1001 Albums Generator
To Pimp A Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar

To Pimp A Butterfly

Kendrick Lamar

2015
3.64
Rating
30270
Votes
1
9%
2
12%
3
20%
4
26%
5
34%
Distribution
Genres: Hip-Hop Styles: Conscious, Jazzy Hip-Hop, G-Funk, Neo Soul

Reviews (page 4 of 15)

Un disco que está bien para poner de fondo en la nochecita de jueves o viernes cuando necesitas algo que tenga un golpe energético pero tranquilo. Luces indirectas y un vinito, como para charlar y crear un ambiente cool.

It was ok, sounds a bit experimental, not my genre of music but it was a nice experience

Amazing.

#4 8th April 2026 Kendrick Lamar is always great to listen to. This album wasn't typically meant for me but that's okay, and I did like most of the songs. track mentions; how much a dollar cost complexion (a zulu love)

A bonafide classic, just stellar

Considering how critically acclaimed this album is, and having it appear so close to good kid maad city, I’m surprised that after sitting on both, I enjoyed good kid more. Still a good album, still full of great songs, love the poem getting longer throughout as a cut through. Good vibes

I have a harder time with this kind of music however the mix of different genres eas interesting

A high 3

I know it’s a classic. You know it’s a classic. But…

Apart from the cringe swearing left and right, this album is very very good. Great tunes, original writing, composition on point and superb production

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

Absolutely shit from start to finish, if only no stars was a possibility. Terrible music, worse lyrics, not a single redeeming feature. My life has been made worse by listening to this crap.

The trio of songs (the blacker the berry, how much a dollar cost, and alright) are certified "bangers" and would sit alongside peak 80s and 90s rap songs. The rest is a bit hit and miss. However for those 3 songs alone this is a worthwhile listen

I just couldn't get into this

I really have no idea what it is that makes me like some rap more than other rap, but sometimes I do.

A little long for my taste but it has half a dozen bangers at least. The guy is inventive and meaningful.

4/5 - If nothing else, this list has gotten me into Kendrick Lamar. I definitely prefer _good kid_ to the follow-up, but not surprising, since it's a more accessible listen. Lots of layers to explore here. Production is really, really good.

No me di la oportunidad de escucharlo a profundidad entonces no puedo hablar mucho sobre las letras y significados de los temas pero por arriba, el 80% de las canciones me gustaron. Como no es mi tipo de musica me sentí un poco fuera de confort, pero al final del día para eso estoy usando esta web así que suma puntos. Dentro de todo Wesley´s Theory, Alright e Institutionalized se llevan mi top 3 ya que fueron las que más se asimilaron a mi estilo de música que realmente disfruto. Me gusta bastante Kendrick Lamar pero no creo que considere este mi album favorito de él

pretty good

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

What I liked about this album is that even if it's a rap album it's by no way simple loops and samples. There's always something to find when listening to any song. Favorite songs: Wesley's Theory ; King Kunta ; Hood Politics ; Complexion ; The Blacker the Berry ; Mortal Man

Kendrick really shows off his poetry and lyricism in this album. He expresses his anger and feelings stemming from his upbringing and life to speak his truth. It’s no wonder that the follow up album, damn, won him a Pulitzer. To Pimp A Butterfly was a great foundation showing what he has to offer and bleeds into what his music and influence would evolve into.

Enjoyed it as a whole. Interesting sounds and lyrics throughout, often very different within one song. Love I. Also liked King Kunta and Momma, Blacker the Berry (Marcus Garvey reference FTW).

this gets a 5

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

Classic. One of the best albums of all time.

“the man gave us billie jean, you say he touched those kids?” Is one of the worst lines I’ve ever heard in my life but the rest is cool

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

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

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

I really like Kendrick but I'd actually never sat down and listened to this particular album as a whole. It is a really unique listening experience and a super cohesive album, although a bit interlude heavy for my taste.

