To Pimp A Butterfly

I want to like this album... there's clearly a lot of meaningfuly perspective and involved lyrics, but the only song that i actually wanted to listen to over again was King Kunta. Give props due to complexity, though Kendrick's voice isn't my thing... give me Chuck D or Nas.

There were tracks I enjoyed, but to be honest I mostly felt like I was waiting for it to be over.

If the word "nigga" were removed from this album, it would only be 30 minutes long. It’s pretentious, mediocre and overrated.

I used to smoke tabs walking from the rail station on schooldays. I didn't really like it but I though that when I walked past adults, they might think I was cool and hard. Here is a record with tracks about wiping your arse, about my dick and with a "nigga" count of 115. Why? Is it a commentary about life in an American ghetto? Is it a social statement? No it's so you can play it very very loud, and hope that you're overheard by adults and they might think that you are cool and hard. I'm an adult now and know that I looked like a dickhead. (1½ for some of the tunes being listenable - even if they are rudely interrupted)

I think.. I just don't like Kendrick's voice. And from there it's hard to enjoy the affectations. And then from there it makes the rhymes annoying. The music is interesting but I know that's not the selling point. And I'm not really conflicted about it.

meh.

A couple good ones. But I don’t get all the “one of the best ever” hype. 2.5

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

Fuck off you cunts

This is the worst thing that could happen to music and poetry. Disgusting, bestial mediocrity. 0 of 10.

For me, as not a hip hop listener, it seems that Lamar is surrounded by all the possible toys and great jazz players, but not having much musical ideas. Great sounds on this album, though. I'm enjoying the horns and 70's vibe keyboards and synth basses, but unfortunately almost nothing interesting is played. Hard to comment on lyrical content in general, but I most certainly heard the n-word more than I needed. I think this album is good example of a tale Emperor's new clothes, which in this case are also non-existent.

I struggle to get on board with modern rap. There is something missing in the music itself, a bassiness that was found in 90's rap, I guess. There are a couple of good songs on here, but for me, it doesn't outweigh the filler and the songs that feel rambling and confused. I always hear about how great a lyricist Kendrick is, so I want to hear it! I don't know that I do. Maybe I'm just old.

Musically, this is a good album. To make it better, one should remove the vocal track entirely. As critically acclaimed as many hip-hop records are on this list, I cannot relate to them.

N words. Voice like an out of tune violin

Not for me.

That's fucked up.

Some rap i can enjoy, this isn't it. Though we have had considerably worse than this on here. No redeeming features that I can discern. 1

крэп

Rubbish - I can see if this is your thing it would be enjoyable. Beats great - lyrics suck ass. Not my thang

I don't know if I've ever heard so much hype for an album. Listening was a stressful task, and I often felt as if I must be missing some crucial context. The samples draw influence from jazz/funk/soul music, as many other pieces of music have. Other albums have tackled themes of racism and black urban poverty. Other albums have been introspective, have been introspective regarding fame and the music industry. Maybe I'm jealous of how he can mask his insecurities with machismo. Jealous of how he can use depression to deflect from the angry young man persona. I've never felt like a white person, nor comfortably non-white, and maybe I'm envious of the confidence with which he wields his background and his identity. This album is not for me. (They not like me.) I probably would have given this a 2 or a 3 but the importance attached to this album makes me feel like garbage. If art is subjective, I hated the experience of listening to this. If art is objective, I still hated the experience of listening to this. Even the cover art makes me feel miserable. I'm sorry I don't get it and I'm sorry if I'm too dumb to explain why.

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

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

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

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

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

*I’ve heard this once before and I just can’t bring myself to go through it again, going to listen to his latest album as a substitution* Enjoy it: No, I just don’t get it at all and I hate that you have to be an intellectual to ‘get it’ Favourite song: None

Just not for me.

No thanks. Couldn't listen through a single track.

Excellent swearing. Not one to play with the kids in the back of the car - unless you have Adam Buxton skills. Otherwise, not really my jam.

Lol no

I don't like HIP HOP

pile of crap

mehhh

Average rapping with average R&B. Instantly forgettable.

Not for me

Doesn’t really need an explanation. Incredible album

This is a beautiful album. First listen and was already hooked when "For Free?" came on. I love the poem that gets longer as time progresses. The poems stop at the point that the next track is that subject. Mortal Man is a great emotional track snd when the poem ends, it's just talking. Amazing talking. Great album, I see why it's on of the greatest ever.

This is the modern-day rap bible. There's so much verve and life on this record, but it tells such a sobering story of the ways the world is stacked against African-Americans, the hardships of trying to make it in a world that actively is punching back, expecting and demanding more of you than others, and then undervaluing you, your achievements, for your entire life, and then the only way you ever get respect is when "accidents happen", and everyone mourns for someone who was mourning the whole time. Then, at the same time, it celebrates Black culture, with so much colour and style, recontextualising sex, success, family, in a fresh and empowering way. This is must listen, for everyone, not just rap fans.

8.6/10

Es una cosa monumental. Tiene capas y capas que no creo que pueda desentrañar en una primera escucha, pero entiendo la fama que tiene.

Love this album. I must have listened to this 1000 times over.

Masterpiece

This like a Picasso hanging in a museum I don’t have the words to describe it but it’s beautiful

A homeless man asks rich millionaire Kendrick Lamar for a single dollar on his vacation to one of the poorest countries in the world. Then, Kendrick calls him a crackhead for no reason other than he didn’t like the way he looked—racial profiling and classism. Then, Kendrick writes a song to shame a poor homeless man just trying to survive in front of the whole world. Then, President Barack Obama calls this his favorite song of all time. If I was that homeless man I would want to die if I heard this song, but I’d probably already be dead because nobody was willing to help me. Great album though.

The goat. Literally kicked a trashcan when it didn't win AOTY at the Grammys

Masterpiece

*95 Nok det bedste album vi har haft.

Totalt genialt godt. 1 af 2 5'ere i Kennys diskografi. Jeg glæder mig allerede helt vanvittigt meget til det næste. GIGA 5'er

22.06.2026 13/15

This album completely took the world by storm when it came out, instantly becoming the most praised album of the 21st century, and by now even arguably of all time. And to be honest I think it's really easy to see why. Everything from the features, the production, the versatile instrumentation that can be as fun as it is ominous, are all huge elements in why this album is so timeless and accessible. But above all else, Kendrick's lyrics really are the main event. At face value it doesn't seem anything too significant, just another black rapper saying "racism bad," but it goes so much deeper than that. This is more than just a protest against racism, but a full blown celebration of black people and black culture. He discusses the inner details of systematic racism and the effects it has on society, especially black society. This is a straight up deep dive into the human psyche and how our societal baises warp our view of how opression affects others. I really find it no surprise that this album is #1 on sites like Album of the Year and Rate Your Music, and while I wouldn't necessarily rank it as the greatest album of all time myself, its reach and staying power and just general accessibility are what gives it the well deserved #1 spot. The userbase here doesn't seem quite as keen which surprises me a bit, I really hope that the people on here start to see what a masterpiece this truly is, because a 3.64 average rating is sickening.

probably one of the best rap albums to ever exist

I was certain I'll give this a 4/5, but after yet another listen, I fail to see how this album is anything less than a 5. The tracks I remembered being a bit worse than the rest are honestly just as amazing. It's just a perfect display of hip-hop in every aspect. It's musically and tonally incredibly rich and diverse, Kendrick's flow is phenomenal and the themes are so well constructed and presented. Kendrick Lamar doesn't have a bad album, not even a mediocre one, but this one is head and shoulders above the rest. That's insane, considering he made Good Kid, M.A.D.D City and Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, which would be clear highlights in the majority of other discographies. Favourite track: The Blacker the Berry (possibly my all-time favourite hip-hop track)

It is one of the greatest hip hop albums to exist. From songs that hurt like U and just absolutely incredible west coast beats like in the song The Walls

HOLY SHIT

King Kunta, is probably my favorite track. But so many great ones on this one. Used to listen to this a lot a few years back.

yes

Hahahaha one of my own personal favorite albums of all time. For this being my first album on this project is so ironic, I love it. An album that so culturally relevant, the jazz influences, the Cold War subliminal to Kendrick’s contemporary. The concept and running themes of this project are profound and stick with you. This made K.s jump from one of the best rappers to an all time great artist.

