Album Of The Day

I don’t think it’s one I’ll be doing karaoke to, however I actually enjoyed this much more than I expected. The jazz/funk music was great with some top level collaborations (Kamasi Washington, Thundercat, Flying Lotus, George Clinton the list is endless!). I also liked the smooth grooves vibes of some of the other songs (Insutitutionionalized and These Walls) Highlights for me were King Kunta, How much a Dollar Cost, The Blacker the Berry & i Too much swearing for me but really interesting and creative record and I think I would listen to some of the tracks again.

Rap isn't really my thing but this album is fantastic. The groove, lyricism and instrumentation are all crazy. I think this is pretty unquestionably the best rap album i've ever heard. What I especially like is it retains a sense of fun without ever sounding naff, which is an incredibly difficult line to tread, and in my opinion only really talented artists can do that well. It loses pace just slightly in the middle for me, but is bookended by a run of great songs

I kinda didn't get this album until this album. What a vision.

What can I say that hasn’t already be said about this. Kendrick made such a funky rap album really good listen. But beyond that, the subject material takes you through his thoughts on black culture and history, with his theme of the album coming together on the last song. In a lot of ways it also feels like a continuation of GKMC to me. I remember the day it came out still and it’ll always have a place on my rotation. Despite all that, there are albums of his I do like better

Compared to his features, Kendrick Lamar's albums have always been a disappointment for me. Still, this is probably his best album. The compositions are interesting and feel fresh. The tracks aren't super catchy, but they're catchy enough. The poetry sections were boring though. My favorite track was "How Much A Dollar Cost", though "Mortal Man" does have one of the unintentionally funniest bars of all time: "That n**** gave us Billie Jean, you say he touched those kids?". 3.5 stars.

Yeah this thing is praised for good reason, fun tracks, flows beautifully and self-inspiring narrative set in a world thats trying to manipulate you, great album. That said i don’t love every track musically so i won’t 5 star it, but it’s close. Standouts are Wesley’s Theory, King Kunta, These Walls, Complexion and Especially the first half of “I” cause thats the actual music part of the track.

Listened to it during my car ride from Rome to Acilia, to have lunch with my grandfather. I'm no hip-hop/rap connoisseur, so I can only judge the album by impulsive preference. I found it breezy and interesting, did not pay much attention to the lyrics, but the beats remind you of the best Dre without ever feeling dated. Songs I saved: King Kunta, How Much a Dollar Cost, The Blacker the Berry, i, Mortal Man. Also, big fan of the interludes, which used to be a staple in rap albums but now seem like a lost art.

Har altid været glad for den her udgave af Kendrick.

Ganske fornøjeligt

Det skete noget vildt ved denne gennemlytning. Jeg var 100 på, at det skulle blive 5, som jeg egentlig altid har tænkt dette album. Men det skulle det ikke! Jeg er ikke lige så vild med de mere jazzede elementer, som mange andre er, og jeg synes egentlig, Kendrick er bedst uden. Han er bedst på et fundament af sub-bass, klassiske west-coastede-produktioner og sit eget sublime flow. Det må dog ikke forstås som om, at det ikke er røvfedt at prøve at lave sådan et album her også - for det er det, jeg kan bare allerbedst lide det andet. Og så synes jeg ærligt talt, at hele det interview er lidt cringe Jeg synes heller ikke, at konceptet er helt så stærkt, som jeg huskede det. Der var egentlig også et par numre, som jeg huskede som værende bedre, end de var i dag. Og igen ... det interview der 4.3

Jamais écouté avant. Très content d'avoir découvert To Pimp a Butterfly, un album précédé par une réputation glorieuse, régulièrement cité parmi les plus grands albums de hip-hop, voire des plus grands albums tout court, de tous les temps. Comme d'habitude, mes connaissances limitées dans le genre jouent forcément sur mon appréciation, mais je dois bien admettre que j'ai été plutôt impressionné par sa densité, sa richesse et sa verve revendicative, ainsi que la manière dont Kendrick Lamar et ses producteurs citent et rendent hommage à toute l'histoire de la musique afro-américaine, et notamment au jazz, omniprésent dans les instrumentations. Une telle densité, d'ailleurs, que je ne crois en avoir à peine exploré la surface après un peu plus d'une écoute. Hâte d'aller plus loin, notamment de me poser pleinement sur les textes. Top : The Blacker the Berry Flop : Institutionalized

It was inaccessible at first, filled with n-words. But it slowly drew me in. I like the musical motifs and the message is a good one, uplifting but unflinching.

strong strong strong four. There are so many great songs that the good sounds fade in the background.

I liked this one a lot. I have never listened to it from start to finish, but it was a good experience. It's modern sounding, infused with some jazz fusion characteristics, good songs and really good rap quality. I liked it a lot more than I thought I would.

I get it now. Second entry from Kendrick for me, and this one made sense instantly. Great instrumentation backed up by solid rap, very personal. I love the way these albums use characters and narratives - like an audio musical. I'm not a hardcore rap or hip hop guy, but I enjoyed the sound a lot.

I’m very familiar with the online discourse praising this album as an absolute masterpiece but I have to admit that this was my first time listening to it. Perhaps it’s my own fault for letting that influence me too much, but I went into this with exceedingly high expectations and they weren’t met. I thought the album started strong, then noticeably dipped in quality for a large amount of time in the middle (not bad, just not great). Thankfully though, I thought the back end of the album was fantastic and I can definitely see myself coming back to a number of tracks there. Overall, this was good but I would refrain from joining the majority of others in saying it was a masterpiece.

Great album

*2015 *This is a complex album with no two songs sounding the same. Original and experimental, in a mostly good way. *80 minutes is a lot, so it took me a few sessions to finish, but I enjoyed each session. *I need to listen again - there's so much going on lyrically and musically to appreciate on one listen. RATING - 7.5/10

Jeg har aldri blitt helt med på Kendrick-hypen. Noe av det har rett og slett å gjøre med at hans to mesterverk handler vel så mye om å fortelle en historie som det gjør å levere gode låter. Dette nådde sitt climax på hans mest ambisiøse project: To Pimp a Butterfly. Samples, production, flow, features, og texter: alt er on point. Samtidig finnes det knapt et spor som ikke er bookended av skits. Kanskje er det misvisende å kalle det skits, for det er ikke throwaway gags, men poesi, dialoger, og skuespill. Problemet er bare at det er sjeldent det jeg ser etter i musikk. Noen usedvanlige store bangers her da. King Kunta, Alright, The Blacker the Berry for å nevne noen.