I know critics and fans were generally in awe of this album, but I've never really enjoyed it. And I'm no hip hop hater. I really love most of Kendrick's other stuff. I understand there are important messages here, it's intended to be a bit challenging, and I'm not really the target audience, but at the end of the day, I want to enjoy what I'm hearing, and I find most of this dissonant and unpleasant. I so vastly prefer GKMC, DAMN, or even GNX. That said, with repeated listens, and thinking about it more like a jazz album than a hip hop one, it's growing on me…a little. 4/5 Highlights: For Free? - Interlude King Kunta The Blacker The Berry i

At first I thought I liked DAMN. better, but as I listened I realized this was a more complicated album that will require multiple listens. The lyrics were powerful, but I was lost on context for large parts of it. The music was engaging, I will be returning to this.

only added like 1 or 2 songs to my playlist can see why people like it though

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

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

Hip hop album of a generation (Cleaning windows)

7/10 Production is fantastic, but the lyrics are kind of a letdown from Good Kid, M.A.A.D City. If it was only rated on production though, 11/10.

Honestly, I kind of struggled to get through this one. It's just not my generally preferred type of music and I was having a hard time feeling it. I recognize that it is good and culturally important though, which is why it's getting three stars instead of fewer.

I just don't get it.

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

I find this type of rap boring and unimaginative, bitch this and mutherf*#ker that. It's time to grow up.

Easily one of the best rap albums of all time

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

Not my style but i only liked one song. I’ll rated as 3.5.

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

Kendrick is all time really like the interludes

Mezcla interesante entre el rap, hip-hop, r&b, música concreta

Pretty good. 3.5/5

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

First time listening to this album - I liked it, just not as much as I hoped to.

Avant-garde conscious art hip-hop, cool beats, great cast of collaborators. There were a lot of artists that contributed to the project. Has a cool funk jazz sound, sometimes almost free form. The music and beats are the star here, great vibe. The lyrics are a bit weak in some parts. It is long, could have been trimmed by 30 minutes. I hate the 5 star rating system, this is better than average but not great so it's a 3.5 from me

Deeply poetic and great cadence

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

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

I love every part of this album

A canonical point of history.

Incredibly powerful and very conscious hip-hop. This deserves its reputation.

Just not for me

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

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

Love the story telling in it. Not what I'm used to but I loved it.

Not that same as it hit when I was young

More underground rap just is in my vibe, but I respect Kendrick’s hustle

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

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

(perhaps obviously) really good, but I always feel I'm not American enough to really get it

It's an impressive work. A ton of different styles and influences. Was not in the mood today so it was a bit of a slog.

Pro’s - it’s a while since I had an American c(rap) album on here. Con’s - still hate it Or should that be the other way round? 1/5 23/3/26

Sorrrrrry

I like how this album combines different genres to talk about the African American identity and experience. Favorite songs are “The Blacker the Berry” and “I.”

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

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

Bloody brilliant. Nothing more to say.

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

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

The 'i remember You was conflicted' poem running through it tying it together makes it feel like a thought out, complete album. Some absolute tunes on here. The different voices gives it sonething extra at tines. At other times its a bit naff. Elements of R&B, Hip Hop & Funk Teetered between 4.5 and 5.

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

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

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

I don't like rap(

Automatic 5 star no notes

For Sale?

Uuuuuh, dunno what the fuss is. It was decent

I've heard that Lamar's stuff is legendary, important, poetic, etc. But as an old white man in rural America, it just doesn't resonate with me. I'd rather read a book about the plight of black Americans than listen to this. I hope it reaches its intended audience, and judging from its popularity, it does.

I'm definitely not talking shit about a Kendrick album

Definitely like the way the music is built. Thematically well built album overall, although its raw sexuality and violence in lyrics continues to undermine other things it talks about.

I recognise the achievement and I enjoy most of the tracks on here but maybe only King Kunta particularly stands out. I’d listen to it again but it demands focus.

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

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

Another solid album by Kendrick, really enjoy the mix of styles. Less a fan of the skits, but appreciate the social/political themes throughout.

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

Much better than that mad city album musically. Even the constant rapping was bearable

This is perfect

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

banger! outside of just. really incredible songs (u and i and the interludes all being particular standouts to me), the album itself is super well constructed. The motifs....guys, the motifs..... overall excellent. really really enjoyed.

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

On a tier of truly special all-timers that have had a profound impact on culture; contain timely, meaningful commentary on contemporary life (either politically or personally); and are so musically accomplished, pushing the boundaries of pop music at the time in a way that sounds fresh and exciting, yet rooted in its history (see also MBDTF, OK Computer, Is This It, Back to Black etc).