One of the best albums in hip hop history and one of the most ambitous in music history. The ratings this album gets says a lot about the demographics in this platform.

Amazing production, lyrics, and messaging. Absolutely love this one. Funky and jazzy and conscious.

A true visionary at work

One of the few albums in this list that feels like it has a story to tell from beginning to end. Kendrick’s verses and writing hit a very human chord that bounces between base and vulgar, and incredibly thoughtful on a word to word basis. The tracks and instrumentals really elevate everything and really pulls the whole album together. In the end it’s not something I will listen to often but you can’t help but to listen to it front to back each time.

kao logicno

Easily one of the greatest hip hop albums of this century, good job Kendrick, easy 5 stars

It's got yams, bobo, 5

didn’t know this was on here. i know this obviously

It'd probably be a 4.5 for me but I don't think there are half stars here. Insane album though, think it's a little hard to get into in the middle but amazing album.

I'm a big Kendrick fan, been one since section.80. When I first heard this album after its release, it just didn't hit the ears back then but after re-listening, this is a MASTERPIECE. This album was for the cultureeee. The samples, the features, the flows, the groovy and funky vibe... it just doesn't get better than this. Well done Kendrick and thank you for putting so much love and care into this album. Every song felt intentional and ik that wasn't an accident. 10/10

One of the best records to come out in my lifetime, hands down. This is one that came out at the exact right moment in time and in its own way helped make me the person i am today.

I remember when this album came out I listened and all I could was that Kendrick Lamar had put out the blackest record I had ever heard. It was even more an update of the messages the Public Enemy was trying to get out. Kendrick talked about the struggle but also made it listenable. The stand out on this album was the music you had Thundercat, Pharrell, Flying Lotus, and many more shaping the sound. Another aspect was the group of jazz greats who played on this album. Terence Martin Kamasi Washington Brandon Coleman and thundercat. All brilliant players. I can’t speak enough about how this album moved me. I have been listening to hip hop since I was a so for about 40 years now. When I say that this is one of the best albums that I have ever heard and as I listen and continue to listen through I hear something new. The themes from the trappings of the music industry, struggles of mental health the problems of having ghost writers. There is so much on this album. It’s been 10 years and I still listen. People who call this album shit and don’t give it a shot are missing out when all they focus on is the curse words.

The best instrumental work on any hip hop album? Or just the best hip hop album? Feels like a very easy modern rap album to point to and say it’s the best one, so cohesive around its themes, steeped in jazz, filled with both bangers and deep songs, not even Kendrick’s voice is enough to take away from it (Although it’s great on Blacker the Berry). Can’t believe it’s been more than 10 years now, like Obama was still president when this came out? WTF? That “I remember you was conflicted” motif thing throughout the album culminating in an interview with Tupac at the end is really clever. Some might say a more respectful way of using the dead man’s likeness than how Snoop Dogg has resurrected him into the new Yakuza game Average rating on this site is a crime, though a very interesting distribution where most people gave it a 5 but it’s nowhere near top rated on the site because people have just gone “Hip Hop, 1”

Yeah obviously it’s a five I used to think this was overrated and didn’t see why people liked it so much, I thought Fantano giving it a ten was crazy and that damn was much better than this But after coming back to it again properly a couple of years ago I now see the light 5

This is a classic of my time. a really perfect entry from Kendrick

Kendrick had some things to SAY. Wow. Poetic, political, and an insightful look into the experience of an African-American man from Compton that made it out. It is so refreshing to hear a meaningful take on the African-American woman too instead of the usual demeaning hip-hop verses about women. So deserving of the Grammys.

Nie gehört. Aber schon ziemlich krasses Album. Muss da mal noch in lyrics rein. Definitiv wieder!

one of my favorite albums of all time!!!i want this on cd so bad

Don't think I enjoyed this one quite as much as Good Kid mAAd City. but it's still very good! "King Kunta" and "Alright" are the standouts here, but I do think the album is weaker in the first half, but picks up in the back half, I particularly enjoyed "How Much A Dollar Cost" "Complexion (A Zulu Love)" "The Blacker the Berry" and "i"

The funky, jazzy, experimental beats, commentary and stories woven through the tracks make it feel like a single piece of art rather than a collection of songs. I have a huge appreciation for it on that level and I think its definitely an album that's greater than the sum of its parts. I added Alright and the single version of "I" onto my playlist, but Blacker The Berry and King Kunta are great too.

foda

Love this album

Brain chemistry altering. Luxurious, immaculate production accompanied by some of the best lyrical work ever on any album - both in tone and performance as well as content.

Stunning album. So many layers and so much depth to the music and lyrics. Like his second album it rewards repeat listening and listening the album as a whole.

Absolute cinema

In my top five all-time rap albums. Both musically and lyrically dense. It’s a shame Kendrick wasted so much time and energy dissing Drake lately, when he could’ve been writing more meaningful songs like “These Walls”, “Complexion”, “Wesley’s Theory”, etc

если бы было желание погружаться в контекст я бы и 6 поставила.

Project 1001 ABID #6 Pre thoughts: I’ve listened to this to death so really I don’t have to re listen. I will say it’s not my favourite from Kendrick though. Maad city was amazing. Post thoughts: yeah just solid isnt it. The wordplay isnt just for flexing, still tells the story. Set a standard that few reach this consistently.

K-Dot took the Championship Belt of Hip-Hop with this album, and he hasn't let it up since. Easily the most expansive Hip Hop album of the decade, with jazz and roots influences.

zero notes god tier

Kendrick Lamar é genial. Um álbum com jazz, rap, discursos... Rico musicalmente e divertido. Moondrop May.

Bish where were you when I was walkin??

undeniable

That's what I'm talking about ! Favorite tracks : all of them?! (even the interludes are incredible!)

So far we’ve had more albums from the 1960’s than the 2010’s. But I like Kendrick Lamar so it makes up for it. 5 stars.

its so weird seeing people hate on this in the 1 star reviews when I think its peak

I already love this album. Kendrick is a solid contender in any GOAT discussions on rap. This album is a great example. He's got skits/concepts/themes to this album that help to tie the album together. He's lyrically incredible, and his beats are fun despite the frequent seriousness of his lyrics. King Kunta, These Walls, Blacker the Berry, and the undeniable hit of Alright are all amazing tracks.

This is the greatest hip hop album of all time hands down. Listening to this for the first time as a teenager shaped my perspective on what it means to be a Black person living in America. As a white person, this album was clearly not made with me in mind. It references niche Black American culture that I needed to look up to understand due to my upbringing. However, that does not mean there is nothing for me to gain from listening. Quite the opposite in fact, the themes and events depicted in TPAB serve as a stripped back, raw perspective on the American Black experience offering perspective that can never be matched by reading up on race politics or history books. To Pimp A Butterfly captures something real and prevalent and terrible in our society and lays it bare for all to hear in such an enjoyable manner. No other musical project has offered the same type of insight into a new perspective I have not experienced as effectively, and I almost doubt any ever will. But TPAB is great not only because of the message of the lyrics but also the creativity in how the message is delivered, the uniqueness of the jazz-inspired beats, the mastery of the instruments being played (shout out to the goat Thundercat). The recurring poem is such an iconic device on this album that I really haven't seen utilized to this degree anywhere else in modern music. The level of meaning packed into every line just blows my mind, I'm still discovering new allusions and double entendres hidden in there upon every listen. The range of emotions that are elicited in me every time I put on this masterpiece of a project is shocking, from the euphoric highs of "Alright" and "I" to the deep darkness and anger of "The Blacker the Berry" and "u" everything is just so visceral. Side note, I truly believe that anyone who claims to dislike this album because it is "too vulgar" or they "don't like the lyrical style" is thinly veiling deeply internalized racism, sorry not sorry. That complaint completely removes the music from its context and ignores the centuries of oppression and hate that fostered the generational resentment and ambivalence being expressed through those words. Only a purposefully ignorant or completely inept person could listen to this and ignore the entire message of the album as well as all of the history and take away "I no like too many swears 1/5." Kick your "bias against Hip Hop" and grow up. You just don't like is because it was made by a Black person.

