as I'm concerned it has quickly become the most overrated album ever. Kendrick is quite annoying in spots and some of the songs are more impressive than they are enjoyable.

Want to give six stars and I’m not even a hip hop fan

Really interesting album. The production is amazing and I enjoyed the mixed of styles. You can hear Thundercat and flying lotus’s influence. It reminded me of the weirdness of Outkast. The album is too long though(this is always a pitfall of hip hop albums). Also It’s pretty funny that even in alternative hip hop there is still a requirement to rap about having sex and being rich. It’s a good album though and it’s nice to hear something groundbreaking and different.

Quite nice composition. Very dark.

4,6

Visionary stuff but not always easy to listen to!

So many musical influences! I love that Thundercat and George Clinton are featured. “King Kunta” is great. Man loves his yams. Other songs seem gratuitously thrown together in a pretentious, artistic way.

Immaculate

An all-timer. Never listened to it back to front and I’m glad I did. It tells a story that I would never be able to experience. You can feel the weight of Kendrick’s words in places. In others, I’d say it’s more lighthearted. That or he’s just that passionate about the size of his dong. Either way 5/5.

Never listened to this album or much of Kendrick Lamar before. He is the only artist aside from classical and jazz artists to receive the Pulitzer prize for music, which is pretty amazing. I liked the lyrics and rap style but not a big fan of the backing music and hooks. This album is classed as jazz rap / neo soul and it's a bit too 'easy listening' for my taste and while it's pleasant to hear, I didn't really sit up and listen to most of the songs. King Kunta was my favourite song - more of a funk / west coast hip hop style than the rest of the album.

Masterpiece

Incredible of course

yes

Different. I wouldn't say it was all that and a bag of chips, but it was something, and for that I'll give it 3 stars.

I think Kendrick is super talented. 5/5

I’ve never listened to more than one Kendrick song at a time. I now understand the hype. This would be best listened to on vinyl as you get to experience the seamlessness of one track into the next. Truely moving.

Not a huge Kendrick fan but wasn’t bad

Everyone bums off this for being experimental and lyrically revolutionary, but at the end of the day I listen to music because my brain tells me it sounds good. This doesn’t sound good.

Probably would've said 5 the first time I heard it but some of the tracks are cringe like a decade later so I'm downgrading it to a 4. Kendrick is at his best for me when he sticks to serious conscious lyrics. When he tries to go less serious or god forbid get sexy it's like... Alright cmon my man

The album cover describes where we’re going. Insightful, creative, amazing. As he walks you lyrically through his worldview the music spans many genres. He maintains the hip hop tradition of skits, cameos and interludes. All stimulating and amazing.

We all knew this was a 5 outta 5. There’s so much that’s been said on so many levels about this album, so I’d just like to say that what I appreciate most about Kendrick, on this album and in general, is that he gives his ALL in these performances. No one can ever question Kendrick’s dedication to his craft, his consideration in his lyricism, or his effort in his performances. I’m glad I’m around at the same time Kendrick is around, I’m glad he makes it cool to push oneself in dedication to one’s craft. This album is a crowning achievement and a brilliant ode to specifically the black experience and the human experience in general.

An incredible album. TPAB is so densely packed with ideas and themes that I think to properly appreciate it, you'd have to go through every track with Genius open (which I have done for a few of them). I'm always conscious of missing some of his metaphors! His lyrics are really incredible, it's the magnum opus of one of the greatest rappers ever. Kendrick pulls absolutely no punches in his commentary of racial tension in America, while also being incredibly personal at times too. The musical styles and collaborations across this record also show what a great songwriter he is, as well as lyricist.

This was a good rap album, classical Kendrick Top tracks: King Kunta, Alright, You Ain’t Gotta Lie (Momma Said)

My favorite Kendrick album. Songs like King Kunta, Alright, and How Much a Dollar Cost are masterful, funky, and soulful, but, it is difficult to get past the misogyny laced throughout and some of the interludes just didn't do it for me.

3.43 per track. Some great 5 star tracks.

Masterpiece

2.7/5 Best Track: King Kunta

One of the best rap albums of the 2010’s. I think good kid maad city is the best of his and one of the best of all time. Ez one of the goats.

Awesome thanks

One of the most moving rap albums of all time for me. I do personally prefer GKMC but this is his magnum opus.

It feels like there’s a ton of meaning in each song and that there’s some type of story progression throughout the album. It doesn’t feel like a bunch of songs vaguely stuck together in an album. I’m generally not a fan of rap or hip-hop, partly because I feel like I can't relate, but I didn’t think this album was too bad. The beats and his flow are sick. Overall, it doesn’t change my fondness for the genre, and I probably won’t listen to it again on my own volition, but I wouldn’t mind if it played on the radio. Favorite track: King Kunta

There is a reason this album surpassed OK COMPUTER on rateyourmusic. Album is perfect, has the best lyricism of the past decade, and incredible production. This is a must listen for everyone. Highlights: all, but favorites are 1, 2, 3, 11, and 16.

One of the best hip hop albums of the decade. Nuff said, this was impressive and excellent.

This is a great example of the constant evolution of rap. Where other genres stall, rap continues to prove how things don’t need to, nor should they stay the same.