We want that funk!

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

Decent, I've got to be in the mood for hip hop and it normally takes something special to keep my attention, some great highlights on this but all in all didn't do it for me. Like the genre bending though

It's Kendrick. Doh.

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

Hektisk, kaotisk og medrivende.

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

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

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

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

Catchy, interessant, kult. Positivt overrasket.

Ambitious album that has a lot to say. Lots of different sounds brought together in a tribute to black america (ofc there's more that Lamar has to say there). Mortified by the 1 star reviews. I don't even like hip hop that much and I think this is a worthy addition to the list.

Not really my thing!

where do i even start

Maybe I need to listen to this a few more times, or maybe it’s just not my style, but I fail to see this as the masterpiece so many have described it to be.

пушка

80 min record flies by, masterpiece

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Not for me.

Toplyrics: I know everything, I know history I know the universe works mentally I know the perks of bullshit isn't meant for me Musikalisch und vom Style abwechslungsreich, besonders die Beats und Hooks haben mir echt sehr gefallen. Hab vorher noch nie mehr als einen Track am Stück gehört und das ist schon ein echt gutes Album und zurecht gehyped. Textlich kann ich vieles nicht unbedingt verstehen, zum Teil akustisch, zum Teil inhaltlich. Ist am Ende nicht meins, aber ich spüre das es gut ist und nur ein paar kleine Turns im eigenen Leben entfernt dass ich es richtig feiern würde. 3,5.

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

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

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

I hated the previous Kendrick Lamar album so my hopes were not particularly high for this. However, I was pleasantly surprised - and I’m under no illusions that it’s because of the vast array of guest artists and collaborators on this album that increased my enjoyment. Having the likes of Thundercat, Ronald Isley, and George Clinton on an album is a sure way to peak my interest, and that it certainly did. I can still take or leave Kendrick’s rapping and lyrics.

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

Repeat listen

Am I missing something? People seem to say this is one of the best hip hop albums ever and it’s just average to me. It sounds more like a dance album than true rap. It’s more Kanye than Eminem.

Interesting listen. A lot going on here - hip hop, jazz, funk, soul, social commentary. This is some deep, thoughtful music. I did not understand or appreciate rap and hip hop when they first appeared because I wasn't paying attention. My loss. Kendrick Lamar is an extremely talented musician and I will go back and listen to his catalog.

I usually don't listen to lots of rap, but Kendrick really does it for me. The transitions inbetween songs are genius, the flow is great Really good album even though it isn't my usual choice of music. My favorites: "King Kunta", "Alright" and "i"

Rap fan here however this isn’t my favorite Kendrick album

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

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

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

lots of different influences, a little jazzy, funky, soulful, has some more classic rap and hip-hop there too. always heard that this is one of the greatest hip-hop records ever but never really gave it a listen. and now that i've listened to it, i think i can agree that this is at least pretty good. but it's not something i'll listen to ever again, most likely.

I just get bored listening to this. Stand-outs - Wesley's Theory - King Kunta

Usually don't like this kind of hip hop, but this is clever, musical and diverse

I couldn't get the sound.

EInwenig von alles kann es nicht einordnen, Hört sich ok an

i mean cmon this might be one of the greatest albums of all time

ive been sleeping on sir lamar

Big fan of King Kunta, but the rest didn't hold up.

The best thing about this was how the choice segued into some Frank Oceans whom I had forgotten all about !

I'm not an avid listener of hip-hop, but I'd heard a couple of tracks off this album and been impressed - they were a bit different to the norm. Having finally got round to listening to the full album, I have to say it - this is fucking superb. Varied, lyrically diverse - from serious messages to light-hearted stuff, and sometimes both at once - great flow, tight beats. For an album this length, I didn't get bored, and I'll definitely add this to my long-term rotation. More, please.

This has been one of my favourite albums for a while and it still is. This was the first album where I really saw what hip-hop could be in the highest form, when it’s not just music, but it’s an art form used to explore very real topics and issues. This doesn’t mean it’s an easy breezy listen, and it’s definitely not. It’s not an album you can easily put on and just have in the background. But if you’re willing to give your full attention, and are willing to think about what you’re hearing, it’s a very rewarding experience. It’s such a brilliant exploration of the exploitations that fame can lead to, and how all the money and power can ruin you at your core and make you lose sight of where you come from. I love this.