Sin palabras, un album que todo el mundo debe escuchar una vez en la vida

good

Wow, he makes long albums. This sounded good and I liked the range of styles and influences. But I find I have to listen very closely to rap to get the best out of it, and unfortunately I mainly had this on in the background. I'll come back to it, I think.

Kendrick is not really my thing, but as I did with Anthrax and Slipknot earlier this week, if i listen to this through the lens of “how talented is this”, it’s actually a pretty great record. There’s a lot of diversity throughout this record, even if it is predominantly a rap record. There’s some excellent grooves on here and the songs are generally very well constructed. My favorites off of this were King Kunta, These Walls, How Much a Dollar Cost, and i. A great listen. Can’t make it a 5 star, as I didn’t enjoy it enough to place it there, but 4 stars for all the reasons mentioned above.

Franchement, j’ai trouvé ça cool ! Je connaissais que de nom et de renommée dans le milieu mais je n’avais jamais pris le temps d’écouter.. je trouve ça assez innovant dans le style et je comprends qu’il ressorte du lot ! C’est aussi assez ancré dans une époque, il y a bcp de hip hop comme ca (un peu expérimental) à notre époque

J'ai bien kiffé! C'est loin de ce que j'écoute d'habitude, j'avais jamais écoute de Kendrick Lamar mais j'ai liké interlude et these walls

Kendrick’s early work is lyrical and mean, he somehow embodies nerdy cool while still being straight out of Compton.

Pretty good

Listened to this whilst playing some minecraft. Kendrick never misses with his lyrics, he’s truly a generational talent. I don’t want to give this 5 stars even though it deserves it because I want to stay true to my feelings and even though this album is incredible, it’s not 100% my vibe. I enjoyed a lot of the songs but some of them just missed for me personally, but that’s probably because I myself can’t relate to everything he’s talking about. Kendrick remains to be the GOAT though, no doubt about it. Great way to kick off this 1001 album journey :)

In shock I’ve lasted this long without listening to this album. I remember girls at school writing essays and speeches about the power of To Pimp a Butterfly, and people over the years preaching to me time and time again about the power of Kendrick Lamar. I only really started listening to a few of his most famous songs after his feud with Drake and others being on the internet. This album is great. I totally agree it’s powerful, it combines so many genres in its influences, it provides real social critique. As much as I hate to agree with Kanye West, he wasn’t totally wrong saying that rap was the new rock, amassing people, providing a real window into society and its many issues, cleverly binding lyrics and samples of influential songs. When was the last time rock truly had that powerful an effect? Decades ago really, it’s become a bit more gimicky. Hats off to Kendrick for birthing this.

this album made me feel things. in particular, that feeling you get when you take a bunch of colour creating leaves and let them have their way with your body. i never thought id be listening to kendrick lamar, but here we are. i liked it. not my type of music but i liked it.

Really good rap album.

Apparently, during an interview in January 2016 Obama was asked who would win the beef: Kendrick or Drake? Obama referenced this album, saying that Kendrick would win. I don't give a rat's ass about the beef, but it's hilarious to me that Obama is about to hand off his job to DJT and he's thinking "Fuck, this move is about to cause an irreversible division in America and make everybody in power and both sides of the political spectrum really fucking annoying for the next decade, but Kendrick's last album was fire!"

I liked the story arc of this album. He did a great job. There are some banger songs on here too.

great amazing and fun

Not my style but god can he tell a story. Incredible.

Lamar is very smart and very talented. Creative rhymes & stellar delivery make for a visceral impact on many tracks. Some tracks, mainly the skits, fall short. But I definitely want to listen again. This is a 4.

🐐

I respect him and his message.

I enjoy the beat / rap and the jazzy bits. Mortal Man a bit long for me. I prefer his energetic rap and music rather than the slower and spoken tracks on an album. King Kunta is my favorite on the album followed by The Blacker the Berry. Not an album full of valid lyrics, which is a major plus.

Thematically, emotionally, and creatively dense exploration into American race relations, cultural history and legacy.

Kendrick Lamar’s album boldly captures complex mix of anger and joy of being Black in America — poetry worthy of a Pulitzer Prize. Plus, he tells us that his penis costs money. I had to deduct a point for that one.

ALREADY LISTENED TO IT, JUST RECENTLY , ISTG

It took a while for this album to grow on me, but it did eventually, once I put aside my own insecurities and opinions. That said, anyone who incessantly goes on about their junk or sex in songs still makes me eyeroll and like it less. As a side note, women are no exception (looking at you, Sophie "Piri" McBurnie). Lamar is a very talented, especially in the lyrics departments, but it still doesn't reach the absolutely dizzying heights reached by Good Kid M.A.A.D City, but was still chilling in the penthouse. Favourite tracks were: "These Walls", "Hood Politics", "How Much a Dollar Cost", "Complexion". That 3-song run, starting with Hood, was simply incredible.

cool!

I don’t really like a lot of modern hip hop so I went in with an expectation I might not like this but I was very wrong! Such musicality, loads of great samples and instrumentation that give it a real texture and musical sophistication reminiscent of early De La Soul and Tribe Called quest. I really dug this, the variety and musicality of the tracks were so good I found myself nodding along to a song about washing one’s ass! Probed my preconception on modern hip hop wrong. 4.4

There's a lot going on here. Probably enough ideas for four albums tbh. Overall I found it satisfying but, like I say, it was a little overwhelming at times.

Kendrick Lamar delivers. He delicately and eloquently smashes down his rhymes. His tempo and musicality stands on top among his rap rivals. It was a pleasure listening, even though I hardly can understand the lyrics (maybe it's better this way :D). The songs were rich in variety and had a lot of instrumental finesse compared to many other Hip Hop songs. Cool stuff.

Not my genre. I came in with low expectations and left having listened to it several times — which is the only review that matters, really. To Pimp A Butterfly is not what I expected hip-hop to sound like. It's a jazz and funk record at its core — live instrumentation, complex arrangements, something that breathes like a band rather than a beatmaker. The Miles Davis comparison isn't a stretch. If you told me some of these tracks were outtakes from a 70s session I might have believed you. The language still reads as image-building — the deliberate badassery of the form. But underneath that there's something genuinely vulnerable and searching. It earns its ambition. 4/5 — surprised me. That counts for a lot.

