To Pimp A Butterfly

this better not be a metaphor

So many imfluences and collaborative efforts. Love it!

Lots of lyrics. Would require several listens to decipher and think about. Seems "jazz-like" with changing melodies, tempos, spoken word parts. Pretty arty actually. I can appreciate it. Might get and extra star if I listen more.

Almost great, too much filler

I know it wasn’t THAT long ago but I distinctly remember the first time I listened to this album. At the time, Alix Sanchez and I were in a routine of going to the downtown YMCA to work out together early in the mornings. I must have learned during our workout that this album had dropped because I listened to it while walking home and I’m sure I was bopping along just like I was bopping along listening this morning. I love Kendrick! Favorites on this album are King Kunta, Alright, Momma, and i.

I never really appreciated this album when it first came out. I think it was because everyone around me was dumping on it so I followed suit (very weak of me). But listening to it again without tasteless people in my ear telling me it’s trash, it was actually an amazing listen. The instrumentation on the songs, the depth of the lyrics, the constant overarching theme of the album. K-Dot deserved all the praise that I previously believed was unwarranted. Plus the last song and his “conversation” with Tupac was well done.

I used to be (and probably still am) a little bit pretentious. I was not dissapointed by this album when it first came out but, similar to frank ocean's blonde on first listen, it did not hit as immediately. This album is definitely a dense, funky artistic statement from one of the current best rappers in the game. I may be partial to good kid, maad city and may not love all the beats on this one as much, but the more you actively listen to it, the more it becomes impossible to deny the pure artistry coming out of this album. Great features, crazy concept and enough good singles coming out of it to appreciate it.

"To Pimp a Butterfly" by Kendrick Lamar, released in 2015, is a bold and ambitious album that pushes the boundaries of hip-hop. Lamar explores themes of race, identity, and the African-American experience with intelligence and nuance. The album's production is lush and intricate, blending jazz, funk, and spoken word elements to create a rich sonic tapestry. Tracks like "King Kunta," "Alright," and "The Blacker the Berry" are powerful and thought-provoking, showcasing Lamar's lyrical prowess and storytelling abilities. While "To Pimp a Butterfly" is a dense and challenging listen, it rewards repeated listens with its depth and complexity. It's a fearless and uncompromising work that solidifies Lamar's place as one of the most important voices in contemporary music. Overall, "To Pimp a Butterfly" earns a 4/5 rating for its innovative sound, lyrical depth, and social commentary.

Mer poetiskt än vibe lyssning. Stark avslut på albumet, gillar starkt. Story telling 10/10.

What a wild album. Rap is not my thing, but damn is this impressive! I really enjoyed the 2nd and 3rd songs, the others not so much. But the craft that goes into it is incredible.

This is such a dense album - I feel like I could listen to it 100 times and still find new stuff and some of it would only become apparent if I started looking at the wikipedia/liner notes. I had listened to it several times 5 or so years ago and found it somewhat impenetrable, but now it opened up quite a bit more and I was able to really enjoy it. I'm giving it 4 stars, but it's more about me needing to grow into the album than the album.

Not always my favorite aesthetic, but it comes from a culture I've never really known. Some of the repetition of particular words or phrases gets a bit boring, but the stretches of weaving lyrical brilliance makes up for those moments. Some truly unique sound scapes and beautiful mixing lead the way to some banger beats. I may not be the intended audience, but the art speaks for itself. Good stuff.

Not a genre I normally listen to but this is objectively a fantastic album.

par vrlo dobrih par dosadnih 3.5

Don't know it as well or like it as much as MADD City. But still a great album. Lot's of random musical tangents that keep it interesting. Don't really know the lyrics well enough for it to be a 5/5 for me, but that could change with more listens.

I don't feel like it's possible for me to fairly garner an opinion on this album in just one day, it's just far too dense. Even as a non-hip hop fan, I can appreciate the quality of the catchy choruses & flows, and the concept of the album alongside its lyrical cleverness cannot be overlooked. I just think that on certain verses Kendrick's voice can be a little grating and there are some features that I'm not a huge fan of. Definitely a great record, though.

cant stay focused. i feel like im going insane.

С пивом потянет, но не огонь. Кендрик порой душноват, особенно если не владеть инглишом на уровне носителя(

Awesome.

I do like Kendrick, not as good as money trees.

amazing

Oh I get it, you know funny I have a few of his other albums (GKMC) but never listened to this one. Wow this man is a word smith, beautiful sounding too. 4.2

Look, I’m not really a hip hop girl but I did enjoy this. Woah the last song is 12 minutes long!

An album that I spent some time with during my final year in Seattle and first year in NYC. Many good tracks!