I've got friends who think he's the GOAT, and talk about this album like it's Moby Dick, so I go back to it sometimes to give it time, but all I keep hearing is an at-best second rate lyricist and unremarkably-voiced rapper with some great production. Not bad at all, but not earth-shattering. I get that this probably reflects badly on me, but so it goes.

this album is when i first started appreciating kendrick and his storytelling albums.

I listened to this many times before

Heard it! Classic

I don't even like rap. Album Score: 10/10 Best Song: i Worst Song: You Ain't Gotta Lie (Momma Said)

10/10

More of the last album, but with this super unique Neo-Neo Soul funk jazz production. Obviously incredible. A+

One of the best hip-hop albums ever created.

A fun one to relisten to. As ambitious and as uneven as I remember.

Sometimes the hits are hits for a reason. This album is phenomenal. Dare I say almost perfect. The length is a bit of an issue and I do prefer good kid. Curious to see if it continues to age well. Not sure people will remember the random negus spelling bee in the future

Not a hip hop/rap fan. Don’t hate it but don’t love it either.

I don’t know… maybe I just don’t get it

Interessant

So this is just not for me. It's not that it's bad, but rap is just a genre I can't connect with.

I remember you was conflicted

Mama is an underrated song in this album

I’m not a rap/hip hop fan. It would be nice to have an album that isn’t all shot, fuck, ho, pussy and the N word. This is better than most. Music is interesting. Don’t really care for his voice.

It's not terrible, but it isn't the sort of hip-hop I personally like.

Next one definitely more consistent

Hip Hop und Rap ist keine hörenswerte Form der Musik für mich. Wohl auch, weil ich den Texten sprachlich nicht folgen kann und die Musik als reine Rhythmusmaschine zur Begleitung verstehe.

If I liked contemporary hip-hop, I'd like this.

not a fan

I don't see what all the fuss is about. Then again, this is really not the type of music I normally listen to, so perhaps my opinion isn't relevant in this case.

I liked some songs but not a genre I normally listen to.

Better than I thought it would be. Reminded me of Andre 3000 in certain ways

I know this album well.. Thanks to my son and the Dissect podcast. Although I appreciate the artistry, but I try to avoid music with certain language... and this album has all of that language. Despite the cons... the use of poetry, storytelling, nods to jazz and the history of African-American music such as Parliament, James Brown, and G-Funk. But the inner turmoil presented in "these walls" and "the blacker the berry" are what really make this album special. Too bad about the language

this album got the yams

why did i like it some of the lyrics were a bit woah though

the vocals and lyrics are not it i dont like hip hop i couldnt even listen to the whole album (surprised i even got through 6 songs) shite it would be a good album without the vocals

I've tried listening to this album prior, because I know a lot of people that really like it. I gave it another shot and it's just not for me. It sounds they all have ADHD and waited for the meds to wear off to start recording. There's a couple songs that I find just okay, but the rest is a mess.

this better not be a metaphor

So many imfluences and collaborative efforts. Love it!

Just not my type of music on any level

Listened Before? N Honestly, I had very low expectations going in here because I tend to not like post-millennium rap records. This one, though, is a gem. The lyrics are serious sometimes but silly enough to lighten the mood without the whole record becoming a clown car. I hear a heavy Prince influence in some of these tracks and I like it. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: King Kunta

Not my usual taste, but very well put together. Analysed it a few months ago for class which is all I think about when I listen to this album now haha.

It got headbanging a couple of times but i just cant seem to get into hip hop/rap

Not a fan. I enjoyed the background instruments that's about it

The best rap album of all time

Kendrick is the man. No notes.

it blew my mind the first time i heard it and continues to blow my mind every time. maybe a perfect album.

I wanted to love it. Instead o found it frustrating and disjointed. It’s not for me

I've been waiting for Kendrick. I'm hopeful for little enough misogyny to accept him as the greatest of all time. ...Wow. Such power. Incredible. Absolutely deserves the title. That Tupac interview at the end? So good. Loved the Thundercat features, what a great ride.

Lots of lyrics. Would require several listens to decipher and think about. Seems "jazz-like" with changing melodies, tempos, spoken word parts. Pretty arty actually. I can appreciate it. Might get and extra star if I listen more.

Creative and well executed, less catchy than good kid maad city. Better than most if not all rap out there so gets the 5

Good grooves

"Sky could fall down wind could cry now look at me motherfu** I smile, I love myself".

Almost great, too much filler

Gave it a few songs, conclusion - boring

great beautiful and stunning twists and turns.

Best Songs: N/A Listen Again: No

I know it wasn’t THAT long ago but I distinctly remember the first time I listened to this album. At the time, Alix Sanchez and I were in a routine of going to the downtown YMCA to work out together early in the mornings. I must have learned during our workout that this album had dropped because I listened to it while walking home and I’m sure I was bopping along just like I was bopping along listening this morning. I love Kendrick! Favorites on this album are King Kunta, Alright, Momma, and i.

Sorry, I just can’t. Maybe this would be better as a slim volume of poetry. Almost all of these do not seem like songs, melody-wise, to me. Also, way too long. However, nice Isley Brothers sample on “I”.

I’m very familiar with this album. Going into it, the only question was whether I’d rate it 4 or 5 stars. I think this gets better every time I listen. Knowing that the poem is going to culminate in a conversation with Tupac helps. Going to rate it five stars. It’s so inventive and layered. It would be easier to list the songs I don’t love.

