To Pimp A Butterfly

Very good, enjoyed more than I thought I would!

5 stars for my brother's favourite artist! <3

Always a good day when I get an excuse to relisten to this

Wow. The beats, the flow, the storytelling and themes, the emotion, the jazz, funk, and soul. Think I'll listen again with the lyrics pulled up when I get a chance. Maybe fall into a Wikipedia rabbit hole...

Fantastic album, soulful, jazz, rap and thoughtful

I really liked it, lots of different sounds, great instrumentals (drums + piano), amazing flow, lyrics about the evils of fame and about his early life. Favorites were Wesley’s theory, these walls, king kunta, how much a dollar cost, the blacker the berry

Greatest album in existence

A love letter to Americas strongest people

every listen is a better experience. can’t believe we’re approaching 10 years on this masterpiece.

I don't really have the knowledge or the effort to dissect the meanings of everything in this album. So I'll leave that to other people. To put it simply, Kendrick Lamar is a phenomenal rapper who makes phenomenal beats. This is his best album, and what an album it is. Funky and catchy at times, powerful at others. One of the greatest hip-hop albums ever.

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

The mix of Hip Hip with other genres like jazz and soul in To Pimp A Butterfly is insane. This album sounds so creative and is filled with subtleties. It feels so varied, but at the same time it's cohesive. The production is on point too. I haven't listened to much Hip Hop in my life, but it's plain to see that To Pimp A Butterfly is spectacular. No wonder it's so critically acclaimed. "Wesley's Theory" is an incredible opening. I also really liked "u", "Momma", "How Much A Dollar Cost" and "The Blacker The Berry". It's a shame I got this during one my busiest weeks of the year, as I don't have time for a second listen right now to pay more attention to the lyrics. This is surely going to my list of albums I have to re-listen (hopefully soon).

Obwohl ich es sehr lange nicht mehr gehört habe, war eigentlich direkt klar, dass hier wahrscheinlich die 5 fällt. So ist es auch. So ein vielschichtiges Album mit einem unvergleichlichen Vibe.

Es ist nicht zu 100% meine Baustelle, aber aufgrund der hochgradig relevanten Themen, des durchgängigen Konzepts und der vielseitigen musikalischen Einflüsse gibt es am Ende 5 Sterne.

I love this one. It’s interesting and dynamic. It kind of marked when Kendrick decided to get a little more experimental rather than the standard hip hop hits like Money Trees. The album draws on many influences and he collabs with cool people.

Oh yes. Legendary album. I nearly played it to death after my daughter was born. Listening to it while pushing her around in her buggy. So many individual highlights and the whole still adds up to more than it's parts. The variety of music on here and the scale of ambition (fully, fully realised) puts this easily in the realm of genius.

Just a completely full album from start to finish.

Great album

It’s been a year and a half since I listened to good kid, m.A.A.d city as album #56 on my journey. Heck, it's been a long time since I first listened to the follow-up, To Pimp a Butterfly, back in 2018. Since then, these two records have been regarded among the classics, not just for conscious hip-hop, but music in general. There have been academic studies about these two albums that will capture more intricacy and layered details than I could possibly muster up in my reviews for this album generator website. All that said, there's still the matter of how these records hold up in my personal opinion. I enjoyed good kid before, and I will say right now that I ended up enjoying To Pimp a Butterfly once again, but let me see if I can dive into why. I think the first aspect of this record that has to be established is that Kendrick went for something ambitious here. After going for a more West Coast hip-hop broad appeal with good kid, he opted for the next record to be a little more challenging in the presentation. A progressive jazz rap album that touches upon multiple genres, running through the history of African-American music through a personal, introspective lens. Opening the record on "Wesley's Theory" with Thundercat's bubbling bassline and fragments of horns and synths, before giving way to a skittering free flow over frenetic saxophone play on "For Free?", followed by the early-80s funk stomp of "King Kunta", there's a certain mastery in flowing across these various musical styles. It also helps that this record maintains a crisp, organic production, while also taking cues from G-funk such as the chime and keyboard pairing of "These Walls" with the chorus vocals that has such a bounce to it. From the dancehall-inspired ferocity of "The Blacker The Berry" to the live performance of "i" with the sample of the Isley Brothers' "That Lady", to the dusty boom-bap of "Momma", the unsettling gang vocals and alto saxophone over the hard-hitting beat of "Alright" that give way to the glittering keyboards of "For Sale?", the dreary piano line over the cracking beat of "How Much a Dollar Cost", the subtle record-scratching over the hook of "Complexion (A Zulu Love)", even touches of spoken word throughout the album that culminates in the ending of "Mortal Man", there's not a single compositional idea here that Kendrick and the session personnel aren't able to execute effectively. Not to mention, there's the cavalde of guest musicians brought into the fold for some of their best moments, from Snoop Dogg's narration on "Institutionalized", to Anna Wise's hooks on the same track and "These Walls", to Rapsody's positive affirmations for blackness on "Complexion (A Zulu Love)", to even freaking George Clinton on the choruses of "Wesley's Theory". Of course, production and composition are only half the battle for a hip-rop record. Let's talk about lyrics and themes, as in mirroring the stylistic variety on display, To Pimp a Butterfly is not a full concept record so much as a series of vignettes, conveyed through Kendrick's multisyllable rhyming that's impeccably layered, to the point where even rapping over a busy jazz beat such as on "For Free?" becomes a cakewalk for him. On the surface, Kendrick does go for more sociopolitical content, openly critical of an exploitative record industry and the predominantly white audience that simulatoneously swallows the shallow crap and strikes down anything that steps out of line, or even succumb to the extremities of greed and lust. He's not even shy to drag the obvious comparisons to slavery to the forefront with language provocative enough to draw ire from across the board. But here's the thing with the framing - Kendrick paints himself as the main culprit, showing how enticing "Lucy" can be with her gifts, especially when the realization sinks in that he has to face the demons he released. That leads to the ultimate dramatic arc of this record, where Kendrick is not afraid to call himself a hypocrite. He talked about the distance he put between himself and his family, highlighting his own failures for not doing more and the temptation of taking the easy way out, be it through wealth, sex or a Glock. From there, he ventured home to try and reconnect with his roots, only to find himself further isolated in his own community due to his newfound success, a kind of survivor's guilt placed upon himself compared to those who face a broken system every day. The feeling of guilt reaches a tipping point in "How Much a Dollar Cost", where he refuses to help a homeless junkie who turned out to be God himself. That moment symbolized one of the primary metaphors of this album, that giving back or giving from yourself might bear no fruit or change to a larger system, but it can change lives on a smaller scale and that can make all the difference. It's a call not only to Kendrick himself, but to the larger whole to reject petty squabbles that can divide a community, to instead seek real enlightenment and passion within. What's super neat about this kind of messaging is that Kendrick is not being preachy about it, merely offering the options for people to choose on their own accord to better themselves. It's a strategy that works here, alongside the address to shallow rappers on "You Ain't Gonna Lie", or the positive call to action on "i", without fully giving up on contronting racial injustice on a visceral cut like "The Blacker The Berry". That brings us to the final track, "Mortal Man", where Kendrick makes a final call to his audience, to see if they are willing to follow him, even if the road ahead can be a tough one with all the temptations and challenges ahead. The refrain of "When shit hit the fan, is you still a fan" hits hard at this point in the album, knowing full well that Kendrick is a flawed man trying to rise above it all. Upon conclusion, Kendrick gets to recite the poem he'd been rehearsing throughout this record, each verse serving as a key thematical point for the various tracks throughout in highlighting his personal journey. It's a rather poignant poem that he reads out loud to - and I shit thee not - the late Tupac Shakur. In a rather transformative sample of an interview conducted back in 1994, Kendrick has a psuedo-conversation with his fallen idol, asking him questions to understand what the latter's come up was like and what he saw for future generations of black people. Kendrick then precedes to recite a second poem he had written, wherein he sums up the title of the album; the butterfly is the enlightened soul, the caterpillar represents those who would exploit it, and the cocoon is the system that perpetuates the exploitation, confined behind the walls. It's only when one breaks out of the system that they can be considered free, inspire other caterpillars to transform... yet at the same time the caterpillar and the butterfly can be considered the same person. Transcendence only truly matters when pitted against humanity, and it brings a message of universality that we can all get there, echoing what Tupac talked about with spirits, where "we ain't really rappin', we just lettin' our dead homies tell stories for us." It's only when Kendrick asks Tupac whether he agrees that he gets no answer. He's left alone, questioning whether his fallen legend would have agreed or thought the system can't be broken. There's no solace or clarity at the end, as it's really up to Kendrick, the audience, and the world at large to figure that answer out. My hope is that I've laid out, to the best of my abilities, why I consider To Pimp a Butterfly to be an amazing record that still holds up over a decade later. It's the kind of transformative record that pushed the envelope for how intellectual and layered conscious hip-hop can be, without needing to compromise itself to play to the very system it critiques. Kendrick himself would continue to innovate and carry the torch, and the bar was set pretty high here.

“We gon’ be alright” Lauded as one of the greatest hiphop albums ever made “To Pimp A Butterfly”, often shortened to TPAB, cemented Kendrick Lamar as the voice of a generation for many. This title was so pervasive that Kendrick would end up releasing a whole album with the intention of dispelling the idea and lamenting on the thorniness of his crown (he’s not the messiah he’s just a very talented rapper). The astonishing thing is TPAB absolutely lives up to the hype. It is a masterpiece from start to finish and the layers peel back further with every listen. It contains some of my favourite Kendrick songs but when listened to as a complete experience the tracks elevate each other to a level far greater than the sum of their parts. The depth, anger, and importance of the racial commentary contained within these bars will go down in history as some of the best in the history of rap music. The cultural importance of TPAB is already apparent just ten years later. “Alright” was chanted at Black Lives Matter protests in the wake of George Floyd’s murder and Kendrick’s performance of “The Blacker The Berry” at The Grammy’s hits just as hard now as it did then. The album also grapples with Kendrick’s personal struggles with his new found fame as well as childhood traumas and how these two things intertwine. This culminates in a conversation between Kendrick and Tupac which was created by splicing together audio from a genuine interview with Kendrick’s late idol. Musically the album is an astonishing departure from its predecessor “good kid, m.A.A.d city”. Kendrick brought aboard some of the most talented musicians in the world to realise his vision and the result is a collection of lush and captivating jazz-inspired instrumentals which back the lyrics perfectly. “To Pimp A Butterfly” is for me the pinnacle of Conscious Hiphop and I can’t see anything toppling it for a very long time.

Inspired. Profound. Still relevant. 'To Pimp a Butterfly' reaches far and wide, both in commentary and in its musical composition. Kendrick Lamar matures in a sense here, we heard his story in 'good kid, m.A.A.d city' a few years prior, now he leans on his culture and educates the listeners whilst also being his own critic. Love the production here too, as the album utilizes all of the best parts of funk, jazz, and soul in its various samples. For all of this list's...choices, I think the hip-hop/rap album representatives on here have been very apt.

Loved it! Wish I could rap like him. Sound was eerie, beats were queasy, lyrics where drop dead gorgeous and emotional.

