To Pimp A Butterfly

Been here before but it's nice to see you again. :) This album never gets old. Kendrick is my favourite rapper for a reason.

Literary and penetrating Like listening to an anxiety attack But probably not a lot different from living in America as a Black man.

I didn’t listen to the whole thing, it’s just not for me. I respect the artistry and expression and have given it fewer stars only because it doesn’t speak to me personally.

Next.

I want to give this 2.5 stars... Better then I was expecting. Vibes like a 1990's album, but released in 2015.

Disgusting!!

I think the majority of this album is great. The music is complex, the lyrics insightful, the production stellar. It can occasionally get too juvenile for me. I also think it’s a couple if tracks too long. But I always love listening to this. 4.5/5

I dig it

He intentado escucharlo de principio a fin pero me ha sido imposible, sin lógicamente desmerecer no es mi estilo musical.

I do not like music that has disrespectful language

fantastic

who knew so much rhymed w Muthafuckers, Ho's, Bitches, Niggahs...

I mean cmon....

Not for me

This album will make you want to dance. This album also feels philosophical. I would be weary of my younger children being in earshot when listening, because of the use of the N-word in many songs; I don't ever want them to think it is ok to use that word. The 1st song, with George Clinton's collaboration, is really good.

very progressive with interesting beats and real lyrics

Lots of hard R “N” word use.

Started listening at 6:30 am and just couldn't. First lines put me off at that time of day and I never got back to it.

Ruined my Spotify algorithm Horrible

Well done but just not my cup of tea!

After a few good intros that leave you wanting more - the wish is unfortunately never fulfilled - boring beats and the same staccato chanting follow. Vocally nothing special either.

Top quality rap album that I don't get back to enough.

Il y a une certaine variété dans les beats, mais je n'accroche pas à la voix de Lamar. Les titres sont assez peu mélodiques, ce que je préfère dans le rap.

Dense. He’s awesome. Long album, over 70 minutes. The blacker the berry got my attention. Need to hear more of his stuff.

Couldn't finish as it was a bit too adult for my listening children's ears.

I appreciate some of the artistry on this but mostly I think this is a single listen album for me. A grudging 3 stars.

Good tunes, loved the beats

Better than I thought it would be. Especially liked the jazz interludes.

Some very good songs and some uncomfy ones. Jazzy rap with excellent social/racial justice insights.

Not for me. Definitely not my normal genre choice and I'm not a fan of explicit language - but - I did find the music and lyrics more interesting after taking the extra time to read about each tune and what it meant to the artist.

This was my favourite album of 2015 and it's no less potent, vitriolic, and on point almost 9 fuckin' years later. A roaring treatise on our fucked up society that really goes to show that ain't nothing changes but the date. "King Kunta" and "I" still bang harder than they had any right to.

Nicht mein Geschmack

Too long for me and I’m not great at rap

Lyrically and musically complex hip-hop that brings together jazz, funk and soul influences. This album definitely feels like it deserves to be on this list, however the majority is not to my personal taste. I’ll give it a few more listens but I don’t expect it to be added to my collection. Highlights: King Kunta, Complexion, You Ain’t Gotta Lie, i (that riff and bass line!)

Consistent

There’s a lot going on here thematically, sonically, lyrically- I’d have to listen a few more times to take it all in. It’s impressive. I’m glad I took the time to listen. 4.0

Need to listen to it more... not getting the 'conscious' elements, but probably not hearing everything. Musically diverse - sort of reminds me of a neo-Gil Scott-Heron. 3.4

Can he do no wrong? KL4L

We once bought a CD from a guy on the street. He was selling them outside of Comerica Park after a Detroit Tigers game. There were five songs . We listened to about 5 seconds of each song. We threw it out the window onto I-75. To Pimp A Butterfly is only slightly better than that.

I don't really understand certain songs on this album. With some songs, the hip hop/rap is not about flow or rhyme scheme at all, which is all I'm used to, so I find them abrasive and annoying. Kendrick takes so many random breaks in the middle of songs, or completely changes the direction of the song, I just really don't get the appeal. When I listen to an album, I want to listen to music, not a documentary, or an interview. It's a shame, because the actual music is solid, but the whole album is pulled down by these "commercial breaks" that he constantly takes. Favourite songs: The Blacker the Berry, Wesley's Theory, How Much A Dollar Cost, King Kunta, Hood Politics Least favourite songs: For Free?, For Sale? (Interlude), u, i (I would have enjoyed this song if it wasn't for the like 2 mins of spoken word at the end of the song. That happens too much in Kendrick's music), Mortal Man (same complaint as "i" above) 3/5

This was an easy 5/5, one of the greatest hip-hop records of all time

Siisti kokonaisuutena. Siistejä jazz instruja. Välillä Kendrickin räppityyli pilaa kappaleen. Parhaat: King Kunta, Hood Politics, i

Not for me

Very good but too long. Would listen again.

Kendrick Lamar has the sad tendency to tie absolute bangers to homework-music (not the kind you study and relax to). This tendency made this album immensely well received, yet I (maybe falsely) remember critics at the time discussing how they only listened to it a very few times. As a result, only a few of the tracks go in to high rotation, while the rest of the album is consumed just once. More like a book, really. The peaks are so very good, though. 3.5

Was this 2015? Was this #19 Greatest of all time according to a rock magazine? It's not bad and I like parts of it but it's not innovative or original or groundbreaking at all. Anyone who thinks that hasn't listened to much music. Sad we are consumed by the 'New' without reference to what's already been. I hear Prince, a bit of Eminem and even Trip-Hop vibes. Like I say, I like it but it's derivative.

Joat 🐐

This album was kind of a wild ride. The second track, for free?, came on and I swear I started buffering - am I listening to jazz rap? Is that a thing? This is….interesting? I really appreciate all the jazz influences Kendrick Lamar brought in throughout the album, and it is definitely an interesting album because of what he did musically that was outside the box for typical hip-hop. That being said, as much as I’m glad to have heard the album, I probably wouldn’t revisit it. Also, the last track really only needed to be the last 2 minutes on the album with the spoken word poem about the caterpillar and the butterfly. I’m into long tracks - as long as they are interesting. 12 minutes of the same flow with very little going on musically is not going to be a strong finish to an album.

