Reviews (page 7 of 15)
One of the best things I've ever heard.
Rich and dense. Plenty to unpack.
87/1001 Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp A Butterfly Heard before? ✅ Revisit? ✅ There's a lot I like here and a lot I don't. It's way too overlong and some of the interludes added nothing. However, the way he combines his flow with jazz, funk and soul influences is sublime and some of the messaging is so important, and doesn't seem like a lot has changed in 10 years since the album was released. I really appreciate how he's quite insular in his lyrics as well. However, there is a level crudeness that is bordering on eye rolling territory.
4/10 It's so depressing to think you're near the end of an album, only to look and see you're less than halfway through. How is this possible!? Musically, it's alright. Dense and (relatively) inventive, but it's still vulgar and nasty. If this is your Dylan, ok, but we're gonna have to agree to disagree. I did quite like "I" though - a bit of bounce to that one until it goes into a diatribe for 2mins. Ho hum. And of course the last track is over 12mins long. Screw you, Kendrick
Really, really good. The only reason I didn't give it a 5 is because it didn't feel like it flowed super well. I think good kid, m.A.A.d city comes together as an album more. But a really good jazz rap album that deserves all of its praise.
I appreciate what Kendrick is trying to do here. I appreciate it more than the actual end product. I know he can write a solid track, and there are a couple of those on here. But some of this record is just a snore. 3/5
Now THIS is Hip-Hop, and good rap music at that. Take a note, post-2000s "Hip-Hop" artists. Great production, sick beats, and an overall fun album to blast which may just take you back ten years ago. Favorite Track: "King Kunta".
2015 There's some seriously good tracks here. There's some serious messages here. There's some self-indulgence here. There's some rude words and dodgy lyrics here. There's some 25 minutes run-time too much here. Heard before ✅️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit ✅️ IT'S TOO LONG ★★★☆☆ (6/10)
MFer managed to make a platinum-selling jazz fusion album.
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.
première fois que j’écoute kendrick j’aime bien
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.
Is this good? Not in my eyes, but maybe I am just ignorant regarding Rap and Hip Hop.
High-grade hip hop, but not the best of Kendrick imo
Ashamed to say I found this pretty boring.
I‘m not saying this lightly: *clears throat good kid, m.A.A.d city sittin’ top of the throne, That Compton storytelling still sends shivers down my bones. While To Pimp a Butterfly is complex, preachin’ deep, Evry other skit feels like homework soon to put me to sleep *mic drop
Awesome.
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
Музыка: 6/10 Разнообразие: 7/10 Тематика и вайб: 5/10 Цепляемость (отдельные песни зашли): 3/10 Реиграбельность (можно ли рандомно врубить на фон): 3/10 Итог: 4.8
I didn't like this at all
Entertaining, George clinton, nostalgic revivalism, x Wesley's theory Institutionalized U Alright
I began listening to listen and stopped by the third track. 1/5
Some of the production is interesting and unique but overall this isn’t something for me.
Fine
Yep this is everything it’s hyped up to be. Idk why I waited so long to listen.
Hip-hop still isn't my genre of music.
Hm. I listened to it all the way through. The music is fine but many of the song lyrics' topics remind me of 80s cock rock - which is not a compliment. When there is a good tune+lyrics, it's pretty good but it's also combined with, in my opinion, too many n-words, which reduces the power of that word.
4.5 stars. Dense with heavy infusion of jazz and soul but works so well. Incredibly talented lyricist, opens window into societal issues of the black struggle. Feels deeply personal and genuine and the production level quality is stratospheres above a typical hip hop record. Favorite tracks are "Complexion (A Zulu Love)" and "i".
Did not like it
Cool! But I didn’t love it as much as good kid.
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
A couple good ones. But I don’t get all the “one of the best ever” hype. 2.5
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.
j’aime pas le hip-hop. mais je respecte les thèmes j’aime bien le début de i
Wow. I really enjoyed this album in every aspect.
Nope, did not finish - it just wasn't my thing.
2 Stars (5/15)
I don’t get it. Shrug.
Never really listened to Kendrick besides a couple of really popular singles. Those were always just okay for me and this album was about the same.
loved when he said boo boo
sounds like shit to me :)
Listen man I wanted to hate it and fully expected to but I just can't. I don't think it's necessarily the best album ever made and there are definitely moments where it veers into the preachy self-important corniness that I was expecting but the whole album is much more musical and spontaneously creative than I expected. I thought it would feel very contrived and try-hard but it did not to me. Fav song: Wesley's Theory
One of the highest regarded albums that I just don’t like
Absolute classic. Will listen again
No. Sorry, it's definitely a good stuff, but it's just not the direction I'm moving in my music journey.