Speaks for itself

If I could give this album a 6 I would. Kendrick is an absolute poet and takes the music on this album to another level. The mix of various styles paired with his lyrics and flow creates a true rap masterpiece. Every song on this album is unique and tells a story that relates to kendrick personally. This is one of my favorite albums of all time so I was glad we got to listen to it.

I mean how good is Wesley s theory though. That song is so layered and funky. The only song that hasn't held up as well over the years is king kunta, but it's still a fun bop. Probably in my top 3 albums

I never really appreciated this album when it first came out. I think it was because everyone around me was dumping on it so I followed suit (very weak of me). But listening to it again without tasteless people in my ear telling me it’s trash, it was actually an amazing listen. The instrumentation on the songs, the depth of the lyrics, the constant overarching theme of the album. K-Dot deserved all the praise that I previously believed was unwarranted. Plus the last song and his “conversation” with Tupac was well done.

Two Kendrick albums in one week! And they’re both masterpieces! This is so fucking good. Every song while it’s playing, I’m thinking “this is my fave,” and then the next one comes on. Incredible!

Bringing funk into a new millennium, Kendrick created a classic.

I used to be (and probably still am) a little bit pretentious. I was not dissapointed by this album when it first came out but, similar to frank ocean's blonde on first listen, it did not hit as immediately. This album is definitely a dense, funky artistic statement from one of the current best rappers in the game. I may be partial to good kid, maad city and may not love all the beats on this one as much, but the more you actively listen to it, the more it becomes impossible to deny the pure artistry coming out of this album. Great features, crazy concept and enough good singles coming out of it to appreciate it.

"To Pimp a Butterfly" by Kendrick Lamar, released in 2015, is a bold and ambitious album that pushes the boundaries of hip-hop. Lamar explores themes of race, identity, and the African-American experience with intelligence and nuance. The album's production is lush and intricate, blending jazz, funk, and spoken word elements to create a rich sonic tapestry. Tracks like "King Kunta," "Alright," and "The Blacker the Berry" are powerful and thought-provoking, showcasing Lamar's lyrical prowess and storytelling abilities. While "To Pimp a Butterfly" is a dense and challenging listen, it rewards repeated listens with its depth and complexity. It's a fearless and uncompromising work that solidifies Lamar's place as one of the most important voices in contemporary music. Overall, "To Pimp a Butterfly" earns a 4/5 rating for its innovative sound, lyrical depth, and social commentary.

It’s just not very good, not really a single banger on the whole album and it’s 1 hours 20 min long.

Some real high points and a lot of blah. In general the highs outweigh the lows.

Mer poetiskt än vibe lyssning. Stark avslut på albumet, gillar starkt. Story telling 10/10.

I like the way this album experiments and crosses genres--the transitions are really great, but I've never particularly been a fan of the Lamar flow. At times it's brilliant, but too often he does the Shakespeare thing of being profane just for the sake of being shocking and it doesn't quite fit. Apparently that was his original MO, so it's probably the easiest place for him to go, but when he rises above it, he's just more interesting. Would be a 3.5 for me, but I'm going with a solid:

What a wild album. Rap is not my thing, but damn is this impressive! I really enjoyed the 2nd and 3rd songs, the others not so much. But the craft that goes into it is incredible.

Well, that was something. I kind of got into King Kunta, but then it lost me. These Walls was also interesting, with some cool instrumental licks. Alright is a BLM "rallying cry" song (which I learned from Wikipedia) and I understand why, even though it's not my kind of music. How Much a Dollar Cost was also interesting to me. The first half of the next-to-last track (i) was pretty fun - probably my favorite on the album. The last few minutes turned to social commentary that I appreciate, but took me out of my enjoyment.

Coming in I had no idea what to expect. I knew the name Kendrick Lamar but knew absolutely nothing about him. This album started out really rough for me and made me really considering just abandoning ship. I'm glad I didn't as tracks 11-16 were definitely the best part for me. Track reactions: 1 - Well... singing along is right now. Oh that's George Clinton. Love that funk. Ooof... this is difficult to listen to. There's a lot going on and I don't like much besides the beat. 2 - No comments on interludes unless I like them which I generally don't think they add much. Since this is a story-telling album I understand why they are here so I'm neutral on them unless otherwise mentioned. 3 - This one was OK. 4 - What the heeeeeellll is this? No thanks... 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 - I'm questioning whether I should bother continuing to listen... 10 - This actually seems like a track I could listen to. "Fine" is now a stand out track for me. 11 - Might be my favorite track so far? It's fine+ 13 - Another fine track. 14 - Forgettable 15 - New leader in the clubhouse? This one kinda slaps. Best song for sure but I could definitely lose the ending monologue. 16 - This has a good flow.

Top ten all time album

This is such a dense album - I feel like I could listen to it 100 times and still find new stuff and some of it would only become apparent if I started looking at the wikipedia/liner notes. I had listened to it several times 5 or so years ago and found it somewhat impenetrable, but now it opened up quite a bit more and I was able to really enjoy it. I'm giving it 4 stars, but it's more about me needing to grow into the album than the album.

