To Pimp A Butterfly

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

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.

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.

not for me

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.

Lots of hard R “N” word use.

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.

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

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!)

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

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

Very good but too long. Would listen again.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

Like this one a lot more than MAAD City.

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.

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

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.

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.

It's decent, not usually my thing though

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.

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

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?

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

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

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.

Good in parts

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

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.

Couldn't enjoy it, I tried!

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

Not really my thing

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

Heel vet en origineel.

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.

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

Paree ku odotin

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

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.

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.

This isn't as good as young kid MAAD City, it's good and he has such a good emphatic flow, but the stylistic choices, the interludes, his voice (still) and the lack of enough truly impactful songs knock it down to a 3. Still, very skilled.

Stand out songs: - For Free (Interlude): I really like the beat poem feeling of this song - These Walls: Really great backing track, you can tell Thundercat worked on this one

Jazzy.

When this album came out - I had absolutely zero interest in whatever Kendrick had to say. Didn't like the singles he put out, in my opinion it sucked. I HATED the fact that King Kunta made the Number 1 spot in Triple J's Hottest 100, with the number 2 song absolutely ROBBED. However as time rolled on, I have begun to appreciate the lyricism and mixture of genres that Kendrick brings to Hip Hop and Rap. Best: Alright Worst: Mortal Man

Pretty good considering I don't like hip hop that much.

Not my favourite by Lamar, I prefer more R&B grooves, but this is listenable and lyrically interesting.

Wish I liked it more.

Ik moest even het internet op om te lezen hoe dit album zich onderscheidt. Het antwoord is eenduidig. Er is een invloed van veel verschillende 'zwarte' muziekstijlen terug te horen. Dat is wel zo. Maar dat is op heel veel rap-albums niet anders. Buiten dit aspect is het niet echt een vernieuwend album. De thema's bevestigen vooral de vooroordelen. Sex, drug en geweld, dat laatste bij voorkeur tegen de ordehandhavers. Ik vraag me af waarom iedereen dit puberaal provocerende album zou moeten horen. Normaal vind ik dat iedereen elk album in de lijst een kans moet geven. Maar als je dit album tijdens de tweede track afzet. You're excused...Daar nog bij opgeteld dat we veilig kunnen stellen dat de artiest zich niet op de gehele bevolking richt. Waarom moet iedereen dit dan wel horen? Zelf kan ik hier prima naar luisteren, al skip ik wat gehijg en passages over geslachtsdelen. Er is veel variatie in rap-stijl. Er zijn wat dipjes, die ruimschoots worden gecompenseerd door een nummer als 'I'. Al is dat ook weer provocerend, gelet op de plek waar hij zijn kogels wil achterlaten.

Behoorlijk afwisselend album, waarbij ik van allerlei invloeden en invalshoeken hoor. Zo is er Prince meets Typhoon, wat spoken word, wat hardere rap, ik hoor zelfs J-Lo ergens in. De hele vibe is wel relaxed, wel fijn dat er wat jazzy en funky dingen in zitten, en niet zo kaal is als de oldschool 80s rap en hiphop.

Definitely some banging songs on there. Great storytelling and for someone who’s not a fan of hip hop, I can’t say it’s something I’d regularly listen to and I do think it dragged on a bit long. High 3

Hiphop moderno. Sin grandes alardes. Nada llamativo en mi opinión

Often the rap albums I've listened to on this project have lacked ambition, texture, tone, musicality. You can't accuse this album of any of these things. Whether it has tried too hard or is too discordant is another matter. I enjoyed listening to something that was different in the rap genre but it was not an ultimately satisfying experience.

inte den bästa, men fort väldigt bra. behöver nog lyssna om några gånger

Cool, but serious

I sense the talent but it's just on the verge of tipping me over into really liking it

3.4/5

Make sure you go for the explicit version. I like the beats and jazz influence. The flow is different compared to the hip-hop I grew up on. But it’s a solid album. 3/5

Make sure you go for the explicit version. I like the beats and jazz influence. The flow is different compared to the hip-hop I grew up on. But it’s a solid album. 3/5

Yeah, it's alright.

I found the previous album, Good Kid Mad City, incredibly irritating so I was very apprehensive about this one - however I thought it was pretty good. Thundercat being on the album helped - I liked the creativity. Definitely found it significantly less irritating than I expected.

3,5

This is an album that is so hard to rate. The music is amazing, but I don't really enjoy the rapping over it. Plus the subject matter is essential to why this album is so well acclaimed. But as a non-black person never having lived in the USA, living in a completely different part of the world, the lyrics don't mean much to me. So it's good but it's not for me.

Reading about this album made me really interesting in listening to it. Listening to it, I found it really long and monotonous, and I ended up losing the message in the slog. The only song that really stood out, stood out because it sampled "That Lady."

Some cool moments - a couple of songs in particular.

.Album 2 of 1089 To Pimp a Butterfly - Kendrick Lamar Rating : 3 / 5 Not really my thing genre-wise, but I can absolutely respect what it means within hip hop and why so many people hold it in such high regard. The production, musicianship, and ambition are all there — it just doesn’t hit me the way it does others. Still, an important album worth acknowledging.