Niet mega intens naar kunnen luisteren maar kende het wel al voor een stukje. King Kunta en For Free? zijn de max, Hood Politics ook, geniale raps, muzikaal ook super gearrangeerd, maar thematisch niet 100% m'n ding, veel n****z etc..., zot gedaan, maar 't komt daardoor niet zot hard binnen ofzo en wordt wat vlak als je 't hele album doorluistert.

Oh Please. Really?

Some say it's overrated, but I genuinely think it's a classic already. Every track is fantastic, the production is stellar, and I can listen to it front to back every time -- I don't care that it's an hour and twenty minutes. Fav Tracks: ALL, Momma (Underated)

I've had a greater appreciation for this album ever since I took a class in college called The Great American Novel and we talked about this album as a non-literary example of the Great American Novel. Liked it before, have loved it since.

He’s probably the best lyricist out there, and it’s really cool how he’s able to tell a story with this album. That being said I just don’t think most of these songs… sound good? Like I wouldn’t listen to these songs individually. It’s probably like 5 stars if i were rating like a piece of art or poetry or something but in terms of music I feel like it needs to actually sound good to be that. This is a very light 4

This album actually leaked early a couple of days before the release date, I stayed home from school to listen to it. I can still remember laying on my bed in the dark, staring at the ceiling and hearing the first song on this album fade in and feeling like I was listening to something meaningful. This album taught me more about life then any class could on that Friday Best song: all of them Worst song: none of them PS: this is the greatest album I’ve ever heard

This album is a literary masterpiece. I adore the poet in Duckworth. It narrates the intricate journey to self-love through the life cycle of the caterpillar, the cocoon, and the butterfly, capturing the complex dynamics between humans and their environments – a theme that is both cohesive and inspiring. “The caterpillar is a prisoner to the streets that conceived it Its only job is to eat or consume everything around it In order to protect itself from this mad city While consuming its environment The caterpillar begins to notice ways to survive One thing it noticed is how much the world shuns him But praises the butterfly The butterfly represents the talent, the thoughtfulness And the beauty within the caterpillar But having a harsh outlook on life The caterpillar sees the butterfly as weak And figures out a way to pimp it to his own benefits Already surrounded by this mad city The caterpillar goes to work on the cocoon Which institutionalizes him He can no longer see past his own thoughts He's trapped When trapped inside these walls certain ideas take root, such as Going home, and bringing back new concepts to this mad city The result? Wings begin to emerge, breaking the cycle of feeling stagnant Finally free, the butterfly sheds light on situations That the caterpillar never considered, ending the internal struggle Although the butterfly and caterpillar are completely different They are one and the same"

Important and genius.

One of the best rap albums ever. The production is so complex. The raps are impeccable. This is Kendrick at the top of his game in the midst of the best rap album trifecta of all time.

Some songs were ok some were meh, not for me I guess.

I've heard a lot about Kendrick but I'm not really a fan of rap. First song is super lame, I really really thought this would be different, but it's just about wanting to fuck. Second song he raps about his dick?

This is the album that put Kendrick on the map. It's a great album, but not his best album.

Its refreshing to hear a rap album with real instruments, unique song structure, and a message that isn't just sex or gang stuff. That said, he uses the n word way too much. It makes sense in some of the tracks, but not every third line. 4/5.

5 stars. No notes. In my opinion, this is not a hip-hop album. To Pimp a Butterfly is a jazz album.

Not as good as I expected overall. I'd heard a handful of songs off the album before and liked them but others are not so good.

Next 5 songs played by my Spotify Algorithm: Boldy James, The Alchemist - Great Adventures Notorious B.I.G - Party and Bullshit J-Dilla - U-Love Danger Doom, MF Doom - Crosshairs Pusha T, Kendrick Lamar - Nosetalgia

One of the greatest albums ever made. Perfectly created.

Never actually listened to Kendrick Lamar before, let's go. I'm enjoying this more than the Wu Tang Clan album recently. Like the background music better. The sound effects in u were cool.

GOAT

Some of the Christian undertones hit in a much weirder way than they used to here. I still think this album is, on the whole, absolutely brilliant.

Absolutely love this one

I can understand the appeal but I really don’t like the whiny voice he uses sometimes

Was cruising for a 3 then i came on and just tipped the scales. Really it's a 3.5 because it lost me in the middle but it was good.

Could've been shorter but when it was good it was really, really good.

Not my kind of music I did like one of the songs though. But I will never listen again.

Not a fan, at all.

Obviously an iconic album, great sounds and his lyrics are always there. But he did have a message he was wanting to put through like in alot of his albums. It's a message everyone can get behind but from purely a music standpoint, it takes alot of time from the actual sound of the album.

If you gave this 1 star because it's a rap album, I assume you are either a racist or a loser.

Verbiose and artistic spoken poetry like rap layered on top of sliding jazz sounds. A beautiful album but unfortunately I just don’t like jazz that much and I don’t want to analyze too deeply. 4 stars for artistic uniqueness and lyricism but minus one for entertainment value.

I like some of the songs. It is a super creative album that's on the longer side. It sounds like jazz with spoken word. I can appreciate it, but probably wouldn't listen to it again except for one or two songs.

I liked this. I always feel like an outsider when I listen to Kendrick. His music speaks about his experiences and I can't understand because I have all the white privilege in the world. King Kunta was my favorite track.

Easy

scuffed LOL

4.7

Don't even need to listen to this as it's one of my favorite records of all time. Curious to see if other Kendrick albums will show up on this list. 9/10

One of the first albums i was excited for when I was a young whippersnapper. Loved it, there is just something about it that makes it so unique

luv it. an album which is an experience vv cool

3.5 - rounded up for i and King Kunta

Album #1 - hip hop, not my style but there creativity, lyrics, talent is huge here. Compelling in parts, not so much in others. Interesting start!