4.5/10 Highlights: The Blacker the Berry King Kunta

Not always my favorite aesthetic, but it comes from a culture I've never really known. Some of the repetition of particular words or phrases gets a bit boring, but the stretches of weaving lyrical brilliance makes up for those moments. Some truly unique sound scapes and beautiful mixing lead the way to some banger beats. I may not be the intended audience, but the art speaks for itself. Good stuff.

Wow. 5

More funk than I expected, definitely super talented and very poetic but a little experimental for my taste.

Not a genre I normally listen to but this is objectively a fantastic album.

Not for me. Catchy but bothered by language.

Жизнь не поменяется, подмооооой жопу, нигга, говорит мне кендрик ламар на пару со снупдогом. Я знаю твои секреты, нигга!! Ну... ну как это оценивать, если я не чернокожий житель гетто? Трудно оценивать, вот правильный ответ. Рэп новой волны я не могу воспринимать. Да и вообще рэп это такой жанр, который надо читать (как его читают, впрочем, и сами исполнители) а не слушать. С музыкальной точки зрения альбом... ну норм. Но из-за того что он не про музыку -- я не могу. Не могу )

par vrlo dobrih par dosadnih 3.5

Nekak sam sam nezainteresiran bio za ovo. 2.5ish

Just totally ahead of what was coming out in 2015. Kendrick going from Good Kid MAAD City to this is fucking crazy. 5/5

I appreciate all of the intricacies involved in this truly thematic album. There are many swirling bells and whistles throughout that make it way more interesting and complex than most rap/hip hop I've listened to in the past. The constant nods to jazz throughout are the highlight for me. In the end though, I just don't completely connect with this genre. Favorite tracks: King Kunta, How Much a Dollar Cost, I.

If the list wanted Kendrick storytelling, they should’ve waited 2 years for the album that perfectly embodied poignant lyrics and smashing hits. Did you hear he won a Pulitzer for it too?? Sh*t’s rigged.

B Wesley's Theory 4 For Free? (Interlude) 3 King Kunta 4 Institutionalized 3 These Walls 5 U 3 Alright 5 For Sale? (Interlude) 4 Momma 3 Hood Politics 3 How Much A Dollar Cost 3 Complexion (A Zulu Love) 3 The Blacker The Berry 3 You Ain't Gotta Lie (Momma Said) 3 I 3 Mortal Man 2

Very lyrical hip hop with many n words

banging

Don't know it as well or like it as much as MADD City. But still a great album. Lot's of random musical tangents that keep it interesting. Don't really know the lyrics well enough for it to be a 5/5 for me, but that could change with more listens.

Esta extensísima (80 minutos) colección de hip-hop, elevada por auténticos himnos soul, tiene un puñado de canciones que a mí, poco seguidor del estilo, me gustan y emocionan. Es el caso del arranque de "i" y "Momma", o del funk alternativo y subvertido de "The Blacker the Berry" ("Cuanto más negra es la baya, más dulce es el zumo").

Incredibly hard-hitting, powerful and thought provoking poetry set to some great beats. Good stuff. I was amazed!

Musically one of the best modern rap albums. Some of the songs don’t work lyrically, but overall most of the songs are great. 3.5/5 Might listen again

4.5/5

I don't feel like it's possible for me to fairly garner an opinion on this album in just one day, it's just far too dense. Even as a non-hip hop fan, I can appreciate the quality of the catchy choruses & flows, and the concept of the album alongside its lyrical cleverness cannot be overlooked. I just think that on certain verses Kendrick's voice can be a little grating and there are some features that I'm not a huge fan of. Definitely a great record, though.

Absolutely incredible

cant stay focused. i feel like im going insane.

Another one that thinks it's saying deep and insightful things about politics and society. Would've rated it lower, but some interesting stuff with the musicality of it all was enough to bring it back up to average.

С пивом потянет, но не огонь. Кендрик порой душноват, особенно если не владеть инглишом на уровне носителя(

Awesome.

One of the greatest Hip-Hop albums ever made, and arguably one of the best albums, period. Conceptually brilliant from start to finish, immaculate production throughout with many different influences and styles studied and blended together seamlessly, and lyrics that are creative, intricately crafted, and captivating from one of the best to ever do it. This album is the perfect, Grade-A example of an artist's magnum opus

A damn good hip hop album. Lots of experimental tracks pulling influences from literally everywhere. I've never heard anything like this before and I'm sad it took this long to hear it. Standout tracks: King Kunta, These Walls, Momma, The Blacker the Berry

I'm not a fan of rap in general, but interesting. I enjoyed the various instrumentals but can't get past "my dick ain't freeeeeeeee."

Wow

It's Kendrick. I kinda like it, kinda don't. Similar tp newer Kanye in that way. His work is very 'artistic' and I don't always 'get it' and that's okay. Respect, but, it's not something I'm super into, personally.

Oh no

Kuulemma uskomattomin konsepti ikinä... obama sano vuoden räp akti... Obaman lempi rappialbumille kuitenkin hankala tykätä,,,, varmaan pitäisi musta olla ymmärtäisi herran deep reflections of society... Materilism... DEEEEP.... changing yourself... wow...

horrible

A masterpiece

This doesn't sound like anything I've heard before!

This is awesome.