What even is there to say about this album. It might be the best hip hop record of all time. However, especially as a white woman, I don’t need to write a think piece on why it’s so great. But I do have to point out that a lot of the negative reviews are disgustingly close-minded, and some are genuinely racist. The production, of course, is incredible. Kendrick is also maybe the best living poet. This album changed my life when I first heard it in high school. It not only expanded my music taste, but educated me and expanded my worldview. Obviously this album doesn’t exist for white people to consume it, but I think it does provide a perspective many wouldn’t otherwise have access to. Everyone should listen to this album. TPAB is a 5 to end all 5s. One of my favorite albums of all time.

Enkrat ali dvakrat sm ga že, iz firbca, ker je highest rated album of all time na Rate Your Music. Skor 80 minut sicr, uf. Mislim, ja, banger after fakin banger. "King Kunta" je amazing. Prvi ("Wesley's Theory") in pa sledeči, "For Free? - Interlude", sta bla oba huda. Interlude mi je bil prou hilarious. Pri prvem poslušanju sm bla v družbi nekoga, ki je ekstra kritičen do sodobnega rapa in mi je mal vplivalo to na izkušnjo. Zj k sm sama, I love it. Besedila so huda. Komadi so raznoliki, nek overarching theme je. Dolgčas mi ni, ne vleče se mi. Spomnim se, da morem rewatchat njegov Superbowl nastop, ker je bil res hud.

A fantastic album, one that even today I haven’t come to appreciate all of its intricacies. Overstimulating but great. One where the length doesn’t bother me Rating: 9/10 Favorite Song: King Kunta, these walls

When ambition matches talent, you get projects like this. I’ve had this on repeat for 11 years and each listen reveals something new. Thank you Kendrick Lamar I love you.

I'd actually listened to this for the first time a month or two ago before starting this challenge. As a lily white man I'm definitely looking in from the outside when it comes to the lyrics here, which are written for black Americans and no one else. Despite having trouble relating to the lyrics, Kendrick's flow is amazing, along with the songwriting and production in general. Seems like every other track had some beat, synth or other unexpected instrument dropped in that wowed me. 9.5/10.

9/10 This was my first time listening to this album in full and I kept being surprised by it. Production and songwriting are top notch.

This is, to me, one of the best examples of what a list like this is for. There's oceans of ink to be spilled about this album, about it's cultural commentary, it's musical composition. There is a phrase that art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable and it feels like something along those lines was a core ethos in the construction of this album. This is not really easy, accessible art. It's dense and layered, both in composition and in meaning. Some of the other reviews here criticize it for being about "money and bitches" and other stereotypical rap subjects. That sort of criticism both belies a lack of close listening, "for free" isn't actually about women at all, but also a lack of familiarity with the subject matter here. My favorite thing is someone calling the opening sample a parody of 70's soul music, when it's actually just a sample of a 70's song. If you simply want to jam to some music, there are better rap albums for that, even in Kendricks own catalogue. But if you want to hear a man try to explain and understand the experience of blackness in America, then few albums are better. This is not to say that Kendrick's understanding or opinions are perfect, or even the most deep and nuanced. If you want genuine intellectual rigor then there's plenty of academic work out there for you and even other artists who diagnosis of the the various plights of black people in America are far more grounded in politics and material causes. But that isn't really where the value here lies. This is a part of one man's story, a part of his comprehension of the world and while Kendrick certainly hoped putting it out could change things and was markedly depressed when it did not, that doesn't cause it lose it's value as an examination of his experience, of how it relates to others, of the time and place that it came from. You need to hear this.

Even as a fan I didn't like it first time it was released. Now, I have to say it is great. It just needed some time I guess. 4.4

So unique. Maybe not the easiest listen at first, but it's amazing to discover this album layer after layer.

Masterpiece. You can feel the weight of the importance of this album. One of the best new discoveries for me on this list so far.

One of my favourite hip hop albums from the last 20 years. Amazing

I thought u was conflicted

This is amazing album. Every track is varied and interesting. The skill on display is unreal and validates all the acclaim that he has received. The beats are unique and make your head unconsciously bop. The musicality is wild- guest musicians add real depth to this album. Conceptually the LP is interesting- songs flow from one to another with interesting and textured interludes to cleanse the palate and introduce the next vibe. This is exactly what an album should be. For me a clear 5 stars.

My favorite album. It’s so good. 10/5 100/5 Infinity/5 I feel bad for you if you don’t like this album.

goat

love it!!!🥰

Unbelievable. This is one of my all time favs. I love a concept record and this one has it all. Captivating storytelling, production that moves in several directions at once. It's ahead of its time, it's poetry. It's a classic

2nd time listening to this, maybe the best kendrick album

Wesley’s Theory, ok but didn’t necessarily do anything for me For Free? I wanna memorize so badly King Kunta is phenomenal to groove to These Walls was pretty good but I thought it could’ve sounded hotter Alright was hopeful and peak HMaDC was a really good story Fuckkk man, that last verse of Berry is crazy I love myself and i Mortal Man is humble and poetry, and it’s crazy that this album was written 3 years before George Floyd, I still don’t think we’ve seen a true riot or level of violence that Tupac describes is coming “next time” like what LA was experiencing at that time in the 90s. Overall, while there are a lot of songs that I can only think about externally and enjoy the sound of because I am both white and grew up affluently, this album clearly shows that Kendrick is a Virgil of his day and he is by far my favorite rapper

Incomparable. I hear something new every time I listen to it, so it never gets old.

The first thousand times I listened, I swore he was saying, "I remember you was conflicted: your shoes or your influence..."

Kendrick is trully a one of a kind guy. So much of this album is so soudly amazing, with it's inspiration's to 1970's funk and free jazz create an amazing hearing experience, coupled with trully remarcable lyrics. This album is an experience that i cannot describe with my words. This is the good stuff.

Kendrick Lamar, what a fucking artist.

This is one of the albums I was really looking forward to listening to on the list. It's one of the albums I know everyone needs to hear, but because hip hop isn't my genre I hadn't gotten around to it. It's the sort of album that inspired me to do this project. This album threw me at first. I know some Kendrick Lamar tracks, but I wasn't such variety of styles -funk, soul, jazz. By the second half of the album I really got into it. On second listen I enjoyed the first half more, but I don't love every track. That second half, though, is absolute fire. I know it would take many listens to really take in the lyrics and themes in here, because they're fired at you pretty fast and raw. One thing that's undeniable straight away though is every inch of this album is interesting. The production, the rhythms, vocals and lyrics. Absolutely an essential listen.

One of the best hiphop albums I've ever heard. From the opening to "Wesley's Theory" right to the end. Not many, if any, dull moments. It justifies its hour length, and offers a great rhythm and vibe for casual listening and enough insight, care, and passion for a full in-depth dive.

Undisputed classic. Kenny a modern great. Fav tracks: Wesley’s Theory, King Kunta, Institutionalized, Alright, Momma, Hood Politics, How Much a Dollar Cost, Blacker the Berry, i RYM: Y (#1) Saved a song: Y

All time classic.

Wesley's Theory - 5/5 For Free? (Interlude) - 4/5 King Kunta - 5/5 Institutionalized - 4/5 These Walls - 5/5 u - 5/5 (AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH) Alright - 5/5 For Sale? (Interlude) - 5/5 Momma - 4/5 Hood Politics - 3/5 How Much a Dollar Cost - 5/5 Complexion (A Zulu Love) - 5/5 The Blacker the Berry - 5/5 You Ain't Gotta Lie (Momma Said) - 5/5 i - 5/5 Mortal Man - 5/5 Average score: 4.7/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Kendrick hasn't released something quite this great since. i don't really believe in "perfect" albums, but this comes pretty damn close

I felt a lot more at home with this one than the other albums I’ve listened to so far. I really liked all the jazz/blues instrumentals. I definitely see myself listening to TPAB again, especially to dive into all the meaning in the lyrics that Kendrick packs in. I’m withholding a half star because I don’t see myself putting the majority of the songs into my heavy rotation. 4.5/5

One of the best rap albums of all time, full of heart, emotion & power in every element of the song-writing & delivery. I’m no rap expert but I can hear a rapper at the absolute top of his game. There isn’t a single dud moment on this record & the flow, lyricism & tones keep you interested from start to finish. It feels experimental yet brilliantly coherent, which makes it an absolute joy to listen to.