This was such a good listen. I'm glad to have finally listened to this beginning to end. The instrumentals were so jazzy and dreamy. It's amazing how Kendrick was able to weave in and out of them and make it sound so easy.

A truly great album. Coming to it late but will definitely give it more listens

Gear: Moondrop Variations Artwork: 😶‍🌫️🍾🏛️ Production: 👨🏾‍⚕️🎛️🌿 Music: 🃏🎷⚗️ Rating: 🦋🦋🦋🦋(🦋)/5

i am just a Mortal Man, but I enjoyed this album and I think u will, too

Love DNA

amazing. sadly the album has not reached 5 star status. might listen to it once in a while but not always

okay my first album was acc "Bringing it All Back home by Bob Dylan and I thought that was cool I just didn't understand some on the songs; my favourite songs was Mr. Tambourine Man. For TPAB I had obviously heard songs off of the album from before, but I've never sought out to listen to it. It was a good experience and all together a beautiful body of work. I truly enjoyed how every single had its own story and the poem that tied then together.

I know I don't get majority of the references but it sounds good.

Hip hop, jazz, funk and soul. Consciousness baby.

Having listened to a whole podcast series about the album it's obviously great.

Funky, long interludes and skits

Super album, il est généreux, puissant. Il prend aux tripes grâce à une bande sonore complète et complexe et grâce à une chorale qui habille Kendrick Lamar à la perfection. Note : 4 À réécouter : Oui

Pretty good. Not my genre. Like thr jazz mashup

There’s a chance this is the most overrated rap album of all time. Don’t get me wrong I like this album, but the idea that somehow this is the peak of rap music, or even just of rap music this century is just bad. It’s cool he was doing something new and interesting, and I think a lot of it works, but there’s just too many skippable songs on here to justify the runtime and pretension. I don’t hate this album, but I wish the narrative this had went to an album of his I liked more. Favorites: For Free? (Interlude), Complexion (A Zulu Love), i

i liked it a lot more than i thought

Almost perfect

1. Wesley’s Theory – класний старий вайб супіровий перехід між 1 і 2 2. For Free? - Interlude – голос жінки??? хеллоооу?? такий комічний вайб 3. King Kunta – качає жоска 4. Institutionalized – можливо, “Shit don’t change until you get up and wash your ass” — це те, що мені треба було почути 5. These Walls – 3:18-3:35-5:00 — момент, який чекаєш всю пісню перехід між 5 і 6 майндблов 6. u – зміна в пісні??? супєр 7. Alright – ну ета база любім 8. For Sale? - Interlude – пройшло повз мене наче 9. Momma – кінцівка чомусь до Тайлера відсилає 10. Hood Politics – БУБУ БУБУ БУБУ 11. How Much A Dollar Cost – не чіпляє шось конкретне але монотонно добре 12. Complexion (A Zulu Love) – легенька зі співом 13. The Blacker The Berry – злосна грусна мужицько темно 14. You Ain’t Gonna Lie (Momma Said) – я не знаю якось норм 15. i – танцюєєєєм селфлав I LOVE MA…SELF! 16. Mortal Man – подкастік? i’m here for it

first time really listening to kendrick, wasnt expected the jazz bits, great listen

Really solid album

Objectively a good album, just wasn't feeling it on my latest listen.

I like it. I like the different styles. It is dense though. Hard to really get a feel for it after only a few listens. I know it is very critically acclaimed and I think I can understand why, though it doesnt quite land that well for me.

7/10

Long album, but bangin. There were a lot of religious overtones I am not a fan of. I can see jamming this again. I see why it was nominated for so many Grammys!

I listened to this quite a bit when it came out, but haven't really gone back to it. Hearing it again now, I think it's due to the relative dearth of hooks compared to good kid, m.A.A.d City. To Pimp a Butterfly is so dense and heady that it's can be hard to take in. That doesn't mean it isn't great—particularly "King Kunta," "Complexion," and "i"—just that it's challenging. Which is a compliment. And I still find the coda with 2Pac surprisingly moving.

Legendary album som skubbede rappen som kunstform. Føler alt conscious hiphop og rap jazzet hiphop agtig har ledt op til det her moment. Det er jo magnum opus og der er både besøg af George Clinto fra funkadelic/parliament, thundercat osv hvor den hylder funk og soul som den også tager præg i. Det er et kæmpe digt nærmest dedikeret til sort kultur og det bliver virkelig bare referæreret som noget af det bedste. Tror det er meget tungt tekst mæssigt så man burde nok forholde sig mere til den end noget andet, men det har jeg ikke gjort. Så der er stadig massere at vende tilbage til. DEt bruger collage og kulturhistorie til at danne en identitetsfortælling og det er noget som minder lidt om gang of four's entertainment som er en af mine yndlingsalbum. Det kunne være sjovt hvis der var en reference der til.

Deserves another listen to get full scope of it but I can see myself getting into individual tracks more. First song was my favorite. The length was working against it and I'm give 4 stars off the assumption that with more time I will return to it and gain more love for it.

(5/7) unexpectedly bold and artsy; surprisingly complex; not easy listening but interesting listening

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

loved listening to this album in its entirety.

Really good, def deserved more attention than i gave it. One that will get better every listen

4

Non è il mio genere, ma non è male. Certe canzoni sono strane (nel senso buono).

Overall rating: 7/10 (3.5/5 stars) Favorite song: "These Walls" Least favorite song: "For Free? (Interlude)" a. Wesley's Theory - 7.8/10; I like the music in the very beginning. I like how he sings the song and the supporting vocals. b. For Free? (Interlude) - 3.2/10; SAXOPHONE!! I don't really think the lyrics match the music going on in the back. He also keeps repeating the same phrase. The lyrics sound really cocky also. I don't really like this song. c. King Kunta - 8.6/10; I like this song. I like the instrumental and it's very catchy. I quite like the whole last bit. d. Institutionalized - 6.5/10; I don't really like how the vocals sound in the beginning. I do like the instruments at some points. e. These Walls - 9.5/10; I love how it sounds throughout the whole song. It's very catchy and the vocals are very good in this song. I like the chorus the most. f. u - 9/10; I do really like the instrumental. I loved the part when the music goes through one speaker and then goes through the other. I don't really like how this song is sung though. g. Alright - 6.4/10; I like how the vocals match the music. There wasn't very many major standouts in this song, but it was a good song. h. For Sale? (Interlude) - 6/10; I really like the music in the background as well, like the other songs. Again, no major standouts. Good song. i. Momma - 5.5/10; I like the supporting vocals a lot. Very catchy. Good song. j. Hood Politics - 5/10; I don't really like the vocals. I just don't really like how they sound. I don't really like the vibe either. I like the instrumental. k. How Much A Dollar Cost - 7/10; I really like the harmonies in this song. l. Complexion (A Zulu Love) - 7/10; Mostly I like the vocals. Towards the middle/end, I didn't really like the vocals. I like the supporting vocals, though. I also like the instrumental. m. The Blacker The Berry - 8/10; I like rhe whole vibe of this song. I like the vocals and the instruments. It's a pretty good song overall. n. You Ain't Gotta Lie (Momma Said) - 7/10; I like the beat of this song. The vocals and instrumental is alright. I like the instrumental more. o. i - 8.4/10; I like the vocals & instrumental in this song as well. The chorus is probably my favorite, as it has a different feel to it. I quite like the end as well. p. Mortal Man - 9/10; I love how this song basically describes the meaning of the whole album. It's very good.