Wesley’s Theory, King Kunta, These Walls, U, Hood Politics, The Blacker The Berry, i

Phenomenal album. There's a use of blues, jazz, and R&B elements that really speak to the influence of African American in music. It's really a beautiful homage to the life and struggles of Black people in America. Kendrick does an amazing job setting up a narrative throughout the album. With a really incredible use of sampling and beats, this album will take you through a journey. "King Kunta" will always be my favorite. But after listening to the album as a whole, "Complexion (A Zulu Love)," "Blacker the Berry" and "i" have come up in my rank of Kendrick songs. Genius album. Even for those not into Kendrick or hip-hop in general, it's necessary listening.

nie no diament

I could say a million things about this album but the best way I can describe it is no words. Lots of love to this album what an inspiration

When it comes to hip hop in general, I think a lot of it ends up feeling like surface level music. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, and some of it is really good for what it is, but Kendrick Lamar is one of those rappers who clearly has real musical depth and individuality that separates him from the rest. His voice and style are instantly recognizable without having to think twice. The production on this album is truly unique and original. Some of it leans heavily into jazz, funk, and soul, while other parts dive into deep lo-fi and experimental territory. There are also moments that are more melodic and accessible. Just based on the production alone, this album really highlights Kendrick’s more experimental side and shows how willing he is to push boundaries within hip hop.

Äntligen första skivan där dr funkenstein himself, George Clinton, medverkar. Visserligen kort men hans dna finns överallt här. Välkommen! Tidiga Kendrick är perfekt hiphop för mig. Organiskt och jazzigt med en stor dos g-funk och neo soul. Dessutom är det inte tradig oreflekterad pangpang-romantik utan ärligt berättat och genomtänkt. Så satans svag både för kendricks svala och släpiga leverans och de teatrala gangsta-satir-gubbarna han gör ibland. Sånt jävla musikeruppställ här också med kamasi Washington på sax, Robert glasper på piano och thundercat på bas. Bara groovet i början av ”Hood politics” är nog för att nosa på 5an. Har svårt att välja mellan den här och ”good kid mad city” som kendricks mästerverk. Landade i att det nog är den sistnämnda ändå när låten ”the art of peer pressure” gick igång automatiskt efter att jag lyssnat klart på den här skivan. Sån satans kompakt hopplöshet, som att lyssna på en säsong av ”the wire”. Kanske den bästa låt kendrick gjort. Får landa i att både ”to pimp a butterfly” och ”mad city” är 5or, helt enkelt. Denna lite lite svagare än ”mad city”.

Fyrafemmafyrafemmafyrafemmafyrafemma? Äh finns ju inte en dålig sekund här.

Moderate rap fan, but if I had to take one rap album with me to a deserted island, this would probably be it, close call with vintage Kanye

it was absolutely beautiful i love kendrick so much

They are not like us 😈😎👱🏻

Great album. This is Kendrick storytelling and production at its best. Amazing message amazing work all around.

no notes!!!

One of the best modern hip hop albums.

Greatest rap album of the 2010's

Kendricks best work by far. Love the album front to back

Quite Good

NOW I RUN THE GAME GOT THE WHOLE WOLRD TALKING KING KUNTA. I knew most of the album in isolation but dedicating time to the collective was needed. You can feel his passion for his faith and what he wants to convey in each song. I has the passion of betrayal that I don't know how he gets the shakeyness in his voice.

Loved this album already. Just a great album, and varied. I love the jazzy backgrounds. Wish there were more albums like this (there probably are and I don't know them) 4.75/5

One of fest hip hop artist of recent years

Very few modern rappers have a unique and interesting style, a broad production style and the ability to get across fun, witty lyricism alongside real social commentary. Kendrick can do all that. This album is probably his best example of doing it.

GOAT.

Amazing soul/jazz influenced beats, great flow (in all senses of the word). Even the interludes are good. Faves: For Free? - Interlude, King Kunta, These Walls, Alright

Album’s best : These Walls/King Kunta

I am the furthest thing from a Hip Hop head, but to say TOAB isn’t anything but a cultural landmark is insanely disingenuous. You don’t have to be rap fan to see that this is one of the best works of the 21st century, released at a time when America stood on a dangerous precipice (which it unfortunately dived head first into.) In the ten years since it was first released this has aged like a fine wine, with Kendrick’s social commentaries feeling as relevant now as they did then. Musically, the seamless fusing of funk, jazz and soul elements into Kendrick’s verses are some of the smoothest production work I’ve heard. I’ve got a lot of albums I consider a ten through personal biases, but this is genuinely a perfect album.

Heard my son listening to this album before but never really listening. It’s complex but flows so well. Loved it!

Loved it when it came out, and still love it today.

Tupac came back to life for this! Favourite Songs: YES Least Favourite Songs: NO

This album came out as I moved to NYC. I remember my coworker, who was on /r/chiefkeef, was like "this album sucks". Kinda always stuck with me. The Drake stans are right when there aren't really jams on here. That said, I still love this album. It's jazz, and I like jazz. A lot of this is hokey, but sometimes art is like that tho. That ending is still great and very prescient.

Ja tinha ouvido

Love it, a lot of songs are very interesting and definitely worth listening to.

Not a 10 because of the song hood politics but very good. It’s not as good as most people say but still one of the best albums of the 2010s

10/10 album considered by many so of course I've listened to it. Wesley Theory top 10 song of all time and i being my favorite.

I remember you was conflicted... 11 days later and I get the only other Kendrick album on the list, how interesting. I said in my previous review that to me Good Kid MAAD City is Kendrick's finest work and I still hold that opinion but that isn't to say this isn't competition. A word I did miss in that previous review was "glorification", Kendrick discusses his growth and time in the music in this album and good lord does he not glorify it. I'm not sure how anyone can listen to this and give it a 1 unless they're REALLY trying to hate, like you're entirely bypassing the point of the album and the situations it presents. The world building, progression of the album's themes and even just the sound of the album are all incredibly interesting. I described a previous album in this list as "sitting at a bar listening to someone sing", but this feels like I'm say in a theatre watching a show of a musician and a man grow into himself. Beyond the incredible story telling, this album SOUNDS great, very obvious on its jazz influences with some incredible synth bass if there were no lyrics I'd still listen to a decent chunk of this. But there are lyrics, and I've seen some criticism of those too but within the world Kendrick is crafting nothing feels amiss to me. Kendrick himself, man what a talent. Songs like "u" remind you that he can really present himself, I've always heard him be so confident and yet at points on this album he feels small, he feels desperate. The album is a touch long, I said Good Kid was a little long for my feel and this album is even longer but much like a stage play I feel it justifies the length and while I wouldn't be able to remove much without affecting the story or message of the album I do think it makes the album a little hard to best take in. There is also a tiny dip in quality in the second half... third quarter? Anyway the last few songs pick it back up again and Mortal Man is an all timer. Best songs: King Kunta, Alright, Mortal Man Worst songs: N/A Rank compared to everything else so far: 4/35 (below Grace, above Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite)

A wild album. I think ill need to listen to this several times to get it.

Killer. Perfect soundtrack to almost anything.

This is one of my favorite albums of all time

Such a great album! Kendrick is and has surrounded himself with such talent. I admittedly don't listen to much hip hop regularly, not that I dislike the genre, just that I don't often gravitate toward it. But this album is one I'll happily listen to when it pops up. The whole production is nuanced. Like much of his work, it rewards you for repeated listens.

I remember when To Pimp a Butterfly came out. I was in graduate school at the time, mostly working remotely from a local coffee shop. I had already decided that Good Kid, M.A.A.D City was the best rap album I had ever heard, maybe not my favorite, but the best. It was the only one I knew of that could tell a coherent personal narrative in a way that was both artistically authentic and easily accessible. It is like The Wall for South Central, all about how a sincere young man can get ground down by his environment and then overcome that oppression. With To Pimp a Butterfly, Kendrick Lamar went even more personal. Instead of a narrative plot, he gave listeners a hip-hop confessional. It's not a concept record like Good Kid. It's more akin to a collection of dark singer-songwriter tunes. Let's call it writer-rapper. It immediately resonated with me. I listened to it a lot when it came out, but the deeper I got into the album, the more emotionally taxing it became, and I had to put the record aside for years. In Good Kid, Lamar described the trap of the environment of South Central LA. His descriptions weren't cartoonish, like those of many gangster rappers of the '90s and '00s. Like the movie Boyz n the Hood, its frankness was startling. But To Pimp a Butterfly dives more deeply into the emotional response of the "Good Kid" to his frustrating environment, especially as he transitions from the dangers of his home to the new risks of worldwide superstardom. The first single, "I," appeared a few weeks before the record. I remember thinking how awesome it was that he made the declaration of "I love myself" the centerpiece of the song. Most of rap is braggadocious; that's one of the most common lyrical features of the genre. But I took "I love myself" as a celebratory declaration from a maturing young man who has found satisfaction in his artistic achievements. I was happy for, maybe even a bit proud of, the way the good kid had evolved. But taken within the context of To Pimp a Butterfly, this song takes on an entirely different purpose. One of the record's deepest recurring themes is Lamar's wrestling with his self-perceived hypocrisy and self-hatred. It's clear from the writing and performance that this self-hatred stems from environmental trauma. "I" is the penultimate track. If the album stopped there, we might take it as a revelation, a catharsis, like "Compton" was on Good Kid. We might think, "Great! The good kid has come to terms with his internal demons and defeated them." Then the final opus, "Mortal Man," with its admonitions to a live crowd, slam-like poetry, and faux interview with Tupac, reminds us that self-hate is the good kid's default mode, and he can achieve self-love only intermittently, and then only fleetingly. The good kid is the "butterfly" who is being "pimped." A side note: I read that the vinyl version of this album is much better sonically than the digital (streaming and CD) versions. I bought the vinyl specifically for this listen and can confirm that To Pimp a Butterfly sounds much less compressed on LP, which lets the record's funk and musicality really shine on my hi-fi. It's a world of difference, and I'm a bit pissed that it is only available to those with the money to buy the relatively expensive ($35) double LP and the setup to play it properly. I'm grateful to be in that position now, but for most of my life, I wasn't. If you don't have a good vinyl setup, you can try to find FLACs of a vinyl rip. To Pimp a Butterfly isn't hard to listen to, but it is difficult to digest. I listened to it twice yesterday and had to listen to a palate cleanser after the vinyl spin because the end of this record makes me so sad. This record is not background music. The listener must engage with it to understand it. That engagement, however, comes with an emotional cost. Five stars.

A masterpiece.

9/10 really surprised by how much I liked this album considering I don’t tend to listen to rap. Really incredible

How does one review the best hip hop album of all time? This project is dense. It really requires more than a day to digest. Luckily for me, I've had this record in my rotation for a decade. TPAB is Kendrick's first real attempt at abstract storytelling. In terms of creativity, it is leaps and bounds ahead of his previous album, Good Kid Maad City (not saying that album isn't excellent in its own right). He tells the story of his life after immediately after becoming famous through a poem. He reads a line of the poem at the start of the album. For each song he rereads the poem and adds another line. Each new line is then expanded on as it is the subject of the next song. The payoff at the end when he finishes the poem is that we learn he is reading the poem to Tupac. The entire record is an homage to black music, history, and culture. It is not only telling Kendrick's personal story but the story of all black people. It is a true masterpiece in every sense of the word. For anybody who is intrigued by this album but doesn't really "get it". I don't blame you because there is so much to unpack. I would recommend looking into the Dissect podcast and listening to the first season where the host breaks down each song line by line. It's a rewarding listen.