Me cuesta entrar en los discos de hip hop, pero esta es una excepción.

nice

Very solid album, used to listen to this regularly when younger. Relistening now, still holds up, however some of the ad libs and ‘skits’ on the album I feel do detract from the flow, making me want to skip ahead in tracks to get back to the music. 4/5.

Album is heavy but v good

A varied and good hip-hop album, I especially liked the jazz influences. I didn't like sometimes excessive profanity in the lyrics, otherwise I should probably listen to the lyrics carefully to try to fully understand what this album is about. But the music was quite good.

Lyrical skill on Kendrick Lamar is great, instrumentals were great. Rap/hip hop is not my favorite genre but really enjoyed this album

This is sick, loved the vibes, instrumentalism and lyrics. One to repeat often.

WE GOONE BE AIGHT

Really enjoying jazzy influences in hip-hop albums. Never checked out Kendrick before this, but he has a similar vibe going as does Tyler The Creator. Really enjoyable, though some songs in the end were a bit meh when compared to how the album started. Strong finish tho. Significant 19/51 Liked 8/51 Added 2/51 This one: yes, yes, yes Previous: nonono xd

This is the No.1 album on RYM and I see why. This album got me into hip hop and without it and especially Mortal Man I wouldn't enjoy Hip Hop as much as I do. And yeah it is pretty much perfect. Not my favourite hip hop albums but it is top 5. favourites: Wesleys Theory, King Kunta, Alright, Institutionalized, The Blacker the Berry, Mortal Man least favs: For Sale?, You Ain't Gotta Lie Rating: light 10

Damn - what an album. I remember when it came out in 2015, I never went out of my way to listen to it because it was everywhere on my campus and I figured I'd hear in totality via osmosis. I was quite wrong. Listening to it in full now I'm impressed how prescient the album is - he captures this undercurrent that ultimately erupts in the 2020 BLM protests in an album that is full of bangers. That said, the showstopper was the the final eponymous track - the monologue he has with his father is brilliant and somehow has a new perspective on the current day discourse (nearly 9 years later (also oof that this album is nearly 9 years old)). Even if you're not keen on rap, I'd recommend taking a few min out of your day to listen to that last track a couple times over.

Really cool album with some jazz Elements

i liked it better when i listened several years back. 3.4/5 listened 1x

Fun toe tappers that have something to say but the closer you read the less it has to say, musicly or lyrically

5*

Unique and well made

When this came out there was sooo much hoopla around it. Listening then and now, the album is just \"okay\" to me.

I'm finding this hard to review this album, this was my next album to listen to on my 1001 list, and I have listened to it a few times, but I'm not as versed in hip hop and I don't think I have anything intelligent to say about this album. But here I am trying...I love the music and I end up reading the lyrics and have found that Kendrick is so poetic and always has interesting flows. From that first song, I knew I had to check out some more Kendrick and also why haven't I listened to some Funkadelic. The more I listen to this album, the more I like it, I think this will have to be one of those albums I will be changing my rating on in the future. I find it hard to rate something like this because I think my opinion is always growing and changing. Standouts: Wesley's Theory, King Kunta, These Walls, Alright, Momma, How Much a Dollar Cost, The Blacker the Berry, i

The GOAT. Gleder meg til dagen det kommer et bedre album enn dette. Ikke bare er albumet fylt til randen av 10/10 sanger, men det har mange fler lag. Gjennom albumet utfolder det seg et dikt, som igjen reflekterer hele albumets spilleliste. Historien som blir fortalt, og hvordan alt ender med en diskusjon/interview med Mr. Shakur i enden av Mortal Man er fullstendig gåsehud. Krever kanskje å lytte et par ganger gjennom albumet for å forstå, men det er verdt det. Etter å ha hørt albumet et par hundre ganger fortsetter dette albumet å gi enda. Albumet inneholder komplekse rim, forskjellige kung fu flows med babystemmer og drita kenny, og vokalen er overall variert og ubestridt. Hovedsaklig er instrumentalene funk-inspirerte, med en tone som blir satt tidlig i Wesley's Theory. Det er fortsatt sanger som er så mye mer enn bare funk, med grusomt aggressive sanger som The blacker the berry. Hele albumet består av highlights, men hvis jeg skal velge noen personlige favoritter er det Wesley's Theory, For Free?, Institutionalized, u, Alright, Momma, The Blacker The Berry, Hood Politics, How Much A Dollar Cost og Mortal Man.

Echt een van mijn favoriete hip hop albums ooit gemaakt! Het moet wel een beetje je ding zijn, maar muzikaal, en qua tekst zo vernieuwend (zeker toen het uitkwam).

Geen grote hip-hop fan maar dit is wel nice, muzikaal ook goed vind ik Is niet iets dat ik heel snel aan zou zetten maar ondanks dat is dit wel echt een van de betere hip-hop albums imo en dat kan ik wel waarderen. Would probably not buy

Erg vet album!! Kende “Alright” natuurlijk al, en had “King Kunta” ook opgeslagen maar kon m me niet echt meer herinneren dus idk hahah. Heel leip dat er zo veel intrumentals werden gebruikt in veel nummers, had ik niet verwacht. Samen met z’n teksten vormde het een coole (en soms grappige zoals de interlude “For Free?”) combi vond. Dit album is een 4 voor mij!

Great album, even better seeing it performed live!!!

I don't want to talk this album to death because there are been plenty of think pieces, dissections, and discussions around this album in its entirety. At this point whatever I say will basically sound like an echo chamber, BUT I do want to point out one thing about TPAB. This is a creation that is cemented as a necessary piece of art to be visited/frequented. This is the first album on this list that I've already had my previous experiences with (I've had so many amazing times with this album) and I can completely say objectively say that this is an almost perfect album. For hip hop. For music lovers. For the mainstrean consumption. And especially for the black community on a microcasm. If there's some chance that you are reading this and haven't had the opportunity to experience this album then I need you to trust me as a fellow fan of music... go do yourself a favor. Kendrick Lamar virtually put all of himself into into this body of work. There's a reason that this album is talked to death and will remain as one of the most talked about hip hop albums throughout history. 5 out of every single damn 5 stars.