I always struggled with Kendrick, is he genius or overrated. You should decide. But this album is an absolute line in the sand. You should listen to it, headphones on and just sit and let it take you on the journey and experience.

Rating: 5/5 Favourite Tracks: Wesley’s Theory, King Kunta, Institutionalized, u, Alright, Momma, Hood Politics, How Much A Dollar Cost, The Blacker The Berry, i, Mortal Man

Kendrick es la cabra de nuestra generación.

Sin dudas es uno de los álbumes más importantes de la historia reciente, tanto por su concepto como por sus letras y sonoridad, mezclando diferentes sonidos que representan a la comunidad afroamericana y llevándolo a un punto casi inexplicable, las letras son de las más duras y sinceras que pude escuchar, Kendrick hace una perfo que es una locura y sinceramente, todo el álbum es una obra de arte. I remember you was conflicted...

This was the third time I listened it, the first two times I didn't play it in order as Spotify always smart shuffles the queue, but this time I downloaded it and played it in order. And it made sense. It felt as if kendrick was telling a story and not rapping. Every song was unique, i especially loved the interludes, For Sale? And For Free? But still every song was a banger.

Just monumental. Musically, lyrically, conceptually, it's kinda staggering how individual tracks break down into smaller songs and break apart, multiple genres, jazz and even classical, and plain ol' spoken poetry. Cinematic. And then lyrics and themes come back in different contexts and build one big complete whole. And it just plain sounds great. Lush and sharp, deep grooves. It's tricky to pick out the standouts when you're listening to the album, since it's so well developed sequentially, but when King Kunta, Alright, How Much a Dollar Cost, and The Blacker the Berry come up each time you're thinking it can't get better than this. Yeah, and then i shows up as says "of course I got more." Definite include on the 1001 list, probably top 100. 5/5.

So much to parse through on this record. The lyrics are dense and seemingly cover the entirety of Black existence. Couple that with an Afrofuturist Funky Jazz beat and you understand why Kendrick is held in such high esteem.

Really gas in my opinion

One of the greatest hip hop albums of all time. Excellent.

One of the most important albums of all time. This album is so good that Kendrick is still doing victory laps over ten years later!

ridiculous

Classic Hip-Hop Album. My favorite thing is the many basslines he uses.

this is single-handedly the best album of all time, everything about this screams perfection, its structure is so perfectly executed, its story that carries along the whole thing, the intro to the outro. amazing instrumentation all across it, the jazz instruments are so well performed, there’s not a bad feature, there is absolutely a reason why this album gets so much critical acclaim, it’s a perfect album with a beautiful and powerful message and is a benchmark of modern music.

easily one of the best albums of the 2010s and one of the few albums (and many times at that!) that i've already heard prior to embarking on this project. legitimately i don't know what you even say that hasn't already been said fifty trillion times. ana's a kendrick stan so i'm sure she'll come up with something, but gonna be real i don't have shit to say! damn near perfect album start to finish.

A pretty easy contender for best album of all time, trying to think of things to say about TPAB that hasn't been said a hundred times over is going to be hard. If I start listing out my favorite songs, It's going to be pretty much a list of the entire album. The blacker the Berry may be the most evergreen song out their, which is incredible for a song that has the lyrics "I'm the biggest hypocrite of 2015" in it. Alright and King Kunta are impossible to not sing to when you hear it, and its all a beautiful balance that I cannot understate. "Ain't nothin' new, but a flu of new Demo-Crips and Re-Blood-licans" might be the best set of puns I've heard in any song. So, er, time to think up some unique things to say about this album: I guess my only hot take here is that I think the original version of i is really good despite its initial skepticism when it came out, and should be somewhere on the album even if the Album version is also great. A genuine feel good proclamation of self-love is the perfect counterpoint to the heart wrenching u. Besides that the other thing I'll say is that I feel Complexion doesn't get talked about enough. It reminds me a bit of a song from "untitled. unmastered.", it's just so smooth and is a great piece of jazz rap.

Amazing.

A bonafide classic, just stellar

peak

Hay un par de veces que escuché este álbum completo y uno de ellos fue en el coche. Me gustaría escucharlo leyendo las letras y entendiendo mejor su significado y aun así desde primera vista puedo ver que es una obra muy especial, me veo escuchando algunas de sus canciones en una playlist

🦯

this gets a 5

very good, loads of classics. Thunder cat is on this???

Classic. One of the best albums of all time.

Energetic. Dynamic. Emotional. What more can I expect from K. Dot?

This is an album that can't be described as anything less than an important moment in music history. I'd even argue an important moment in history in general. People were singing Alright in Black Lives Matter protests, for crying out loud. It brought together so many different influences, themes, and emotions, and that brought together so many people. I could probably write a seven-page essay on every reason why I think this is easily a top 10 album of all time, but I'm just gonna focus on one thing for this review: how positively charged this album is. It's not a purely positive album. Songs like The Blacker the Berry and Institutionalized are incredibly angry, much angrier than any other song he's ever made, but it's all aimed towards a positive endpoint. The album has a very clear theme of empowerment. Fighting negative thoughts, learning to love yourself, reminding yourself that everything's gonna be okay, and a lot of other similar themes have entire songs dedicated to them. That energy was definitely reflected in its listeners. Again, Alright was a protest song for a while. It's hard not to want to get up and do something after listening to it. I always feel excited and angry right with him when I listen to this. It's hard not to. There's even saxophones in it. So many saxophones. All the saxophone bonus points to this one. Godspeed.

Ugh so good. The horns coming in on Wesley’s theory. The punch of king kunta. The off kilter instrumentation and wavering voice of u. Cohesive yet fresh at every turn, the live instrumentation feel paired with mixed flows and intonation and lyrics from Kendrick compliment each other to bring a whole new sound. 10/10

If it’s good enough for Obama, it’s good enough for me. My brother.

Hip hop album of a generation (Cleaning windows)

I'm too old to catch every cultural reference. But I'm not too old feel how powerful this is and to enjoy the hell out of it. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Easily one of the best rap albums of all time

Not a lot I can say about this record that hasn’t already been said. One of the best rap albums ever released, glad it’s getting its flowers on this site.

As a white, 46 year old dad, you can definitely trust my opinion on rap music, and my opinion is that rap music peaked here

Great tbf didnt really get the 10/10 thing but as a whole pretty much a 9/10 for me

What can I possible add to the discussion surrounding this album that hasn’t already been said before? An incredible experience. One my first listen I wasn’t that impressed. However now songs I didn’t rate like Wesley’s Theory and Alright have become favourites. The last 5 songs from complexion to Mortal Man are perfect. Even with half of Mortal Man being a conversation between father and son. Amazing music, storytelling and politics. And some say GKMC is on par maybe better than this. I CANT WAIT FOR THAT

Arguably the greatest hiphop album ever, heck you could argue it’s the greatest album period. Not a single boring moment despite its length. Every bar is perfectly placed and most could be dissected all day. It’s taught in universities for a reason. And I haven’t even spoken about the musicality, heavenly beats and amazing flows. Fucking peak.

I love every part of this album

A canonical point of history.

Modern day poetry. A challenging listen, but that's as it should be.

Such a thoughtful and fun rap album. Maybe get best rap album of all time

A really iconic rap album. Of Kendrick’s albums from this era, I’ve always thought Good Kid, M.A.A.D City was the stronger one. This mastodon of an album breaks one of my rules—that albums shouldn’t be longer than 40 minutes. This one is nearly double that. To its credit, it has everything: from a great single like “King Kunta,” to spoken-word jazz on “For Free?”, to low-key cultural reflection on “How Much a Dollar Cost.” I’m not giving it a complete pass, though. The album is a bit bloated, and I find myself skipping songs when listening to it. Good Kid, M.A.A.D City is slightly sharper in the storytelling department, but this is still very good. Giving it a 4 feels slightly unfair, since it’s mainly the bloat that holds it back. Weak 5.