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
Really enjoyed this album. Wasn't expecting the story telling by Kendrick.
Banggggga
This one frustrates me. I can definitely see why it's so highly touted. The beats are unique, the lyrics are amazing, but for some reason I just can't get into it as much as I feel like I should, and I can't even put my finger on why. Favorite track: Alright
Mjög mikil saga
I really liked it
It's hard to listen to an album about Black artists negotiating co-optation within rich white power structures without thinking about how Lamar has since enthusiastically allowed himself to be co-opted.
This album is a true masterpiece. Kendrick Lamar is one of the greatest rappers of all time. His story telling is unmatched.
First half ok Second half not Too many slots Too self indulgent
Appreciate why it’s held in high regard due to the lyrically content, production and engineering. Not my favorite genre-style.
Great instrumentals, great lyrics. Amazing album
Getting a 3, since I can't see myself coming back to this. Glad I got to hear it tho, and his Superbowl appearance was A+. 3/5
Not my kind but ok
il fuoco a mare, mi scoccio di elaborare
Bello ho vibato
Belle basi, soprattutto quelle un po’jazz, se avessi studiato anche i testi forse sarebbe stato anche migliore
Onesto, not my shit, man.
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
subtracting 1 star solely because of THIS DICK AIN'T FREE yes i am a hater
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.
Still remember seeing this vinyl in my parents record collection and wanting to listen to it. Eventually bought my own copy and can definitely say it is my favorite of all the Beatles solo efforts. This re-listen affirmed that and maybe made me love it even more.
k dot. not his strongest album, but there is a lot to talk about for sure. kendrick is one of my faves. he has such a solid style and he raps with such variation, giving credit to the shoulders he stands on. mainstream rap can be kinda lame a lot of the time, but this has meaningful calculation to it. taking that genre and pushing as high up as it can go. this has that song where he has the "conversation" with tupac, whether that's AI or old interview footage, it comes outta no where and is very impactful as means of translating what has happened in rap since he has been gone. most of these songs are skips for me, but there are a couple of good ones. 3/5 just for being his 3rd and very artsy record.
By all accounts, this is one of the best albums ever made. Fuck, I'm out of touch.
I know Kendrick's great. I also know that I don't actually know that.
I don't think it's his best, but it's still so damned good.
GREAT
Gave this album a good listen much of it while reading along with the lyrics. Plenty of politically charged commentary of life in America as a person of color. Musically did not stir me, however, and not worth a re-listen for me.
As much of a rap music as I can appreciate
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.
not something id listen to. not my genre.
"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".
I think by objective metrics it's an excellent album. Does a lot of interesting things, quite experimental, has a lot to say. That being said it's just not speaking to me, that experimentalism feels self indulgent a lot of the time and it's just not working for me. Undeniably great music, but not for me.
Started promisingly then fell away with plenty of tiresome language that was off putting. More moderation might have been better served.
Another one that I don't think I've ever heard any of before. It's pretty incredible. I think it would be a definite 5 star if I were American. But I'm not, so I admire it rather than it speaking to me. 4.
Au delà du sentiment mitigé que j’éprouve vis-à-vis des messages que Kendrick Lamar tend à faire passer à travers cet album, j’ai passé un plutôt bon moment à l’écouter (malgré mon desamour général pour le rap et le hip-hop).
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
Bit of a struggle
Fiveeeeeeee Starsssssss
Maybe 10 more listens and I would appreciate so muc more; hugely ambitious with a broad reach of topics/ styles, but it just didn't catch my attention
This lives up to the hype VERY solidly. This is something that could easily be a 5 in the future, it's just not right this second because I'm not sure that I'd listen to most of these too regularly... But regardless, as an album it is very solid. It's cool seeing the poem build up, as well recurring lyrics or phrases, and of course Kendrick is just so good at his craft, god damn. Producers on this are also insane.
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
This is obviously an all time great album. The production is fantastic, the storytelling is complex, and the way he maneuvers with the narrative on songs like The Blacker the Berry is unbelievable. However, I do think it is a little too long (for a guy who is already known for doing long albums) and would've benefited from a little trimming. It is really hard to say that about something so personal without feeling bad, but GKMC is almost as long and never drags, in my opinion. I also think that this is an album for the more hard-core Kendrick fan who knows all about him - as a more casual listener I would have to do so much research to get the entire picture. Still MUCH better than most of the albums on this list.