A classic even for this non-hip hop fan. The music and rhythms are unmatched.

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

Not my scene, but sounded okay

This is a really masterful album, I won't beat around the bush. It's both experimental and accessible, it's heartfelt and powerful and just genuinely full of really great tunes. Alright serves as an anthem for mainstream conversations around police brutality towards Black people that would bubble in 2020, but the album really does go beyond political text. There is a playing with form, some songs stretching to 15 minutes and stitching in long spoken word pieces that surpass the traditional "skit" bit you might expect to find in a rap album (no offence to the skits in rap albums they have their place too), but honestly they feel more like sound pieces you might encounter at an art museum. I mean that in a good way obviously!! and it is important that these types of sound pieces exist on mainstream rap albums and aren't just confined to museum walls.. BRAVO!! (one tiny thing I would say is when the shit hits the fan, i.e. your favourite artist turns out to be a paedophile, you no longer are obligated to remain a fan.. in my opinion!!)

Undoubted 5-stars! Huge in scope both intellectually and musically, hyperbolic as it is I really see this as one of the towering achievments of the century so far. And it's still only my third favourite Kendrick album! Sorry I don't have anything deeper to say, but love him, love this, happy days :) PS Nothing was proved

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

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

No notes

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

Interesting narrative driven songs (lyrics wise) Stand out track was "i", could probably listen to as an album again Not my favourite genre so difficult to give an unbiased rating 3.5/5

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

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

Ik this album’s good and all but there were a couple of veery bad ones and ik voiceovers are Kendrick’s thing but u really get tired of them at some point. That being said i never thought this was his best.

Qué se puede decir no?

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

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

king kunta

i mean do i really need to say anything

Not my thing, I'm too old!!

Great Album

No notes 10/10 album

Out of all of the hip hop albums I've rated so far, To Pimp a Butterfly has been the one I've enjoyed the most, likely because of how rooted it is in jazz and funk. I really enjoyed this album's sound the music goes along well withe the hip hop beats, and comes together nicely. Lamar's rapping is also much better than some of the other albums I've listened to, and the overall album is very conscious, which I much prefer over the 90's gangsta style I've heard in so many other albums. I really liked the music of "Complexion (A Zulu Love)", it sounds very nice. While I doubt I'll come back to the album, I still enjoyed my time with it. Favorite Song: "Complexion (A Zulu Love)

Great album! Soulful, jazzy with some incredible themes. Kendrick has such a unique and iconic flow. Highlights: "King Kunta", "These Walls" and "Hood Politics"

Good 7/10

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

Not my genre, but I find this album to be compelling and I'll breed to vibe back to it again in the future.

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

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

Absolutely not my style. Was difficult to listen to.

didn’t love it

Sooo dense. So good! So 2015. King Kunta, How Much a Dollar Cost, and i were highlights. The jazz and spoken word styles throughout are really interesting but make this a bit less accessible, not that that’s a bad thing. Not my favorite Kendrick album but it’s iconic and lives up to the hype.

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

It's great, what else to say?

Not awful but it drags and is far more serious than I want from an album

An incredible tour de force, lyrically and musically.

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

Absolute fucking banger

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

#45/1001🇺🇸 An ambitious, sprawling record, which i've been guilty of not listening to in full before - this is a shame because some of the better tracks do fall towards the end. Best tracks: Momma, How Much A Dollar Cost, The Blacker The Berry, Mortal Man.

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

Here we go, this is way more creative than I would have expected! Some cool stuff, I'm sure lyrically its going hard but I can't listen to the words of songs. Couple I recognize for sure, fav might've been These Walls. 3/5.

A good hiphop album. I prefer the last 4 tracks. 4 stars

I think it's somewhat overrated, but at the same time, I admire the scope and ambition here. It's sort of the Lawrence of Arabia of rap albums. Even if there's a lot of hip-hop albums I like a lot better, I think Kendrick really reached for the stars here. I don't love it all, but there's some great tunes here, like "King Kunta", "How Much a Dollar Cost", and "i". Thundercat's bass work on the album is amazing too. 4 stars.