#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)

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

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.

pretty good

Not bad

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).

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

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.

Kendrick is all time really like the interludes

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

Deeply poetic and great cadence

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

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

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

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.”

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.

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.

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.

Catchy, interessant, kult. Positivt overrasket.

4/5

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 one of the greatest hip-hop records ever. but it's not something i'll listen to ever again, most likely.

I couldn't get the sound.

ive been sleeping on sir lamar

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

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

king kunta

Great Album

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

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

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.

It's great, what 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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

Very ok

Good album. Important album.

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.

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

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

ko

I was surprised i liked it!

Generation artwork. Enough said.

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.

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.

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.

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.

I can really appreciate this wild ride, but it's not for me on a typical day. Great stuff, though.

This album is so good. The hooks are so catchy. I love how clearly Kendrick sticks out over the mix. I really like this album. Solid 4 stars Liked Songs: "Wesley's Theory" , "King Kunta" , "Institutionalized" , "These Walls" , "Alright" , "For Sale? - Interlude" , "Momma" , "Hood Politics" , "How Much A Dollar Cost" , "The Blacker The Berry" , "You Ain't Gotta Lie (Momma Said)"

Those lyrics. That brass. That acapella.

never liked rap and don't think I'll ever do but holy shit this is really good

I was excited to listen to this today. The only album of his I've heard before was DAMN and I recall liking it a lot, but for some reason never played this one before. Not sure why I never played this before, but I was very glad to. My only mistake upon starting to listen is that I was driving around doing some errands, so I wasn't able to give the lyrics my full attention. Musically it was very cool, but I knew I needed to be more focused to appreciate it. When I got home I restarted it, and that was definitely the correct thing to do. My main thought about this record was "Wow!" The music, the production, but mainly the lyrics and the rapping were top notch. So many songs have parts that really stand out, and then some are just hard to describe. By the time it ended with Mortal Man I flabbergasted. What a conceit to have a 12 minute song that has more than half be a conversation with Kendrick and Tupac, and it totally worked. I'm saving so many songs to my playlists-King Kunta, These Walls, Alright, How Much a Dollar Cost, and i were such standouts. There's maybe one or two songs that didn't totally grab me, but they're not bad at all. And a disclaimer. I'm not a huge fan of rap. There's some I really love, and most of that is old school stuff like Public Enemy. This project is giving me more of an appreciation of other hip hop artists, while also confirming many I knew I wouldn't like all that much.

Lot of really great tongue-in-cheek lyrics to carry the track narrative. I love these kind of dark poetry albums.

No way, is that actually music I remember being popular when I was growing up?? This is one you definitely want the lyric sheet for. Kendrick’s a master wordsmith and effectively conveys his experience with racism and mental health, as well as commentary on society as a whole. I really like the variety here; you got a ton of featured vocalists to keep the sound fresh, whereas stylistically you can see everything from funk elements to hardcore hip hop. I can’t count how many times I heard King Kunta and Alright growing up, and I still don’t get tired of them. Keep in mind I am usually not a rap/hip hop guy, but I still think this is a super worthwhile listen. I will say the album was probably a bit longer than it needed to be and there’s some wasted time in there, so it’s not perfect.

I will preface this by saying that I'm one of the least qualified people to be talking about rap and hip hop It's good. Really good. Each song, each lyric, hits like a freight train. This is one where you need to read the lyrics to really get it, but the variety in tracks is great. I don't want to say my favorite is i because it's the most tranditionally song-like, but I can't lie to you. I don't think I would put it on casually for myself, and my ratings are more for how likely am I to put on a given album in my free time so

Some real depth and some real groove. Only through it a couple of times so I know I’m missing a lot lyrically but something I wouldn’t mind diving into more.

poetic and meaningful

Favorite Tracks: i | Alright | How Much A Dollar Cost

What can be said that hasn't been said before? Amazing album.

the last song, where is just stops and have a freaking interview was so deep omg. this dick ain't free🗣️🗣️

Tight

Another K Dot Masterpiece

Okay so I feel like this obviously deserves a five for its lyricism, Kendrick’s vocal inflections, etc. but I feel like this list is supposed to be about what I like and I only like this as much as a 4. I understand why Kendrick manipulates his voice so much but honestly I find it a little annoying and grating? Anyways the rest of the album is pretty amazing. Kendrick pretty flawlessly weaves pieces of history into each song and how much detail goes into each track. Besides the obvious historical significance to the songs they also just sound really good. Fav songs: Wesley’s theory, alright, I

fun to listen to, good vibe

I am not a fan of rap but this was incredibly creative, loads of variety, powerful message. Still, it’s not going to make me a Lamar fan but I see why he‘s so popular

Something in the production and the way this album is structured somehow reminded me of Eliveitie - Helvetios lol. Could be the roughness and commentary between tracks. I have never listened to Kendrick’s work I think. But I’m content with what I heard, it was nostalgic, like listening to Kanye’s albums back when they were good. I’ll probably listen to him more. Is this a 5/5 album though? Maybe, but I don’t feel it 100%.

this was very good. i love how smooth his rapping style is

Very creative and well done

flowing, bopping, swinging

Great album. King Kunta is such a great track.