First time I've listened to Kendrick Lamar. Once I got through the profanity, I got that he was telling a story, laying some strong lyrics over a smooth and funky beat. This album points to the deterioration of race relations that were occurring at the time and also called to mind Public Enemy with its history lessons. It was also a chronicle of Kendrick Lamar's personal journey, overcoming his surroundings and the new temptations accompanying his success and rise to fame.
listened a recently, so didn't relisten
Yeah this rocks
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.
Clearly I'm not the target audience for this album. There's alot here between the "songs" and interlude pieces. I get the anger and frustration from his emotional delivery. Not quite sure why it earned a Pulitzer Prize though.
Exceptionally bold, brave, and fascinating. The Pulitzer was obviously actually for this album.
So cohesive, such an amazing project
I like the production, the vibe, and the flow of this album. I also really like Kendrick as a lyricist, even if he's not the best rapper.
I think I’m going to be picky on fives but I really enjoyed this. Some less engaging moments but I want to listen to this album more to understand all the lyricism.
Jazzy..cool. good
Very good
Bryder mig ikke synderligt om den.
in the discussion of best rap album ever
Not into Rap that much, but loved the political lyrics.
Some powerful songs and lyrics especially the last song. However it's not an album that stuck with me.
Need to listen to this more carefully I don't listen to a lot of rap Favourites: How much a dollar cost,
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
4.5 stars.
I respect and appreciate Kendrick because he makes interesting music. But a lot of the songs on this one just aren't very enjoyable to listen to.
Hoo boy. Already? It’s only been a month or so since I re-listened to Good Kid, m.A.A.d City through this list, and now I guess it’s time for ol’ TPAB to get a reappraisal – an album I have long considered to be the worst ever made. Guess there’s nothing left for me to do but hit play It’s just so fucking long, dude. Do I really need to listen to this? Alright, here goes. Yeah, it’s still shit. Admittedly better than what I recall this being, but it still sucks mondo dick. Devoid of any meaning, torturously long, shit vocals with an ending that completely trivialises whatever merit the preceding tracks had. Is this truly the worst album ever made? Probably not, but you could torture me with this thing regardless. “King Kunta” has an alright flow, even if the lyrics make my eyes roll into the back of my skull. I don’t like the instrumental overall – there's way too much going on, but it has some good components. The guitar outro isn’t bad. “u” isn’t half bad. Kendrick's vocals toe the line between being unique an immensely annoying, yet I can acknowledge the merit. I love me a good “in shambles” tune. The song is stretched out to oblivion like all of the-okay, okay. I’m trying to be optimistic. Yeah, I can’t be optimistic. The middle of this album through to the end is just nothing. ~5 minute song after ~5 minute song, paired with completely vapid songwriting and droll, painfully boring instrumentals. On m.A.A.d City I could at least feel the passion of Kendrick, with there being some adept songwriting and competent instrumentals. With this album, I can’t help but feel like he’s phoned it in. There isn’t even a coherent theme/story to this album, at least from what I've picked up along the way. I don’t have the edition of the book which includes this album, but even if I did, I wouldn’t think of consulting it. Cultural phenomenon, left an indelible mark on hip-hop, yadda yadda. This is a worthwhile inclusion.
Yet another Hip-Hop / Rap album. Wikipedia says the genre is Experimental Hip-Hop / Progressive Rap / Conscious Hip-Hop / Jazz Rap / G-Funk / Neo Soul which seems to be a long way of saying pretentious C-Rap.
I know this is a hugely popular album but it does absolutely nothing forme. Thundercat input was great, but I just don't get any joy out of the vocals. Track 2 in particular felt like I was stuck in the back booth of a jazz club sandwiched between two meth addicts crashing out.
j’aime pas trop le rap désolé…..
i dont really like rap so this albums are just not for me, i cannot rate them because i dont like any of the rap songs
Great, more hip-hop (c)rap. I really need more of that in my life.
Good
This duck ain’t freeeeee
Holy shit this is a long album. The first half combined funk, jazz, 80s/90s hip hop influences with a modern flow lyrically. It is the more commercially know part of the album just off a first listen and the fact that almost every song has a music video with high production value. The latter half seems to be a more self centered segment where he talks more on social strifes, his own standing and political views from his perspective. It’s also much more grounded in the sense of having a concurrent theme in style and topics vs the first half. This album feels like two albums split down the middle where they took all the tracks that would be singles or chart toppers and put them in the first half while the second half is more for Lamar himself. This especially rings true where the last song is 6minutes of a song and 6minutes of an interview that talks focuses on the topic of self. I could go without the near constant degradation of women that is prevalent throughout the entire album. He speaks on revenge, grudges and vendettas consistently but at some point you would think he would realize that the people he surrounds himself with cause these problems and that not everyone in the world is like what he describes. In the end, still not my genre of music and I simply cannot fully enjoy his work. I do see that it’s production value is higher than most other rap even 10 years out from it’s release and he does speak on more complicated topics than just sex, drugs, and violence. It’s just not for me. 5/10
Not a huge rap
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
A very finely woven tapestry... I loveee the inclusion of Mr. George Clinton. I think it was a great choice to lean into the experimental modality that you can hear peaking through in the previous album. Unfortunately I found that it kinda lost me towards the end. Perhaps it will need a reappraisal at a later date!