This is one of those rare albums that isn't old but deserves to be on this list. I'd even consider it a "generational" album. Meaning it's real importance lies in its place culturally and chronologically; like Highway 61 from Dylan or What's Going On? by Marvin Gaye or Appetite by GnR. It helps define the era. It speaks for a culture and generation. Bottom line: great album, great addition to this list.

Just like with Kanye I knew I had to bite the bullet, despite my undefined repugnance toward Mr. Lamar, and give 'Butterfly Pimp' a go. I'm pretty sure I never even accidentally heard anything from him, not even from the 2025 Superb Owl. Yet I must have been biased by the reported social media mania over the drawn-out Drake vs. Lamar diss track feud. So, as with Ye, I was expecting utter slop, yet confounded with the smooth jazz/funk/soul musicianship and the studio engineering marvel. Some heavy socio-political topics probably, but mostly proclaiming one's own phallic obsession, I guess.

Definitely one of the better hip-hop albums on the list. It sounds modern but retains that old-school organic sound I prefer because it uses real instrumentation. Lamar's flows are great and the lyrics can be pretty insightful too, although I could do without the excess profanity, as in all rap music. But alas, low art has got to have its place too, I guess. Key tracks: Wesley's Theory King Kunta These Walls Alright The Blacker the Berry i

Amazing album! One of my favorite albums.

some parts were good others boring

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

Not something i’d ever listen to without the motivation of the generator. Pretty good. I can appreciate it the musical flow and lyrical weight. Wouldnt turn it off if it popped up on the feed.

I liked the first song, it tells a story of how black singers are exploited, and is quite sophisticated in the rhythm and flow. I still haven’t fully understood the entire song, but I enjoyed it. Kendrick also expresses his emotions in For Free? where he highlights how America devalues the black people, unless they are successful. I really like how he says “This dick ain’t free” I absolutely loved King Kunta. Such a vibe. So it seems to be a slight reference to Kunta Kinte who was a fictional black slave who foot was cut off to prevent escaping slavery. It comes across as an inspiring story of overcoming struggles to become successful. And it’s only when he becomes successful that people want to get to know him. Institutionalized is also one of those songs with a very varied and sophisticated flow of beats and rhythm, but I came to appreciate more with every listen. I love the “zoom zoom zoom” and the “Shi don’t change until you get up and wash your ass”. I love Anna’s part in These Walls. This song uncovers more of the misuse of fame, especially of Kendrick himself. But it’s truly such a gentle song which I surprisingly enjoyed. Though I wasn’t a fan of the sensual beats that get contrasted with the way the lyrics “I can feel your reign when it cries” is sung. u is a more melancholic song but still quite vibey with the piano melody lowkey incorporated in the back. Not my favourite song but it does give quite an insight into the depth of his mind. Alright is a more hopeful and positive contrast to u, which is the followed by his struggle between faith and temptation in For Sale? Momma then follows his return home to comfort after his self-realisation. I really liked Hood Politics, with the first verse reflecting how he doesn’t care how he is perceived as he comes to his newfound realisation. He reflects on his childhood and realises there are so many other issues to worry about it. I loved How Much A Dollar Really Cost because of the soulful touch it has, and I found it quite unique with that combination of soul and hip hop. I surprisingly didn’t vibe with complexion as much, even tho the lyrics have a lot of depth and meaning. I think the rest of the album is quite similar for me as there are many references with layers of meaning that need to be unpacked, thought the rhythm is quite average.

Don't usually listen to rap, so this is difficult to rate. I liked the second half of the album better than the first. Some interesting samples - quite confident I heard Pyramid Song by Radiohead in there.

One of the critiques on the Wikipedia entry called this "dense but dazzling," and I am inclined to agree. A lot of this was really good. It just was also bloated and l o n g (about 79 minutes, with the last track alone running 12 minutes when including the interview ending). I thought the musical compositions were the best parts of this album. The jazzy instrumentation really helped this stand out as something memorable for me, compared to just basic samples or bare-minimum backing tracks that are unfortunately not uncommon in rap. Instead, this album has a wealth of interesting music to support the vocals. It really adds to the listening experience. Even as someone who doesn't have a lot of foundational knowledge of rap/hip hop (and generally doesn't listen to them that much), I thought the vocals themselves were also strong. Not just in their delivery, but in their content. This is a pretty heavy album, even if it might appear to use some tired rap tropes on first blush. The best part is that the vocals pair with the backing music to work with it, rather than just using it as a springboard without much thought. Together, the parts form a complete picture that caught my attention. But, it was hard to keep that attention for the whole album. Two hours is excessive, even when the material is as consistent in quality as it was here. I feel like I'll need to listen to this one a few times to fully grasp it because of how much was put on there. I'm not sure when that'll happen, though, due to the length of time required. That said, I definitely plan to listen to this album again. Even with the issues above, I found it a really strong listen. It's a complete experience worth taking. I was impressed. Overall: 4.25/5