I loved it. Very nostalgic of when I was 19. Amazing drums

Shakespeare is alive + well don’t let them fool you.

top 10

Liked Songs: - King Kunta - These Walls - Alright - How Much A Dollar Cost - The Blacker The Berry

10/10 listen, Kendrick is a master at his craft. I wouldn’t listen to most of his music regularly, but I understand why people do.

I have to give this album a 5 just for having the sheer audacity to exist. This is a massive effort: in scope, in execution, in concept. Kamasi Washington imbues the instrumentation with a strange mix of futurism and homage to the past, while Kdot's penmanship reaches heights that are not seen in hip hop or any other genres for that matter.

Yes.

Incredibly impactful, deep, and meaningful coupled with great sounds and beats. Kendrick is, and always will be, one of the best artists of this millenia.

fantastic

Sterk geproduceerd album. Love de jazz invloed dat dit album heeft. Wat grote hits op het album dat ik al kende. Om te beseffen dat dit album in 2015 is gemaakt is echt bizar. Groot fan!

this album is such an important time capsule, goddamn 🙏

A+

The rise of gangsta rap in the 90s lost me. I found it two dimensional (at best), violent, unpleasant. I mean, the beats were often great and the flow impressive, and I didn't mind the politics (voice of the disempowered etc), but the way many rappers uncritically glorified misogyny, homophobia and violence was just unacceptable to me. Can't listen to it. And it was hard watching the way that those tropes became intrinsically part of the genre of hip hop. Kendrick is absolutely placed within the genre of hip hop, and so acknowledges the tropes and stories of his culture. He is also aware of many other forms of black music (jazz, spoken word, funk, to name a few), but his approach is so much more sophisticated. His lyrics are complex and nuanced, aware of the political and historical perspectives of the world while also being introspective and self-reflective. It's like seeing the world in colour and three dimensions after only seeing crudely drawn cartoons scribbled on scrap paper. And it sounds great (hardly surprising given the amazing line up of musicians). This really is one of the greatest artistic statements of hip hop. it's complicated and beautiful and difficult and surprising and smart and insistent. The edited 'conversation' with Tupac at the end is superfluous, in my opinion, but other than that, perfect. Fifty million stars.

A modern classic. This is more of a story than it is an album of music. Its spoken word poetry, mixed with a handful of songs, instrumentals that come and go, interludes, live performances, and an ending discussion with Tupac. Personally, I'd find it tiresome if the music wasn't so good and if Kendrick didn't have such a consistent through-line of thought and spirit across the album. Focusing on the music, its mostly fantastic. There are several era-defining songs on this album, including Alright and King Kunta as well as other tracks that are long-time personal favorites (i, Wesley's Theory, The Blacker The Berry). Its jazzy, but also incorporates funk, gospel, and soul, along with the overriding, overproduced sound of g-funk. Its an amazing album that will be remembered forever as among the best of the 2010s.

Masterpiece, Masterpiece, Masterpiece 11/10

Surprisingly enjoyed the album. Very eerie sound. Would never listen to a single track from the album by itself, together however is another deal.

Still prefer GKMC. Very funky and production amazing but lose concentration towards the end. Around a 9

I love Kendrick. Great album. The lyricism, beats, message, flow…it’s the whole package.

No notes.

This album took me so many relistens to get, and i think i still dont get it. That means i should listen to it AGAIN!

One of the greatest albums of all time.

Goated for a reason. Incredible writing, rapping, and mixing. King kunta was the fist real rap song I ever liked. The rest is just as great.

One of the best albums I've ever heard.

love love his storytelling combined with commentary. a cohesive and engaging album! 5/5

Fuck yes. Genuinely one of the greatest albums of all time, and one of my favorites. This is the album that really got me into hip hop. Strangely, I came to it through Thundercat (who I also love), and was blown away by Kendrick’s lyricism, social commentary, eclecticism, sense of community, and varied vocal delivery. The beats are complex and interesting, the features are perfect. The Tupac and poetry through-lines elevate it to a great ALBUM, rather than just a collection of songs. I always like Kendrick most when he goes more introspective, and To Pimp A Butterfly does this better than just about anything. I’d argue that if you took any 8 songs off this album at random, it would STILL belong on this list.

The best. Nuostabiai išdėstytos mintys, svarbios temos, tobula tiesiog.

I remember you was conflicted Misusing your influence Sometimes I did the same

Eigentlich nicht das von mir favorisierte Genre, aber diese Album ist überragend.

Der Typ, ey … lächerlich gut auf so vielen Ebenen, dass die Kinnlade im Minutentakt mitflappt … so verletzlich, empowering und motivierend

Habe diese Platte bis heute 3-4 Mal gehört und große Ehrfurcht vor ihr Habe es in seiner Komplexität noch nicht mal ansatzweise durchdrungen. Schlüsseltrack für mich damals war "The Blacker The Berry". Absurd, wie stark und wichtig dieses Album ist.

Kendrick is the GOAT, and this is probably his most masterpiece-y masterpiece, but it's maybe only my fourth-most-listened-to album in his catalog. Good Kid MAAD City is the Kendrick album that I'd submit as his best, but I also turn to Damn. and GNX a lot more often. That makes TPAB a five-star album that I listen to less than two four-star albums. Is that meaningful? Every song is thoughtfully crafted, his flow is difficult and impressive while still being loaded with substance, and it's an honest-to-goodness *album* in an age of singles and deluxe editions. It's endlessly rewarding. Just parsing out his various personas is a masterclass in rap music. The sequencing is perfect. It's immaculate, but does it feel just a little bit like homework (albeit from a fun class)? Between Thundercat's crazy noodling and the unbreakable pace of almost every song, I get a little exhausted halfway through 'u'. And I use the word exhausted without any negative connotation. I'm exhausted after lots of things that are incredible and worth doing. Plus, making it to the end of 'u' rewards you with the lightning jolt that begins 'Alright'. So, five stars, and if I only throw it on once or twice a year, it's just because it's a heavy lift. *It's worth recommending the Dissect Podcast's track-by-track breakdown of TPAB (amongst other Kendrick albums) if you're interested in digging into the lyrics and music motifs throughout the album.

Such a sense album. I don't know if everything works and if the length is justified. But the total package is just really good. I can imagine that it would be even better if you're a black American. 4,5 rounded up

Favourite songs: Wesley's Theory King Kunta The Blacker The Berry

The Flow on "King Kunta" turns me into liquid. I mean one of the best Hip Hop albums of all time. His lyrics are the strongest, his vocals are great and split across multiple personalities. The soundwork is nuts with songs like "U" hitting hard with those chaotic drinking effects. The jazzy instrumentals fit Kendrick’s style so well that everything he does just moves. Some highlights are of course "Alright" which might be one of the best Hip Hop songs ever, "Wesley’s Theory" which is a great opener, and one of my personal favorites "I" with instrumentals that make you dance against your will. Overall this album deserves to sit in the top list of all time. The only reason I can’t give it a 10 is pure personal taste in vocals, with tracks like "For Free? Interlude" and the beginning of "U" taking me out of it even though I get the meaning and why he goes for that sound. I base these reviews on feeling. Still a 9.5 out of 10.

It's a cliché to call someone a wordsmith, but in Kendrick Lamar's case it's the best word that fits. His rhymes are sharp and complex, and the beats are fire.

Personal and political, held together by the "I remember you was conflicted" poem recited at the end of the songs. It feels as though the peels of a layered and nuanced story is layd bare and explored bit by bit. As an album, this is excellent use of themes. The songs themselves vary through all manner of genres, and sounds. From scathing to humorous, dramatic to straight party anthems. But never without having something to say. Those tripping over the cursewords are not listening. They are simply hearing. Fun theory: the rapper with the ghost writer in the second verse of King Kunta is sayd to be Drake.

This is his best album and it gets better everytime i listen

I had an excellent taste in music at 19

One of my favourite albums of all time, 10/10

Reflective, multi-layered songs - a fascinating rap album to listen to and dig into the lyrics of.

There isn't any other hip-hop album that sounds like it. I am a sucker for jazz and soul in hip-hop, and the album reminds me of undergrad. True classic and true essential album.

It's peak

more like "To Make a Really Good Album (possibly one of the best ever made)"

Absolute cinema, what can I say. Definitely his highest quality album, but not the one I like listening to the most on a daily basis. And that is perfectly fine with me. I am continually surprised by this album every time I listen, and it’s a classic for a reason.

This is the first album we’ve gotten where I was there in the moment of the pre-release anticipation and I can tell you without any question exactly where I was when I first listened. I don’t have unique insight into this album, I can only speak on how it made me feel. Like quite a few people my age and socioeconomic background, I first became aware of Kendrick Lamar through his Interlude on Drake’s Take Care album (lolllllllll). I liked him there but I was caught off guard by the rapturous response to good kid, m.A.A.d city the following year, especially when it ended up beating out channel ORANGE for Pitchfork’s AOTY. I was ~that kind~ of teenager so that’s the point where I decided to look into Kendrick a bit deeper and came to accept that Pitchfork had gotten it right this time. Still, Kendrick was a hot new thing but his staying power was uncertain. That changed when I was going into college and his verse on “Control” was unleashed upon the world. This was a guy with something to prove and he definitely wasn’t going anywhere; but what would be his next move? Flash forward to March 15, 2015. It’s like 5am. I can’t sleep. I move from the bed in my dorm to the couch in the sitting area. I pull out my phone and see that the album has been uploaded to Spotify, like 8 days ahead of its announced release date. So I sit there on my own in the dark and listen. No one to talk to, no text interruptions, just me and this album. 78 minutes flew by as the sun began to light my room and I was enraptured. I’d already heard the then-current single, “The Blacker the Berry,” but in context as part of a greater tapestry, it became impactful all over again. I’d heard the single version of “i” so was wholly unprepared for the album version of the track and its ending. That right there was brilliant to me: taking the “fun” single and totally reworking it to work in the album’s narrative. What i remember most of all is the album’s closing moments. As “Mortal Man” closed and I heard ~that voice~ it became apparent to me that this had a very real chance of being the album and artist of my lifetime.

The Odyssey of hip hop

There is a reason Kendrick won the Pulitzer. Busting out rhymes with the best lyrics since Dylan. Captures the soul of this disrupted nation.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Darling, have you heard this? The flow is immaculate!

Absolute banger of an album

The rhythms. The mixing. The messages. One of his many 10/10s. Something about the sounds on “u” are like cleaning out your ears. So satisfying.

Definitely one of my favorite Kendrick albums. Iconic flow, incredible style. Really sets himself apart from everyone else with this album.

The definitive album of the 21st century so far.

I never know what modern releases will end up here but this one is definitely deserved. Depending on my mood I could pick this or GKMC but I do think both qualify as must-listens based on cultural significance and quality

Okay, I see the appeal of Kendrick now.

masterpiece. i remember you was conflicted misusing your influence

Nothing I can say that hasn't been said. Still blows me away a decade later. *Heard before

This album was absolute fire! I stand firm in that Kendrick is one of the best rap artists and poets of our generation. I love how intricate and complex his lyrics and songs are and he performs them with such raw emotion and passion. This album has a very important message and is still relevant 10 years later. I very much enjoyed this album and I will definitely be listening to this again soon.

A masterpiece. 10/10.

Listen to King Kunta first. You're welcome.

Good stuff here from Kendrick. Way more poetic than almost any hip hop.