Good rapping, different musical styles. Not my favorite but some catchy tunes.

Good stuff. Plus, any artist that chooses to feature folks like George Clinton and Ronald Isley on a track has my full support.

I guess this is Alright and that's my fave track. <mic drop>

Musically, some very interesting things going on here and the album is a good listen. I know I'm a bit prudish on the lyrics front, so I accept that people express themselves in very different ways, that's for sure. But I do like this album. Really nice stuff here.

It was ok. Would I listen again? No. Do I respect the talent? Yes.

This is like listening to art. I know it's good. I know it's important. It just doesn't really mean anything to me. It's an album I should like. I like his other albums. I like his style. I like his lyrics. I like his content. I like the beats. It's everything I want...I just don't don't want this. It's not bad though either. I'd rather reach for Good Kid, Damn, or even Black Panther.

Some of the songs are really good but some of them are a little busy. Alright is very good. Not my fav. Low 3

Ok, it is a bit much of the mixing for my taste, but not as bad as the other hiphop albums we have heard. I like the small amount of jazz there is in the album. I listened to it on shuffle... Some of the songs where not me at all, where some of the others songs started really good, but ended up with some mixing... I have determined I do not like mixing. Low 3.

Impronta propia. Moderno. Gran tapa. Medio largo. Me gusta más Damn

Very complex album, several sparkles of greatness, but it lacks the flow and melodic strength to keep me engaged.

I probably listened to this at the wrong time. I had not a great day teaching at high school, my last period of the day was being... let's just say, difficult... A number of the kids were talking overly loud and using the n-word. A _LOT_. It was grating on my nerves. So then I put this on, and that's all I could hear for the first four or five tracks. I know there's more to it than that, but Lamar's voice was a bit high and squeaky, and it took me a while to get into his lyrical flow because of just only hearing that. Probably the song that really turned the corner for me was "The Blacker The Berry" which really had a lot of rage in it, but damn it was so laser-focused. The last piece was another one of those ones that is one you hear once and skip after that. The interludes are at least relistenable. So the album picks up speed, but I don't want to sound too prudish, the n-word in the beginning just made it rough going for me. I don't know if it as my mood or what. But... yeah.

This album made me realize how much I dislike Lamar's voice - too nasally and pitchy. Not that that's the only thing that matters, but it stood out. Really interesting musical stylings, especially early on. Wesley's Theory was unique and then followed up by a slam poetry interlude For Free? (weird but I liked it) King Kunta is one of my favorites on this album - great beats and less annoying vocals, plus real clever lyrics. Institutionalized and These Walls also have unique stylings (the latter almost a 70's funk feel, credit Thundercat for that I'm sure). u and i are pretty raw and powerful, so kudos to his ability to lay it all out there (the former's pained narrator in the back half reminded me of Eminem's Stan). Still, I found the album dragged, especially from Alright to Complexion. There's some decent lyrics in there but the vocals are too stilted and the beats are underwhelming. The Blacker the Berry is pretty awesome, but I wanted more of that. Probably a 3.5 at minimum but I can't shake how "meh" I felt on the first listen. Maybe it'd grow to a 4 with more listens but I ain't got time for that.

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

Hmm. Liked it more than I thought I would, but overall it doesn’t seem like something I’d go back to a bunch. “Complexion” was my favorite track.

Þessi týpa af tónlist er ekki minn tebolli. Mest megnið af þessari plötu er þó mjög gott stöff. Talsvert betra en margt sem e-a hluta vegna hefur orðið vinsælt á sl. árum.

Usual hip hop story. Some good bits but far too long

Good beats, too many collabs

Wesley's Theory - 2 stars For Free? - Interlude - 1 star King Kunta - 5 stars Institutionalized - 1 star These Walls - 5 stars u - 1 star Alright - 1 star For Sale? - Interlude - 1 star Momma - 4 stars Hood Politics - 3 stars How Much A Dollar Cost - 4 stars Complexion (A Zulu Love) - 4.5 stars The Blacker The Berry - 2 stars You Ain't Gotta Lie (Momma Said) - 3 stars i - 5 stars Mortal Man - 3.5 stars

Enjoyed the cultural commentary and progressive fusion of genres. And loved a few tracks like "The Blacker the Berry," "Complexion," and "i". Still feel it fell short of "Good Kid, M.A.D.D. City" for catchy hooks.

There are some good samples on this album. King Kunta and These Walls are OK songs. I just can't understand how this is THE number 1 album on RYM. It's not that good surely, or am I missing something? It feels like a drag to listen to. It's far too long. [halfway into the album later] OK, coming towards the end of the album I was surprised by 'i'. Actually quite good. I'll give this album 3 stars for this song. But there are moments in the songs where I almost like it so I'm torn between 2 or 3 stars. Considering the hype this album has, I'm majorly dissappointed. Kendrick's done better albums than this.

Classic, especially with Thundercats additions

This was a good album. I've not listened to much of Kendrick Lamar other than the most popular songs. I could have done with a few less N words but other than that I did enjoy the listen.