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

A case of an album that is in a genre that I do not usually enjoy, but is quite good within that genre. I don't usually set out to listen to hip hop, but if I had to pick one to listen to, this album would certainly be a good choice.

It's all so nauseating

Incredible; love him and loved seeing him live.

Hmmm, I remember rating this highly previously, but when the generator spat it out I found it a real slog to get through, other than about half a dozen killer tracks. Then I listened again through headphones and started to rediscover its quality; the music was more impactful and I paid attention to more lyrics, which are obviously the most important part of the album. It doesn’t work as background music, despite some of the jazzy bits sounding like that sometimes - it needs all of your attention. I prefer GKMC but TPAB is clearly an important work that I respect a lot and enjoy slightly less (but I still do enjoy it).

Это что-то с чем-то, продюсерская работа и читка кендрика - это абсолютный оргазм для ушей

Obviously very popular given the number of streams. There are some interesting turns of phrases, but not my thing at all.

Listening start to finish, this album was really more interesting than I remembered. There is a lot of jazzy instrumentation throughout. The speed of the songs varies a lot. The way he raps varies a lot. It's not hard to listen to and it doesn't sound like too much of one thing or another - it really just keeps it interesting song to song which surprised me. I was thinking it may be a 4/5 but I'm just going to do the 5. It's good and Kendrick deserves praise

3.65 average ratings aint doing this album justice, I want the whole load

Couple of skips but overall a good album.

Good

King Kunta on klassikko mut muut ei noussut yhel kuuntelul. Paitsi ehkä Snoop ku Snoop on Snoop. Ihan kivaa fiilistelyy kuitenki. Loppu kohti parani.

Ambitious and layered. The flow is not something I’m drawn to instantly but I respect the music that demands attention.

K: storytelling flow cohesive vocal references C: Overall an almost perfect album, the tandem of u and i one is one of my favorites. Repeating themes throughout give an overall cohesiveness to the story it tells. May be somewhat long winded and some of the songs do not stand alone outside the broader context of the album. Mortal Man is a marathon but an excellent song, especially with its transition from i.

CLASSIC

Kendrick did it again

Didn't really like it. I know it's won a ton of awards and is popular but I just didn't find any of the songs interesting.

Like this one a lot more than MAAD City.

Best ever

Highly personal and influential album. Required listening.

Wesley's Theory - 6.9/10 For Free? (Interlude) - 7.4/10 King Kunta - 7.3/10 Institutionalized - 7.7/10 These Walls - 6.7/10 u - 9.3/10 Alright - 5.7/10 For Sale? (Interlude) - 6.9/10 Momma - 8.1/10 Hood Politics - 8.4/10 How Much A Dollar Cost - 9.7/10 Complexion (A Zulu Love) - 7.6/10 The Blacker The Berry - 7.9/10 You Ain't Gotta Lie (Momma Said) - 6.7/10 i - 6/10 Mortal Man - 7.2/10 To Pimp A Butterfly - Kendrick Lamar - 7.5/10

A very interesting album. At its best it combines poetry with jazz, and at its worst it's swinging wildly without a target. The positives outweigh the negatives, and it's definitely something that any rap fan should check out.

I don’t like explicit stuff.

Solid record

Felt like the first ‘classic’ album in a long time. What an album holy moly. I don’t think you could fit another sample in if you tried.

Front to back, what an incredible accomplishment. Almost every single track hits. The whole record flows perfectly, it’s stacked top to bottom with great features and guest musicians building out the deep textured arrangements. Bits of Jazz, Funk, Soul, everything gets thrown in here to make a truly unique record. Still sounds fresh 8 years later, lives up to every bit of hype there has been about it. Side note: Certainly an album that I feel really defines what this project is all about. Anybody should give this a shot no matter how far out of their comfort zone or cultural experience this is. It truly feels like a privilege to experience such a complete artistic statement. Top tracks: King Kunta, These Walls, u, Alright, The Blacker The Berry, i

Bitch where you when I was walkin'? Now I run the game got the whole world talkin', King Kunta With To Pimp a Butterfly, Kendrick Lamar has created a modern day masterpiece that transcends the boundaries of hip-hop. The album is a musical and lyrical tour de force, exploring the complex realities of African American life and culture in the 21st century. He combines diverse influences, from jazz and funk to spoken word and soul, to craft a rich and innovative sound that showcases his poetic prowess and social consciousness. The album tackles themes such as racism, oppression, self-love, depression, and redemption, with honesty, courage, and creativity. In addition, the album features some stunning singles, such as “King Kunta”, “Alright”, “u”, and “The Blacker the Berry”, which are up there with Kendrick’s best. For instance, “King Kunta” is a powerful homage to his roots and influences, while “u” is a heartbreaking confession of his inner struggles and guilt. To Pimp a Butterfly is not just an album, it is a cultural phenomenon that will resonate with generations to come. It is a work of art that deserves to be studied and celebrated for its artistic excellence and its profound message. This album is a masterpiece that earns 5 stars. Thank God for Rap.

really liked this! always wanted to listen and wasn't disappointed.

Great album.

Like a fever dream but pretty much close to perfect. 10 out of 10.

Fantastic! Why haven’t i heard it before?

A stone cold achievement.

As much as this music isn't really my thing this album Kendrick has a lot to say about how America and the oppression black people face.

Not my favorite era of hip hop, but hard to ignore how good TPAB actually is.

Good but too dense to take in over 1/2 listens. Will come back to it

meh, it's not so hard to listen to this but not very enjoyable either. I'm feeling generous I guess...

This is a huge and important album. It is interesting and technically impressive, and socially/culturally important. The track 'i' is a standout. Having said that, I am not sure if I will ever listen to it again as rap is just not enjoyable for me.

A trip from start to end - the concept album is musically really interesting and has some deep themes.

Top 5 rap album all time. Incredible instrumentation and well communicated story that links back to the poem at the end of the album. I find something new every time I put this on

You already know. Absolutely stunning album about identity and purpose. U is one of the greatest songs of all time. There hasn’t been an album that sounds the same since.

How Much Dollar Cost, The Blacker The Berry are my favorite tracks on album. It is truly fine piece of music. Catchy beats, interesting sound manipulations. Definitely hooks me more then 90' NWA gangsta rap.