Really good album, enjoyed it a lot more than I was expecting to, amazing blend of genres and styles, fantastic lyricism, I can see why it’s so well regarded

This album didn’t click for me the first time I listened. Today it seemed way better than I remembered. The second half especially is full of good songs. I’m not a rap fan as such, but I thoroughly appreciate the production in particular of this album

Haven't listened to this in a minute, so I'm looking forward to hearing how it sounds now. Yep, "Wesley's Theory" starts it off with a solid bang. Great use of George Clinton in a song that doesn't sound like a Clinton clone. And, Interludes. Still ain't so interested in these, but they're not awful. "King Kunta" still sounds like The Coup in every way. "Institutionalized" still not a suicidal tendencies cover but I love it. Most things on this album are an homage. Bilal and Snoop help realize that feeling here. "u" has some great Kamasi runs "alright" is more than that, featuring some more great Kamasi runs. the band is just great on "to pimp" no doubt "for sale" the second interlude is seemingly a different interlude. it's a complete song. or is it? neither interlude so far sounds like the 90s interludes that kendrick is probably alluding to. by "momma" this album feels like a continuous stream. the songs are different enough but are connected by a vibe and sometimes by an instrument "hood politics"/"how much a dollar cost" engages this connection specifically. these 2 seem to be the album highlights

This is fantastic. I know everyone regards Kendrick as 🐐, and this album makes it clear why. Even the skits are 🔥, and I tend to cringe at rap skits. Lots of dance-y tunes. Lots of deep lyrics. Fun features. Just all around good music.

Ist überhaupt nicht meine Musik, da ich aber über weite Teile durchaus meinen Spaß damit hatte, muss ich das auch entsprechend einpreisen. Einige Längen gibt es aber, die mir negativ auffielen.

Heard a few of the hits off this like "This is America" but never sat and listened properly. Already enjoyed Wesley's Theory and King Kunta. These Walls has a sick beat. U is despairing. How much a dollar cost is great, too. This album is sweet

Finds gut, aber leider nicht ganz so gut wie good kid, maad city. Teilweise zu stressig. Mag trotzdem seinen Rapflow, Texte und Beats. Gute 4 Sterne!

100126 12:46 4.5

I’ll def listen again

10-talets bästa hiphop-album? Ja förmodligen, men samtidigt en aning överskattat ändå. Älskar dom tydliga George Clinton och Outkast-influenserna, och Kendrik X Thundercat gifter sig extremt bra. Hade dock lätt kunnat kapa bort 3-4 fillers. 80 minuter är faktiskt liiiite väl. Hade nog gett 9/10, så det faller väl preciiiis på målsnöret för att vara en 5/5

Grymt album som helhet med ett tidlöst hiphopsound som samtiden inte skämt bort en med. Hade dock kunnat kortas och tightas till lite för att verkligen nå högsta betyg! Är väl inte min grej att ha en åsikt om, men för min del hade kunnat kapa några n-ord också - speciellt runt mitten där det är en hög npm-ratio.

As someone who don't like hip hop that much. I surprisingly like Kendrick. His flow is so fresh and unique. it might also be that he don't seem so be so focused on self-aggrandizing and more about struggles (Im not a huge lyric person so i might have missed the point) the beats really compliments Kendrick rap and really feels old school and new at the same time especially when a lot of modern rap has very sparse beats. I love the use of both jazz and funk. also the featuring by Bass genius Thundercat is a good addition and fits perfect.

I have listened partially (first half). Sounds like art, love the interludes even tho rap is not my personal fav

An album I I respect more than I could casually enjoy, very intentionally layered. My standouts: Alright, Momma, Complexion & How Much a Dollar Cost

i didnt really like it. i think the themes it tackles in the album are spectacular and i do get the appeal

This is an interesting one. I like Kendrick, I thought this was a perfect album the first time I listened to it in 2015, and then I never listened to it in full again until today. The instrumentals are incredible, no doubt, and obviously Kendrick’s a talented lyricist and a great rapper. But this is a very political album, and the substance of the politics is just like, very basic? Did y'all know racism exists and has alienating, deleterious effects on the target community? Maybe (definitely) I could listen a bit more closely, but damn if I didn’t spend an hour and a half listening to this and got little more insight than that. Like, compare it to good kid, m.A.A.d city, which has far greater re-listenability and something fresh to say about masculinity in gang culture. Also, didn’t Kendrick get mad at Drake for bringing out AI Tupac? But this album ends with Kendrick interviewing an old recording of Tupac? After listening to College Dropout a few days ago for this project, I was looking at this album again through the lens of how much rap music actually inhibits class consciousness, and indeed, the prosperity gospel is strong yet again (especially on that Tupac outro).

I have nothing to say about this record that hasn't already been said. Very funny reading the dumbest fucking one-star reviews on this one though.

I get it. There's a huge amount of ambition on here. Some really big tracks with actually something to say King Kunta, How Much.a Dollar Cost (on which I learnt about jazz while digging whether it was sampling Radiohead or Miles Davis) and The Blacker the Berry. Great sounds from across genres. I too. But all the biographical mild misogyny is still there. And why do American hip hop albums have to all be soooooo long. I'd probably score this higher with some editing. I was thinking that just as the last track Mortal Man started. And I saw it was 12 minutes. Interesting chat though. I'd listen to some songs again but can't see having the patience for the whole thing. High 3. 4 with some edits. Edit: fine. Low 4. 3 seemed a cop out.

FK

Fire! Of course

Totale découverte et très bonne surprise. J'adore le flow, le rythme, la base jazzy même si peut-être un peu long.

4.0 stars Have mixed feelings about this album...Kendrick's talent is obvious, but having grown up on 90's rap, modern rap just pales in comparison...there's no "classic" tracks; there's no memorable lines; etc. BUT judging the album for what it is...it's very good. Favorite songs: the Blacker the Berry & Momma

Intressant att vi får Butterflyn bara dagarna efter att Perna nämnt den i Frank Ocean-recensionen (där vi inte riktigt drog jämt i bedömningen). Nu är inte riktigt överens med göteborgaren om att dessa ingår i samma eller liknande genre heller. Kendrick är ju i grunden hiphop. Pratar vi neosoul kan vill i så fall paralleller dras till D’angelo i det jazziga anslaget. Oavsett vad är även detta riktigt bra. Albumet är för långt, men lyckas trots allt kravla sig upp på en fyra.

Aquesta recomanació ha sigut l'excusa perfecta per començar a escoltar Kendrick Lamar més enserio. De cançons seves ja n'havia escoltat abans, les de l'àlbum més nou. Aquest àlbum m'ha agradat prou i m'ha fet voler-lo tornar a escoltar, li donc un 4.