Great sounding, cool compositions
Listened before, like it but not my favorite ever
I just cant stand Kendrick. Don't get me wrong, I love Hip Hop but this is just a messy mix of... nothingness. I really really don't get the appeal, and I have tried. Its pop hip hop.
Massively overrated. Also his fans are the corniest people in the world.
sound best in the car
A decade later and its message still rings true sadly. Hard to believe this was 2015, pre trump presidency and everything that happened. 4/5 probably? Maybe 3.5/5?
Maybe I'm just getting old, but the asynchronous parts of modern hip hop and electronic music are distracting at best and awful at worst. George Clinton in a rap song?!? What's old is new again. An intro and an interlude in the first three tracks...not a good start. King Kunta is a step in the right direction though. These Walls has that Thundercat sound, I like it. I think I need to pay more attention to his lyrics because the music and his flow just don't add up to him being considered one of the greatest rappers of all time. I don't like his crying voice on u at all. Ronald Isley too? The Blacker the Berry is militant but it is good. i is the best song on the album...I love The Isley's That Lady. The last song is 12 minutes long. Not a strong way to end an album. A simulated conversation between Kendrick and his hero Tupac...make it a YouTube video.
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?
One of the blandest things I have ever heard.
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.
Great album, but kind of suffers from knowing what he'll do on damn.
Did not like this at all
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.
the Anthony Fantano ass kissers are going to have a field day with this one
There is a reason that Kendrick is considered the greatest of all time and this album goes some way to proving it. Stunning variety of musical influences from jazz and soul to RnB. Feels difficult to rate this album after one listen as I know it will require repeat listening to fully digest some of the lyrics. Musically, a masterpiece!
Nope
I've never been a Kendrick fan. I just don't like his approach and style much. I appreciate the talent and the approach but I prefer other rap and hip-hop
This is no Hip Hop, this is noise...
The greatest album of all time according to RYM.com. For me it’s not. But it’s still one of the best hip hop albums I’ve heard. Blacker the Berry is as good as any song on this list. The ending 5 minutes I have very mixed feelings as well. Absolutely worthy of its place on the list.
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
Modern hip hop is shite.
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
Great rhythms & clearly very clever, but only managed 2/3 of it before I gave up; this style of music just doesn't do it for me I'm afraid. And not that I'm sensitive in any way, but just how many songs do you need to write with the words m*therf*cker & n*gger in it?!
lyrical and profound
Jesus that's bad
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
Need to re-listen.
Wesley’s Theory, King Kunta are the best. I’ll give it a high three, feels like a four but don’t know how much I’ll actually listen to it
nice one
I loved this! No favourite as I was occupied while listening to it but I thoroughly enjoyed the entire album.
So much tension!