rating purely on enjoyment.. sorry.....

really close to a 5 but the start is a bit rocky can’t lie

bombo liedjes me af een toe een skippertje ma wel bueno

He is definitely a genius. I love all the inventiveness all over this. I honestly don’t care for the crudeness of a lot of it, though.

Lyssnade bara hälften, men spelar inte så stor roll för har lyssnat hela förut. Hade redan Alright och king kunta på en spellista. Lade till these Walls och for free på en annan nu

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

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

I get why people really love Kendrick Lamar. I must be honest and say that I don't think I'd ever really listened to him before, despite obviously knowing the name. Some people think he's one of the greatest rappers ever. I get why. The album was very enjoyable to listen to, and feels like a huge step up over the likes of Eminem and Dr. Dre's albums from the late 90's/early 00's, while still being a continuation of the genre.

Absolute classic, however, now that I go back to it and listen to it as an album, the repeated motif around Lucy that ends a number of tracks and acts as a repeated, thematic interlude of poetry takes me out of the experience of this record. To this day I see DAMN as his pinnacle, but this was an insanely brilliant artistic statement that built on his debut.

A bunch of great songs, but overall not my most favorite Kendrick album I think. I do respect his production, and use of real instruments. It definitely sets him apart and makes him unique in the world of hip hop. He's worthy of all those awards.

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

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

Overrated

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

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

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

4/5 - Really really solid all the way through, and even though I didn't pick up on much deeper meaning I can tell there's a lot there. On a repeat listen after looking into the album more, could easily be a 5.

Second time listening to it, i think it will take a few listens to truly understand, but enjoyed the instrumentals - the jazz funk influences.

Brilliant.

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

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

Can’t believe I’ve never listened to this all the way through!! Some songs were a bit of a drag but they all work together Fav: King Kunta duhhhh

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

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

Funk, jazz, soul, gospel....it's more fun trying to deduce what Kendrick Lamar doesn't try on 'To Pimp a Butterfly' rather than what he does try. But while there is so, so much going on throughout this record, Kemdrick's lyrics paint such a harrowing picture of the true state of African-American society in the United States, and how the civil rights movement hasn't exactly changed outcomes with all the racism, institutional discrimination and inequality that still exists. I really like the line in the song 'Institutionalized'; "s*** don't change until you get up to wash yo ass, n****"; as I feel it's reflective of the entire album's meaning. Kendrick has a great deal to say on this record, and he's not going to bring greater attention to the plight of African-Americans unless he gets these thoughts out in the open and uses his profile to promote them. Yes, he dishes out a lot of uncomfortable truths, but urgent delivery does enough to get the listener in deep reflection about the notion of freedom and what that exactly entails. Nothing hits me harder than the sheer urgency of 'u', where Kendrick is almost on the verge of tears, with lyrics suggesting a nervous breakdown is in progress. It's quite a hard song to listen to at times, along similar lines to Eminem's 'Kim' or Korn's 'Daddy'. It truly is remarkable how many genres of music this album flirts with. There's gangster lyrics over free jazz ('For Free?'), Wesley's Theory is a full-on G-Funk number (complete with George Clinton on guest vocals), there's flourishes of soul, heaps of custom percussion, the Fender Rhodes keyboard (synonymous with Stevie Wonder) comes out at times, it's honestly quite dizzying to keep up with. And given that this record is nearly 80 minutes long (Double LP length on the old vinyl scale), it's quite a behemoth of a record to sink your teeth into. Although, I really do appreciate Kendrick's self-confessional and socially-conscious approach to lyrics. He has so much to say on this record and holds nothing back. While there is so much going on throughout 'To Pimp a Butterfly', and there's no way anyone could easily digest the entire thing in one listen, Kendrick and his production team deserve plenty of commendation for crafting such a journeyed and daring record. Best songs: Wesley's Theory, King Kunta, Institutionalized, u, Alright, The Blacker the Berry, i

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

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

Yaaaa enjoyed this.