9/10 I’ve heard this album a few times before, but never spent the time to really focus on it. First thing to note is that this is a really spectacular blend of a lot of musical styles that I really love. Jazz, funk, soul and an edge of electronica all weave their way in and out of one another in a really unique way. There’s so much going on that it keeps your attention, and really rewards repeat listening too, which is generally the hallmark of a great album. With hip-hop, the musical content can often take a bit of a back seat, but the vocals and the music are all part of one coherent whole here and the singing and rapping are not given the overwhelming prominence, which allows the quality and complexity of the music to shine. There are times when I, as a musically focused rather than lyrically focused listener, find hip-hop to be an overly repetitive genre, but there is no way this album could be accused of that. The leaning on, for the most part, fresh musical recordings rather than samples really gives this album its own identity and some of the musicianship is really exceptional. Kamasi Washington, Thundercat, Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper and more just bring so much quality and nuance to their parts that it’s hard not to get sucked in to the mood of each track. There are moments when the depth falls away a little and we find ourselves a little more stuck on a more sparse, repetitive track, but those moments act almost as palate cleansers so that you an refocus for the next epic. This far in and I’ve not really touched on Lamar’s vocal. His delivery is generally pretty understated, with intent and feel conveyed through rhythm rather than intensity, more often than not. He does ramp it up now and then, but that general restraint makes it more impactful when he does inject a slice of venom. And the lyrical thread is strong too, touching on life as a black man in America, discrimination, personal struggles, the pressures of fame and more. There are moments when he slips a little back into the more classic hip hop tropes with hints towards misogyny and financial bravado that I could have done without, but there is a chance that those were intended as more tongue in cheek references to the hip-hop of old. His pacing, rhythmic flow and his ability to switch up emphasis and rhythmic cadence is excellent though, and that kept me interested more or less throughout. I think the slightly thinner, more repetitive moments do hold this album back a tiny bit, as does its length. 80 minutes is a long old album and I feel like he could have said everything he needed to in 60 without losing the quality and depth that he built, especially by chopping the Tupac bit from the end. As a rapper, he can say what he needs to with verse and didn’t need to end the album that way. Wesley's Theory - There’s a lot going on here. The depth of the music is fantastic and there is so much variation and nuance to the composition that it keeps the ear busy at all times. No one part dominates, not vocals or beats, which can be more typical in hip-hop, and there’s a wide range of harmonic and melodic content. But it’s also all very coherent and creates a slightly unsettling edgy vibe to the tone. A very good start For Free? (Interlude) - A nice jazzy interlude. I mean it seems lyrically a bit silly, but there are some really nice rhythmic choices in the delivery. I think the music is great, as is the cadence of the delivery, but I’m not a big fan of the lyrical content. King Kunta - This is a bit more stripped back to begin with, but it builds nicely, allowing all of the elements time to grow and breathe. The back and forth between Kendrick and Whitney Alford on backing vocals is great. There are some really effective key changes and musical drop-outs that let the musical impact hit that bit harder. The shuffling beat and solid bass line give things a solid groove with a nice edge of funk to it. Lovely. Institutionalized - Again, we get a stripped back start. This reminds me a bit of Plantlife and the sound design of it is great. There’s some really interesting editing of the vocal with the double layered elements and panning work on the touches of backing vocals. The beat bounces nicely and he drifts on and off the beat in a really satisfying way. There’s less complexity to the instrumentation, but there’s enough range and production nuance in what’s there to never let things get stale. These Walls - And now we gat a more traditionally structured verse/chorus song. It’s got a nice jazzy edge to it and the sung vocals are top quality. There are some really nice guitar licks and riffs and it all just flows and floats together in such a satisfying way. Again, the production is top quality, with all of the elements getting their space and a really finely struck balance between sparsity and depth through the different sections of the track. U - This is almost free-jazz rapping. The production techniques are really effective at creating almost disturbing experience with the way things cut in and out and pan, and that really backs up the erratic, bereft nature of the track’s themes. This could be hard to parse for some, particularly as a background listen, but it’s a really, solid and effective exploration of self hatred. Alright - Running nicely on from the previous track, some of the instrumental flavour continues onto this, but it lifts up tonally and gives us a solid, rolling beat that forces the momentum. There are some nice instrumental elements, like the sax in particular, that add extra variety to the sound and stop things from getting too stale. The vibe is great too. For Sale? (Interlude) - Much better than the previous interlude, this has a nice blend of synth tones and a more jazzy funk sound. It’s also almost completely absent of any beat apart from a subtle güiro type sound, but still has a solid groove. It ebbs and flows really nicely and there’s a really warm, all encompassing harmonic bed of sound that drifts around the vocal. Really nice. Momma - I think the beat here is great. It’s super loose, but it’s got a lot of feel to it and the sounds used are really interesting for a hip-hop track. There’s so much vibe to this. The backing vocals are gorgeous and the rest of the backing track is super smooth too. Again, it’s another where things could get stale, but there are enough little moments of nuance or sound design to keep things moving along and keep an interested ear engaged. His delivery is really nice here too; smooth but with an edge of insistence. Hood Politics - Oooh, the feel of this intro is nice. I was hoping we’d get more of it, but we quickly shift onto something else. This one has some more of that cool vibe, but it does end up being a little bit too repetitive for once, both lyrically and musically. There are some little changes here and there that add a change to the feel and break the monotony, but not as effectively as previous tracks. I think perhaps the more repetitive elements are just a little too dominant, but it’s still not bad, just not as good. How Much A Dollar Cost - He’s really not afraid to break from the beat and build these harmonically rich passages is he? The slight lazy lilt to the beat is super cool and the sound of it has such great depth. There’s a very rich, downbeat soul sound to this and some of the strings in particular, add something really special, despite not being anything overly complex. Another really lovely track. Complexion (A Zulu Love) - Bring in the funk. This has so much groove to it and the sound design of the beat is strong too. As with a lot of this album, there are some really gorgeous passages of instrumentation that just drift in out of nowhere, like the piano in this one, and some of the instrumental changes are so deftly written that you hardly notice that the entire sound of the track has shifted. The Blacker The Berry - That beat really hits. There’s a real feeling of rage to this and the soundscaping is almost unnervingly icy in its tone. This is less varied and full than some of the other tracks, but I think the focus is meant to not be drawn away from the lyric, which offer a purposeful and effective expression of anger. You Ain't Gotta Lie (Momma Said) - And we’re back to something more full. There are so many parts going on that it’s easy to miss some of the depth to songs like this. There are some really lovely little riffs that just pop in and out from guitar, piano and synth. That variety just enhances the smooth groove of the main themes, but keeps things shifting along in such a satisfying way. I - Ooof, I love ‘That Lady’ by The Isley Brothers, and he uses the sample really well to create something fresh. This pops and shifts brilliantly. It’s got pace and bounce to it and it's super hooky. Again, he’s not afraid to drop things out and develop sections that build on little ideas and flesh them out. It’s a shame this is as short as it is before we get the spoken word section, which is making a point, but isn’t really part of the song per se. Mortal Man - The warm wash of tonality that sits behind the prominent bass here is great. It’s kind of muddy, but in a really pretty way. There’s some lovely slices of instrumentation here too from strings and horns in particular. Some of the Rhodes piano is really pretty too. His vocal is insistent and injects the drive to an otherwise laid back vibe. Another great one during the musical section. And then it gets a bit weird and self indulgent as Kendrick cuts up a Tupac interview to make it sound like he’s having a conversation with him. I get that there are some important and relevant subjects covered, but it’s just a bit weird. He’s been making his point with music up until now and doing this just seems unnecessary.

Classic!

This is my favorite Kendrick album. Start to finish this is a masterpiece beyond compare. Probably my 3rd favorite rap album ever behind Marshall Mathers Lp and 36 Chambers. One of my core memories is sharing this album with both of my adult children saw him live on tour and have been a diehard ever since.

Fantano created an army of punishing terminally online music fans off the back of his love of this. Otherwise, no notes. Bit long maybe? Fucked me up first listen. 10 years ago?!

my personal experience with this album is putting it on for the first time when it came out and having my mind and soul absolutely rocked by wesley's theory to the point where i listened to it 15 times before even listening to track 2

Just fucking amazing!

No. 18 It’s soo good. The instrumentals are great and I really enjoyed Kendrick’s lyrics.

Innovative, hard-hitting, funny. Production is incredible. It's a experimental hip-hop masterpiece. 5/5.

Damn. That’s an album. It’s apparent why Lamar is a Pulitzer Prize winner. To Pimp a Butterfly was an experience. There’s so much to unpack. The interludes with the dialogue was captivating.

Wow its been 10 years since release. I remember the first time listening to this as I rode cross-country on the Amtrak. It was like the evolution of the west coast sound and felt wholly new and powerful. His story telling on this is absolutely on point, the wrap-up on the end I remember how it caught me off guard. Think about America in 2015 and this is very of its time.

wooooooooo white people should listen to this

I thought I had listened to this album start to finish, but I don't recall a lot of this. Really enjoy rap music that includes instruments (pretty sure I've heard flute and saxophone). So much of a chill vibe. It's times like these I'm often reminded I like the less popular rap songs, the most popular ones on this album I've heard, but they aren't my favorites.

This album changed music. Not just rap music, but music overall. What we hear, what we expect from an album, how we experience it. David Bowie was listening to it a lot when it came out and tried to make Blackstar, his final album, sound like it. And that’s David-fucking-Bowie. Packed with moments of profound, deep thought delivered through funky, in your face rhyme, this album was a big step forward in rap being seen as a more intellectual voice in music. And Kendrick will always be next level with his lyrics. He is ready to throw down with anyone and it won’t end well for them … just ask Drake. This is not M.A.A.D. City and it’s not Damn., although both of those albums are also outstanding (in purposefully different ways) and are filled with better tracks for most folks, but neither is as important musically and culturally as To Pimp a Butterfly was.

rap once again

The inclusion of this album makes me wonder why we're messing around with some of the other albums on this list. One of the best of all time. Why am I listening to some tired ass music from the 80s and 90s? Who put that there? This is what we should be listening to. Lyrical genius: funny, introspective, and groovy to boot.

Probably my favourite hip hop album of the past decade, a cultural touchstone

Album No. 0056 on my list. I’ve listened to a few Kendrick Lamar songs by chance before (found them to be okay-ish), was aware though of the universal acclaim that this album has gotten over the years. I’m not that much into hip hop (yet), so I was curious whether the good reputation of this album is warranted. And what can I say - it is! I needed some time to get into it, but now I want to listen to it all the time. It’s really really good! As I said, I don’t have much hip hop experience, but I can definitely appreciate how great this is - not only the way Kendrick raps (although I’m not the biggest fan of his voice), but also his lyrics, and the music as well. I will listen go this over and over in the coming weeks and at one point will probably be able to appreciate it fully. In the meantime, I can already name “King Kunta”, “Hood Politics”, “Complexion (A Zulu Love)”, and “i” as my favorites. The reputation of “To Pimp a Butterfly” as a modern classic is definitely justified. 5/5 stars!

classic.

One of my favorite albums of all time, even the skits are great. 5/5

Gosh it was good to come back and listen to this album. James Trethway introduced me to Kendrick back in 2012 when he was touring in Max Watts venues around the country. 800 tickets a show. Now he’s doing 2 x AAMI parks - 80,000? Brilliant music, released for good reasons, and compounded over time.

what is there to say. hadnt listened to it in a while, and it’s a great album. i remember you was conflicted

1000000000/1000000000

Excellent album, strong from start to finish. Glad I got the chance to listen to it all the way through again from this list.