The beat and groove of this album are unmatched. Lyrically it’s dark, but hopeful. I struggle with the lyrics at times because there’s only so many N-words I can handle in a given time. That’s a me issue more than anything else. I’m really glad I listened to it as I better understand the hype and respect around Kendrick as an artist, I just know it’s not something that I’m ever probably going to listen to again.

After King Kunta I thought I was in for a treat, but I didn't find much more redeeming in this album.

Surprising lack of reliance on annoying fucking noises for a critically acclaimed modern rap album

Too contextual- requires a very specific cultural background to be able to understand it. Great fusion of jazz and hip-hop

I understand that Kendrick Lamar is viewed an an intellectual great of the hiphop world. Which makes this album really difficult to review. Musically - this is a great album, varied, well written. Lyrically however - this album is so mixed. Some songs are clever, witty, thoughtful. And then others just dive into the stereotypical hiphop tropes of bad language, niggaz, hos, drugs, gang-life and the hood. Yeah, I get it - this is your life. But the point of bad language and slurs is to accentuate the impact of other words. But on certain songs, when almost every other word is a racial slur, cuss or such - it just becomes annoying and cringe.

I wasn’t expecting much because I’m not super into rap and have heard a few kendrick songs through my ex so have that negative association. But I was pleasantly surprised by the sincerity of his lyrics, Kendrick conveyed to me life as a young black man in the modern age and he did it so perfectly. N-E-G-U-S, say it with me or say it no more. The speech in “I” was by far my favourite part, really solidified my feeling about the album. A couple misses from me so not a total win, and I can’t see myself re listening to more than a couple of songs while walking/chilling, maybe for exercise or hype purposes but 🤷🏽‍♀️

Unique sound on this one but ultimately there were only a couple of songs that I like. Sometimes when the lyrics are too dense it takes away from the experience for me. 3.5 stars

The rest of you guys really like Kendrick Lamar, huh. Or should I say: the rest of you are Americans who upvote African American artists. I feel like this has a really high rating for the same reason that Kid Rock album has like a 1.05. This album is average. It's not bad by any means, and it's way better than the last album of his here. But half the time his voice is weird/annoying, and it goes for an hour and 20min ffs. On the plus side, when he gets going he has nice flow (I don't understand why he fucks with his voice), it's got more than just drums n bass behind it and the production is really clean. If this was half the length I'd almost go as far as saying I like it, but as it is I just ended up getting tired and bored. 3/5.

Good that I listenened to it, being a modern classic. It just is not for me. Maybe should take the time to listen better to lyrics.

J’ai préféré cet album à Good kid.

For some reason as a white, cis-male who is easing into middle age and lives in rural America I can't relate much with this album. Not that I think it's bad or lacks value

These Walls tem ótimas ideias. How much a dollar é interessante. Mortal Man é uma entrevista. Interessante!

DNF

A very good and very poignant album. I am not the right person to dissect the meaning of this album, but the message is important. Not to mention that the features on this album are insane from Thundercat to George Clinton to Snoop Dogg they all add special flare to their respective tracks. I will note that the fact that DAMN is not featured on the list is criminal. I'm not even typically a fan of rap and I know how important that album is. This album is good, but I don't see myself relistening to most of the album.

I didn’t analyze the lyrics as much as I should have I imagine. Perhaps it deserves a four but from my shallow listening I found it to be only decent.

Kinda not for me, but its good?

an okay album, can see why people like it kendrick is great at storytelling but not my type of music

Some of the energy seemed a little disjointed. Opening couple of tracks were great, then kinda hit or miss near the ends. The story behind Walls is really fucking interesting.

I’m getting early death row vibes

I've done this album a few times now and, while I can appreciate the artistry in it, it's not a style I feel compelled to listen to for pleasure.

Some of the undertones were quite cool.

Whoa! This is a very dense album with many nods to free-form jazz, gospel, 70's funk and African Music. I counted 20+ background vocalists in the credits! It's not particularly easy to listen to, as "important" albums can sometimes be. I won't give it as high a mark as Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, which had catchier songs that I wanted to go back to.

Everytime I listen to this record I'm immediately impressed with the first few songs: Wesley's Theory, For Free, King Kunta... because of their brilliant blend of hip hop and jazz. If there is ever a Progressive Hip Hop genre, then this record is it. However, this is a long album so after awhile the songs start to blend together and I get bored and my attention wanders. Props to Lamar for his creativity and masterful blending of genres here though.

some okay stuff but mostly not for me

Good jazzy r&b funk music. Very nimble wordplay and sometimes fast flow. More socially conscious than the ugly bragging gangster rap of so many. As a mixed race Englishman I still don’t get the chip-on-shoulder anti-White anti establishment downtrodden paranoia obsession of black US rappers. Isn’t there something else to write about?

I rarely pay attention to lyrics in music and that's like 50% of Kendrick's appeal. His fans treat his music like the Pepe Silvia scene from It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia. This album isn't for me (I'm Slavic. So white that I'm basically translucent), but I have to admit that King Kunta is fucking incredible - probably my favorite hip hop track of all time.

You have to be in the right mindset when listening to Kendrick. Very talented but overall he has better albums.

Clearly, Lamar is a talent and has amassed a huge following, considering this is at least the second time he's appeared on the list. I still don't consider him essential, but obviously I'm not the demographic he's counting on to buy his records or stream his music. Nothing wrong with it and for the most part listenable, so let's move on.