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

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

Good album. Important album.

Kendrick Lamar two days in a row was a little challenging, but he's pretty good. Happy Black History Month!

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

One of the best hip hop albums of our time!

OBVIOUSLY PERFECT IN LOVE

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

I don’t think this was quite might thing even if I could appreciate the production values and craft that has gone into this. The album is rather long, and that seems par for the genre, but it perhaps didn’t feel as long as its 1 hour 20 minute run time suggested it would.

Finally an album from my prime. Love Kendrick, but this is my least favorite of his albums aside from the most recent one. Admittedly haven’t listened all the way through since around when it came out so def room for improvement. Slow fade in for Wesley’s theory is how every album should start. Sample on this song is really cool. Really good production. The bass line is really weird tho. Don’t think I like it. As is with every Kendrick song, it’s Extremly well written. Love the music on for free. Greta piano, great horns. Lyrics are eh, the hook is dumb. King kunta is one of the best songs of the 2010s. So catchy. Incredible production. Could listen 1000 times in a row and not get sick of it. And then Great fade into institutionalized. I hate the weird voice Kendrick randomly uses. I wish he would just rap normal on all of his songs, they’re always so much better when he does. Production is really good again tho. Once he stops using the dumb voice at abt a minute it’s a really good song. These walls is another banger. This is just a classic Kendrick song. Love the guitar on it. Chorus is super catchy. I don’t like “u”. It’s over produced and he’s doing the dumb voice again. Mid song. It just never picks up when it seems like it wants to the whole time. Followed by alright which is the complete opposite. Great song end to end, all components. No notes. Love the production on the for sale interlude. Good lyrics to. This song is really good too. Verses and production on momma are really good, if it had a catchy chorus it would be a great song but it doesn’t. Good not great. Hood politics is a banger. What a beat. This is the closest to a GKMC song so far. Classic Kendrick. How much a dollar cost is not as good but still a good song. Best writing of any song I’d say. Love the story telling, that’s when kdot is at his best. Complexion is fine, nothing special. I like the piano. I like rapsodys verse. Blacker the berry is the most underrated song on the album. Should have the commercial play of alright or king kunta but it doesn’t for some reason. Production is sososo good. Lyrics too as always. You ain’t gotta lie is fine, again nothing special. I like how this one at least has a real chorus. “I” is another classic. Production is the best in any song of the album. This song will last the test of time. Wis it ended with this one. With that being said I am a sucker for a 10+ min outro so can’t really complain. The super long songs are my favorite on all 3 of his other albums, this one is not as good as those 3 (sing about me, fear, mother I sober) but it another really good long songs doesn’t feel like 11 mins at all. He just goes and goes and goes, these songs are always the best written. Wish the beat kept going in the middle poem section, could’ve made it real quiet and I think it would’ve added a lot, as seen by when they come back in with the piano and it adds a good bit . Really good message. As a whole, my opinion on the album hasn’t changed much which I’m honestly shocked abt. I still don’t think it’s one of his three best albums. There are some really good songs, but also some songs I’ll never listen to again which I would not say abt any of his other albums. This album is more abt the message than the music IMO. But I’m rating purely off music. 3.4 stars.

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

This started a little slow, but I really liked it the further into it I got - 3.5 rounded to 4.

Great album - I know I shouldn’t be pleasantly surprised by KL at this point, but I was. I’m a little late the party, what can I say?