I have enough friends who put Kendrick on such a pedestal that my own opinion of him was never realistically going to reach that god-tier level, so I’ve always felt a slight… disconnect? Don’t get me wrong, this album is a 5/5, but the glazing gets a little extra sometimes.

This is the best post-1995 rap album I’ve listened to on this list.

Bloody brilliant. Nothing more to say.

Not just one of the best hip hop albums ever, but one of the best albums of all time. MASTERPIECE.

Took me a while to appreciate this album but once I did it’s a masterpiece Still not as good as good kid in my eyes but brilliant all the same

His best work for me. Following up commercial success from GKMC by bringing in the likes of Thundercat and Flying Lotus is bold, got to respect it. Just a really well written, well structured album that needs to be appreciated in full.

Nostalgic messages during a difficult transition into complete adulthood in a country that was becoming more polarized. I felt very lost and felt as though my life had become very minuscule. K-dot unknowingly uplifted me. This album was played from beginning to end daily for well over a year. And it has now come back to me at a similar point in my life, a decade later. We gon' be alright.

Automatic 5 star no notes

For Sale?

peak

Complete unity. Thought and execution. Past meeting present. Writing and rapping. There’s so many layers that are woven together in such a direct line. To get the full depth of the album you just need to dive in head first and understand how hand picked every choice is. One of my favorite things about the album is the use of jazz and how it connects to Kendrick’s identity as a Black American, which works hand in hand with him being a rapper. Part of this structure and the stylistic elements of the album informs so much in relation to what it is. That thematic strength from the instrument and beat selection alone just shows how much care was taken with this project. Kendrick’s creativity is unmatched, with his brain and heart being able to give infinitely through his music. It’s not overselling this album in the slightest when I say that it is life changing. Faves: Alright, u, How Much A Dollar Cost, Wesley’s Theory, Mortal Man, Complexion (A Zulu Love), i, Momma, For Sale? - Interlude, Institutionalized, The Blacker The Berry, These Walls, You Ain’t Gotta Lie (Momma Said), For Free? - Interlude

One of the most complete albums I've ever listened to. Hate that I used to skip to all the singles. Momma is the only track I don't get. I'll always be excited to relisten to this album.

This is perfect

Honestly, I was not surprised that this album would make an appearance at some point on this list. Whilst this album is not necessarily a concept, it is more beneficial to listen from start to finish on the first listen with the monologue that weaves between the songs expanding as it gets further until the conclusion which to this day is cleverly put together. Of course it would be a chore to sit through an hour plus unravelling a monologue if the songs weren't up to scratch in general and thankfully I can't find a negative against any of them.

Literally my favourite album so this rating can only go one way lmao

We want that funk!

I knew it loved this and still do. Such good beats and lyrics

It's Kendrick. Doh.

Finally, an album you absolutely *must* listen to. I was hesitant because KL's voice is not...my favorite, but I never sat down to give an album the old college try. This is absolutely a product of its time and it's still relevant 11 years later. I was hooked throughout the album...something that is nearly impossible with all the dreck that is on this list, so that's an immediate win for me. I hesitate to name a favorite track because all of them held my interest, but it's probably (predictably) King Kunta. It's telling how many dismiss this album on the grounds of "profanity", "self-indulgence", and "typical fuck hoes get money" type shit. It will be no surprise to anyone that these people are probably those who swear up and down English rock bands (or, heaven forbid, Bob Dylan) are musical revolutionaries we should be so lucky to listen to. I can only hope the likes of you grow up one day. While TPaB is hardly original in its themes, it's unique, ambitious, and stupid catchy. Well deserved 5/5.

Hektisk, kaotisk og medrivende.

Dæsken! Endelig ei skikkelig skive. Kreativt og skikkelig gjennomført, med fenomenale musikanter. Hiphop og jazz??? Ka farsken

where do i even start

пушка

80 min record flies by, masterpiece

If you look up "Magnum Opus" in the dictionary, this album is pictured underneath.

This is just one of the best albums of all time. I vividly remember hearing this for the first time in high school and knowing I was hearing something truly special. The lyrical content and various themes touched upon with the consistent through line of the poem work exceptionally well with the jazzy and funky instrumentation. I think this is Kendrick’s best album, however I find myself listening to GKMC slightly more.

It truly is one of the greatest hip hop albums of the 21st century, if not all time. Lyrically, it's superb and thematically it's borderline conceptual. The beats range from old school to experimental and the end result is a masterpiece. Usually, I have a problem with albums this long, bit this one went like a breeze. 5/5

Banger.

This is one of those records that you need a couple laps on to fully appreciate. Mitchell said he's listening to the albums he hasn't heard on this list multiple times before rating, and this record is a great example of why I think that's a great idea. The first time I listened to this record, I liked it, but I didn't love it. But after a few laps, I can say it's brilliant. First of all, the jazz backing tracks would be able to stand alone as a brilliant fusion jazz record. It's a unbelievable from the start. On Wesley's theory, the drop is some avant gaurd fusion jazz. I've never heard jazz used this way on a record. Not even on Late Registration. And when he pivots and goes with hard hip-hop beats it works so well counter-balancing the jazz. This is an album where the hits aren't my favorite of Kendrick's hits. There is no equivalent of "Money Trees" or "Swimming Pools" on this record. "i" is not my favorite Kendrick song. Nether is "King Kendrick". But when these songs hit on this album, they hit. Everything flows so well together on this album. For an 1:15 record, it doesn't drag. Of all the albums Pitchfork could have given a 10 between MBDTF and Fetch The Bolt Cutters, you could make a perfect 10 case for 3 Kendrick records, but this one seems to be the most obvious. 10/10

one of the greatest albums of our time. I'm convinced they gave Kendrick the Pulitzer for DAMN because they missed the chance to give it to him for TPAB. there's songs here that gave musical representation for concurrent social movements ("Alright") and stunning runs that demand repeated listening ("How Much A Dollar Cost"). what I love most about this album, aside from Kendrick's lyrical prowess and delivery, is the music. Terrace Martin had worked with Kendrick throughout previous releases, and along the way had brought Robert Glasper into the fold. in the preparation for TPAB, Kendrick leaned on Terrace for some jazz education; Terrace introduced Kendrick to A Love Supreme, and then brought in Thundercat, Kamasi Washington, Glasper, and Flying Lotus (great-nephew of Alice Coltrane) to play on and produce some of these tracks, so when you throw this on, you're getting a kick ass ensemble of top-of-their-game jazz musicians supporting Kendrick. Terrace Martin even carries the spirit and influence of J Dilla to the mix with an excellent example of Dilla Time in "Complexion" -- [from Dan Charnas' 2002 book "Dilla Time"]: "Kendrick Lamar's 'Complexion' is a great example of a transition between Straight Time and Dilla Time, and a way to get a visceral sense of how difficult it is for humans to hold the tensions between the two time-feels. At 2:10, as Kendrick begins singing 'I like it, I love it,' begin tapping your finger or foot along with the beat. You are in Straight Time. At 2:30, as the beat fades out, keep tapping your finger at the same tempo. Let the rhythm of the vocals and the piano guide you. Then, as the new, conflicted beat fades in after 2:35, try to hold the tempo with your finger. By 2:43, you are in Dilla Time." TPAB is a masterpiece.

‘To Pimp a Butterfly,’ the apotheosis of Conscious Rap. Which begs the questions, what is this album conscious of? What type of consciousness does it try to inculcate in its listener? The thesis of the album seems to be that becoming famous, revered, and rich alienates you from the very community that you built that fame on. There’s survivor guilt here, and also exploitation guilt. We most often get a sense of this guilt from the various bitter characters (I’m glad Kendrick hasn’t felt the need to take on acting yet) berating Kendrick for leaving them behind, or from Kendrick just making the subtext extremely explicit. How does Kendrick reconcile this? Pretty much textbook self-help and the soothing ideas of the prosperity gospel. He loves himself, and God put him in this position for some reason, and if you would accept God’s will and love yourself, you may get rich and famous too, or at least stop being mad at Kendrick for it. I may have some qualms about the ideology of TPAB, but if ideology is keeping you from recognizing, appreciating, and enjoying the artistry here, you’re doing too much. I’m speaking just as much, if not more, about the musicians on the tracks than about Kendrick’s obviously prodigious technical skill. But also, when it came out I thought it was a perfect album, and then didn’t listen to it in full again until now. I just never felt the need. Not many other albums like that.