Hip hop is by far my worst genre on here, but holy mother of something this album is absolutely insane! I've listened to it casually here and there before, but giving it a bit more attention opens up a whole new dimension. The lyrics are funny here and devastating here. The instrumentals and samples are both amazingly utilized, and the inclusion of the interview at the end is surprisingly beautiful.

I just can’t get into it. Rap isn’t a genre I relate to, but it’s clearly musically great

not really my vibe but i can appreciate the mixing. 2/5

This is horrible

I remember you was conflicted. Kendrick Lamar is the best rapper of all time and this is the best rap album of all time. This album had a huge effect on me. As someone who was always a casual rap fan, the release of this album made me dive deeper into rap. Years later, I still love all the songs. It’s hard to pick a favorite.

I do like Kendrick, not as good as money trees.

not for me

Terrible

amazing

I liked a few songs, but kind of lost my interest about halfway through. That's still probably more than most rap albums, I think. A lot of interesting musical things happening throughout.

I like “King Kunta” and “How Much A Dollar Cost.” Like the jazzy elements. “The Blacker the Berry” DAMN.

Awful garbage

Coming in, TPAB was not the absolute top-tier listen that Good Kid, m.A.A.d City or DAMN. is, but still a really amazing rap album. Felt like it sat in that category of mid-2010s hip-hop album that is making strides in advanced in its scope and artistry, but somewhat at the cost of listenability and fun factor, similar to Frank Ocean's Blonde and Solange Knowles' A Seat At The Table. And listening now, I feel I was wrong. Incredible and newfound respect for it.

I hated this x

Beautiful album

Oh I get it, you know funny I have a few of his other albums (GKMC) but never listened to this one. Wow this man is a word smith, beautiful sounding too. 4.2

This is my favourite album. My girlfriend hates it. Looking at other reviews it's definitely polarising!

Gute Lieder dabei, leider kann man das Album aber nicht durchhören!

While I appreciate the artistic effort Kendrick exhibits, this album is partially unlistenable and mostly unenjoyable for me. It’s feels incredibly bizarre for me to even think that with how much I love Kendrick as a musician. It’s like I’m in an alternate reality where I’m listening to a different album from everyone who believes this to be his masterpiece. I may just not be getting the point, but most of this record feels like throwaway music that’s a novelty the first time, but too off kilter and unpleasant to go back to except for memes. When he gets a song well put together, it fantastic ie Alright and King Kunta but they’re so few and far between. The large swath of tracks on this record have great production but either have awful hooks or obnoxious vocal inflections from Kendrick that normally work, but work to his detriment here. I’m just confused. This album is so beloved by so many people, but Imma have to pass.

fua hace mucho no escuchaba un disco q me guste tanto de 1

Uncohesive mashup; his voice is an acquired taste, collaborative songs are best.

Look, I’m not really a hip hop girl but I did enjoy this. Woah the last song is 12 minutes long!

Du gros hip hop. Cet album a son propre style est c'est bien bon.

It's like a challenging abstract painting in which the noise is in the eye of the beholder. For me, it's ugly, repellant music. Putting it in the context of the lives and tastes of another demographic, it could be meaningful. My rating is for me, though. The cover looks like January 6th.

An album that I spent some time with during my final year in Seattle and first year in NYC. Many good tracks!

Hyvä tuotanto, mut eih, ihan paskaa 1.5/5

Modern classic, and potentially the greatest hip hop album ever.

Spontant inte riktigt lika bra som förra Kendrick. Lyssnat en hel del. Men tycker inte den tar sig till lika höga nivåer som maad City-skivan.

Rent musikaliskt håller jag GKMC högre än denna. Här är det mer experimentellt och styrkan är texter, tematik och helhet, vilket kräver många genomlyssningar för att uppskatta. Många anser ju att det här är hans bästa skiva (och en av världens bästa skivor), men jag tycker inte riktigt den når så långt, just pga att den inte har så många riktigt starka produktioner. Kanske måste lyssna ännu mer för att förstå…

Seminal hip hop album. Love the mix of jazz etc. Kendrick on top form.

Überraschend funky und abwechslungsreich

Listened to this when it came out. Didn't get it then, don't get it now. Just some dude talking about his dick over discordant jazz. Nah thanks

Not my favorite

There's not a single rap album on this planet that needs to be 80 minutes long. I didn't like anything about this one.

O.k.

This is the first album on here I've really felt like one listen isn't enough to really grasp it - there's clearly a lot going on underneath the surface. All in all, it is a solid album, with amazing experimentation and lyrics, but it is a bit dense for regular listening. F. Song - Alright

Fantastic album. Amazing story and reflections on the life and stories of Kendrick as he grew up. With some good songs as well and good beats.

Another one I needed a physical copy of

Some of the music is ok; kind of funky or jazzy. The lyrics are another story. I think I heard the n word times in this album than I have my whole life! Also, he sounds like Tommy Davidson when he is acting like a little kid.

Really?

Don't have anything anything to criticize about this albums really. It's simply extraordinary. From the genially written hitting poetic, but also raw, lyrics, the insane production giving it a really polished feel to the masterful, educated and tastful blend of music genres that takes inspiration from and honors a wide range of influential pieces of the history of music and many other aspects that make this a true piece of art. I also really like how the album works as a cohorent piece of music that works with the fact that it's supposed to be listened to as a one piece with really nice song transitions and interludes. It's truly a wonderful album that I will for sure be coming back to in the future. 9/10

This goes way too hard given I'm not exactly an avid hip hop listener. Love the different musical styles.