Reading the other reviews suggests I should get something out of listening to the lyrics but I'm not capable. Also not capable on commenting on the apparently superior production. The tunes are fine.

Meh. More rap

What I like the most about this album is that it varies in tempo and sound and beats keeping things very very interesting throughout its over 1 hour of music. His voice is not my favorite but the music keeps things flowing and a lot of the backing singing and/or samples compliment the voice and the music very well. 3.5 stars

Hip-hop mezclado con soul en muchas canciones. Ni fu ni fa.

Know next to nothing about Kendrick - enjoyed some of the flow on this, but nothing really spectacular leapt out.

Never really saw the appeal of Kendrick and this hasn’t changed my mind. I guess it’s kind of cool that he’s have a mental breakdown for our benefit? I usually rate hip hop on these criteria: Flow - kind of interesting but not amazing. Production - hit and miss, some funky licks but too jazzy for me, pretty messy at times. The major highlight being that Isley Bros reworking. Content - again, hit and miss. Too many N bombs for me to be comfortable with, shut up about God for a minute and i won’t think your an idiot and also: Boo Boo? Tone - can’t stand his nasal pitch, really off putting for me. He’s doing some interesting stuff and is brutally honest with his mental state but I just can’t get past the delivery.

There is a lot going on with this album and I liked most of it. Feel it was a little long though. Could have cut it down to about 60 minutes.

Good music but dont like the wahy that the story is told. Read something for him from wikipedia Kendrick Lamar Duckworth (born June 17, 1987) is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Since his mainstream debut in 2012 with Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, Lamar has been regarded as one of the most influential rappers of his generation and one of the greatest rappers of all time. Aside from his solo career, he is also known as a member of the hip hop supergroup Black Hippy alongside his Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) labelmates Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, and Schoolboy Q.

Too many filler tracks surround the meat and potatoes of this. When the album shines it shines brightly. Sadly there aren’t enough of those moments.

Was better than good kid, m.a.a.d city but still didn't fully vibe with it.

Bueno

Was not psyched about this one, absolutely hate the album title. What does "to pimp a butterfly" even mean? But I was surprised, it's not as bad as I expected. There's good stuff here. I appreciate Lamar's commentary and lyricism. The content here is infinitely more interesting than the run of the mill drugs, guns, girls blustering bravado that I hate about most rap and hip hop and can't connect with.

So I started my last review "I've never heard any Kendrick Lamar" and I guess the generator felt I needed more education beyond good kid, m.A.A.d city. Happily I enjoyed the last one so bring it on, generator! I'm pretty sure this is the second newest album I've been presented so far out of more than a hundred. Starts right out sounding like it could be the theme song to a half hour comedy tv show (except for some of the specific words used). A similar dreamy cinematic vibe as the last album, but somehow more aggressive and also more melodic. Ah, an interlude. Oh wait, this one is completely fabulous. I know I'm only scratching the surface as far as references go, but the generator also just gave me Michael Jackson's Bad and I'm old enough to have watched Roots when it came out so I had someplace to start with King Kunta. I didn't always get a handle on the rest of the songs, though, to be honest. Unlike the last album, which felt like one work in several parts, this album feels more like a "traditional" album: collection of different songs. Clearly related thematically the tracks are otherwise quite diverse. I also appreciate a well placed saxophone. These songs aren't for me or about my experiences and that's ok. I can still recognize and appreciate the brilliance. Which isn't always true, I often don't like music that isn't for me. I enjoyed good kid, m.A.A.d city more but To Pimp a Butterfly feels more culturally important. Both deserve the accolades they've received.

Not a generally hip hop fan here by I like to give myself every opportunity to quality hip hop if available.. Glad I did. I like this album Mostly speaks to his race but I respect that cause it takes it self very seriously artistically. Good production.Nice lyrism melodies and rhythm.

A no holds barred look at life for young African Americans in the USA. Some of the production is super soul/jazz/funk and some is very spare and spoken word. Not sure if I liked it, but I have to respect it.

A real mixed bag. Some inspiring stuff. Some shite

Obviously it's really good - just not my thing.

Not my bag at all, but there's weighty issues in the lyrics and musicianship on display. I respect it without enjoying it

Socially and politically charged lyrics over varied and interesting music. A serious and often heavy album, in terms of content. Easy to see why this is critically acclaimed. 'The Blacker The Berry' and 'i' the standout tracks. 2.5/5.

I don't get it

not a huge rap fan but was had some bangers

It’s aight, but not hyped aight.

Very influential album with high class lyrics but musically I didn't like how many songs were cut up by interludes and spoken word passages. The rapping could have been a bit more focused, he sounded bored at times

Really good album, but I feel kind of left out…

This was pretty good, but I don't listen to rap a whole lot so probably will not come back to this

OK this is cool! Probably wouldn’t put it on without prompting but enjoyed it nonetheless.

Not my style of music but a very strong album. Powerful lyrics send a poignant message about the *still* current issues plaguing a large swath of humanity.

this one might require multiple listens in order to fully appreciate all the lyrics, sampling, etc. however, it does feel a bit overrated since the album seems to be almost universally praised.