A Fake Essay on Why the Personal is, and Always Will Be, More Important Than The Political, or why OK Computer is greater than To Pimp a Butterfly I don’t know what to say. Yesterday I finally decided to listen to OK Computer conclusively and you are telling me that my choice today is that very album that exceeds okc and becomes the best album of all time, according to RYM? I mean I of course understands why people love this album. due to my nature of being a music-first listener and secondly for me it really don’t deserves that #1. That evil moment when Kendrick took Thom Yorke’s crown and put it on his own head suggests that the widespread focus on all types of entertainment shifts from the personal experience to the political reality. What a pity. One thing that is funny is that tpab’s status is mainly based upon its politics and how it fused with the music, instead of the music itself. If this album is a bit less political it would plunge to below a 4.2 on rym, making it inferior to OK Computer. And let me tell you the fact. Being conscious and woke and join in activism won’t work. I mean, things might get better for a bit if you do some activism, but the long term outcome still won’t change. In other words, have you ever listened to “Won’t Get Fooled Again” by the Who? In that song Pete Townsend used his lyrics to describe an angry young activist going through revolutions with idealism, only to realise that every promising politician looks the same, or, “meet the new boss, same as the old boss”. What is interesting is that we mentioned Radiohead in this article as a must, and this change is found on Thom Yorke himself. Hail To The Thief is a good example of him being angry and young and frustrated about the life, and in the following years we observed him joining in all kinds of activism but theres seldomly a positive outcome. At the same time thom’s life changed too and he slowly found out that nothing he did actually work. That’s how he began to have these “terrible political takes” regarding the Middle East which are being called “incorrect”. But let us know that he just wants to have a rest from all these things he feels powerless about. And also perhaps people should remember that HTTT is an album that is more than 20 years old and there is seldomly any political songs released after that album, making the point that “Radiohead has always been a political band” worthless. Instead we see personal despair being commonly written about in their albums, from their first ever hit, the great meme song “Creep”, to “True Love Waits”, the last song on A Moon Shaped Pool. Under this condition we can see that Thom’s starting point towards the things around them shifting from the political to the personal, making us able to detect the fact that the political issue’s inferiority when comparing to the everlasting and importance of the personal issue. But anyway, why would you think I, like everyone else, would helf this album in high regard? Is it because I am an Asian and Asians are, like black people, people of colour? That’s funny. When one singer I admire accidentally used racist slurs under the influence of drugs and frustration I choose to temporarily ignore it and still listen to his music while still acknoledging its exist. Political witch hunts has destroyed me and my favourite singer’s life for once and for all in a significant and unforgivable incident a year ago and all discourses and guilt tripping has since began to make me hate politics and made me nonchalant to things that isn't relevent with me. So ladies and gentlemen and non-binary folks, and everybody who lives in a society, i have got a match in my hand and I am here to burn down the house. it might be trauma. or it might be a super terrible political take. or it might be a war that i can only lose. but i don't regret. It is politics that tears us apart, and only by throwing away the political and return to the personal, we can see each other as simply humans. Post Script favourite track: u (due to its relevence regarding the self loathing and mental health theme), Mortal Man (but only the "When shit hit the fan, is you still a fan?" part and the last part with the catepillar allegory), which are also the most personal part on this political album. Special Thanks to: Thom Yorke, Jonny Greenwood, Colin Greenwood, Ed O'Brian and Phil Selway. If you didn't form Radiohead, this review would be written in a different light. And to my blue eyed problematic faves: Firstly, Nick Cave, as the AI hater turned middle grounder and supposed zionist, but also somebody juggling expectation and nuances. Then, Liam Gallagher, as the accidental racist, but also a frustrated human without higher education. And again, Thom Yorke, as the supposed zionist, but also a tired human being. "Mortal Man" won't mean that much to me without you. When the shits hit the fan, i think i would still be a fan. 4.5/5
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
It's very good, at times great, but an editor was needed- a flawed masterpiece.
I grew up with this album. It got me through college
Dr Dre is all over this one, Kendrick is very funny.
Absolute rubbish
”The revolution’s about to be televised, you picked the right time but the wrooonng guy” ~Kendrick Lamar Ei vaa kyl tää räppi natsaa
- hm. not the worst , but not the best ?
Not my usual fare but I enjoyed it - feels like there are real deep thoughts and messages in it. Also amused by the bit in "Alright" that sounds like a weird geordie accent
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
Great vibes but I feel like I need to listen with the lyrics up to truly appreciate. Still enjoyed listening end to end while doing laundry
- love the jazz-y instrumentals - very consistent sound - loooveee the transitions between songs - i love the concept and the execution was amazing, but i don’t think im the intended audience, so it feels like something’s missing for me to feel like it’s a 5-star album.
Æ e ikke nokka god på å høre på referansetung musikk, og i så måte e ikke det her et unntak. Æ likte det, men det e jo betydelig mye mer der æ ikke forstår enn omvendt, så æ sitt igjen og e ganske blank.
creative rap album
Ok
That was terrible.
I dug it. Kind of jazzy/funky for a rap album. Was giving me Thundercat vibes. 4.5⭐️
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.
Not a hig hip hop or rap fan but this is fire.
listenable
> the Beatles
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.
Maravilloso. Un género que no frecuento. Álbumes como este hacen que lo respete y me acerque a él
“At first I did love you, but now I just wanna fuck” - the perfect intro to K’s honesty and rawness. Funky, eclectic start that feels the perfect intro to who this man is and what TBAP will deliver. “Late nights thinking of you, until I get my nut” This guy is just the GOAT. Nothing like him. The variety of styles, the lyrics, the playfulness. Genius. I feel like this is an education that makes me want to analyse every song, read every lyric and watch every video. And the variety is insane and still kills each song. This isn’t an album, this is theatre
Good, though perhaps a little bit self-indulgent at times - the extended section where he pretends to interview Tupac is maybe a little much. On the whole though, this album is good stuff.