Well, the backing music was creative

Fantastic album,

A hip hop masterpiece. Some of the songs are more like sketches, but the entirety feels complete. King Kunta is worthy of a 5 star rating by itself.

This is a big, dense album but the music always carries me through it. It's a mash-up of G-funk and sensual R&B with sudden bursts of free jazz. There's always some new detail to discover or a groove I forgot about. Some great bass lines throughout the album too. Kendrick Lamar is a rapper who has flows for days. He's restless on the mic, constantly changing up his style and rhythm. And he plays with his voice too. Most of the time he raps in that nasally tone but sometimes he growls, sometimes he sings, sometimes he's out of breath. On "U" he raps a verse while acting like he's drunk and crying. The lyrics are dense and it's hard to keep up with him because he moves through ideas so fast. You could probably spend a week in a college course pulling at the different threads of race, politics and sex. But I also like how a lot of the album is confessional. He's getting things off his chest, struggling with guilt and working through his personal anger. "King Kunta" is a such a killer, funky jam. And the jazzy "For Free?" is always fun (amazing music video too). The middle of the album has a lot of slower R&B-styled songs and the production on those tracks is great too.

I was reeeaaallly blown away by Kendrick Lamar the first time I gave him a good listen. I had heard some tracks from "good kid maad city" in passing but it wasn't until this album that I sat and give him a listen and man did it blow me away. I kind of felt like at the time for me personally there was a dearth of good rap for years, even though I know that wasn't the case. I was just behind on acts. I was late on Mac Miller and MF DOOM and Death Grips and RTJ. I liked Kanye and would listen but he was never my favorite. I loved J Dilla and Nujabes but they were different. The last time I was hard into a rapper was The Game, and "The Documentary" came out in 2005- ten years prior to "To Pimp A Butterfly". I had a ten year gap of minimal rap! Then this comes out and I can't get "King Kunta" or "Alright" out of my head. I'm driving to work and pumping myself up and singing "WE GON BE ALRIGHT". I'm walking around my apartment complex to get my mail and i'm singing "Now I run the game got the whole world talkin King Kunta" to a cadence that matches my footsteps. I am forever impressed by his rhythmic modulation and metric subdivisions. On "For Free?”, it’s highlighted so well (and smooth!) as the accents change when he gets to the lyrics: "Matter of fact, see our friendship based on business Pension, more pension, you're pinchin my percents It's been relentless, fuck forgiveness, fuck your feelings" "Fuck your sources, all distortion, if you fuck it's more abortion More divorce courts and portion" This free jazzy rhythmic improv style flow is so impressively fresh and new feeling. I mean it's an element of music that's been done before but here he is taking this concept and bringing it to a genre that seldom hears something like this. I love it! And it's definitely not easy to incorporate these sounds into a rap song and not sound "weird" or "off". That's something that I think must be incredibly difficult in rap- to explore ideas and push boundaries while not upsetting the conventions. There's just so much posturing and issues / importance centering around personal image in the rap game and once you get a negative label I’m sure it’s near impossible to shake off. You have to make the risk worth it. I can't believe that "For Free?" is #14 out of 16 in play counts on this record (as per Spotify). This is one of my favorite rap songs ever. Possibly a top 100 song of all time for me. His flow is just one of the important parts. His voice is cool. It's silky. It's smooth. It's scathing. In the middle of "Institutionalized" he sounds like Snoop Dogg (right before a Snoop feature on the same track lol). Then two songs later he is cry-singing on "u". His lyrics are the third part of the equation. They are a social commentary. They are personal. They are intimate. They are funny as hell! Outside of pulling from jazz, he also pulls from classical music. Somehow he uses motifs as well (and I suspect leitmotif, (of Richard Wagner fame) but I need to do a deeper look at the lyrics and people he is talking about to get a fuller understanding). An example of this is in Track 1, "Wesley's Theory", just prior to the gangsta rap west coast 90's high pitched synth callback: "What you want you? A house or a car? Forty acres and a mule, a piano, a guitar? Anythin', see, my name is Uncle Sam, I'm your dog Motherfucker, you can live at the mall" and then again on "Alright": "What you want you, a house? You, a car? Forty acres and a mule? A piano, a guitar? Anything, see my name is Lucy, I'm your dog Motherfucker, you can live at the mall" Also the big lyrical section that pervades throughout and evolves - the one that starts at the end of "King Kunta", "I remember you was conflicted Misusing your influence" and then the lyric further develops at the start of "These Walls" Sometimes I did the same" and then the lyric further develops at the end of "These Walls" "Abusing my power full of resentment Resentment that turned into a deep depression Finding myself screaming in a hotel room" and then further developed at the end of "Alright": "I didn't want to self-destruct The evils of Lucy was all around me So I went running for answers" and then further developed at the end of "For Sale?": "until I came home." and then on "Hood Politics": "but that didn't stop survivor's guilt going back and forth trying to convince myself the stripes i earned or maybe how A1 my foundation was. But while my loved ones was fighting a continuous war back in the city I was entering in a new one." Then we get the final verses from the final track in the album "Mortal Man": "A war that was based on apartheid and discrimination Made me wanna go back to the city and tell the homies what I learned The word was respect Just because you wore a different gang color than mine's Doesn't mean I can't respect you as a black man Forgetting all the pain and hurt we caused each other in these streets If I respect you, we unify and stop the enemy from killing us But I don't know, I'm no mortal man, maybe I'm just another nigga" Interesting stuff right? It's obvious that it is a conversation that he wanted with Tupac with the spliced back and forth that they have at the end of the album. I assume he is a hero of Kendrick's, and someone who went through similar life circumstances, only to end up with the same potential problem- not maximizing what you are doing for the world with your fame. I see this final conversation as maybe a realization of a dream that Kendrick had, because obviously it couldn’t have actually happened, with Tupac dying when Kendrick was only 9. There’s something sad about how this whole album plays out with him writing this poem (even though he says “it ain’t really a poem”) and the conclusion of it maybe being some kind of final magical event that summons Tupac for him to have the conversation, but only for it to come and go and leave Kendrick with wanting to say more… or wanting more advice. "What's your perspective on that? Pac? Pac? Pac?!" Maybe it’s a passing of the torch, and Tupac has gifted everything that he can. I really love the idea of this album evolving and growing as the poem does, and having the poem repeated over and over again. What a gift to hear this on studio speakers too. I've been listening to this on bad bluetooth headphones, or through bad car speakers for years and this is my first time bumpin this in my studio. Hell yea. The mix is even better. The spread is sick, and his voice cuts right through the center. The more I've dived into this album the more I've enjoyed it. It's not my favorite album of all time (despite my lengthy review here), but it's certainly an incredible one and potentially my favorite rap album of all time. I don't think I will ever get sick of listening to it, and I will never exhaust the seemingly endless amounts of quality moments in the record. Solid 5/5. Please rap game, make more albums like this.