This album seems to be a lot about racism and oppression of African Americans. I liked the old style instrumentals on the track. It told a good story

Really great but too long. I could see myself digging into it.

A classic. Lyricism and tone remain on top. Sticking with a 4 because it’s not an album that I would personally listen to on repeat. However I understand why it makes the list.

Today I gave TPAB a 4. A few years back that may have been higher (but not quite a 5 probably). Kendrick’s flow is well Kendrick’s flow, lyrics are good, and the beats are unique. One thing to note is how weird and cringe some of the lyrics are at the very beginning of the album. The popular songs were cool to listen to because of nostalgia in addition to them just being good

The good songs were obviously great, but there’s not much I would re-listen to here. Not really my style, but I definitely appreciate his talent.

i mean come on, the production is insane, the jazz infused hip hop is beautiful especially on songs like these walls, wesleys theory, and the blacker the berry. the flow is great with a strong message. hard 5

I tried but couldn't get through the album. Might be a great rap album but that doesn't mean much to me.

The album itself isn't bad. For those that like the genre, I am sure it is a standout. There is alot of emotion and effort to be poetic with sensitive subject matter. It is hard for me to relate on a personal level, and I am not deep in the genre to begin with.

There’s a stack of potential on this but most of it is ruined by his potty mouthed ramblings

It's decent, not usually my thing though

Shit, I couldn't fucking get on board with it, bitch. I just couldn't bastard handle the cunting language. Musically unfucking appealling. So it can sit on my dick, but that ain't free, you twat. (still. Better than ZZ Top. Which was the worst album of all time)

Not my thing stylistically. Appreciate the message though

This is a very creative album. Way outside the box, but definitely some strong songwriting and production value.

Soundwise an amazing piece - it has everything from funky bass licks to jazz arrangements, to 90s hip-hop staples. As for lyrics, I'm really confused. Kendrick spends the first third if this album in age-old issues of bitches, money and being tough. There are pieces on dick size and an ode to vaginal walls. Then he transitions to personal crises and struggles of African-american population. It is hella hard for me to put everything into a cohesive narrative here. I really tried to like this album, but since I'm definitely not the "target audience" it got lost on me.

Это один из любимых альбомов. Все, кто не ожидает ничего интересного от хип-хопа, послушайте. Этот альбом это лирическое и музыкальное осмысление опыта проживания жизни в теле афроамериканца. Наполненный той же лютью, что и Ву-Танг Клан, но более серьезный, взрослый, что-ли. Сильное влияние Flying Lotus и прочих, поэтому тут много джаза и очень интересный саунд в целом. Десять из десяти.

Not sure how this made it onto the list…

Good one

Extremely dense and complex. I don't have the listening background in rap to truly appreciate it. I prefer DAMN to this Lamar disk.

Best Song: The Blacker The Berry. I love Kendrick's eager, aggressive, forward-leaning flow on this one. Worst Song: Hood Politics. "Boo boo". Overall: Grandiose with a story to tell. This album feels huge, sprawling. Kendrick shows so many different aspects of his talent here, with a particular emphasis on his lyricism. On top of that, all the features are fantastic, Thundercat's influence can be felt throughout. It's not as immediately accessible as "good kid, m.A.A.d city", but once you get into it you see it's just as good.

Huh?!

Goated

Still a great old school style album. Great messages

Meh

It opens with a terrible track, in the same way that Bob Dylan opens Blond on Blond with the horrible song "Rainy Day Women". Then it gets better. The band is amazing, and Kendrick's rap is thoughtful and detailed, but I need to read like dozens of books to understand a lot of the things he's talking about. But that's a me problem, not his.

Umm okay. He sounds like Snoop Dogg's slightly less weird brother. First half grooved more than the second half. Didn't really listen to the lyrics because I was reading a really good sci-fi book. Will tomorrow be a female artist?

Listened over a couple days. It was ok but didn’t really grab me like some other hip hop albums have.

This album is special, lyrically great but not incredible (a lot of just dissing other rappers) and musically amazing (also a bit weird, I'm not used to progressive music) but some of the songs were just overall incredible, I even cried to the song "u", would give it a 9/10 (because it lacks lyrically)

Not it. Maybe this

Decent lines. Songs get a bit too complicated, can be confusing

4/5 Kulturell einflussreiches Album mit Schwerpunkt auf politisch und sozial relevanten Themen der USA. Aufgrund der geographischen, thematischen Distanz habe ich zu einigen Themen keine Kontaktpunkte. Gefühlvolle Erzählweise voller Wut für Unterdrücker und Mitgefühl für Leidensgenossen. Großartige Beats mit vielen akustischen Elementen, wodurch das Klangbild sehr organisch klingt. Funky. Experimentell.

Not just Kendrick Lamar’s greatest album, not just the greatest hip hop album, but one of the greatest albums ever put out. TPAB is a masterful album that I could never get tired listening to. It has the masterful storytelling and lyricism that Kendrick is known for combined with jazz infused beats and it make for something wonderful. My personal favorite album of all time.

4 stars

Not my usual genre, but clearly a skilled artist poured his heart into this

Not my thing

I can appreciate the artistry and creativity but it’s not my kind of album.

A-This is a good album. This IS a good album. This is a GOOD album. Dang, this is a good album. D- liked the cadance of the spoken word, at first it was very similar to he's newest album, which I didn't like too much, but after a few song it blew my socks off, man.

This style of rap/hip-hop is both outside my area of expertise and not to my taste. In my professional opinion as a white Mexican with no rhythm, the flows are not great. Favorite song: King Kunta. 3/10

My personal favourites from the album are “Wesley’s theory”, “the blacker the berry”, “i” and “alright”. Especially “i” had a very summery vibe rooftop party vibe to it that I enjoyed and lifted my mood up immediately. Even though I don’t listen to rap that much I quite liked the experimental vibe to this rap album. Some of the beats were a lot to my liking, yet others were a bit too experimental for me.

I'm probably to white for this Good artist, just not for me this one

Didn't enjoy the first half but it did get better.