Classic. Straight classic.

Could quite possibly be the greatest hip-hop album ever. The production is fantasitc, and Kendrick Lamar is a total wordsmith. I'm pretty much speechless on this one. The album speaks for itself. Even at an hour and 20 it didn't feel bloated or long. Masterpiece

Visionary. Arguably the greatest hip-hop record of all time.

Great break from Norah Jones and BB KING

A lot funkier than I thought it would be

One of the greats of its genre for sure. Such tone, such flow. (4.5 stars)

Fresh and crisp. The sound really stands out, not just against these albums but against recent hip-hop too.

As someone already said on the reviews, this is not a throw on casual album, you need to be in the mood and willing to spend some time dissecting this experience and that will not be for everyone. With that out of the way, I was caught in that lucky mood over the weekend and what an album, super complex, amazing rapping skills from Kendrick and crew, and the content of the songs is super deep. Definitely one of the greatest rap albums ever created, but the one downside is that unlike other great rap albums which you can throw on at anytime, this is not one of them imo.

Brilliant album. Incredible musicianship and the concept holds the album together from start to finish. Masterpiece

I'll never be able to experience life as an African American, but that doesn't stop me from trying to learn about it. This is more than just good music, or a revolution in rap (and it's both of these, too)... it's the latest in a long line of social commentary that is intrinsic in black music. Every American should listen to this (and Kendrick's other albums) to understand where our country is today.

An absolutely fantastic album that highlights the plight of a black man in present day American and speaks to the hypocrisy of our society on many different fronts. The varied musical styles as well bring depth and interest that blend well into a "rap" album.

Where do I even begin with this album(masterpiece)? This is one of my , if not my all time favorite Album ever. I mean Kendrick followed up one of the goat albums GKMC with an even better one. From Flying Lotus to Thundercat, Snoop to George fucking Clinton, how could this not become a Masterpiece. Wesley's Theory – ANYBODY CAN GET IT, THE HARD PART IS KEEPING IT MOTHERFUCKERRRR!!!!! Starting off with my personal favorite Kendrick song. Just WOWWWW. every time i listen to this song i get transported to another galaxy. From the jazzy ass instrumental to the Lyrics, beat changes, Dre's interlude mannnnn i will never get tired of this song. 12/10 and that's that. For Free Interlude - THIS DICK AIN'T FREEEEEE. Fuckkkkk i love jazz. King Kunta - WE WANT THE FUNK!! Indeed we fucking do. Walking down the street to the beat with a cig in hand and i feel invincible lol. Institustionalized - Vibes Vibes Vibes. So chill but still so powerfull. Love Bilal and Snoop on this, perfect features. and don't forget SHIT DON'T CHANGE UNTIL YOU GET UP AND WASH YO ASS These Walls - ok I don't like the intro with the moaning haha. Everything else is perfect. Sooooo groovyyy (knew it had to be Thundercat hihi) you won't even notice he talks about fucking his enemy's girl lol. Anna Wise and Bilal again just take it up another noch. U - This is a heavy song. I don't usually listen to this one unless i listen to the full album. It hits soo hard. You can feel everything Kendrick is saying to the bone. Also the second part after the cleaning lady is underrated. LOVING YOU IS COMPLICATED 🗣️ Alright - I think this was the first Kendrick song i ever consciously listend to and I fell in love with his music(at 14). Love me a Pharrell beat obv. Powerful message too. What's not to love For Sale Interlude - How are the interludes as good as a song?? Love ittt it's so dreamyyyy NOW BABY WHEN I GET YOU GET YOU GET YOU GET YOUUU Momma - ughhh the lyrical work goes crazy, so so beautiful. Also love the production. I KNOW EVERTHING Hood Politics - BUBUUUUUU beat could come straight out of hiphops golden age the way i bop my head to this How Much A Dollar Cost - this is what you fucking want man. THIS IS RAP!!! Storytelling on point and deep lyrics. The outro is so poetic too: I washed my hands, I said my grace What more do you want from me? Tears of a clown, guess I'm not all what it's all meant to be Shades of grey will never change if I condone Turn this page, help me change to right my wrongs Complexion - I know this song is often regarded as the weakest of the album. I still love it a lot. I think featurring Rhapsody was great. She's sooo talented and doesn't get nearly as much recognition as she deserves. The Blacker The Berry - I'M THE BIGGEST HYPOCRITE IN 2015🗣️ One of my favs off the album. Soooo intense. I love angry Kendrick ok?? You Ain't Gotta Lie - hell yessss fun fun funnnn to listen to. Wanna blast it out my nonexistent car and smoke a cig out the window I - ALBUM VERSION ALLL THE WAY!!! Sooooo much better then the single Version and you're an Opp if you say otherwise. Love the journey from U to I. Mortal Man - WHEN SHIT HIT THE FAN IS YOU STILL A FAN? Yes Kendrick I AM!!! Beautiful way to end an album. I can appreciate the poem(if anyone can pull of a fake convo with Tupac it's Kendrick) but i always felt a bit conflicted about it. But love to hear the full poem in the end. I REMEMBER YOU WAS CONFLICTED I wish i could give it album 6/5. I listen to it almost every week and i never get tired of it never ever ever. Thank you Kendrick.

Fire

A modern rap masterpiece. Raw, poetic, and unfiltered while still listenable. I still prefer the storytelling style in Good Kid Maad City but this is a high water mark for Kendrick. Hip hop as a true art form.

Yesss

Classic

A special hip-hop album, which transcends most of the genre's previous efforts through its amazing instrumentation, mix of styles and storytelling. I remember listening to this during my secondary school era one evening, following the lyrics closely and trying to make sense of them. Had never done that for an album before. But such was the popular and (especially) critical fervour over the album, I decided I had to give it a proper go. On re-listening now, I've realised just how great the instrumental aspects of the album are. Almost feels like a funk album in points. A listen that requires attention, certainly easier albums to listen to out there, indeed from Kendrick himself, but this is clearly a special project. 5*!

This is an album where I can't say add anything to the discourse that hasn't already been said. A modern masterpiece from the instant it was released. The cultural impact, the social message, Kendrick's technical skill and flow, the beats and arrangements. It's a behemoth of hip hop that will be praised for generations.

Este album es muy bueno. No estoy diciendo nada nuevo o controversial. Los beats son una locura, los samples son la hostia y las letras son dignas de un pullizer (no lo digo yo, a Kendrick Lamar le dieron un pullizer). La primera canción debe de ser mi favorita, me encanta la producción y ese bajo tan guay. Bueno, en general el bajo de todo el album es super guay, con razón el artífice de esas basslines es ThunderCat. King Kunta debe de ser mi segunda canción fav del album y en mi top 5 de Kendrick Lamar. Nada que objetar. Es como el album de hip hop que todo el mundo te dice que tienes que escuchar. Ese y Graduation. good album broda 5/5

Mid 4? Kendrick fan, cool instrumentals

Absolutely perfect

This is Kendrick showing up at a jam session, rapping side by side with some of today's greatest jazz, soul and funk musicians who all have great ears for collective improvisation. It gives the feeling that every musician was just asked to do their thing and then just hit record. Lyrically Kendrick is exploring the struggles of a black man in modern day america, being personal but still giving a holistic picture of an issue larger than any of us Possibly the greatest album of all time.

God dammit, det är jättebra. Det är toppen. Ville ge en fyra men några av låtarna var så jävla svängiga och texterna är verkligen en så otrolig inblick i Kendricks liv och hur hudfärg ses på i USA. Fuck it, bra album

Fair play, could be some of the most creative hip hop I’ve heard. Drawing on lots of influences, nothing out of bounds. Profound lyricism and flow is plentiful here. Thundercat puts an absolute shift in on this too.

To Pimp A Butterfly has cycled through my playlist a good four or five times. And that is where my rating would fall, between four and five. Very selfishly, I wanted to find an irresistible song or two that I had to listen to on repeat until I was satiated. Do not get me wrong, there are plenty of good, solid songs on this album that I like a great deal. I just did not fall in love with any and that would be my only knock on this album. But that is my problem.

coincidentally, i had the same reaction to to pimp a butterfly as i did with ok computer: oof!! in fact, i could probably lift what i wrote in my review of that album verbatim and it would apply here (though the main difference here is that i'm not a prior fan of kendrick lamar and came to this album with fresh ears). the word i keep thinking about with this album is "substantial" - weighty, meaningful, prodigious, etc. etc. even though this wound up being (for me) a rare one-run-through rating, i feel confident saying this is 5 stars knowing that there will be other things on this album that i'll discover and enjoy on the next dozen or so listens. one thing i will plagiarize myself and repeat about to pimp a butterfly is: this is what happens when you're nerdy, pretentious, and care deeply about the art form - it shows!! great stuff!! highlights - wesley's theory, king kunta, institutionalized, alright, momma, how much a dollar cost, you aint gotta lie (momma said), mortal man

I never really listened to Kendrick before the Superbowl announcement. I decided to so I'd know at least one song. And this was the album I started with. Wow. What an album! Yes, it's new school Hip Hop, but there's just enough to harken back to the old school to keep an old guy like me interested. Great album

Just an incredible work of art. Lyricism, musical expression, versatility, creativity, authenticity. Kendrick was rapping over beats and making songs within this record that were the first of their kind, pulling more inspiration from James Brown than Snoop Dogg. You could spend a semester dissecting every part of what's in here.

Another album fit for an art gallery. If you're not into it by the time Wesley's Theory is over, it's probably not the day for you, consider leaving it for later. I hadn't heard this in a few years, it's aged really well. It's incredible how throughout the project there's knowledge being spread in layman's terms, an effort for the people. And right off the bat we get the jazz inspiration, the similarities on tonal work and energy are scrambled together between the jazz itself and the spoken word. You can expect this to evolve while leaning into culture all the way to the end, conceptually nodding towards other caterpillars in history. I'm rating this high, so I'm nitpicking, I'll dock a few decimals because of the lengthy ending. I find it very literal, though that first listen packs its punch. I just feel it belongs on a kind of "director's cut" for the people that treat listening to this like sitting down with popcorn for a movie. 4.8/5

Kendrick pretty much lives to drop hip hop classics, and this album is no different. Just a banger out the gate, and while the album is almost 1 ½ hours in length, it never feels like it overstays its welcome.

Amazing album and the fact that this lost to 1989 is still one of life's biggest failures.

A fantastic album all around. Musically interesting and unique, drawing from so many different eras of music. "Wesley's Theory" showcases the musical thesis of the album with its funky bass and throwbacks to 90s hip hop sounds and Dre's cameo. "King Kunta" illuminates K-Dot's ability to make extremely catchy and amusing lyrics. "Institutionalized" and "Hood Politics" tackle more serious issues. Experimental pieces like "u" veer towards the passionate and personal, with the kind of pathos Kendrick let's loose every so often. Overall, a masterpiece.

Already an all time classic

Fantastic! It a project that stands apart from his other work and very well can be his masterpiece. Also very few featured guests. This is mostly a Kendrick album. Raw, exposed, alone. Kendrick

The production of this album is perfect and Kendrick is the GOAT. All the stars.

Get it all, you deserve it, Kendrick!! A paragon of the album format. Even greater than the sum of its parts, etc. (But if you wanna talk singles—Blacker the Berry: sublime.)