Ein beeindruckendes, komplexes Album, ein richtig gutes, intensives Album, aber ich habe an einigen das Gefühl dass ich eigentlich dazu einen Ausstellungsband lesen muss, um alles zu kapieren. Weil aber so viel Fantastisches schon auf der Oberfläche da ist:

Ein Brett was Produktion und Innovationsgrad im Rap angeht. Konsequente Fortsetzung von Good Kid, m.A.A.d. City. Wiederhole mich: Ist n Brett. Auch wenn ich tatsächlich bei den Lyrics nicht immer ganz mitkomme weil mir kulturelle Referenzen fehlen: 5 Sterne.

classic

Kendrick is such a consistently great artist, who blends his lyrics perfectly with the beats. As with a lot of Kendrick’s output there is an element of jazz to his music, which makes him stand out that bit more from a lot of his contemporaries, as does keeping skit type breaks to a minimum (to the extent i’m not sure i’d even label them that) Tracks like Alright cut deep and a Rapsody feature is always welcome, as she should be much bigger (in the UK at least, i have no idea how she is received elsewhere)

Repeat listen

It may never cease to amaze me how narrow minded so many listeners can be. I read the low score reviews and find cherry picked lyrical complaints or hand waving of the genre as a whole without any further credence to the fact that Kendrick Lamar is a Pulitzer Prize winning artist (though, in fairness, not attributed to this album). It’s as if complex thought is a foreign concept to so many self described music lovers. This album is a masterpiece and history will most certainly record it as such.

some of his lyrics are a bit edgy for me -- but you have to appreciate the talent.

"i mean cmon this might be one of the greatest albums of all time"! Yep, I concur....

I really like this album - it’s masterpiece of a rap album tbf and that’s the first time I ever listen to it

1. Wesley's Theory - An amazing song. I loved the opening and production. Had an amazing 1980s RnB feel to it. Reminded me of baby be mine by Michael Jackson. 2. For Free - 9/10 3. King Kunga- 9.7/10 4. Institutionalized 9.7/10 5. These Walls 8.7/10 6. U - 8.4 7. Alright - 10/10 8. For Sale - 8.6/10 9. Momma - 9.6/10 10. Hood Politics- 8.6/10 11. How Much A Dollar Cost - 9.7/10 12. Complexion- 9.6/10 13. The Blacker The Berry - 10/10 14. You Ain't Gotta Lie - 8/10 15. I - 10/10 16. Mortal Man - 10/10 9.3 It will grow on me - So I'll give it a 5. Urban Pet Sounds

Light 9

No notes

I just read some of the reviews of this album on this site, and I have to say, respectfully, you guys are kind of stupid. How are saying that this album is "gangster thug trash" when it's actively against that? People are offended that Kendrick is rapping vulgar when he's just rapping about his life. This is real life, so open your suburban eyes, people; you are silencing/degrading his life, pain, passion, and art. If you're going to take "For Free?" so seriously (and too literally), why not study the stories told in "How Much A Dollar Cost" and "Institutionalized" or the messages told in "Alright" and "Blacker the Berry"? Are these tracks too ghetto for you? If you're not willing to take important songs seriously, why are you reviewing an album? That's not all, just because an album doesn't fit your taste doesn't mean you can disrespect a project. I absolutely love it when someone gives actual criticism about this album, but hating on this album does literally nothing other than painting you as a bad person. Anyways, this is my first day on my first project on this site, and I can't believe it gave me my favorite album of all time. I have a strangely good feeling about this. Anyways, perfect album, would recommend.

very out of my usual musical comfort zone and i really really enjoyed it !!!

an all-time favorite. particularly that ending on Mortal Man. genius album.

Qué se puede decir no?

I honestly don't care about the socio-political themes, but musically this album slaps. It's real jazzy at times, some songs are a snoozefest, but overall I love it.

Was going to give a 4. Jazz Fusion is my shit. But the monologue at the end of the album really moved me. So I’m giving it a 5. Will I listen to this album again? Probably not. But I genuinely enjoyed it for how it sounded and for what Lamar had to say.

i mean do i really need to say anything

No notes 10/10 album

I listened to this a while back. It’s peak

It's hard to cut through the noise about this album -- there's so much discourse around Kendrick. Everybody's got something to say about the politics, the poetry, the production, Tupac, Drake, the Pulitzer, is it as good as Damn?, is it as good as GKMC?, Fox News, Geraldo, the Super Bowl, the Grammys, BLM, woke, post-woke, Trump, Obama, it's a masterpiece, it's overrated, yada yada yada yada. And to Kendrick's credit all these conversations revolve around his art, not some nonsense public image or PR stunts. I thought this album was brilliant when it came out, and re-listening 10+ years later I still think it's brilliant. Fuck all the hot takes, this is the sound of an artist at his creative peak, exploding with musical ideas.

I have listened to it before twice. Production is amazing, lyrics are great. Very enjoyable listen, but the songs on GKMC go harder.

An obvious magnum opus, Kendrick's third album could compete against countless classic albums for its instrumentation, its artistry, its legacy, but Kendrick does not want to be compared to rock or pop stars. He wants his name to be next to people like Pac, Dre, and Biggie. He doesn't want to strip his identity from his image just to satisfy conservative media (this includes everyone offended by his music). But despite wanting to forge his own path, he still influenced the whole music industry and continues to do so. January of the following year, David Bowie dropped his last album "Blackstar," which had him listening to To Pimp A Butterfly as a strong influence. No surprise, Bowie held on to his hipness til the very end. Oops ok the album? Fantastic, Kendrick's bars are faster and denser than you can comprehend, Thundercat adds equally fat basslines on some songs like the first track and King Kunta, and the style switch up of the songs show amazing versatility while never quite breaking theme. For Free is just wild, insane to diminish it with an interlude title. These Walls is lush and psychedelic, it makes me see colorful trails. When this album first came out I was in high school, so I'd usually tap out after the banger that is Alright. The rest was too conscious for me then, but now it was simply eye opening, to see the introspection and mental battles Kendrick Lamar must have had with his idols, with his community, with the black diaspora. It was gonna be a 5 before I listened, but now it probably tops GKMC which was my favorite of his forever.

An incredible tour de force, lyrically and musically.

Jazz, fury, confession, revolution. All at once. Rating: 4.9/5 Short Review: This is not just an album. It is a thesis. Dense, layered, political, personal, and musically fearless. It demands attention and gives back depth every time. Favorite Track: How Much a Dollar Cost. Intimate, uncomfortable, and devastatingly reflective.

Absolute fucking banger

This album is kinda just really good. Exceptional musically, artistically, and lyrically. It's cultural themes and voice are clear and executed incredibly on top of all the amazing beats and rapping skill. It's already considered one of the best albums of all time, so I got nothing else to say.

Amazing album! One of my favorite albums.

I go back and forth, but I would pretty confidently say that Kendrick Lamar is my favorite artist of all time. My nickname in high school was Kendrick Lamar. My first tattoo was from the inner sleeve of the vinyl. I say this, not to brag, but to explain my overt bias. This album was transformative for me. I spent the entire summer after it came out listening to it constantly. I also go back and forth on truly believing this is the greatest album of all time. It is at least the greatest hip hop record in my eyes. It’s insane that Kendrick was able to curate an album so timeless, yet reminiscent of the 90s sound. The albums themes of survivors guilt, depression, and success have continued to inspire me as an individual. Other themes like police brutality, systematic racism, and poverty still ring true 10 years later and are as relevant as ever. Kendrick created a wholly perfect record that is everything a great record should be. It’s catchy as hell. It will make you laugh. It will make you cry at times. It will make you think about difficult topics and self reflect. I could gush about this album for an eternity, but it’s all been said before. It’s perfect.