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.
Unimpressed by swear words and foul language. Not for me!!
Better than most hip hop, but still not enough to earn a 3 from me.
++*: 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
Not my favorite Kendrick album, but not bad. Powerful content but not a lot of music actually, a lot more talking.
*Replayable* A lot of the songs are incredible. It really is poetic. However, some of the songs just didn't really click with me for one reason or another. Some songs had the lyrics throw me off and didn't feel as impactful as the other ones I liked. 4/5 album as a whole, but I think its different when trying to pick out individual songs on replayability.
I liked this a lot more than I thought I would, considering I haven't been much of a fan of 21st century hip-hop in general. I get the hype for him now.
2/5.
Not a fan, but preferred this to KL’s more recent output. He sounds less like a cartoon character. Production crisper.
The music is a 3, the vocals/lyrics are a 1, so I think a 2 is fair. Also, unlike Scott Walker, it has something about it. I don’t know / understand what that is, but I feel like that’s my problem.
Fuck off.
People adore this guy??
I can’t believe anyone would listen to this twice
No idea what he's on about
Deserving of 5 stars, truly. Only one song that was skippable. Cohesive, powerful album
This blew me away. It’s got everything.
I have a nostalgic attachment to this album and Kendrick, so I am biased towards its greatness. I had always listened to rap but never like this. This album has a creative, intentional spirit behind it with storytelling like no other. The only flaw in this album for me is that it is top-heavy and long the first half is a lot more memorable in my opinion. Wesley's theory is the perfect opener and is everything I love about Kendrick.
The Blacker The Berry, The Sweeter The Juice 1001 Albums Generator 77 (07/18/2025) To Pimp A Butterfly is an album that I used to like a lot more than I do now. It oft gets called the best hip hop album of all time, and sometimes the best album of all time, but I don't believe that it is. I don't even think that it's the best Kendrick album, since I think the two that bookend it are better in almost every way. It feels like this review is going to be really negative, but guys it's still like a 7/10 for me. It just feels like defending this album as a 3.5 is like trying to argue that MJ is not the GOAT. I have to talk about the negatives because everyone already knows the positives. The positives are, pretty much, everything that isn't Kendrick. The instrumentals on this album are insane and they range from live jazz instrumentation to cool West Coast hip hop vibes. Even on songs that I don't like, like Mortal Man, the jazzy instrumentation is really fucking good. Production on songs like King Kunta and Alright is fucking amazing. A lot of the features are also really good, particularly on Wesley's Theory and Institutionalized. Some of Kendrick's contributions are really stellar as well. The lyrics on These Walls, How Much A Dollar Cost, and The Blacker The Berry are all as good as people say they are, more or less. How Much A Dollar Cost is a particularly moving parable. However, Kendrick's voice throughout this album really rubs me the wrong way. It is especially annoying on For Free? and u, but I just was noticing his timbre bringing my experience down a lot throughout. His rapping on Alright is also very skibidi-ribidi in a way that I see people make fun of Eminem for all the time. I don't even mind when Eminem does it, and I like this song, but come on. Again, I know this is a really hot take since this is supposed to be the best album ever, but I just struggle to see it to be honest. The poem is also not bad, and I understand thematically why he kept repeating and extending it between tracks, but I do find that a bit annoying on a full album listen. It's really not bad at all. To Pimp A Butterfly is absolutely iconic and deserves its spot on the list, but it's just not entirely my thing. 3.5/5, rounded down to a 3. Favs: Wesley's Theory These Walls The Blacker The Berry Least Fav: Complexion
Just not for me
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.
Maybe some of the best instrumentals I've heard on a hip hop album? Never listened to a Kendrick Lamar album before but I'm glad I had the opportunity to. Each song feels really expertly crafted. I likely won't return to this album, but I loved the listen.
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
Like the jazziness and some of the beats. Hate the language/content. Degenerate. Way too long. Exhausting. I can see why people might like it, but I don't. Makes me sad that this is what so many people resonate with.
NOPE.
Dunno if I’ll get through all of it today but I’ve listened to this album several times and love it. POWERFUL album
Mas o menos
Outstanding
ez 5 stars. top album of all time
smacznie
Another personal favourite that I am biased towards. Amazing album.
Why can't I give 0?
Great album from a poet laureate. I would listen to this album any day of the week.
Tbap
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.