Good in parts

Listened Before? Yes Easy 5 / 5. I don't know that any album has ever commanded my undivided attention for longer than this one. I remember it dropped as I was finishing my first conference paper submission in grad school, and I had this on repeat for literally weeks. This is Kung-Fu Kenny's jazzy opus that solidified his status as a rap legend. The album uses a slowly building spoken word interlude that ultimately climaxes in the outro of Mortal Man with a posthumous interview with Tupac. Throughout the playtime the album touches on many different themes. Among them include a meta inspection of hip hop culture and its incentives (Wesley's Theory), black unity (i), selfishness and regret (How Much a Dollar Cost, u). Album opens on a tear with Wesley's Theory, featuring a blistering Thundercat bass instrumental with George Clinton on support; this song always does it for me. For Free? drops us into a short free-jazz interlude that is more beat poetry than song. King Kunta is the first radio hit to appear, and it is a jam. Confident, strutting beat touching on topics du jour (poking at Drake's ghostwriting) and asserting himself as the King. Institutionalized brings in a feature from West Coast staple, Uncle Snoop, in which he raps buttery smooth and with purpose. Just goes to show that an old dog can still pull out his old tricks. u is a particularly vulnerable song in which Kendrick affects a drunken caricature over a broken jazz beat to talk about how he regrets not being there for a friend who was shot and ultimately died. Alright is a bit of sequencing genius. Nuanced in its content, the song speaks to salvation and hope, but touches on police brutality and devilish impulses (Lucy) to wash away pain. Hood Politics is one of my favorite Kendrick songs of all time. Modernized G-Funk style beat with one of the catchier hooks on here, BOO BOO. But How Much A Dollar Cost has some of his best writing of all time. I remember the first time I heard "i" on the album I was confused, because the single was a clean studio rendering. I actually far prefer the affected "live" version on the album and how it seamlessly bleeds into the spoken word interlude with the crow as Kendrick breaks up a fight in the crowd and speaks to black unity. Album closes with Mortal Man, a contemplative song based around a wandering thundercat bassline + synth. This gives way to the completion of the built-up spoken word and a spooky Tupac interview posed as a conversation that in another context could be cheesy, but here feels like the album was built around the moment. Added to Library? Yes Songs Added To Playlists:

During the start of this album I was thinking it was better than Good Kid maad City, but the middle of the album started to fall off a bit for me. Luckily the end of the album brought me back, especially with Blacker the Berry and i. I listened to this one a few days before actually writing the review so I don't have much detail here.

Probably the trippiest rap album I've heard. Which makes sense with Thundercat featuring. Alright if such a banger, enough said. i really shows the range of Kendrick by just completely changing the tempo and beat from the rest of the album This album is all over the place in a great way. I was engaged in listening the whole time cause there were no boring parts at all. Mortal man is an extremely impressive 7 minutes of song followed by the speaking between Kendrick and someone else which is a perfect outro

I remember I was in Tim's parents basement the first time I listened to this album with my headphones. The production is insane (as the case with most Kendrick) and the funkiness that Thundercat brought to it is unmatched. I remember playing Wesley's Theory for some friends after and they had never heard a rap song like this. Such a jam. Love Kendrick continues with his interludes with the first being a jazzy little bit. King Kunta is one you can bump in your car. Love it. We want the funk! Institutionalized is one of my favorites on this rekkid. Snoop actually fucking kills it which haven't been able to say for awhile. Really Love These Walls but it was always a struggle to play it loud because of the beginning. u is a crazy one and really shows struggles Kendrick is going through. Love the shift change halfway through. Alright is another one to bump. His flow on this is just insane to me. For Sale is great and crazy it's considered an interlude. Ends with what reminds me of something from Willy Wonka. How Much a Dollar Cost is beautiful. From beats to lyrics to flow. Just an incredible track. Blacker the Berry is so fuckin hype. Makes me want to riot. You Aint Gotta Lie tones it down a little bit. Then comes i to bring the heat again. Weird that he used a live(ish?) version of this song when there is definitely one that isn't. Interesting choice but tbh I think I like the studio one more. Mortal Man is beautiful and comes full circle with the album. Perfect top off to have Tupac close it out. Album was initially supposed to be called Tu Pimp A Caterpillar as an acronym to TUPAC. Overall I think this album is a masterpiece. Kendrick will forever be one of my favorite artists based on this album alone. Incorporating new sounds into some hip-hop and having some deeply exploratory themes makes me thing this one will stand the test of time. There is also a sister album "Untitled" that has the same production but you can tell are demos. Honestly some really great songs on there. Praise be

Not one to listen to at work. Likes his dick.

Not quite what I was expecting/remembered. I love how jazzy it is. But it’s also super intense and deep.

Solid rap album, favourite tracks were King Kunta, u and Hood Politics

One of the Best albums of all time. I loved it when it dropped and it hasn't aged.

5/10

I really enjoy this album, but it does suffer from the same issues I have with a lot of rap albums: too many interludes and the lyrics can make it a tough listen. I feel the same about a lot of metal and punk albums too...maybe I'm just old and I'm definitely conscious of music I'm not comfortable playing around my daughter. There are some great songs on here i.e. King Kunta, Alright, Blacker the Berry, and i.

So much has been said about this album so I won't say anything

This dick ain't free!

One of the best hip-hop album ever. The music is certified gold and fresh. Also a huge fan of Kamasi Washington's feat on this.

This album is a masterpiece. It has elements of funk, rock, Broadway, spoken word poetry. The lyrics are powerful and meaningful. First track to last track...all bops

Terrible

Kudt, verschrikkelijk

I'm certainly no prude but I didn't enjoy this much, some of the beats were cool but there was way too much swearing, and not even functionally so as well as overuse of certain racial slurs.

I absolutely loved MAAD City. Played that a lot, and declared Kendrick the heir to the kingdom of hip hop. From there I just watched from afar, nodding about how right I was without actually ever bothering to listen to any of his other albums. I must have listened to ‘To Pimp a butterfly’ before, but not to any great detail. Increasingly I’m aware that I am not the demographic. But that’s my own unease at getting old. Any way, I forgot how different Kendrick is. There is so much depth and variety. There is the heavy sex and fruity language … but so much more weaving throughout. A lot of it really bumps too. Yeah, he’s good is Kendrick. I need to give his latest album a good go too. He’s getting older too.