It is an alright album but not really memorable.

Pretty good front to back. Could have done without the last song, or it could have been shortened up significantly. Doubt I listen to the whole thing again, but I wouldn't turn it off if it came on.

Deze kende ik al! Goed album, mooie teksten. King Kunta fav.

Everything s gon be alright.

I listened some tracks and DAMN GOD THIS IS GOOD. This kind of music (rap) never caught my attention before, but now i'm impressed. Maybe in another time I would listen this album again

Incredible album. I thought the repetition of his story was very effective, and how emotionally it moved between hope and dispair. I tried to really pay attention to the lyrics but I think lots of them went over my head. Really glad I listened to this.

Jazzy Hip Hop classic. So long though... Best Tracks: Wesley's Theory, King Kunta, The Blacker The Berry

Na verdade eu só não gosto muito de rap mesmo

Uneven mix of rap, spoken rap and others. Interesting.

Started awfully, hated it. But it got better as it went on. 2 would have been harsh, 3 is maybe a little generous.

Unmemorable.

Not as good as Good Kid MAAD City for me. 3/5.

I ddin't think I'd like it but some songs were quite vibey.

Hip-hop mezclado con soul en muchas canciones.

Paar nette Sachen dabei

Was just thinking the other day that I ought to listen to something by Kendrick Lamar, given how well-received some of his records have been. I think that raised my expectations to a degree that I was prepared for something different than I got. I don’t hate it, but I don’t know… it didn’t immediately strike a chord with me. So many interludes! Anyway, I’ll listen to it again at some point but also this dick ain’t free, guys. Sorry.

The first time I listened to this album I was on a bus in Indonesia with Benji, and I remember then that I think I can appreciate that this is good but its just not my bag.

Dinero, poder, sexo, para llenar el cliché del género, se complementan muy bien con depresión, abuso de poder, miedo al fracaso y lo que pareciera síndrome del impostor. Me llamó mucho la atención la letra que va evolucionando al final de varias canciones (King Kunta, These Walls, Alright, For Sale, Hood Politics) que termina siendo un diálogo con 2Pac. Las mezclas están muy bien hechas aunque su concepto artístico de hacer muchos cortes y meter mucho diálogo no lo entiendo. Supongo que es para evitar que sean monótonas sus largas canciones (1h 15m, por favor) pero siento que terminan siendo relleno. Songs: i, How Much a Dollar Cost, You Ain't Gotta Lie

Blandat! En del nice musik, en del riktigt skumt. Rapen är absolut inte det bästa, utan musikerna i bakgrunden gör detta album. Tydligen kan man inte ändra betyg och recension efter de skickats in, så vill också uttrycka att Deep Purple albumet vad fan rätt nice efter att ha kommit in i det. Duktiga musiker helt klart. Albumet ska därför ha en 4a, inte 3a.

Starts off chaotic. These Walls and i are highlights. I don't enjoy the interludes or the spoken word parts. It's not for me but I know it's not FOR me either. I get why it's a masterpiece but I won't revisit.

Antes de escribir le di una pasada extra y debo decir que todo lo que pudo haberme gustado en los primeros tracks lo perdió cantando como caricatura china en 'u'. Tampoco soy fan de las rolas tipo R&B-vamos-a-coger y peor cuando encima rapea de todas las cosas que sabe (Momma). Por otro lado, sí me gustaron 'Hood Politics' y 'The Blacker The Berry' especialmente por los temas que toca.

Outstanding!

First impression: not my taste for sure. First song reminds me of need for speed, I don't hate it but not sure I'd listen again. For sale? Interlude's heavy breathing is uncomfortable. For free? Has a cool old school background tune. Never been a fan of songs where someone just talks at me like the first minute or so. King kunta is more traditional rap for me. I don't mind it but it's not really along my taste lines. Would sounds great with a sub

It was a fine album, just not necessarily my cup of tea

I can see why it did well with the poignant lyrics, but it’s basically a spoken word album. Rap without solid beats is hard to listen to repeatedly.

Solid album, though Kendrick's masterpiece, in my humble opinion, is DAMN.

Supposed to be good, for a rap album

This surprised me. It 's reminiscent of 90s hip hop, and that's probably why I enjoyed it. It sounds like dozens of other albums, but that doesn't make it a bad listen. It's weirdly semi-nostalgic. I get why this guy is lauded so highly though I'm not sure I'll ever revisit Lamar without good cause.

ok

Interesting, but not my jam

Sorry. An album with every track tagged explicit? Can't do it.

Piristävä yllätys ja tykkäsin. Hauskoja biittejä eikä missään vaiheessa ärsyttänyt.

the end of the album definitely more my sensibilities, blacker the berry, aint gotta lie, i are all really good, the first half didn't really stick with me, kendrick exists in this space where I can see he's talented but his flow and production feel to work against him not with him often. When I see people put this as a 'GOAT' album I wish I could understand why. My best bet is in a sea of mumblerap brag-rap he's the only one speaking conscious and elevated.