Literally my favorite album of the 21st century so far.

I already loved this album. Amazing lyrics, amazing production.

Yah rap would probably be my favorite if not one of my absolute favorite genres if everybody in the genre brought variety and their A-game to every album the way Kendrick Lamar does. Holy shit is this man talented. What do you want funky as shit? Well don’t worry he’s got THE George Clinton and Thundercat! You want a rap song that’s gunna make you feel 10000 feet tall? “King Kunta everybody wanna cut the legs off him, boy you got the yams, what’s the yams!?” Do you want an OutKast song? The Blacker the Berry. Joking aside, I honestly believe that in order to not like this album you have to be the sandiest and loneliest stick in the mud.

De combinatie van jazz en hiphop is geweldig; het verhaal met uncle sam als symbool voor capitalisme en lucy is geniaal bedacht; en het gedicht in mortal man is zo mooi. Een van de beste albums ooit.

This shit is peak hip hop hell peak artistic expression, just even from the first song turning Wesley Snipe's career into a warning for black Americans is an amazing intro. I could write 50 paragraphs on each song tbh. There's a reason each song on here is analyzed down to every single line. This is literally modern art and Obama has good music choice. please please look at analysis videos on each song because they go into more detail than I ever could. 5 OUT OF 5 top album of all time.

Brilliant.

One of the things that makes Lamar so fucking great is how he can mix catchy, political, thoughtful, and brutally emotional in one piece of work. I really love this album.

So many unexpected moments for me on this one. The instrumental on ‘I’ blew me away with how fun it was. And then spoken word sections on the album (especially towards the end), are really something.

One of the defining albums of the 2010s. I remember when Kendrick was coming up big since his Section 80 days, To Pimp A Butterfly was an incredible album that I was surprised surpassed how acclaimed Good Kid M.A.A.D City was. I could gush about it for a long time. Kendrick da living GOAT

This is an absolutely stunning and incredibly ambitious album, covering so many facets of African American history, music and experiences. Kendrick Lamar has so much to say here and does so with a seriously channeled energy and awareness. The music covers hip hop, jazz, soul, funk and R&B, but blends them all together in something equally accessibly and avant garde. My only complaints are the unnecessary disses against other artists and some sexist language. For me, those are the only negative points in an otherwise incredible album. Probably one of the best hip hop albums in the last 20 years.

I prefer good kid, m.a.a.d. city, but this is still a five star album for me

Particularmente Kendrick não é um Artistas de estilo músicas que costumo ouvir, porém este álbum me trouxe uma consciência de como a cultura negra é marginalizada. E como pessoa preta que sou me fez refletir o quanto de conteúdo do meu povo eu consumo. Esse álbum é foda

One of the best hip hop albums of our time!

I listened to this album two days ago and I know it almost by heart. It's the best Kendrick Lamar with a deep and well-though storytelling. The samples, jazz instrumental and overall changes in Kendrick voice put this album in another level and it can be the best rap album of all time easily, I will. ot disagree with that.

What can I say that hasn't been said about this album already. It is a masterpiece, the lyricism is groundbreaking the influences of funk jazz and soul are amazing. I have heard this album 4 years ago and it still amazes me

a masterpiece

Perfect album. So much influence in these songs. So many different types of music. A brilliant experimental and emotional album. Each song supports the next. Amazing.

There's so much to unpack here. Kendrick is a genius and he's pretty much without peer, at least from my vantage. This album is so wild and so ambitious that it's almost impossible for him to successfully nail every part of it, and he doesn't. There are moments that are overly self-indulgent (the conversation with a long-dead Tupac to close the album being the best example). Some of the (perhaps intentionally?) off-putting sections ("For Free?" "For Sale?" "u") struggle to justify themselves musically even as they serve the overall theme and narrative quite well. That's about as far as my critique goes. This is not a terribly accessible rap album. None of his are, he never put out a full disc of tracks resembling "Not Like Us," and the poppiest song on here, "i", is reworked from the (impeccable) single version to diverge into a chaotic plea for Black people to love each other. The poem at the end of the song (and the snippets of the other one throughout) doesn't really speak to me, but I'm not really a poetry guy. The message, though, comes through. To say it's not accessible is also another way of saying the album is incredibly dense. TPAB rewards repeat listens, as the story arc (such as it is) emerges, the themes crystallize, and absolutely killer lines you might miss start to pop out. It's not an easy sit, and outside of "King Kunta" and "Alright," there aren't a ton of songs you'd put on by themselves just because they're jams. His whole run from GKMC, this, and DAMN. calls for album-length listens, which are well worth it. Absolutely breathtaking cover too. You've got to really work hard to back up an image like that, and he succeeds.

wow what was that

Incredible cohesive record.

Smooth and funky

Yeah this one speaks for itself lmao.

The magnum opus of the greatest to ever do it

Do 5 feb 23.17 p.m. u (2:24)

Love the vibes. Jazz + Hip-hop. WE GOIN BE ALLRIGHTTT

Excellent, I’d give it more stars if I could

Weer een easy 5. Dit is in principe gewoon het beste hip-hop album aller tijden.

Zonder te weten wat er in deze 1001 lijst staat kan het toch niet anders dan dat dit een top 5 album moet gaan zijn. Of je nou alleen surface level listening wilt en enorm weggeblazen wilt worden door de muzikale complexiteit, of je diep er in wilt duiken en de betekenis achter zulke relevante hard hitting lyrics wilt zoeken. De Jazz en Neo-Soul invloeden zijn voor mij ook een enorme plus. 1 reet

5/5 Al een tijdje niet geluisterd, maar heerlijk om weer te horen. Instrumentals zijn een kadootje voor de oren (+1 voor thundercat op de bas) en Kendricks teksten en flow zijn scherp als geen ander. Elke keer weer kippenvel bij "I remember you was conflicted..."

TPAB is somehow de hele tijd veel te ambitieus in wat er uitgeprobeerd wordt op elk nummer, om vervolgens makkelijk weg te komen met iedere stunt. Een mijlpaal in hiphop en daarbuiten, dat alle lof verdient die het over de jaren heeft gekregen.

Amazing

It's been almost 5 years since I last heard this album. I was a bit hesitant when I saw this was today's album. It demands attention to its concept and asks the listener to reflect on societal issues. I'm not always prepared to commit that level of focus. What a treat that I got to experience such incredible art today.

One of the greatest albums of all time. Lyrics, production, aesthetic and vibes. Once in a decade type of album

One of the greatest rap albums of all time. Captures the end of the Obama era, where hope was fading into malaise, and Kendrick seems to almost predict what was coming next by reminding us of our history. Brilliant.

Truly one of the greatest to ever do it. No skip album. King Kunta, Alright, Mortal Man. Institutionalized. Skämtar du vilket album eller? Kendricks lyrics är så tasteful, smarta, hans rhymes och sätt att leka runt med ord och rytmer. Jag satt o gapa på en av låtarna för att det bara fortsatte och fortsatte och fortsatte, jag trodde det skulle ta slut, men det fortsatte. Vilken storyteller. 9/10

it’s about time we get this album. LETME SAY THIS FIRST THIS ALVUM ISMAGNIFICENT IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE. The Goddamn intro song pulls you in like nothing and it’s an amazing start to the album. The LYRICISM is top tier. The storytelling?? The emotion in the songs? especially like u. This album has so many hits, songs to dance to, to think to, to cry to, to have a crisis to and more. Amazing production, thundercat does his thing PERFECTLY. This album is acclaimed to be the best rap album ever and i can see why. The premise around this album is about systemic racism, survivors guilt and the exploitation of black artists in the industry and this album brings justice to it. that’s why it’s so good, the album name being to pimp a butterfly is meaning of growing from a caterpillar to a butterfly (maturing). Of course i’ve listened to this before but this album has been with be since it came out to be honest. This album has #1 on RYM and i think AOTY. EVEN OBAMA SAYS IT GREAT. This album also won a grammy for best rap album of the year. To be a rapper to release 3 classics in a row is rare. Kendrick deserves any award he wins. Nothing to say wrong about this album honestly. it’s good to dissect the lyrics to this album too but i’m done with my review this album is obviously perfect km glad i got this opportunity to relisten. Before go i want to mention Mortal Man, what a song “when shit hits the fan, are you still a fan??”And the fact that when the album ends it just leaves you in shock, how could it just end ?? 11/10

Listening to this album in contrast to other hip hop or rap albums already on this list, it really shows how TPAB stands head and shoulders above the others. The sound is layered and complex. We have effectively free verse poems in between tracks. Just really well executed and interesting to listen to.