Couldn't enjoy it, I tried!

Felt a bit like Logic to me at times. Pretty good album, I liked the consistent sound.

I like the jazz influenced beats but it's not for me

Groundbreaking classic. Saving 5 stars for something magical

The music is all very good, interesting, surprising, unique It's a cohesive album and not boring even though it's super long A lot of deep interesting lyrics and themes especially race-related Some of the lyrics are a bit weird like the stuff about sex I'm never a fan of but the music is great I love the last song it's a really good poem

King Kunta is the highlight for me, but overall a very strong endeavor.

Amazing album.

There were a few really excellent songs but the rest was not great.

An interesting mix of sounds and styles, remixed with hip-hop sensibility. More experimental in its ambition and production without sounding over-produced. Some tracks are more about longer, more rhythmic grooves and effects than rapping. A more eclectic mix of musical approaches within the genre than might be expected without songs that simply sound like hits.

Modern classic

What can I say, crazy album. Iconic. Kendrick Lamar is on another level with this album for sure. Masterpiece of storytelling with a point. And so creative. That being said, I don't fully get all of it and there are some tracks I don't vibe with at all. Not a perfect album for me but I can see why it's so well loved and I appreciate most of it.

Obviously a landmark album. The lyrics are pure poetry and I love the jazzy influence throughout the album. I was also struck by how many different ways Kendrick uses his voice on this record. This album is brilliant, but I don't see myself coming back to it often (maybe because I'm just not a big fan of rap in general). Favorite(s): These Walls, Alright, i

One of the best rap albums of all time. Kendricks opus. I struggle to find anything wrong with it. Keeps getting better and better as the years go on. Every feature, every bar, all the production, every interlude etc. Not a second feels wasted in my opinion 10/10

J’aime pas le rap, mais ça c’est ce que le rap devrait être, mixer les genres et accorder beaucoup d’importance à l’instrumentation

One of the greatest of any genre. George Clinton and Snoop passing the torch to Kenny

It’s Kendrick, so it ain’t bad, but like my father who I haven’t talked to in a long while, it just doesn’t hit the same.

Lol alright. One my personal faves already, recently listened to this and it's aged like fine wine. Happily listen to this bad boy

Half of the album is like a podcast, but it has good songs and a lot of variety.

Although, some parts are quite interesting musically, I can't help but think that it is completely ruined by vocal/rap parts.

It’s rap, it’s funk, it’s soul, it’s varied and ambitious, and it all fucking works perfectly.

Awesome album!

This album got me into hiphop. It's filled with these dark, powerful and energetic songs. Inspired by so many good things from other genres. Probably in my top 5 albums of all time

Absolute landmark.

GOAT

To absolutely no one's surprise, this is FANTASTIC. A true work of art that will need a lot more dedicated listening time, it demands several listens at least to absorb everything. He's truly a next-level collaborator who has an incredible command over using small and thoughtful details to craft an incredibly rich and compelling overall narrative. I can't even think of this in terms of which tracks stood out to me because the story is a bit too cohesive for that (though I will say, u stopped me in my tracks). Kendrick Lamar is one of those artists who has and likely always will continue to inspire me to REALLY think about perspective and voice and how each can profoundly impact the same story. It's sometimes hard to face how raw and emotive he gets, like if he were here with me I'd struggle to make eye contact for slight fear of the intensity - but I'd do it anyway and the connection would be worth it. What an ARTIST. Truly a transcendent album.

I mean it's the GOAT. Nothing much else more to say. One of the few albums where it feels more like a complete work of art than just a collection of songs.

thought i'd hate this, but some catchy tracks: wesley's theory king kunta these walls hood politics how much a dollar cost i mortal man

This is not my taste, too much for me, I made it through 2 songs ... one star

Better than I thought it would be

Experimentell angehauchter, selbstkritischer HipHop. Einflüsse aus Jazz; unterschiedliche Gesang- und Raptechniken. Auch einige sehr eintönige Tracks. Macht weitestgehend Spaß, aber insgesamt zu "quirky" und unstraight.

Gevarieerde hiphop van de bovenste plank. Steekt wat mij betreft met kop en schouders uit boven vrijwel alles wat er op hiphop gebied te vinden is. Alles is tot in de puntjes verzorgd en toch is het soms enorm ruw. Ik heb het al redelijk vaak geluisterd en ontdek nog steeds nieuwe dingen, zoals deze keer hoe mooi 'These Walls' eigenlijk is qua laagjes en instrumenten. Daarna heb je juist de wat lelijke track 'u', welke weer gevolgd wordt door mijn favoriete track 'Alright'. Hoe hij daar rappend drumfills aanvult of zelf voor zijn rekening neemt met behulp van woorden, klanken, dynamiek en accenten vind ik als ex-drummer en hiphop liefhebber een feestje. Zo is 1:46 tot 2:04 eigenlijk gewoon een vocale drumsolo die pas in de laatste maat wordt aangevuld door daadwerkelijke drums (of vooruit: de drumcomputer). En dan heb je mensen die het album hier een 1 geven omdat hiphop niet muzikaal zou kunnen zijn. Man, man, man. 5 sterren.

Wesley's Theory is forever goated For Free was so funny and vibrant For Sale was def one of the top 5 for me How Much A Dollar Cost is one of the best piece's of poetry from a rapper in a long time Everytime I relisten to it on car trips, it gets better

one of the best hip-hop/rap albums

Not really my thing

Nie do sluchania w tle

Rating: 10/10

Sometimes maybe good sometimes maybe shit. Mostly good.

Nice to revisit.

Not for me

Really like 1.5.