Hard for me to rate. On one hand, it's an undeniable fact that Lamar is amazingly talented lyrically and with his rapping ability. But man, I didn't personally like it that much. Really long, and just not my style of hip-hop. I'd give it a 2.5/5 if I could but I think I'm leaning towards a 2. i was my fav song and first listen of the album. Alright and You Ain't Gonna Lie (Momma Said) were my other highlights

Pretty bad for something the kids love. Basic fart noises mixed in with boring beats.

In theory this should be right up my alley but I'm bored out of my mind. There's other artists on here that I like and Kendrick has many similarities to other rap artists I like but it just does nothing for me. Does he take himself too seriously? Is his voice just annoying? Are there long breaks in the music filled with something that doesn't connect with me? I don't exactly know, but it's a dud. Hiphop keeps being one of my bottom three categories, but I could probably name ten albums in the genre that I doubt made this list. After my second run through this album I switched to "innercity griots" instead, instantly enjoyed it more

I hear this is one of the most important hip-hop albums. But I think I'm missing something. I tried. I listened to a few tracks. I just don't see it.

This hip hop album was released in 2015. A lot of well known people (George Clinton, Snoop Talk, Thundercat, Pharrell Williams) were involved with it. Most of the songs are Kendrick and others rapping over downtempo jazz funk music. I believe the awesome unique bass is Thundercat. Uptempo exceptions are "King Kunta" and "i" starts fast with "That Lady" sample. Lamar is a really good writer and rapper and the background music is cool as mentioned above. However, there is too much ghetto talk (nigga, nigga, nigga) with same topics. The repeated spoken words in between songs is also annoying. To summarize, the music is really good but the 78 minute barrage of rapping wore me out. King Kunta is the standout song.

I was interested to read about this album’s significance and that made it more interesting to listen to.

meh. I just don't get why it gets so much praise.

Just don't love this kind of rap. Again, not made for me at all.

i appreciate the lyricism and musicality but it’s just not for me sorry

This has too much to say, and all of the music is like political, but whereas like public enemies, you can bump their music to listen to with a message. This has a message, but it’s not like something I would bump in the car or even at home.

everything gonna be alright

He is just not for me but I can get behind some of it

I like rap, I liked a couple of the tracks on the album but overall it was a little lacking personality interest and variance for me.

If I've learned anything from this project, it's modern hip-hop is not my thing.

I thought I liked this album. Don’t know what I was thinking. It’s so insanely long and less than half the songs are good. Loses half a star for the length. Still significantly better than Mariah Carey’s bullshit though.

I hear it's really controversial to have this opinion but I don't care. I absolutely love "MAAD City" but think this is a jumbled mess without a clear direction and a lot of disparate elements incorporated in comparison to that masterpiece. I get it, this is his maximalist, experimental hip-hop response to that album- I just don't think he works in this aesthetic. Kanye has him beat in that department with MBDTF, Yeezus, hell, even TLOP. The album is just not cohesive. Kendrick also never sounded great doing that voice crack flow, and some of the hooks here are just annoying see "Hood Politics" or "King Kunta" "Alright" and "i" are the only tracks that sniff the heights of GKMC

No doubting Lamar’s ability to rap and I get that he offers something different while also leaning on typical tropes at times. I couldn’t help but find this tedious though. Too much going on, weird genre sampling, strange breathy sections, odd backing music, not the one for me.

Lyrically, the album treads a well-worn hip-hop path, focusing heavily on race, gang culture, and personal hardship.  Viewing life so exclusively through the lens of race can feel a bit thin. Musically, the album pushes me away as I struggle with the genre at the best of times and limited hook-driven hip-hop ditties don't much exist here. It strips away the infectious melodies or musicality that make the genre palatable. Instead, it relies on the more chaotic and dense, sometimes monotone spoken delivery. It's like a theatrical monologue.  A really good one but not what I personally like sadly.  Bloody long too. Almost enjoyed the darker angry monologue of "The Blacker the Berry" - Could not save it for me though

When I started this project, I thought I quite liked hip-hop... Its so rare to an album of this genre that is good all the way through. They always seem to adhere to all the same hip-hop album tropes that don't lend them to an full listen-through. This one has lots of jazz elements which adds a level of rare musical interest, but its overlaid with so much talk about nigga this, nigga that, wash your ass (?), suck a dick etc etc... It doesn't offend me, it just gets boring and repetitive after eighty minutes and makes it difficult to take it seriously. What I've learned, is that I like some hip-hop in small doses. I like hip-hop that is fun and in your face and doesn't take itself so seriously. I don't like long albums and this more artsy stuff doesn't do it for me.

Sorry, I don’t get it. I suppose a lot of the hype is around the lyrics and message but it’s a little lost on me. Musically, it’s pretty meh. Boo boo! (2)

Liked it better than I thought I would. In general I liked the music better than the rapping. Strong messages but not my bag.

Usually this style of music would be unlistenable for me. But there was something unique about this. He had a unique singing style, unique sound, and the music had a lot of interesting instruments / electronics in it. I liked what he did with the vocals, I liked the George Clinton type influence. It wasn't the typical boring repetitive tapeloop backbeat with someone complaining over top of it. Really good for a usually intolerable genre.

Quite boring

Not for me

I tried, I really did. I'm just too old, straight, white, boring, unimaginative and dull to get it.