Hip-hop, especially modern hip-hop, can be hit or miss with me. But when it hits, it hits and Kendrick's magnum opus definitely hits. Don't get me wrong I have not read all the dissertations written about this album but I can greatly appreciate the messaging in many of the songs as well as the wide mix of style and influences he has on this album. This is one of those rare albums that is over an hour long but doesn't drag at any moment and feels shorter than it is. While not my favorite hip-hip album of all time. Its definitely my favorite one I've heard so far during this experience.

O maior anão da história do rap. 6 estrelas

É o goat

I'm aware that this site has an anti hip hop bias but I was hoping that this album would be an exception at least. Sigh, I guess a 3.62 is good enough. Anyways this is one of those albums that deserves every ounce of praise it receives. Arguably the most significant record of the 2010s. Favorite track: i 4.5/5

Masterpiece

All time classic, possibly the best hip hop album ever made. I've listened to this many times over the years and it flows beautifully. Deserves all the praise it gets, rather than seeing for stardom, it sought credibility through innovation and musicianship. It's so well crafted, it'll take a long time for someone to have quite this level of vision again.

The sheer depth of musical knowledge this man has is incredible. Can hear the influence from several genres and somehow he makes it work.

Pre-listen: One of my top albums of all time. An absolutely staggering achievement and just excited to write something down about it. During listen: First 3 tracks: Didn’t quite realise how similar in thematic movement it is to GKMC, bragadocious in the beginning. Of course with undertones aplenty but much like ‘f the world for 72 hrs’ you have ‘this d ain’t free’. Sonically, reflects this. Just one observation of many you could make. Institutionalised: Wow, stunning. And the start of a creep towards something more sinister and dark that the album starts to move through. These Walls: Christ, forgetting the brilliance of the lyrics, musically this is astounding - simultaneously sexy, groovy, and bitter, conflicted (that word again), genuinely sad. Middle: Album is a journey. Never quite realised the weight of Momma. Lots of extremes of feelings around it, it’s a sanctuary in the middle of a storm. Also, first few times I listened I thought it’s quite dissonant, then the sweetness came through, then I think the underlying sourness hit me. Now musically I get taken through all of those and the brilliance of it is depending on which layer you focus on it has something different. But let it all hit you it’s really something. HMADC: Everything. Isley bro at the end is so perfectly executed. I’m not religious, but this is the something that makes you almost convert! Towards end: Drops in music (the pauses or pulls back) to emphasise words or gaps is great, just the attention to detail stunning. You Ain’t Gotta Lie is a really sweet tonic after Blacker Berry, sets up i so well, what a run (whole thing is). Mortal Man: Wow. Post-listen: A masterpiece. Gets better every time I listen. The poetry of it, abstract but never afraid to go full-throated. So intricate; full of moving parts that had to come together just right and did. There’s obviously so much here about the black experience and how wealth plays into that, I can’t relate but it puts me right there, so I can feel all of that and get taken on the journey. The themes of change and time shaping new ideas (sometimes for better, sometimes for worse) really forces you to map your own feelings onto it. It’s a one off, it won’t be done again. True moment in musical history - hip hop history but also just musical history.

so many good features, amazing storytelling, politically-charged lyrics. For sure purchasing this album!

What an album. The jazz and funk beats, Thundercat, the lyrics and flow. It all meshes together into something really special. I love the Radiohead sound on ‘How Much a Dollar Cost’. A lot of other songs really hit as well. Even the interludes are great.

Moving beyond the rote rhythms of the brothers Auerbach (are they brothers? Is it just the one Auerbach guy?) and onto something really unique. The second Kendrick Lamar effort we've experienced here, and my word, the far superior one. I feel as though most of the tracks that your general chart enjoyer will enjoy come from Good Kid M.A.A.D City. This thing? Man. We have spoken word poetry, free jazz samples, and fantastic sonic atmospheres all underpinning the dense, deeply personal lyrics that paint a picture of one individual's experience as a black person in the states. On top of all of that, you have technically brilliant rapping and thunderous beats that would stand alone as one of the better hip-hop albums of the modern era. Despite coming from just about as opposite a worldview as one can, To Pimp a Butterfly expertly crafts its viewpoint and makes comprehending its message(s) a thoroughly engaging exercise. Even as a white, Canadian suburbanite, It truly does get better with each listen. I hope that butterfly gets the help it needs, and that rascally pimp gets the chair. She's barely metamorphosized for god's sake! 4.5-5 HIGHLIGHTS: For Free?, u, Hood Poltics, How Much a Dollar Cost, The Blacker the Berry, Mortal Man

Wow. I’ve played many of these songs on repeat, but I’ve never actually listened to the whole album. Shocking, I know. It’s a beautiful album.

Peak. The Blacker the Berry and HMADC are goated. Love the message of the lyrics, I love the skits. Perfect album.

of COURSE

Possibly the greatest album ever

Magnum opus of what I think is the goat rapper

Favorite Track: King Kunta

great fucking album they really got the funk uh

One of my favorites; King Kunta was my intro to Kendrick.

i like this 2026/2/11

I was in Barcelona when Kendrick was having a show last summer, I’m not a big fan of hip hop so I didn’t even think about going to the concert. Now I feel like I missed something super cool!!!! Amazing album loved “i”

absolute cinema

wesley's theory es una de las mejores canciones iniciales que he escuchado en un disco. a la altura de baba o'riley, de so what, de running up that hill (por decir algunas de entre los discos que ya nos han salido). también es de las mejores canciones con buenos aplausos. que el resto del disco esté a la altura de esa canción de por sí es milagroso, y que encima esté tan variado, tan bien estructurado y tan repleto de hooks y momentitos, se ha vuelto una obviedad su estatus pero ni modo que no sea un cinco

An incredibly dense album that reveals more brilliance with every listen. Built for vinyl listening.

En gammel favoritt. Mange bangers, musikalsk og lyrisk interessant. Spennende, gode fortellinger. Fortelles med følelse. Funky, variert.

Somehow never actually listened, and I see how this changed so many people's lives and music taste

è kendrick cmon, tpab è supreme

I understand why he won a Grammy for this. No misses.

NOOOO all my notes deleted bruh what da hell. Well I've basically just been glazing this album it's very interesting and the composition is unlike anything I've heard. It has a lot of depth and is quite enjoyable and provoking. Big fan. Favourite: These Walls/King Kunta Least favourite: Hood Politics

Perfect album. The best MC of his ever supported by the likes of George Clinton and Thundercat, and the spirt of Tupac.

beautiful hip-hop art

I like Kendrick. I also think he's overrated and sometimes difficult to listen to - his virtuosity sometimes means the hooks leave a little something to be desired because he's so busy flexing on everyone. And yet, here: this is a great album. It's good musically, it's tight and expansive, it's Kendrick at his peak. There's just too much good shit here, complex beats that draw from everywhere. I always wanna listen toS D'angelo's black messiah when I hear this. And yet...it's not like, super fun to listen to all the way through - some of the spoken word-ish stuff is a little too on the nose, a little too self absorbed, and it doesn't really kill momentum but it kind of takes you out of the whole thing. But that can't knock it down, it's a masterpiece.

the smile on my face when i saw a kendrick lamar album for me to play. i still prefer DAMN, but, this one is good too.

I only gave it 5 stars because I couldn’t give it more…

Its really good, har jo hørt det før, 9/10 album!

There's so many layers to this record. Those who gave this album a score lower than 3 never even gave it a chance. Probably #1 hiphop album ever.

One of my favorite rap albums. A masterpiece.