Awful in every way. It was almost torture to listen all the way through

el verdadero ganador del pullitzer

perfect album

Just such a juggernaut of a hip hop album. Kendrick is so dynamic throughout switching through different rapping styles as if they’re characters and the lyrics to match are just incredible to read through. I’d say my favorite aspect is the instrumentals on here, which are pure jazzy deliciousness. On their own they could stand alone as an impressive jazz piece but together with Kendrick’s rapping and songwriting it’s everything you could want from any album. 9/10

Better than most hiphop today but not really my cup of tea

Beautiful and mesmerizing storytelling. The use of jazz as a dream-like transitional tool was such a great touch.

Braucht Zeit um zu verstehen, da Sprache nicht einfach. Beats vielfältig mit Einflüssen aus jazz

Stupid lyrics that try to impose importance or gravitas. Boring, one dimensional music that anyone with a mac and FL studio can make. No thanks.

5/5 from the period where i love kendrik

Moker ziek deze man damn. Met name These Walls is echt m’n favoriet

Heel vet en origineel.

GREATEST ALBUM OF ALL TIME

hooooooooooly shit is this guy good or what Favorite Tracks: Wesley's Theory, Alright, King Kunta, The Blacker the Berry, Complexion, Hood Politics, i 5/5

De los que tocaron hasta ahora de rap es el que más me cerró, me gustó la mezcla de influencias de ritmos como jazz y blues y la teatralidad de algunos temas

Beautiful experimental quality to many songs— only a few made me want to move and sing along. Difficult for me to personally connect to, but I have a lot of respect for his music and expression.

Fantastic execution

Abstract, jazzy, political, purposeful. Maybe a hair overhyped, as I don’t enjoy this as much as Good Kid Maad City or Damn, but it’s a great album with a clear vision. Best song: King Kunta

Another banger by Kendrick. Probably his best. Jazzy, intense, and political; a great combination.

One of the greatest rap albums of all time, what more even is there to say about this that hasn't already been said

The music is very good. Lyrics... Half of them are basic dick and bitches hip hop lyrics that make you look stupid, no matter how eloquent you are. The other half is pretty good with recurring motifs etc. Favorite song: God is gangsta.

Too long but pretty good. Better than anything Kanyet did for sure

an album ive listened to before, so many good songs. hard to pick standouts but im more of a fan of the songs that are songs and less talking/story talking for the purpose of the album. i have all songs but 8 and 9 downloaded

A true masterpiece through and through. One of the best albums of 2010's, one of the best rap albums, Kendrick's magnum opus. Everything here is amazing, the lyrics, the flows, the beats, it's all just great. What else is there to say about this album that's not been said before?

Paree ku odotin

Not my genre

Niin diippii lyriikkaa et tuli kakat housuun.

Wow. Dense, complex, but also really accessible to people like me that only like the musical part of the songs. It's this kind of works that reminds me of my limitations, as I cannot understand much of the meaning hidden in the English language. I wish I could understand more.

Wow this is interesting. So far out of my comfort zone, which is exactly why I start doing the 1001 album thing. Not sure it will be entering my regular rotation - it's just not my genre - but it just hits.

Not my genre.

Cool beats, great flow. However, I'm not american enough to appreciate skin tone 5 lyrics

I have nothing witty nor interesting to write here this time. It's not good enough for a 5 but its definitely not as hit or miss that 3s are

God damn I love this album

A very highly critically rated album. Stunning production. Some tracks I struggle to follow the flow of Kendrick. Drags a little in the middle of the album (three tracks) but overall a work of art. Superb

Some cool genre mixes in here! A bit TOO wierd and cool to make it stick sometimes but I respect it a lot

My favorites are "Alright", "These Walls", "Momma", "Mortal Man". It's a pretty complex album I thought and probably would warrant a number of listens before I could feel like I truly appreciate Kendrick's work. Lots of funk and jazz all throughout. I can see why it was so hyped when it came out and started winning all of those awards. 8/10

Masterpiece

Haven’t listened to an album like this before. I really like the jazz influence. I don’t really like the language, but recognise that I don’t like swearing in general. I’m glad this project has made me expand my listening habits.

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

Even though I am not a fan of rap, this is an amazing album and I can appreciate the artistry involved.

Undeniably an excellently crafted work of art; but it’s less to my personal taste than good kid, m.A.A.d city.

Challenging, all over the musical map and grating at times. BUT, it's undeniably awesome.

heard before: nope The jazz influences on this album are absolutely feral. I've not heard DAMN in it's entirety, but if it's as good as this album, Kendrick earned that Pulitzer for sure. The musical composition of the rap over the jazz highlights the longevity and influence of black artists, and celebrates these sounds in a way that creates an explosion of sound and culture. The experimental sound reminds me a lot of Tyler the Creator, and I really can't believe I avoided this album for so long. 10/10 recommend, yall should go back and listen for sure. Fave songs: u, For Free? Honorable mention: Alright

Heard before: yes Ostensibly, this record was seen as a move to activism, but it's real strength is keeping things personal. Kendrick's ability to be vulnerable while presenting as hard and a leader is his greatest strength. Musically, it's rich and varied, a swirling mix of funk and jazz filtered through 90s hip hop, with hooks galore. The fits and stops of the songs, shifting from one vibe to another, are narratively driven rather than just there for fun or surprise. And it's the narrative that rules the day, the shift from "u" to "i" and the gradually revealing poem that questions the price of leadership to the individual, the degree of compromise that is required to succeed. The side skits that could be distracting from 90s hip hop have been absorbed into the main tracks, and the overall project is more than the sum of its parts. Cinematic and contextual, it acknowledges Kendrick, the person he is, while showing a glimpse of the person he might become. Top tracks: u, i, How Much A Dollar Cost

Riktigt bra skiva. En modern hiphopklassiker med både hits men som också passar som ett helt koncept.

Got a few tracks in before tapping out, not for me!

Rap. Nichts für mich.

fucking immaculate.

This album belongs on the list and I enjoyed listening to it. Having said that, the greatness of this album seems to be a bit of groupthink in that a number of people say it is a great album and then others listen and want to like the album, so they say the same thing. It's "cool" to like this album and it is a very good album. What makes "To Pimp a Butterfly" great is the variety of sounds and instruments that Kendrick Lamar uses. The production is great, but it does drag for me at times during the interludes.

Not my style. But nice flow