This album is pretty great. Lots of really great instrumentation and guest vocalists. I need to listen to more of Kendrick's catalog, but I will definitely be coming back to this one. 4/5

Not really my style but I liked the variation and how every song seemed like its own thing. I also really appreciated some of the old school hip hop sounds used throughout. Great album.

Good album. I can see why it’s popular. Not my cup of tea for most days but I can see myself planning this album when I want to get hype

When I say that I generally can't stand hip hop, this album is one of several exceptions for me. It's dynamic, packed with rich textures, genuinely dangerous, cultured, thought provoking and impactful. It does err somewhat on the lengthy side, but virtually all of its length is warranted due to the variety from track to track, and the attention to songwriting craft paid throughout. I don't reach for this very often, but when I do, it's a firm reminder that even my least enjoyed genres can, and do have their bright spots.

I’d rate it a personal 7.5.

Día 6, segundo álbum: por lo general el rap/hip hop no suele ser lo mío, y es verdad que a Kendrick Lamar lo conocía, pero nunca me tomé el tiempo de sentarme a escuchar nada suyo. Este álbum realmente me sorprendió gratamente, no era para nada lo que esperaba pero la producción, las influencias de otros sonidos, mucho jazz y voces en el coro, realmente muy muy bueno. Ni hablar del contenido, la mezcla de letras de denuncia y relato de experiencias personales

I don't know how I've gone this long and not listened to this album. So much variations, it's interesting listening to this after some of the other Rap albums that have been on my list. The evolution and difference is stark. I could relisten to this more often than the others.

7/10

Superb, for listening to alone 4 - a great album, even among this list

Me sorprendió muchísimo, la variación en un solo tema, piensas que va a seguir de una manera y da volantazos. Para el final del disco me sentí un poco abrumada con todo lo que pasa en cada tema pero sin duda pasa a mi lista de nuevos artistas ❤️

that interlude lol Political of course, but so sassy—themes liberation, exploitation of black culture, but also giving black boy joy, we gon be ALRIGHT, I LOVE MYSELFFF! Fun blend of sounds, some of the tracks a little too funk-based/busy for my taste -King Kunta -Alright -Wesley’s Theory -Momma ( i know EVERYTHING) - i (hype self love anthem dance party song) Kendrick Lamar by far, realest Negus alive—when shit hit the fan is you still a fan?

Cusses a little to much but I like the beats and flow

bangeeer

My son loves Kendrick, I think he would pick a different album to represent his work though.

Grooves, beats, blended with skilled lyrics make this a great album.

Pimpy as hell. Funny how many people are like just rapping about hoes and drugs. There's so much more to Kendrick. And here, its a whole concept album. They're ignoring so much of Kendrick's take on the Black experience in America with that statement... Anyway the album is a bit heavy handed at times, but comes from a genuine experience and wants to take you on a journey.

I'm a rap fan, first of all. Where to start? It is an important album, great production and of course a talented and capable rapper, albeit one's whose voice I don't find compelling. This is a tough listen, though. It is an ambitious effort that doesn't quite land at all times (and I'd count the poem and 2Pac conversation at the end in that too). It is not that is a dark album, it is simply not fun - and no, I don't need a club or dance track, I'd like a pleasant listen or a couple of songs to return to. The hype and almost universal acclaim and instant classic accolades that were bestowed upon it *didn't* help as the bar was set into the stratosphere.

a classic

This dropped while I was training for the 2015 Richmond Marathon and also the birth of our first son. The marathon playlist was a weird combo of both Kendrick and John Denver. Classic. Marathon at 45, 3:40 and change.

Oh man there was a lot going on with this one. I liked it a lot even with how busy this felt. I think with more time, and replays this could be a 5. I just don’t have the energy or time today to see.

I'm still not the intended audience for Kendrick Lamar, but he certainly has talent. This is more varied than MAAD City, and I like it better.

Way better than I would imagine, just some songs that cut through the vibe.

I mean, what else do i say its kendrick its really good but a lil overhyped

the spoken word and poetry is really cool and interesting just don't know if id listen like normally. Storytelling albums are normally like that. I didn't really like the these walls beginning but the 1:00 mark is really good and cool. So far for sale interlude was my favorite. I need to listen again with the lyrics to really get into it ik. Momma kind of follows the same idea.

Would be better without the misogynistic lyrics.

Talent in every direction. The songs are intricate but not always fleshed out; when they are it is magic

Coldplay left me well, cold

Need to give this another listen with more focus but yep, turns out Kendrick is good at this!

I was a big Kendrick fan back in the day, and as it happens this is the album that cooled my interest in him, despite it's overwhelming critical praise. I felt it was too self-indulgent and meandering, and to tell the truth I still feel the same way after listening to it in full for the first time in 10 years for this. Personally I feel like Lamar doesn't really have the lyrical chops to match the scope of his thematic ambitions for this album. That's not to say there isn't good lyrical work on the record; Kendrick's by no means a slouch on that front. There are just too many corny moments and too much blunt lyricism that pulls me out of it, like making a song suggesting that Wesley Snipes is some sort of hard-done-by martyr for committing tax evasion, and another song where he puts on some ear-grating, cracking voice to ramble about how sad he is while inserting SFX of beer bottles clinking just to make sure nobody misses his point. All that aside, this album has (mostly) impeccable production from some big names like Flying Lotus, Thundercat, Sounwave and a bunch of others. Honestly the whole album feels very Thundercat even though he's only actually credited on a few tracks. I remember being blown away back in the day hearing a beat with a Sufjan Stevens sample and it actually going hard as hell. The second half (or maybe last third?) of the album in particular, from Hood Politics through to i is fantastic musical experience with great beats and gripping stories. All in all, this album's a mixed bag. A lot of tracks I'm happy to skip, but plenty more that grab my interest right back. I'd probably rate it a 3.5 if given the choice, but screw it, I'll round up. Favourite tracks: How Much a Dollar Cost, The Blacker the Berry, i

Great album, you can feel the immense cultural, societal, traditional and sociopolitical influence in this project. Some beautiful messages are expressed in this album that leave you contemplating the harsh reality, but also you are able to find beauty in the chaos and madness. Maybe it isn’t my favourite album ever, but I can appreciate it being a masterpiece and a staple in hip-hop culture. Definitely a recommendation for everyone to listen at least once.

8. storytelling

New school, old school & bombastic. Landmark hip hop record.