I love this album, top to bottom. Fond memories back in college listening with my buddies. The jazz influences and instrumentals combo with great beats lets this thing sing.

A good old classic bringing me back to my last years as a teenager. 5/5.

I mean, what really is there to say about this one.

20/10

holy mastership in songwriting.

Kendrick is the best in the game as far as modern hip hop goes, and this album is his masterpiece. Such a compelling journey from beginning to end. Not a weak track on the album, everything has its place. Still as poignant today as it was 10 years ago. 10/10 My personal favorite hip hop album from the 2010’s.

The hype behind this guy is very much real. His flow, his voice & voice effects confuse me at times. And I DON'T KNOW WHY? But I dig it. In Dick For Sale it's straight up scatting over jazz. In For Sale, he adds a childlike lisp. This dude tells the world & his own people the harsh reality of the world that needs to heard. I had gotten Solange's album a couple few albums ago, it deals with the same themes as this. I had given it a Medicare review. Difference between the two is the writing & sounds you put around you to tell your truth. Kendrick just does it better. It takes alot to impress me in rap & hip hop world. So my hats off to Kendrick. 5

One of the best things I've ever heard.

J’ai une seule question : comment il fait ? Non mais sérieusement chaque morceau on a un style tellement différent et à chaque fois, mais bien à CHAQUE fois, il plie une putain de masterclass. C’est la première fois que j’écoute to pimp a butterfly. Avant ça, je comprenais pas trop la hype autour de Kendrick, j’avais ecouté good kid, mad city et DAMN, et c’était cool, mais sans plus. J’étais pas trop fan de sa voix très unique. J’ai toujours été un haterz de Kendrick au fond de moi. Quand j’entendais ses morceaux mainstream en soirée ou quoi, j’allais pas danser et je me mettais de coté. Mais alors la c’est une vraie claque musicale. Premier morceau j’ai envie de danser dans la rue, deuxième morceau j’écoute du jazz, troisième du rnb, quatrième un boom bap incroyable et tout ça pendant 15 morceaux entiers. Il sait tout faire. Il arrive à me faire écouter une ligne de basse et lui qui rappe dessus sans mélodie pendant 3 minutes NON-STOP. Il me donne envie de danser, de pleurer, de me révolter sans que je fasse attention aux paroles. Juste sa musique. Artistiquement on est proche de la perfection. C’est officiel, je deviens depuis aujourd’hui un bandeur de Kendrick. Des collaborations avec des grands noms et des morceaux solos extraordinaires. Cet album possède tout. J’aurai mis 6/5 si j’aurai pu. Il sait tout faire.

C’est un des meilleurs albums de l’histoire et je pèse mes mots

Goat

This one is a personal favorite of mine. How does he follow "Good Kid, M.A.A.D City"? With "TPAB". What a sequence of records, he made his best album, and then made his best album AGAIN. I know it's polarizing, as it is a hip hop album, but a great one, imo. From beginning to end, all good songs, some iconic, and a really good production value throughout. If someone wanted to get into modern hip hop, or Kendrick's discography, this would be the first one I would recommend. An album I could listen to everyday.

My first exposure to Kendrick Lamar and it was a tough one for me to rate. I went from 4 to 5 and back again a few times. The musical production is so complex and works so well. The lyrics are mostly great with a couple exceptions (looking at you “Shit don't change until you get up and wash yo' ass”). There’s so much going on in this album, and at the end of the day I can’t help but label this as a musical piece of art. 5/5

Great

Entertaining, George clinton, nostalgic revivalism, x Wesley's theory Institutionalized U Alright

Yep this is everything it’s hyped up to be. Idk why I waited so long to listen.

Bold and thoughtful rap. Very solid. 4.6

Kendrick Lamar is an incredible lyricist, and this album may be his magnum opus. The elements of jazz, funk, and soul mixed with contemporary hip-hop/rap are wonderful to listen to. I would recommend this to anyone to listen to at least once for those reasons alone, as well as for the story/narrative told throughout this album.

It's Kendrick Lamar. Of course it's amazing! Masterpiece. 10 10

Cerramos la semana con el groso de Kendrick Lammar y éste discazo. De a momentos bailable, es ideal para una juntada o para ir caminando por la ciudad, preferentemente con un clima nublado y frío. Imposible detenerse en un track: están todos tremendos como la tapa de éste álbum. El tipo tiene una voz cálida, clarísima de entender y muy rítmica y, de a momentos, se nota que se divierte. Que se caga de risa con lo que hace. Hace brujería y entramos todos en su encanto. Hasta el lunes.

GOAT rapper with old school Kanye and GOAT album. Did a project on this album that was divided per song amongst the class in high school. Speaks a lot on systemic discrimination and racism. Very powerful album with lots of varied musicality. Second to none lyricism from Kendrick. Absolute must listen.

In high school, I kept about 3 albums downloaded at a time from Spotify. They changed all the time, but for some reason, TPAB remained downloaded the entire time because of how good it was.

Absolute classic. Will listen again

I have always been a Kendrick Lamar fan even before the Drake-Kendrick beef last year. This album is simply genre-breaking and I never hear any tracks like it in any place. Kendrick definitely is on a league on his own with his beats, lyrics, symbolism and craftsmanship. I am a monthly listener of Kendrick so I always seem myself revisiting and anticipating his past and future songs and albums. There is a reason why he has won the Pulitzer prize as his songs carry so much meaning that you can literally examine it as an assignment. 5/5

This album is a true masterpiece. Kendrick Lamar is one of the greatest rappers of all time. His story telling is unmatched.

Great instrumentals, great lyrics. Amazing album

il fuoco a mare, mi scoccio di elaborare

C’è poco da dire su TPAB, un quasi concept album che racconta la lotta degli artisti afroamericani ad uscire dal loro ambiente e a non essere corrotti dal successo. Produzione clamorosa, temi pesanti e performance superlativa di Kendrick Lamar. da notare la poesia che si compone verso per verso alla fine di ogni brano recitata poi nell’ultimo brano: Mortal Man, con una finta intervista tra l’autore e Tupac. 10/10 track preferita U

ugh... crazy how this isn't even my favorite album of his but i still had such a good time listening to it!!! institutionalized is my fave ♥️

One of the best opening tracks ever. This concept album has been praised by critics and fans alike as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time. Hell, one of the greatest albums overall. I personally prefer "good kid, m.A.A.d city" over this, but it's recognition still stands.

I don't think it's his best, but it's still so damned good.

GREAT

Tight

The top ranked album over on rateyourmusic.com I was on the Kendrick train by the time Section.80 was out. I had a lot more interest in Hip Hop at that time, let's say from the period of 18 years old till I was about 27 with K.Dot's DAMN. closing out that era for me superbly. I wish I could get his albums in order of release so I could reexamine the trajectory, but I may simply do that on my own time because Kendrick has always been a favorite. This an easy 5, almost every track gets a perfect score, too. Jazz with rap is something I like a lot. There are so many talented musicians on this like Thundercat and Kamasi Washington. A lot of work went into producing this absolute novel of an album. Sorta just gave this a cursory listen as it's an album I've spent countless hours with in the past but I'll definitely be putting it back into rotation. The “Billie Jean” line about MJ has always been like woof but there’s an added layer of humor now considering my days earlier entry for Thriller where I gave my “Billie Jean” anecdote. One (kinda) criticism: the supposed layers to the album title being a backronym for Tupac after you change "Butterfly" to "Caterpillar" is either genius or pretentious.

"To Pimp a Butterfly" is every bit as fantastic as everyone says. One day, this will be one of my all-time favourite albums. "u" and "Wesley's Theory" are the best songs. This week's looking bright already. I hope the hits won't stop coming. 5 stars for "To Pimp a Butterfly".

It’s difficult to talk about this album, Kendrick was already a powerful force in hip hop from his mixtapes and his debut album. The hand of Dre had guided him to that point and here he takes it all up a notch, he takes that very personal voice from MAAD City and applies it to the current moment - unfortunately as is often the case with important socially motivated music - it seems just as relevant today. The direction of Martin and Washington is great hopefully introducing a new generation to the joy of improvised music. Smart and musically revolutionary while still speaking to a broad audience - brilliant.

top 1 album oat

Fiveeeeeeee Starsssssss

I wasn't really familiar with this album, or even really much of Kendrick, before this challenge. I knew he was talented and beloved, and it was impossible to escape the radio playing "Not Like Us" for months. I don't think I would've ever seeked this album out, I don't often go hunting for new music and hip-hop has never been actively on my radar. It's with all that context in mind that I say it's being exposed to masterworks like this that makes this challenge worthwhile. The only thing I can even think to say would be that it's a little long, but even then it's never dull. It's beautiful, it's filled with variety, it's heartfelt, it's hype. I heard that RYM ranked this as the best album of all time and while I don't agree I get it.

Easy 9/10, could climb to 10/10 with repeated listens - RateYourMusic has the right idea rating this #1 of all time. Everyone on this godforsaken website who keeps shitting on it just because it's rap is doing the music and themselves the grandest disservice. This thing is 80 solid minutes of pure storytelling genius. Everything, and I mean everything, is crafted to enhance and deliver the stories. Kendrick's wild flows and varied deliveries, the tasty jazz samples & instrumentation, all the guest features, and that poem that keeps recurring throughout in snippets, culminating in a spoken-word segment pantomiming Kendrick talking to his late idol Tupac Shakur - masterful. The album is incisive, biting, and even outright depressing, but also contains kernels of hope and the possibility of change. Truly a generational album. EDIT: 10/10 achieved. All it took was one more listen to let the scope of the album sink in!

Infinitely better than any other rap album we’ve gotten on here. The production was fantastic and I appreciate Kendrick’s variety in styles throughout.

A hiphop record that remains unmatched to this day, every single element of it is executed so goddamn perfectly. Kendrick's pen game is obviously excellent, and the narratives and themes are nothing short of brilliant -- but to me it's the instrumental side that truly elevates TPAB far beyond any other hiphop record I know of. That 'For Free? Interlude' is such a target for hate is wild to me, because musically that's some of the most impressive fusions of jazz and rap I've ever heard. Narratively, the jazz, funk and soul arrangements are more than backing tracks, and serve to tell a story just as much as the lyrics do. The most powerful example to me is in the final moments of Mortal Man, where the beautiful backing part accompanying the discussion with Tupac swells and abruptly cuts off with Kendrick's final "...Pac?" I've been listening to this album for 10 years now and I'm still finding new details and meanings on every listen. I appreciate that Kendrick has gone in different directions since, but to me this is still his magnum opus and one of hiphop's most important albums. In short, 🐐 Standouts: Wesley's Theory • For Free? Interlude • These Walls • u • For Sale? Interlude • Momma • Complexion (A Zulu Love) • i • Mortal Man

There’s not much to say about this that hasn’t been written at this point but I just want to throw in that putting “I” right at the end of an album almost as an afterthought is crazy. What a feat.

Exceptionally bold, brave, and fascinating. The Pulitzer was obviously actually for this album.