Too long for my liking.

This is very much not for me. Too angry, too violent, too much of a foreign experience. I enjoyed the parts that were almost like spoken poetry. But it's not an album for me.

I cannot understand how this is popular - it just isn't very good.

The first half of the songs had some interesting elements to them, the rest is just nigga nigga big dick.... 1,5/5

I know this is supposed to be amazing, but not to my taste. I do like the cover, though.

No thanks.

I appreciate the jazz, funk and musical influences in the music. Then he starts to rap and ugh, game over for me - the voice and lyrics, nope.

Not for me

6/10

Lots of bad words

Du rap

Muy político. Me atomizó.

I understand that he is a Poet and such, but that fact does not do anything for me

4 - eh

I have heard a couple of the songs on this album before, although I'm not super familiar with them. First, the album is really long - 1 hour and 20 minutes. I really struggle with long albums, no matter what musical genre they are. I typically just like more variety if I'm listening to music for a long period of time. Second, I'm just not a huge fan of hip hop, so listening to an album of hip hop that this long is even more of a struggle for me. What I will say about this album, though, was it really had a lot more different musical styles underlying the rap than I expected it to, which made it a lot more interesting to listen to. Another album that while I personally wouldn't listen again, I understand why it's on the list and appreciate the album.

Сара 2 Марко 3,5

2/5

I dont get this guy

Meh

My friend who is much into hip-hop says it is a masterpiece so i guess it is. But i dont get it.

Not a fan of rap or KL - buts not done for as explained in Mortal Man - it’s for his fans and the converted audience. that said, easier to get through this than usual and some melody under the bass lines.

I admire his talent, but I didn't love this album.

There are a handful of listenable tracks on this. I will never understand the Kendrick Lamar obsession

I tried…don’t know why. I appreciate the artistry but it just doesn’t hit with me.

As mentioned before, I rate rap/hip hop on rythem and rhyme, this barely had either.

Enjoyable instrumental productions that explore the history of American music, but it is wasted on whining about the same boring subjects. Still wasting the listener's time on skits and interludes. Too much misogyny, as well. 2015 and hip hop is still pushing that junk? Also way, way too long.

I know this is culturally significant and Kendrick is a big deal but this isn't my jam at all

I know this is an "important" album, but it bored the shit out of me.

Al principio sentí que iba a estar bueno o por lo menos interesante pero después me decepcionó. Alguna melodía me divirtió pero la verdad no volvería a escucharlo.

I appreciated the jazz, funk, soul influences in this. A couple tracks I felt were pretty good, but most of them unfortunately I didn’t like at all. I’m sure I may pick up on more lyrical complexity in further listens, but I didn’t enjoy this enough to want to do that. I found this tedious to listen to and too long. 2/5

I used to like one song ("Money Tree"), and I thought the album would be similar... But no, I didn't like it

Not for me. No stand out tunes, good rapping and musicianship but feels overrated.

Least favorite Kendrick album

Aside from bangers like “These Walls” and “Alright”, didn’t find this one to be too great.

Didn't get through it. Not the worst thing I've ever heard.

I just couldn't get into this

2.5

Ne paše mi ovo, a bome ni žanr. Dala sam šansu, ali ne ide. 2/5, 3/10

So there is an appreciation here for the artistry - something I never noticed before as I have zero experience with this genre after about 1991. That said language is too harsh (esp N word) to make this enjoyable and every track sounds like the last. Points for effort. Not something I’d listen to again. 2/5

2.5

Just not for me

I feel like I've really given modern rap a go with an open mind. But I just can't for the life of me get into it. On the contrary I don't have any issues with 90s or early 2000s rap. Is it all rose-tinted glasses combined with nostalgia? Doesn't feel like it should be such a big difference. Anyways.... The beats don't do much for me. While it's cool that it's a lots of gospel and jazz, I find them really uninteresting and unmemorable. The album is praised for its lyrical content, and frankly I wasn't paying too much attention so that might be why it doesn't hit home very well.

Limp

I dont get him. Just sounds like any other modern hip hop. Nout remarkable or groundbreaking about it I dont get how hes a genius when he wont shutup and his dick being free and yams. Maybe im not cool enough

3/10

I can respect that this album is creative, richly sourced, thoughtfully crafted, and Kendrick Lamar has lots to say. I liked the conversations at the end of the last two tracks -- reflective, open. But if this is the cream of '10's hip-hop, then I just can't get into this whole genre, period.

Skjønne ikkje.. E ikkje han en av de største artistene i verden atm?

Det her vekke rare følelsa. Æ prøve så hardt, og har så lyst å forstå det, men må bare være ærlig med mæ sjøl; æ e sykt hvit og forstår ingenting.

Først og fremst en plate med en del hits fra ungdommen som er gøy å høre igjen. Ellers er plata litt lang, og ganske kjedelig.

Not really my thing!