Bra album! Tydlig vision, tydlig ambition. Gillar produktionerna, dynamisk eklektiskt och mycket. Första tre fyra och sista tre typ väldigt bra. En del kul texter. Dock alldeles för långt. Särskilt för en icke/hip-hopareOch pratorna gör att det mer blir en storyskiva än musikskiva. Får inte heller någon supertydlig bild av Kendricks stil eller persona men antar växer ju mer lyssnar. Kommer lyssna igen: ev vissa låtar Bästa spår: the blacker the berry Betyg: 6 av 10 (ev 6,5 -7)
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
This is #day337 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… as I might have said a couple of times before in the hip-hop entries on this list, post-2005 rap (after my teenage years) is just out of my, what I like to call, sentimental memory. It doesn't move me. I don't relate to it. It all sounds plastic to me. As for this artist... despite this being my second record of his, I still don't get the hype. No matter what people say about him being a storytelling genius or whatever, I just don't care. Because it doesn't work for me. There were one or two moments across the five or six tracks, which I was able to withstand, that caught my attention (some of that jazz rap interplay), but otherwise, no, there's no way I'm putting this on again. The delivery and flow are particularly annoying. Welcome to the club of 1 out of 5, I guess. Looking forward to #day338.
Nicht mein Stil
Greatest album OAT
Horrible
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.
Not as good as Damn but I don’t think anything he has done is as good as damn some choice bits some experimentation but same old same old lyrics, profane but without innovation.
Really Jazzie with Rap —> interesting Mix kinda good 6/10
Unmatched talent. The album reset the bar for the possibilities of the genre.
Obviously a very talented artist and I really like some of these songs but I start to drift off and lose interest about half way through
Okay
Ikke min kopp te, men helt ok.
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.
He's obviously talented and there's a lot of depth to this album but I am definitely not the target audience for this. The message is lost on me
Loving you is complica DAAAHH
I know this album is considered one of the best from the last 10(ish) years, but it was lost on me.
good quite good
Absolutely essential listening.
Really good. Need to listen to more Kendrick.
Liked a few songs
Some pretty good tunes, but overall not my cup of tea
10/10 of course
Interesting.
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.
Not for me, I understand that a lot of people like it and that might be what turned me off. Super pretentious thing to say but it feels like this would be a crazy album to listen to if you haven't heard that much music. Also I absolutely hate the double tracked singing he does, sounds like shit.
Not my thing
I like Kendrick Lamar but realise I’m not his target demographic 😂 Enjoyed this
Thanks but no thanks, not really my sort of thing so can’t really tell if it’s any good or not. But it sounded crap. I can only judge it on my enjoyment and I didn’t enjoy it. So there.
Can’t find any redeeming features.
I’m just gonna play the middle aged white British male card, and say this is totally lyrically impenetrable to me. I tried Kendrick, I really did, but I felt like a learned more from the last track than the whole album before that. The production didn’t do anything for me either, only ‘how much a dollar’ and ‘the blacker the berry’ grabbed my attention, and I think that’s because stylistically they were quite different from the overly smooth majority.
There's some nice flows, and jazz shit fits real nice with rap. Sometimes it gets a little annoying/grating, and honestly sometimes his voice is a little thin or high pitched for my tastes. And sometimes the message is just that a community shouldn't tear itself apart. Fucking duh, man, it's 2015 when you're saying this. Some songs are pretty hard, i like King Kunta, but man I cannot shake the idea that dudes overrated.
too long but damn it is still good and King Kunta remains one of my all time favorites
One of my favorite hip-hop albums, I love the instrumentation and great lyrics.
Just ok for me.
Not bad, actually. I am not a huge hip-hop fan, but this was quite listenable. Intelligently written, great beats, and well-delivered rhymes. I liked this.
I felt old listening to this album. I know he is probably the biggest star in hip hop to today's audience but listening to this just didn't do much for me compared to other rap albums on the list. Maybe this is a modern classic and I'm out of touch but I feel like in 20 years 36 chambers will still be a classic and wonder if people will still be listening to this.
# Playlist Track - King Kunta # Notes - Note that I'm not taking lyrics into account, as I listen to the albums while doing something else. - Musically, it's particularly interesting. - It's not bad! I dig the jazzy references and samples in the beginning. - This doesn't have enough for over an hour, tho.
Not for me.