So cohesive, such an amazing project

in the discussion of best rap album ever

Honestly phenomenal, a friend told me this was one of the best albums there is and I can see why. Lyrics are masterful, the theme is perfectly executed and the music is amazing. Absolute 5

Good

This duck ain’t freeeeee

Genre: Conscious Hip Hop I mean, good Christ. Every time I take a break from this album, I come back and I leave more impressed than the time before. From A to Z, this album blows me away. Tremendous lyrics, tremendous live instrumentation but when it goes electronic it’s still tremendous, the entire narrative spun throughout with the poem 8/ tremendous, it’s overwhelming how wonderful this album is. Over the years, this has been heralded has the greatest album in music history by some. I’ve probably even said those words out loud. Is that the case? Perhaps. But is this album in absolute triumph of music and sound? Yes. Will this album always have its detractors? Yes. Are they wrong? Yes. :) 5/5

An exploration of black exploitation in America and the crushing, overwhelming pressure that America applies to the black soul. As poignant 10 years on as it was upon release. Maybe one day it won’t seem so relevant.

Classic init

Every song here is 5 staaaaaaaars Every song here is 5 staaaaaaaars Every song here is 5 staaaaaaaars Every song here is 5 staaaaaaaars Every song here is 5 staaaaaaaars Who will deny that "u" and "i" and every song here is 5 staaaaaaaars?

The album that got me into Kendrick. Love how poetic and jazzy it is. These Walls is a favourite of mine. So great to revisit 10 years later.

From one banging album to another. Seeing this come up on the rotation when the site revealed it to me triggered an audible joy, as I've heard no shortage of good things about this album, but my turn has now come to experience it for the first time, and as such my expectations are high. Right from the get go, its an absolutely high energy, bombastic experience that also provides a deeply insightful and sometimes sardonic social commentary from the perspective of the black community. Not every song is on the up however, as songs like "u" have an anger that really feels like it comes from a place of struggle. The sampling of various genres, like jazz, hip hop, and even some funk all blend together in a way that won't leave your head any time soon. And as for the lyrics, Kendrick has some absolutely fantastic bars, as well as some memorable lines such as "Bitin' my style, you're salmonella poison positive", and "Milk the game up, never lactose intolerant" from 'Institutionalized'. And the guest musicians? Are used in ways that well and truly make use of their strengths, such as Thundercat's bass work, or the lyrical capabilities of Anna Wise. Don't even get me started on the beats, as they carry so much of the album on their shoulders, such as the classic beat from "Alright", the funk of "King Kunta", or the upbeat pop sounding rhythm of "For Sale?", which not only helps to convey the message of its lyrics, but also changes to further convey the message that lays within it, just under the surface. As it stands, it is deserving of both the critical and commercial acclaim that it has received over the past decade, which considering the fact that it's held up as long as it has is yet another compliment to the record.

Slight preference for good kid but this is about as good as it gets. Wesley’s theory cracking start and king kunta up there as my fav Kendrick. Holds its own throughout

This is a biased review, I love this album, I think the production is up there with early Kayne stuff and lyrically it's genius. I don't love a skit and there are a few too many but it's still a phenomenal album

wow what to say about this, Its an 'album' in every sense of the world, more cohesive than pretty much any other album is, both subtly through songs seamlessly transitioning between songs, or with the poem which slowly gets revealed, until the final song, I really don't think any other album does that so well and interesting as this. I once heard someone say that the more you put into understand the themes, lyrics and inner workings of this album, the more you get out of it, which is 100% true, and also for the instrumental parts, as they are so dense that you can listen closely to a specific bit. And listening to some of these songs, they are more autobiographical than I thought, I thought he was playing a character, which he sometimes is doing, but quite a lot of it like in 'u' is him talking about himself and self hatred. Its also funny hearing the clear Drake diss in King Kunta about the ghostwriters in retrospect. Lyrically, I think him in this era will be totally unmatched for many many years if not forever, nearly every single bar has something that either can mean multiple things, or links to a greater theme throughout the album, showed by how many bars are repeated on multiple songs, or something similar. The beats are also totally unique to this album, there are so many genres in here, the bits of brass and jazz and funk feel so unique. The features are so well-integrated that it feels more like a band of backing vocalists. The more traditional features like Rapsody on Zulu love are also amazing, and link to the theme of the song, which I guess also shows that he had a fully formed vision of this album and the songs and themes on it. The live rendition of 'i' into him being heckled and talking to the crowd is truly one of the most unique things ever done on an album and is the perfect way of switching things up from the studio single. Also the revelation that he was reading the poem to Tupac, and the acting that he is talking to him, and also that he reads the butterfly/cocoon poem at the end which links everything together. Overall its just an incredible emotive, narrative, unique experience in musical form. It might seem weird comparing the two, but as I got Spiderland so recently, I feel like both albums are very similar to books or poems in this album's case (or just not like a 'normal' album), where you can truly experience it differently and in a seemingly near infinite level of detail depending on how you analyse it. Favourite songs: all of them, obviously. Overall 10/10

I loved this! No favourite as I was occupied while listening to it but I thoroughly enjoyed the entire album.

One constant in almost all of the albums I consider masterpieces is that they take me on some kind of mental journey. While listening to a masterpiece the mind tends to wonder into the mind of the songwriter, and you find yourselves walking in the shoes of the characters and story within the songs. Kendrick Lamar has delivered two albums like this (GKMC and TPAB), and at least three others that are close. Kendrick has a way of transporting the listener: I’m a 38 year old white dude with middle class upbringing from the American south who’s been transported to Compton by those two masterpiece records dozens of times. To Pimp A Butterfly is probably the most celebrated record of the 21st Century so far. I can’t think of a high profile record that really competes with it in terms of a combination of popularity, critical acclaim, and music nerd renown. Many boomers will roll their eyes at this, but it’s overall acclaim is really only matched or bested in the post-Beatles era by a handful of records like Sgt Peppers, Dark Side of the Moon, Thriller, and the like. Its status as a musical work of art is that high, and it’ll surely go down as one of the greatest rap albums of all time. For me, I had it as my 5th favorite album of the decade in the 2010s, just behind Southeastern by Jason Isbell, High Violet by The National, Good Kid Madd City, and I Love You Honeybear by Father John Misty. From a cultural importance perspective however I don’t think there’s a question it’s the best album of that decade. I can’t add much more about it other than another personal anecdote: I met my wife at a bar the weekend this album came out and like an idiot my pickup line was “have you listened to the new Kendrick album?” Guess it worked!

Peak

I grew up with this album. It got me through college

Dr Dre is all over this one, Kendrick is very funny.

Probably the best Kendrick album… maybe the best hip hop album… but it’s not my favourite Kendrick album. But that doesn’t change how much of a ride this album is. Undeniably the GOAT

If Section.80 and Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City didn't make you realize Kendrick was one of the greats, this album better have. Experimental Hip Hop? Jazz Rap? Conscious Hip Hop? Gangsta Rap? R&B? It's all here and it's all great. It's rare to find a 79-minute rap album that is this re-playable. I might skip the 2pac 'interview' at the end, but was ready to spin this thing all day.

Truly one of the greatest albums I've ever heard. The first time I heard it, I knew almost nothing about rap and basically never listened to it. I was pretty straight up a classic, indie, and alternative rock lover. A friend told me to choose an album to play in his car and I chose it due to the butterfly on the CD cover. The first song played and I knew I was in for something great. By the time the second track, For Free? finished I was already blown away and it was like nothing I'd ever heard before and just wanted more. Each track adds to the last, and each is so unique and artistic. It has a strong sense of perspective and a clear intention for every second. I can't overstate how perfect this album is.

Critics like to mention they miss when hip-hop was rappin'/Mothafucka, if you did then Killer Mike would be platinum

I remember you was conflicted.

++*: Wesley's Theory, For Free? (Interlude), I ++: King Kunta, Institutionalized, These Walls, U, Alright, For Sale? (Interlude), Momma, Hood Politics, How Much a Dollar Cost, Complexion (A Zulu Love), The Blacker the Berry, You Ain't Gotta Lie (Momma Said), Mortal Man 10/10

Very good. I don’t listen to this genre of music very much but Kendrick is phenomenal

Deserving of 5 stars, truly. Only one song that was skippable. Cohesive, powerful album

This blew me away. It’s got everything.

Excelente álbum. La poesía y la expresiva interpretación de Kendrick Lamar siendo acompañado por muchos de los grandes músicos contemporáneos hacen de esta una gran obra. Cubriendo una variedad de estilos combinados a la perfección, jazz, funk, soul, boom bap, y todo esto tratando temáticas políticas, psicológicas y filosóficas relevantes, tanto a nivel personal/individual como colectivo sobre la cultura afroamericana. El álbum ofrece una enorme variedad de música e ideas. Recomendable para múltiples escuchas. De hecho, debo admitir que la primera vez que lo escuché no me gustó mucho, sentía que contenía demasiada cantidad de información. Pero ahora que tuve la oportunidad de escucharlo nuevamente después de un tiempo pude apreciarlo mucho mejor.

To Pimp a Butterfly is probably the most highly regarded album of the past 20 years. And for a good reason. Kendrick pulls influence from old African American styles like jazz and funk, and uses this to display what it's like to be a black man in America. No other album really has a concept like this. Every song here is absolutely outstanding and it executes everything it sets out to do perfectly. Kendrick's ability to put his ideas on full display, as well as his songwriting, is as good as you can get. Each song has a profound message which is easy to understand yet still complicated in concept. Songs like Alright which is probably my favorite song here has become a staple in the BLM movements now. There are some songs here that are undoubtedly classics. The production on this record honestly could not get any better, the lyrics are some of the best Lamar has ever written, and everything has defined a whe generation. You have the poem that occurs throughout the end of Many tracks here, which takes full form in the closer, which leads to a fake interview with 2Pac. There is absolutely nothing I can complain about on this release and is for sure a perfect album. My favorite songs are Alright, The Blacker the Berry, and Wesley's Theory.

Never heard much of his music until now. It’s pretty incredible

Surprised but yes

Great deep album. I think I could listen to it another 10, 20, 50 times and pick up on something new each time. Stylistic choices aside, there's a lot of well thought out word smithing about a broad range of topics from calling out hypocriticism to political injustice to black unity. It's easy to see why it is well respected as one of his best albums. On the music itself, it varies from sort of standard jazzy beats to straight spoken word depending on the desired impact and level of attention he wanted to demand

Dunno if I’ll get through all of it today but I’ve listened to this album several times and love it. POWERFUL album

Outstanding

ez 5 stars. top album of all time

Another personal favourite that I am biased towards. Amazing album.

Great album from a poet laureate. I would listen to this album any day of the week.

Eye opening hip hop. Hadn’t taken seriously before. I like alternative rap and jazz rap like Pharcyde, J5 but this is another level.

I love hip-hop with acoustic instrumentation and Thundercat's contribution to many of the tracks on the album really stand out. Great featured artists throughout the record.

This album is a truly profound masterpiece is story telling - It’s Kendrick’s personal experience in the trials, guilt, temptations, and ultimate self acceptance of going from nothing to rich beyond his wildest dreams seemingly overnight. The album is full of some of the heart breaking tragedy that he feels over losing his sense of connection with his home, feeling like he’s betrayed his city by leaving them to pursue music, the temptations of now having the money to do whatever he wants and feeling like he’s got to make up for lost time. The true excellence of this album is that he is showing you, not telling you. It’s easy for David Bowie to go out there and shake his hips and tell you a story about what it’s like to be famous, but it’s something so much deeper and more meaningful to show you what that feels like. On top of that you have masterfully produced back tracks that pay homage to the generations of music that have landed black folk in the same situation as he now finds himself in when he wrote this. There is a crazy amount of emotional depth to this album and he did it all without sacrificing the sheer entertainment value of the album. Rap doesn’t have to be your thing- that’s ok- this album doesn’t have to be for you. But if you’re someone writing that this album is just muddled rap garbage, take a long deep look at your own listening history. Are you someone who likes mic jager ranting about all the strangers he’s fucking, or someone who raves about the beetles because they took drugs and talk about hanging out in an octopus’ garden but still claim that your music is real music because it really means something? This album is one of the greatest of its generation and has extreme depth. You may not like it but don’t talk to me about some glam rock bullshit being more meaningful than this because if you do you’re just ignorant and probably don’t respect things that fall outside your definition of art- the purpose of this list is to open your mind and try new things - don’t be ignorant.