I'm ambivalent about this album. This is my first time hearing it. It starts off with some funk influence but there's something overblown about the production combined with the lyrics falling back on the old rap tropes that wasn't doing it for me. One thing I r

I'm so confused. Is my playlist messed up? This album is never ending.

4/5 I feel like I like better the single version of i and Mortal Man is too damn long, would probably do with the interview/poem alone

8/10 - Our favorites were Wesley's Theory, Alright, and i - we didn't love all of the talking parts and the first interlude but it was fun.

this dick aint freeeeeee undoubtedly generational and i respect it a lot, just not something that speaks to me personally or that i seek out often. i did like some songs more than i had previously on this relisten though clo 1 incoming highlights: wesley's theory, for free?, u, momma, you ain't gotta lie, i, mortal man

Bom demais

Thank goodness for KDot, I needed a palate cleanser after that last album. This album is very good, not great, more of a storytelling style of rap album than his earlier releases that I liked better (Good Kid, M.A.D.D. City & DAMN). Still very enjoyable with some really good tracks you can bop your head to. 4/5

Final few songs tipped this from 3 to 4. Blacker the Berry probably the rawest, but i and Mortal Man excellent ways to wrap this. King Kunta probably my favorite track on here overall

nice idk tho

This is one that will take several listens to really sink in. Musically and lyrically, you feel like you're in the presence of a capacious mind capable of making thematic, metaphoric, and metonymic connections just about anywhere.

i don’t want to get kicked out of this group on my second day so i’ll give it a five but sometimes his voice makes me mad </3 love King Kunta and These Walls tho it’s an iconic album you cannot deny it

Fuckin great album but it’s not DAMN. and no amount of 1500 word entries about this album “establishing Kendrick’s sound” is gonna convince me otherwise

I'm surprised how much I don't hate this

its a bit fucking good.

Of the albums I’ve listened to so far, I think Kendrick’s the performer I’d most consider an artist. He has such a clear vision and point of view, and this was a really intriguing listen. I particularly enjoyed some of the references he made, like the interpolation of “Jump Around” about suicidal ideation.

life ain’t shit but a fat vagina

Incredible arrangements.

I think I finally understand Kendrick Lamar and why so many critics place him at the top of modern hip hop. The flow, the speed, the quirks in his delivery, and the sheer vocal dynamism make his music constantly engaging. My taste within Afro-rooted music leans more toward blues, jazz, funk, and soul, while hip hop has always been harder for me to connect with. I keep trying, but I rarely find acts that stay with me. Kendrick Lamar is one of the exceptions. Much of that comes from the echoes of those other genres I can hear throughout the record. The themes feel honest and unapologetic. The album moves from political reflection to personal darkness and back into different emotional rooms with a natural confidence. There is a bold unpredictability in how the songs unfold, shifting in tone, structure, and even genre in a way that occasionally feels almost avant-garde. It kept me curious throughout, always wanting to know where the next track would take me.

Not my favorite Kendrick album but still good

Better than Coldplay

Outstanding. Blacker the Berry might be the best rap song I’ve ever heard.

I’ve listened to this album a few times trying to get what makes it a masterpiece. I can appreciate the ambition of a grand artistic statement, but the songs themselves just don’t really connect with me. Some of the vocal tics are rough for me. I don’t like the “boo boo” song. Anyway, I’m not the target audience, but happy to accept it’s a masterpiece for many, just not me.

Mostly interesting music and intriguing, challenging lyrics.

Wow, this one was pretty good. Rap isn't really my thing. This was my first real exposure to Kendrick. I was really impressed. I'll probably go listen to some more Kendrick now

If My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is 5, this is 4

King Kunta var kendingsmelodien for min klasse i gymnasiet. Alligevel er jeg ikke helt solgt på Kendrick og To Pimp A Butterfly

Cool album, feels very jazz-inspired. You can also feel what a deeply personal album this is for Kendrick; it's both self-reflective and a meditation on the world he came up in. The tracks are full of bits and pieces of black American music, and on top of that you can really hear how talented Kendrick is as a rapper. Favorite tracks here are King Kunta, Hood Politics, The Blacker the Berry, and i.

The hype is real

Inventive. I enjoyed it. Not my genre though but I can appreciate it.

Awesome

Would have liked it much more if he didn’t keep repeating that poem and a few other lines. I get that’s kind of the point but still. Some hits in here but also some serious misses. for free is terrible. I really like the cover though. Specific rating - 4.1 Fav song- alright Least fav- for free?/ u

not to be a "media literacy is dead" guy, but all the folks saying "ugh I hate all that RAP MUSIC that just uses those SWEARS and talks about SEX and GANGS and DRUGS, this album is the perfect example of that!!" really make me think that George W. Bush owes us all a huge apology for what he did to the American education system

Ethan claims it’s a classic. It is very good with lyricism and production. Definitely deserves many more listens. Some mid songs, so it’s not perfect, but it’s close.