Incredible commentary, great beats and samples but not one I'll reach for for listenability time after time.

Banger. But not as good as GKMC

I first listened to this album when I was going through Rolling Stone's list of the 100 best albums of the 2010's. I’ve listened to several of Kendrick Lamar’s albums, but I've always found his music incredibly tough to stomach because of its dark subject matter, dark melodies, and his fierce rapping. Because of that, I’ve never relistened to any of his whole albums, so this was my first time to listen to one of his albums a second time. Just as I remembered, this album is dark, almost to the point of being menacing. Not that Kendrick Lamar is a menace, but that his music is like going through a haunted house. Like a strobe light, you’re hit with barrages of expertly enunciated words at a lightning quick pace. Musically, this album creates an atmosphere of dread and unease. Utilizing the darker tones of funk and soul, while being structurally akin to jazz, helps keep the listener on their toes. Lyrically, this album takes you through the horrors of black life in America. Much like the Black Lives Matter movement that was starting to become more widely known, Kendrick Lamar drags social issues out of the shadows, bringing them into the light to expose their ugliness and the way that they’ve embedded themselves into our society. I don’t enjoy listening to Kendrick Lamar’s music, but I think this album is really good. The rapping is fantastic, the music is varied and unique, and the lyrics are poignant thought-provoking, creating a haunting experience that I don’t really want to revisit again.

Track 1: I think it’s a good opener. Track 2: I thought this was a fun little crazy song after the opener. Like the sax too Track 3: I liked the bass in this. I thought the mj reference was cool. Track 4: I like mellow vibe. I think the piano and strings are fun and the woodwinds used are cool. Track 5: I really like the ending of this with the sax and the under water synth. Track 6: I like the different type of inflections that happened. Also the production of the instruments is really good. Track 7: this is one of the songs he played at lolla when we saw him. I think it’s a good song. Track 8: fun little song to be in the middle of the album. Track 9: once again another nice instrumentation. Track 10: good song Track 11: another good song Track 12: I like the background vocals and the feature is good Track 13:another good song Track 14: I like the groove Track 15:I like the spoken word at the end Track 16: another good groove and rap beat. I like the interview as well. Overall: 8.1/10. I like Kendrick a lot and I think this album showcases a lot of cool instrumentations which he uses a lot. He also has a great voice.

It’s good. Some really good songs. Some could have been left off and it would’ve been a tighter album.

Not my style, and just didn’t enjoy it. But I gave it a try.

A big fan of hip hop and R&B pre-2000's. Not sure anything good from these genre has been created since. I'll keep the rant short and say this was absolute shit and learn how to wipe your ass. The stench from this album was bad and left me in a very bad mood. This is a nothing. 0

I'd heard this once before a few years ago and it failed to leave much of an impression at the time. I remember thinking it was weird and almost a joke. Since then I've tried to deepen my understanding of both jazz and rap music and I think that influenced this listen. This time around I really enjoyed the album a lot more. Like most music I like when they get political and there's no shortage of such music on here. Even the songs I would normally not like had such great beats and instrumentals that they are far from un-listenable. I need to give DAMN another listen but I think this is my favorite Kendrick album so far. 4