I don’t understand how people can praise albums like this, Kendrick’s voice is so monotonous. Yet another album where all the songs blend together because they sound practically the same. And that long podcast-like conversation at the end, what the hell is that? Maybe I just don’t like rap, maybe I don’t get the art behind it. It’s just not my taste. Standout Songs: King Kunta Institutionalized Momma How Much A Dollar Cost
I feel the same way about Kendrick as I do Jay-Z: brilliant production and lyrics, but I’m not a fan of his voice. I like Kendrick’s voice when he’s doing a more laid-back song, but when he gets aggressive his voice hits my ears all wrong. I would love to hear this entire album with Nas in his place!
To Pimp a Butterfly is an impressively produced and engineered album, showcasing a rich tapestry of sounds, beats, and musical experimentation. The instrumentation is layered and creative, blending elements of jazz, funk, and soul in a way that clearly demonstrates artistic ambition and technical skill. However, I personally struggled to connect with the lyrics and the narrative themes explored throughout the album. The stories and messages, while clearly meaningful to many, didn’t resonate with me—perhaps hip-hop simply isn’t a genre that clicks for me. Despite giving it a full 24 hours, I found the listening experience quite difficult, and ultimately, I didn’t enjoy the album as a whole. Favourite track: Wesley’s Theory was a strong opener, and For Free? stood out for its energy and originality. Least favourite: Most of the remaining tracks didn’t land with me. Album artwork: A fairly standard hip-hop cover—bold and in-your-face, fitting for the genre but not particularly distinctive to my eye.
44/1001. Own? Yes, although a library sale copy, which I probably played once. I think I got interested in this after hearing King Kunta in a street dance competition. Around the same time short docufeatures about this album (rap albums which shook the world of something like that) came out. But I think only now I listened to the whole piece concentrated. Or at least tried to concentrate - 1h 20 minutes is just too much to take in for this whitey. Not that any of it is bad, but is more really more in this case? Some thoughts : it has a lot of humour, Kendrick would make an excellent guest in the Muppet Show 😅 But at the same time the thing (not only the lyrics) is dead serious. Hard to find such an interesting mix of the two. The groove is there, the message is there, the little I understand as a cis European male. I don't get the use of the N, F or B words in rap music, shouldn't they spell out NFL or better yet NBA? :D
Goated Kenny record. Love all the jazz throughout.
Putisimo kendrick y sus maldades
Listening to a rap album start to end is a big step out of my comfort zone. And in this case it was rewarded. Do I now like rap? No. But I can appreciate the idea behind this work (with the help of lyrics explanations, cause it requires deciphering), the choice of instrumentals, the production and musicality in "To Pimp A Butterfly". It also gives you something to think about beyond the sound. The biggest discovery on 1001 journey so far, because never ever would I just listen to it on my own.
This album is so well produced. A work of art.
A+
goated album, need to listen from all the way top to bottom. and also need to understand the context and content of the album songs. .
For me, as not a hip hop listener, it seems that Lamar is surrounded by all the possible toys and great jazz players, but not having much musical ideas. Great sounds on this album, though. I'm enjoying the horns and 70's vibe keyboards and synth basses, but unfortunately almost nothing interesting is played. Hard to comment on lyrical content in general, but I most certainly heard the n-word more than I needed. I think this album is good example of a tale Emperor's new clothes, which in this case are also non-existent.
Bah écoute c’est un enchaînement de bangers, tout simplement. Vraiment cool.
Not my favorite Kendrick album, but it's okay.
I can't review hip hop nor rap. It was okay, but too much N-words, C-words, B-words, D-words, S-words, etc. But it did try to be smart? I think?
I struggle to get on board with modern rap. There is something missing in the music itself, a bassiness that was found in 90's rap, I guess. There are a couple of good songs on here, but for me, it doesn't outweigh the filler and the songs that feel rambling and confused. I always hear about how great a lyricist Kendrick is, so I want to hear it! I don't know that I do. Maybe I'm just old.
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
already heard it i really like it
Pretty good, like the synth
It's a pity CDs can accommodate 78 minutes - a capacity this album abuses. It's just dreadfully dull and boring.
goat
Amazing variety of sounds, tackling social issues, although still so relatable. Kendrick is like a gift from the cosmos.
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.
I do occasionally listen to rap and gave this a fair chance, knowing its reputation. Over in-ear headphones, it felt overwhelming and almost stressful to me – Kendrick’s vocal delivery just didn’t connect. But after re-listening to key tracks on speakers, the production really opened up and I could appreciate the musical depth more. Still, the skits and spoken word parts pulled me out repeatedly. In the end, it’s not really my kind of album, but I can respect the ambition. 3 out of 5.
This. Dick. Ain't. FREEEEEEEEEEE!!!!
This isn’t typically my kind of music, but I enjoyed it.
4.5-4.8.