Ok, on remet ça avec Kendrick Acte II. On venait à peine de se remettre de la claque "good kid, m.A.A.d city" et son très beau 4/5. Et voilà que le grand livre "1001 Albums" nous balance la suite "To Pimp A Butterfly". La pression était cosmique. Que faire après un classique instantané ? Option 1 : la sécurité. Refaire "good kid" en moins bien, capitaliser sur le son G-Funk/cinéma de rue. Option 2 : le suicide artistique (ou le génie, c'est selon). Prendre tout le crédit, toute la thune, et livrer l'album le plus dense, le plus complexe et le moins accessible de sa carrière. Kendrick a pris l'option 2. Si "good kid, m.A.A.d city" (GKMC) était son "OK Computer" – le classique narratif, générationnel, mais encore "rock" (ou "hip-hop") dans sa structure – "To Pimp A Butterfly" (TPAB) est son Kid A. La déconstruction totale. Je le dis direct, la note finale est la même : 4/5. Mais c'est un 4/5 radicalement différent. "GKMC" était le film de gangster parfait, léché, immersif, produit par Dre et sa clique. "TPAB", ce n'est plus un film, c'est une thèse de doctorat sur l'identité noire en Amérique, mise en musique par le gratin de la scène jazz-funk de L.A. Et c'est là que ça coince un peu pour le vieux con que je suis, car Kendrick a pris le contre-pied absolu. Fini les basses G-Funk qui roulent. Ici, ça pue le P-Funk (George Clinton est là), ça dégouline de jazz (Thundercat est à la basse sur presque tout, Kamasi Washington au sax), et c'est produit par des têtes chercheuses comme Flying Lotus. C'est organique, ça refuse l'ordinateur. Ça part en free jazz ("For Free? (Interlude)"). C'est dense. Putain, que c'est dense. "GKMC", malgré son sujet, avait des refrains, une structure à laquelle mon oreille post-punk pouvait se raccrocher. "TPAB" explose tout. Les morceaux s'enchaînent sans pause, s'interrompent par des poèmes (spoken word) que Kendrick complète au fil de l'album ("I remember you was conflicted..."). Le mec est en pleine psychanalyse. C'est l'album post-Ferguson, l'album de Black Lives Matter. "Alright" est (ironiquement, vu le fond sombre du morceau) devenu un hymne de manifestation. Il parle de dépression ("u"), de culpabilité, de haine de soi ("The Blacker the Berry"). C'est lourd. Et c'est là qu'est ma réserve – ce "chouia" en dessous de "GKMC" pour mon plaisir personnel. "GKMC" mariait le Fond (violent, social) et la Forme (pop, incroyablement efficace). "TPAB", lui, est obsédé par le Fond, c'est une œuvre "Importante" avant d'être "divertissante". Le mec va jusqu'à sampler une vieille interview de 2Pac pour dialoguer avec lui à la fin de l'album ("Mortal Man"). Le niveau d'ambition est stratosphérique. Faut oser, et il réussit. Mais c'est un album qui demande un effort. Je le respecte infiniment, c'est un 4/5 de respect. C'est le genre d'album qui te fait te sentir intelligent quand tu l'écoutes. Mais est-ce que je le mets en bagnole pour taper du pied ? Jamais. Il y a des putains de moments de grâce ("King Kunta" est un G-Funk déglingué et arrogant, "Alright" reste une bouffée d'oxygène), mais c'est un voyage éprouvant. Alors oui, 4/5 encore. "GKMC", c'était le 4/5 du cœur, de l'efficacité. "TPAB", c'est le 4/5 du cerveau, de l'ambition démesurée. Les deux sont indispensables. Mais si je dois en garder un pour l'autoroute, je prends good kid. Désolé, Kendrick. Je vieillis.

Hip-hop, soul, jazz, funk. Flows well. Some bangers. Creative and varied. Lyrics clearly on another level.

A continuation of the jazzy hip hop conscious rap tradition with a lot of unfashionable (at the time, peak Trap era) sounds from 90s RnB, 70s funk, smooth neo soul that end up sounding fresh and vital - a live band in the middle of a chart full of laptop producers will always sound extremely living and dynamic. The lyrics are a mix of urgency - responding to police violence and mass incarceration - and complacency - an Obama era faith that "we're going to be alright" and that the civil rights movement is an going if painful and painfully slow inexorable march forwards. A very of its era thematic approach, with the political juxtaposed with personal, social and individual experiences of violence weave in and out of each other, hustling in world of mutual and self exploitation, grappling with contradictions and inconsistencies of the world and the self all at once, one through the other. Earnest and cynical and really on the nose. His flow is great, his phrasing precise with a rapid fire cadence, the timbre of his voice isn't my favorite though: thin and nasal. It's really good, but also extremely overrated - critics and audiences needed to anoint a rap genius for the 2010s and he was the vessel for all that cultural weight.

Earlier Kendrick is something different

Dense, complex and very Kendrick.

A little repetitive at times, but really dials in on storytelling from a perspective I don't often hear.

Very much enjoyed

Wow. I, like all the guys bang into Kendrick, listened to this driving to Rochdale in the rain, and it really helped I think. Seriously though (because sometimes the fun has to stop) this is a tour de force in places, with great depth to the lyrics and quite a surprising amount of lightness of touch at times. I can absolutely see why this has become so quickly so revered.

Great album. Ferocious in places.

🍆

This is very innovative hip hop. I like the funk, soul and jazz influences I hear on this album. Powerful lyrics too. I'm not sure what's going on, but when I hear Kendrick Lamar, I keep visualizing that it's actually Kevin Hart rapping. Is it just me??? Liked Songs Added: Complexion (A Zulu Love) i

Curti

Maybe the rymheads were right this ain’t bad.

An extremely powerful and important album, especially of the last decade. Kendrick's flow is top tier and his lyrics reached new highs here. The only real downside is the runtime and it feels cluttered at times, although sometimes I think Kendrick wanted it to sound cluttered in parts.

fantastic. god knows i love an interlude and an album that tells a story beginning to end. 8.5/10

i knew the guy is iconic but was never imagined he was this iconic

Actually pretty good

Really enjoyed this actually. Even without listening to lyrics the beat and groove is top class. Lyrics of course are amazing.

Smart and fun. I really, really like “These Walls.” And several other tracks, too, are nearly as appealing. It’s minor criticism, but there *is* a little bit of . . . bloat on the album (which inhibits repeat listening).

Not my speed but can see why people praise the album.

Great album. Awful voice.

i think it's the moths that really need the makeover

King Kunta- Absolute JAM. Alright- JAM For Sale- Unique beat, prolly the most underrated song on the album Momma- Great tune

Denne følte eg var overhypa til å byrje med, men no sit den mykje betre. Den tek seg opp. Fortsatt litt overengineered og likar betre både Maad city, Untitled.Unmasterd og Humble. Men bra

Un autre classique, mais Kendrick c'est pas tant ma confiture

I remember you was conflicted

I prefer GKMC over TPAB personally. TPAB is still outstanding, though.

Not sure where from, but there’s a rule that a great movie is 3 great scenes and no bad scenes. I think it’s true enough, and similarly true that a great album follows this rule. This is one of those albums. A good variety of sounds, interesting production, lyricism and overall performance. I’m not a huge fan of Kendrick but it is clear this is him at his best.

Nice sounds, i like his versatile voice A lot of swearing🫠

This album certainly takes you on a poetic journey, so to speak.

Good

Solid album. I’d rank it above Mr Morales but below Section 80. GKMC at the top with Damn second

Really pushed Kendrick's songwriting forward.

I definitely understand the hype. I can't give this 5 stars since this isn't entirely up my alley, and I can't see myself listening to it for pleasure. But it's a great record, no doubt. 4.5/5 Favourite track: Wesley's Theory

To Pimp A Butterfly

Kendrick Lamar

Reviews (page 7 of 14)