3 Oh boy, here we go - an album I’ve seen widely considered one of the greatest releases in recent music, if not the greatest of all-time (rateyourmusic.com has it ranked at #1 if you want to take their users’ word for it). So with that in mind, I can’t help but feel the bar may have been set a little high, because I’m walking away a little underwhelmed. That to say, I do have a lot of respect for what this album does, especially being released in 2015. I mean, not only is it an incredibly insightful and intricate depiction of the black experience in modern America, but it’s crafted in such a way that it expertly fuses numerous genres of music associated with black culture with common themes and musical refrains. So, in a lot of ways, this felt like a concept album, something I find incredibly refreshing in the Spotify-era of music, where singles are valued much more highly and albums are less frequently given front to back listens. But despite all of my appreciation for that, I really didn’t fall in love with a lot of the individual songs here. Maybe it’s privilege to say that many of them didn’t particularly resonate with me, but I don’t think it was due to any lack of musicality, lyricism, or messaging, I just felt like there was too much going on in a lot of the tracks. There were definitely a few that I enjoyed though, with the more R&B-driven Complexion and These Walls being two of my favorites (My dad probably won’t want to admit this, but the latter sounds just like a Prince song - I’m almost convinced the guest vocalist on the song was deliberately doing an impression). However, the moments that ended up resonating with me the most were the spoken word segments. I loved the ongoing poem that concluded a number of the tracks, especially with how it culminated in the finale, Mortal Man, where Kendrick recites the full thing to none other than Tupac himself and then proceeds to have a profound conversation with the rap legend (using archival material) on the black role in modern society and Kendrick’s responsibility as a newfound icon of the culture. So, I would definitely say this is the kind of album that largely benefits from diving deeply into it, but I still don’t think I can confidently walk away saying this was an all-time favorite of mine. Yes, I appreciate what it does, but it’s hard for me to score it higher when I didn’t love a number of the individual tracks, and I’m not racing to give the full thing another listen. I have a lot of respect for Kendrick, but this just wasn’t a life changer for myself as a music fan.

love this album - I didn't enjoy it hugely when I was younger but now I appreciate it massively.

A great album.

Some good instrumentation. Vulgar and hard to listen to.

Its such a great album and if these walls could talk, they would agree. The Jazz Funk Inluences are Crazy and brings so much to the Genre of Rap. Such a Genius move letting Thundercat be a big part of this Masterpiece. SHIT DONT CHANGE UNTIL YOU STAND UP AND WASH YOUR ASS NIG*A! Its so energetic and the Message is clear. Gotta give it 5 Stars. Its not like a Go-To Album from k-dot usual for me, but when I listen to it, I LISTEN TO IT. "i" is such ah groovy masterpiece and covers so much love and energy.

A very strong album with some absolute bangers.

Struggled whether to rate this 4 or 5.

Nö! Keine Chance bei mir. Das ist definitiv keine Musik!

game changer

Kendrick Lamar is probably the GREATEST (modern) RAPPER. This is truly phenomenal. I will give this 4,5, though the page doesn't allow. his 5 star album is good kid MAAD city which I hope this page has got included in its 1000 list.

Rolly gang rolly gang rolly gang

Masterpiece

Pretty damn good album. The instrumentals on the album are insanely good and the artist meshed the genres together so well. This album is an absolute masterpiece for someone who was never fully into hip-hop/rap.

It's Kendrick so you know you're in for a pretty good rap album. 4/5. Favorite Tracks: Alright, How Much A Dollar Cost, The Blacker The Berry

Very artistically, well written but too much for me- didn't enjoy it as much as I would have liked.

Just don't like most of it. Did like King kunta though

I liked this. Didnt live up to some of my favourits 90s hip hop albums, but this was still better than most stuff in the genre to me. The back half of the album especially was great.

Just simply brilliant - sprawling, inventive, lyrical, fierce, coherent and eclectic at the same time. A master class in delving into the multicultural zeitgeist of the day by enveloping it in the sound and feel of LA. Particularly Kendrick’s LA. Have on vinyl and listen constantly. Great lyrics and tunes - just sublime.

Had listened to before but Momma and Hood Politics and How Much A Dollar Costs hit different this time

ok, rap not really my thing some interesting beats and grooves

Masterpiece

i really like this album. some songs are absolutely iconic, some are a bit mid. however, i can't give this album a five star rating knowing that "DAMN." exists as that album is the pinnacle of Lamar's work.

in terms of musical quality, lyrical genius and as an experimental album, 5/5 album. however half the songs are a bit too experimental and might need a few more listens for me to fully digest the meaning behind the lyrics. has some real bangers too like king kunta and alright

I've never tried harder to like a particular artist. I've delved so deeply into GKMC and TPAB, it's mind boggling, especially because I've claimed up and down to not like KDot. However I think I've finally wore myself down to the point that I can admit that the level of talent here is extremely high. This is top notch slam poerty over respectable jazz-fusion tracks. This guy certainly has a ton of ideas and executes them without hesitation.

no me gustó

Not for me.

not for me

Was surprised, not usually my style but really enjoyed, Kendrick Lamar portrays so much emotion

ehhh good rap just a lot of cussing

A certified classic. If you haven't already I highly recommend listening to the Dissect podcasts series on this album as they do a great job explaining exactly why this album is a masterpiece. Anybody who is a fan of rap/hip-hop has this album in their top 10 and it's not hard to see why.