Part of me wants to be contrarian and rate this lower but tbh what this album manages to achieve is exceptionally impressive. I love the jazz samples and I think it captures the political atmosphere of when it was released, so it’s defo earned the 5

## To Pimp a Butterfly: Kendrick Lamar's Uncompromising Masterpiece – An In-Depth Review **Released:** March 15, 2015 **Label:** Top Dawg/Aftermath/Interscope **Grammy Awards:** Best Rap Album (2016), 11 nominations total **Certification:** Platinum (RIAA) ### I. Lyricism: A Tapestry of Trauma, Triumph, and Truth Kendrick Lamar’s lyrics on *TPAB* operate on multiple interconnected levels: - **Narrative Arc & Metaphor:** The album’s central metaphor—the caterpillar’s transformation into a butterfly—serves as an allegory for Black exploitation ("pimping") and spiritual awakening. This unfolds through a recurring poem culminating in "Mortal Man," where Kendrick reveals he’s been reciting it to 2Pac’s ghost . Tracks like "Wesley’s Theory" use actor Wesley Snipes’ tax evasion case to symbolize America’s systemic entrapment of Black success: *"What you want? A house or a car? Forty acres and a mule? ... I’ll Wesley Snipe your ass before 35"* . - **Confronting Hypocrisy & Internal Conflict:** "u" is a harrowing dive into survivor’s guilt and depression, with Kendrick’s drunken sobs and self-loathing (*"Loving you is complicated!"*) contrasting sharply with the triumphant "i" . "The Blacker the Berry" excoriates racialized violence while implicating himself: *"Why did I weep when Trayvon Martin was in the street? / When gang-banging make me kill a nigga blacker than me?"* . - **Political & Spiritual Dialogues:** "How Much a Dollar Cost" reframes a homeless encounter as a test from God, challenging Kendrick’s empathy , while "Institutionalized" critiques how systemic oppression perpetuates mental ghettos (*"I’m trapped inside the ghetto"*) . ### II. Musical Innovation: Jazz, Funk, and the Rebirth of Black Sonic Traditions *TPAB* radically departs from mainstream hip-hop, drawing deeply from African-American musical lineage: - **Genre Fusion:** The album blends free jazz ("For Free?"), P-Funk ("Wesley’s Theory"), soul ("These Walls"), and avant-garde experimentation ("u"). Live instrumentation replaces samples, featuring bassist Thundercat, saxophonist Kamasi Washington, and pianist Robert Glasper . - **Rhythmic Dissonance & Harmonic Complexity:** Tracks like "King Kunta" ride minimalist funk grooves, while "Alright" uses Pharrell’s stuttering beat to underpin its hopeful mantra. "For Free?" shifts from bebop saxophone to Kendrick’s spoken-word torrent over chaotic piano runs . ### III. Production: Analog Warmth and Collaborative Alchemy Engineer Derek "MixedByAli" Ali’s work is pivotal to *TPAB*’s texture: - **Analog-First Philosophy:** Ali mixed on the SSL 4000 G+ console used for Dr. Dre’s *The Chronic*, prioritizing tactile fader movements over digital plugins for organic warmth . - **Stitching Chaos into Cohesion:** Despite 16 producers (including Flying Lotus, Terrace Martin, and Sounwave), the album maintains unity. Tracks like "Complexion" weave multiple contributors (Rapsody’s verse, Pete Rock’s scratches) into a seamless whole . - **Vocal Experimentation:** Kendrick contorts his voice throughout—mimicking a mother’s lilt on "You Ain’t Gotta Lie," adopting a drunken warble on "u," and channeling scat-jazz energy on "For Free?" . ### IV. Themes: The Weight of Blackness in America *TPAB* confronts interconnected struggles: - **Systemic Exploitation:** "Lucy" (Lucifer) symbolizes temptations of fame and materialism, particularly targeting Black artists ("For Sale?") . - **Colorism & Unity:** "Complexion" celebrates Black beauty across skin tones, with Rapsody’s verse directly addressing intra-community divisions . - **Resilience as Resistance:** "Alright" became a protest anthem, transforming despair into collective hope (*"We gon’ be alright!"*) . ### V. Influence: A Cultural Earthquake - **Critical & Commercial Impact:** Debuted at #1 in the US/UK, named "Album of the Decade" by *The Independent*, and ranked #19 on *Rolling Stone*’s 500 Greatest Albums list . - **Social Reverberations:** Songs like "Alright" were chanted at Black Lives Matter protests, cementing Kendrick as a generational voice . - **Artistic Blueprint:** Its jazz-rap fusion influenced artists from Childish Gambino ("Awaken, My Love!") to non-hip-hop acts exploring Afrocentricity . --- ### Pros & Cons: A Balanced Verdict **Strengths:** - **Lyrical Ambition:** Unmatched depth in hip-hop, weaving personal confession with political manifesto. - **Sonic Fearlessness:** Redefined rap’s musical possibilities, centering Black musical traditions . - **Thematic Unity:** The butterfly metaphor binds disparate tracks into a cohesive epic . **Weaknesses:** - **Demanding Listen:** At 79 minutes with dense jazz textures, it challenges casual listeners . - **Overreach in Spots:** The 12-minute "Mortal Man"/2Pac "interview" risks pretentiousness for some . - **Vocal Stylization:** Kendrick’s exaggerated sobs on "u" or high-pitched delivery on "Hood Politics" polarize . --- ### Conclusion: The Unpinnable Butterfly *To Pimp a Butterfly* remains a landmark because it refuses simplification. It’s a furious critique of America’s racial machinery ("The Blacker the Berry") and a tender ode to self-love ("i"); a jazz odyssey and a funk sermon. While its density and runtime demand investment, its rewards—musical, lyrical, and emotional—cement it as a defining work of 21st-century art. As Kendrick told 2Pac’s ghost: *"The caterpillar is a prisoner to the streets that conceived it"*—but this album is the sound of wings tearing through the cocoon . > **Key Tracks:** "Alright," "The Blacker the Berry," "How Much a Dollar Cost," "King Kunta" > **Influences:** Miles Davis, Parliament-Funkadelic, Toni Morrison

Greatest album OAT

5/5

Absolutely gold here. One of the most influential jazz-rap albums I have listened to in modern era. Great story, great sound production and themes.

This was one of my favorite albums back in college when it came out, I don't listen to rap anymore but I appreciate the opportunity to listen to this great album again.

Absolutely essential listening.

Really good. Need to listen to more Kendrick.

10/10 of course

This album is sooo good. Stoked to listen to it again. This is the first 5 on this journey, and very deservedly so.The lyrics, flows, beats, themes, and how everything connects together - it's all incredible. It's all just as good as I remember it, if not even better. 10 years later and this is still a masterpiece.

One of my favorite hip-hop albums, I love the instrumentation and great lyrics.

Goated Kenny record. Love all the jazz throughout.

This album is so well produced. A work of art.

A+

The is album made me appreciate rap. Enough said from a country boy.

This album is a modern masterpiece. I am genuinely in awe of how he created such a cohesive work of art and statement. I loved it when it was released but then listened to a podcast where somebody dissected every song and the album as a whole and appreciated it on a whole new level. I’m the processing years I actually find myself preferring good kid and damn but this album is testament to Kendrick’s singular vision at the time.

"I remember I was conflicted..." This was the album that brought Mr Lamar to my attention, and while I haven't listened to it in a couple of years it absolutely stands up. The infusion of Hip Hop and Jazz is sensational, and the album combines hit songs (King Kunta, Alright, i) with experimental instrumentals and great production. I always love an album with a recurring motif, and the "Evils of Lucy" poem gradually unveiling is so powerful. The 12 minute closing track with the stitched together interview with Tupac and the "pimped butterfly" album is such a brave way to end an album. Interestingly, with all the above said, I actually think hes developed and improved as a rapper since this album, with Mr Morale and GNX continuing to build his legacy. It's just a brilliant album - 10/10

goat

another record ive written ab semi recently and one that has arrived on tbh a bit of an unideal day where im more catching up on a bunch of missing rest than i am receptive to its hyper-density. but still, even if i was ultra receptive and hearing everything in the Greatest Clarity And Thoughtfulness Ever its still tpab...its hard to imagine ever being Done with it! and i grow more and more impressed by the use of jazz language here every single listen, the ways it complicates both the backing and the delivery for cascading effects of thrilling harmonic and rhythmic bliss. feels about as limitless as any hip hop has ever felt. which ig maybe ties into the main thing i actually was able to form thoughts about this time: the finiteness of all things, and how they extend beyond the boundaries that seem to be set out for them by both the "natural" and "constructed" worlds. the words and ideas and sounds that persist in spite of both inevitable and preventable death. if there is something constantly enduringly powerful and Relatable to me about kendrick's art its the depiction of himself as someone who is just Really Tryna Figure Everything Out, has the patience and perspective to know that he probably never will, but finds the pursuit worthwhile anyway. and his records are these little Stops along the way, locking in the things he's learned recently and presenting them as a gift to anyone who may benefit from them. tpab is a young persons' record in many ways, its clarity of vision and ultimate optimism right before the trump pin dropped perhaps easy to shuffle away when it no longer seems to represent either the person or culture that produced it. but part of the point of making art is to encase these easily loseble moments in amber... a Full perspective could always benefit from many of the tapestries of thought and feeling present here. crazy album. i wonder if anyone else likes this one.

This. Dick. Ain't. FREEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

4.5-4.8.

Production, lyricism, hooks, this album has it all. Basically the every track on here is a standout. The poem that runs through the album with the payoff at the end is great the first time you hear it. The interview with Tupac is great. The poem that reveals the meaning of the album. This is one of those albums that can amaze and suprise you. While GKMC was the story of Kendrick's youth, TPAB is a reflection on fame and blackness. I think the reason Kendrick had so much to do on this album is he was energized by learning about the national struggles beyond his local struggles. When he emerged from his chrysalis, he found a whole new world to explore, and this album is flush with all that energy.

Great album. Lots of different sounds and influences come through. A couple of weaker tracks in the middle but generally very good

YEAHHHHHHHH YESSSS YEAHHHHH I LOVE THIS GUY

A colossal, towering achievement. The Godfather Part II of albums.

It’s my first time listening to this album front to back. I love Wesley’s theory and king kunta and theres a few other songs I like. Those r still my fav but it was cool to listen and pay attention bc im usually a casual music enjoyer in the sense that I don’t rlly pay attention to lyrics or stuff and this isn’t rlly a casual album and i was on a plane w like nothing else to focus on

Probably the most creative and consistent hip hop album ever. Can't not give this a 5

Love this album. Some really awesome songs. Musically so interesting with the jazz and soul influences.

Invented music

Obviously a 5

Great

5 estrelas !!!