My son loves this one and I think it is pretty good too. Not a lot of misses on this album.

a masterpiece

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

Not my favourite Kendrick album. If only I could pull the few tracks I like from each of his records and make my own “best of”. What we have here is a classic. Wonderful mix of jazz and rap with dark themes. But I can only give a 4/5

This was alright, I think some songs are certainly stronger than others, I preferred those where he was singing/rapping in a more 'normal' voice for want of a better word where I could hear the lyrics. On the subject the lyrics, they varied in quality, sometimes they felt very strong, especially those relating to racial inequality and the black experience, others were less interesting. I've said this in my other review and I'll say again that, without being a prude, I'm not really a fan of the more sexual songs that seem to objectify women, I understand this tends to be a theme with rap but still doesn't sit right with me. How Much A Dollar Cost was one of the better songs alongside institutionalized. Mortal Man was interesting, I enjoyed listening to it but it was less of a song and more a conversation with music, either way nice to listen to. I don't know how this compares to Good Kid M.A.A.D city, I think it may be marginally better, and I know this is the more renowned album but there's not much in it for me. I can see why people like Kendrick either way. 66/100 (perhaps)

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

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

wow what was that

Incredible cohesive record.

Smooth and funky

Jebote osećam se kao da sam ušla u neku ilegalnu dramu iz unutrašnjosti, ali naravno da obožavam sve albume koji imaju pesme koje se nastavljaju jedna na drugu, doprinosi magiji, ovaj nije izuzetak

говно, залупа

meio q me lembrou racionais vibes

I was surprised i liked it!

Generation artwork. Enough said.

Couple bangers

Yeah this one speaks for itself lmao.

The music nerds would kill me if I gave this album lower than a four. In reality, I like it, but don't think it's the greatest thing ever.

A classic of jazz-rap experimentation. I’m sure anyone would agree, this thing gets long in the tooth here and there. But the message, creativity, and sonic brilliance outshines most petty critiques.

The magnum opus of the greatest to ever do it

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

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

This isn't the kind of music I listen to often, but I just want to go back and listen to it again and digest every lyric.

So many layers that I can’t really grasp it all in one day. I found it less approachable that “good kid, m.A.A.d city” but I think it will improve on every listen. I added “You Ain’t Gotta Lie (Momma Said”) to my Generator playlist.

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

This album grows on me every time I listen to it. I wasn’t a huge fan initially, but the more I listen to it, the more I understand why this is very likely one of the best albums ever made. I probably wouldn’t have tried getting into it much if it weren’t statistically the best album of all time (at least according to RYM and AOTY), but I’m glad I did. This is legitimately a once-in-a-generation album, lighting in a bottle, with phenomenal production, writing, and performances. I genuinely believe this album is a masterpiece, but at the same time, it’s just not one of my favorites. Although I think this album is conceptually and technically amazing, the only reason I’m not rating it higher is because I don’t get a strong emotional reaction to these songs, if you know what I mean. Like, yeah, all of this songs are very well made and catchy as hell, but unlike my favorite music, I don’t get chills when listening to them, you know? And I can’t say I understand why. Just not really my thing? I guess a huge part of the appeal is the lyrics, and I don’t enjoy lyrics that much. I don’t pay attention to them and am definitely too stupid to do any serious lyrical analysis. So a big part of the story and its full brilliance is lost on me. But I don’t know.

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

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

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

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

Not my vibe atm

Sounds weird but also kinda cool, but this it not for me

I'm not a hip hop listener and I'm not going to do a bunch of hasty internet research to pretend that I understand the context of this album, the influence it had, and all of that. I know that Kendrick Lamar is pretty much universally acclaimed, but the times I've dabbled in his music to see what people are talking about, it never did much for me and I've never sat down and listened to an album in its entirety until now. My first impression is that I love how this is produced. One of my favorite things in music, irrespective of genre, is when I come across music that has its own sound world, it’s like when an author sketches out the place a novel is set in. I get that feeling from this record. It’s both familiar and not, synth lines recalling that organ sound I associate with 90s West Coast rap, but then breaking apart into something else. There’s a lot of richness and complexity in the music here, which almost becomes a point of criticism because it competes with the rapping, which is likewise complex. Which probably just points to the problem with this one album per day format, which is that sometimes music requires more time and attention than that.

2026.02.03.

So much to enjoy. So much to hate. It's all over the place. And that's kind of a good thing? A ton of work must have gone in to combining all the sounds and styles on this album. It pulls your attention all over the place. Over indulgent? Probably. It's ruined by some of the words and language used, which is a shame. Can I get a version without the profanity and N-words? I liked it when Snoop Dogg popped up like he had just walked through the room. I can understand why rap and hip-hop fans consider this an important album, can't be many other like it in this genre. I can't give yet another 3/5 can I?