Starting out strong with some fun grooves that make me want to move, boo boo. Really interesting arrangements, definitely different than other rap albums I’ve listened to on this list. Fav track: ‘i’ Lyrics are delivered emphatically and feel important, but sadly most are lost on me upon first and second listen. Doesn’t always detract from enjoying the ride and feeling the vibe. “shit don’t change until you get up and wash your ass” … uhhh, sure? Vocals get on my nerves a little, I think it’s the tone of his voice and the delivery – and maybe that’s ThE wHoLe PoInT. Especially on ‘u’, ‘For Sale?’, ‘Momma’, and ‘Hood Politics’. Chaotic jazz instrumentals and whiney slam poetry vocals on ‘For Free?’ is interesting, but no… I’m out.

Great production, funky tunes, so much potential, but the lyrics push me away, what a shame

I have no opinion on this, other than PLEASE STOP MAKING ALBUMS THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE CAPACITY OF A COMPACT DISC.

Not for me.

I was interested in hearing this, given my Kendrick experience is solely Drake-beef adjacent. I liked King Kunta, Alright, How Much A Dollar Cost and i (though that track mostly because I love the track it samples - I lost interest in the talky bit). And that was about it. I recognise how massively influential this was, and continues to be. Its blend of styles is admirable, and interesting, but just not enjoyable to my ears. I do like quite a lot of hip-hop (it's one of my top rated genres on the generator after about 10 months of rating) but it's tended to be the older stuff that I enjoy rather than more modern experimental stuff. And then it ended with another 12 minute track that was mostly a chat... Judging by this album, Kendrick isn't for me.

Not my scene, but sounded okay

Don’t understand the love for this. I don’t like the beats, the rhymes, his voice or his cadence.

Liked some songs but I wasn't able to listen to this whole album.

The dude can rhyme, and he’s got something on his mind. But there’s no real music here.

Overrated

Überraschende Arhythmik reißt einen regelmäßig aus einem klassischen Hip-Hip Erlebnis raus. Keine einprägsamen Beats, kein Timing, viel zu lang

A prog hip-hop album with so really well constructed jazz and funk influenced backing tracks. Nice soulful harmonies too although I still don't care much for the spoken word performances even if the lyrics have some depth. That said the album contains an interesting mix of styles.

Einhversstaðar heyrði ég að þetta væri kallað djassrapp. Mér finnst djass skemmtilegur og mér finnst þetta ekki vera djass. Þetta er bara rosalega leiðinlegt án þess að vera lélegt

Meh. I can recognise how good this is but also it really isn't a pleasurable listening experience. I liked it more at the start but i just found this to drag on and on

Not my vibe atm

A few standouts but overall just a little too long for my cracker ass

So now I know who Kendrick Lamar is... Big whoop. Not my style. Musical stylings good, and they change, but I agree with Allison. The whole thing makes me uncomfortable. Like the only way I (white middle-aged male) could TRY to groove on this would be on headphones. Alone. Isolated in the spare room.

I really don’t like rap. This album has good instrumentals and the background music and vocals hit hard, I just don’t like the rapping. Every line needs to have a swear for some reason and I just can’t enjoy this album. Each song would start and I would think that it’s about to be a baller song, and then the rapping starts and I lose all faith in it.

This was a challenging album for me. Some of it was simply uncomfortable to listen to. And I realize that his album wasn't made for me, but lines like "this dick ain't free" just made me embarrassed. Needless to say I'm not playing this album where anyone else can hear ever again... While I'm not really a fan of Lamar's voice I do think that the musical styling, especially in the beginning are phenomenal. Wesley's Theory was unique and then followed up by a slam poetry interlude For Free?. King Kunta is one of my favorites on this album, it has great beats and less grating vocals, plus real clever lyrics. Institutionalized and These Walls also have unique stylings with the latter having an almost 70s funk feel. u and i is where I think the lyrics really shine and is overall just a solid song. Still, I found the album dragged, especially from Alright to Complexion. There's some decent lyrics in there but the vocals are too stilted and the beats are underwhelming. The Blacker the Berry is pretty good, but I wanted more of that. This project has made me realize how much I dislike double albums. I think if you are a die hard fan of a certain artist they're great, but as a new listener it's just hard to get into. Die I need to hear this before I die? Yeah, I'd say so.

Too erratic. Not a lot of flow with the beats and delivery. It’s jangled and tough to follow

Not for me

2.5/5

Did not like it. Didn't finish it.

Not my thing

Greit nok, noe kult innimellom men ikke så altfor mye som fester seg. Kommer nok ikke sette det på igjen

Heilt greitt. Ræpp er ikkje heilt mi greie trur eg, men til tider bra.

366/1089 - Wow! It's been one year doing this listening project. I'm enjoying it so far. To be honest, I don't like Kendrick's voice or beats and I remember listening to this album a few times and disliking it in the past. I'll give it another try and see if my opinion has changed: The production is impeccable and there are some really cool instrumentals like Institutionalized and Alright. I'm not a fan of the Funkadelic/Thundercat sounds but that's more a personal taste thing and nothing against the album itself. The main problem with the instrumentals is how repetitive they are. I also liked "i" but by "liked" i I mean I liked "That Lady" by the Isley Brothers and was trying to ignore the rest of the sounds which brings me to my main problem with Kendrick Lamar: his vocals. I still think Kendrick's vocal timbre sounds like Spongebob if his balls dropped and he had throat cancer. I just can't really get into his music for whatever reason.