Rent musikaliskt håller jag GKMC högre än denna. Här är det mer experimentellt och styrkan är texter, tematik och helhet, vilket kräver många genomlyssningar för att uppskatta. Många anser ju att det här är hans bästa skiva (och en av världens bästa skivor), men jag tycker inte riktigt den når så långt, just pga att den inte har så många riktigt starka produktioner. Kanske måste lyssna ännu mer för att förstå…

This is the first album on here I've really felt like one listen isn't enough to really grasp it - there's clearly a lot going on underneath the surface. All in all, it is a solid album, with amazing experimentation and lyrics, but it is a bit dense for regular listening. F. Song - Alright

Fantastic album. Amazing story and reflections on the life and stories of Kendrick as he grew up. With some good songs as well and good beats.

Fantastic album,

Incredible commentary, great beats and samples but not one I'll reach for for listenability time after time.

Banger. But not as good as GKMC

I first listened to this album when I was going through Rolling Stone's list of the 100 best albums of the 2010's. I’ve listened to several of Kendrick Lamar’s albums, but I've always found his music incredibly tough to stomach because of its dark subject matter, dark melodies, and his fierce rapping. Because of that, I’ve never relistened to any of his whole albums, so this was my first time to listen to one of his albums a second time. Just as I remembered, this album is dark, almost to the point of being menacing. Not that Kendrick Lamar is a menace, but that his music is like going through a haunted house. Like a strobe light, you’re hit with barrages of expertly enunciated words at a lightning quick pace. Musically, this album creates an atmosphere of dread and unease. Utilizing the darker tones of funk and soul, while being structurally akin to jazz, helps keep the listener on their toes. Lyrically, this album takes you through the horrors of black life in America. Much like the Black Lives Matter movement that was starting to become more widely known, Kendrick Lamar drags social issues out of the shadows, bringing them into the light to expose their ugliness and the way that they’ve embedded themselves into our society. I don’t enjoy listening to Kendrick Lamar’s music, but I think this album is really good. The rapping is fantastic, the music is varied and unique, and the lyrics are poignant thought-provoking, creating a haunting experience that I don’t really want to revisit again.

Track 1: I think it’s a good opener. Track 2: I thought this was a fun little crazy song after the opener. Like the sax too Track 3: I liked the bass in this. I thought the mj reference was cool. Track 4: I like mellow vibe. I think the piano and strings are fun and the woodwinds used are cool. Track 5: I really like the ending of this with the sax and the under water synth. Track 6: I like the different type of inflections that happened. Also the production of the instruments is really good. Track 7: this is one of the songs he played at lolla when we saw him. I think it’s a good song. Track 8: fun little song to be in the middle of the album. Track 9: once again another nice instrumentation. Track 10: good song Track 11: another good song Track 12: I like the background vocals and the feature is good Track 13:another good song Track 14: I like the groove Track 15:I like the spoken word at the end Track 16: another good groove and rap beat. I like the interview as well. Overall: 8.1/10. I like Kendrick a lot and I think this album showcases a lot of cool instrumentations which he uses a lot. He also has a great voice.

I'd heard this once before a few years ago and it failed to leave much of an impression at the time. I remember thinking it was weird and almost a joke. Since then I've tried to deepen my understanding of both jazz and rap music and I think that influenced this listen. This time around I really enjoyed the album a lot more. Like most music I like when they get political and there's no shortage of such music on here. Even the songs I would normally not like had such great beats and instrumentals that they are far from un-listenable. I need to give DAMN another listen but I think this is my favorite Kendrick album so far. 4

A very strong album with some absolute bangers.

Kendrick Lamar is probably the GREATEST (modern) RAPPER. This is truly phenomenal. I will give this 4,5, though the page doesn't allow. his 5 star album is good kid MAAD city which I hope this page has got included in its 1000 list.

It's Kendrick so you know you're in for a pretty good rap album. 4/5. Favorite Tracks: Alright, How Much A Dollar Cost, The Blacker The Berry

I liked this. Didnt live up to some of my favourits 90s hip hop albums, but this was still better than most stuff in the genre to me. The back half of the album especially was great.

i really like this album. some songs are absolutely iconic, some are a bit mid. however, i can't give this album a five star rating knowing that "DAMN." exists as that album is the pinnacle of Lamar's work.

in terms of musical quality, lyrical genius and as an experimental album, 5/5 album. however half the songs are a bit too experimental and might need a few more listens for me to fully digest the meaning behind the lyrics. has some real bangers too like king kunta and alright

Was surprised, not usually my style but really enjoyed, Kendrick Lamar portrays so much emotion

I think the majority of this album is great. The music is complex, the lyrics insightful, the production stellar. It can occasionally get too juvenile for me. I also think it’s a couple if tracks too long. But I always love listening to this. 4.5/5

I dig it

This album will make you want to dance. This album also feels philosophical. I would be weary of my younger children being in earshot when listening, because of the use of the N-word in many songs; I don't ever want them to think it is ok to use that word. The 1st song, with George Clinton's collaboration, is really good.

very progressive with interesting beats and real lyrics

Good tunes, loved the beats

Some very good songs and some uncomfy ones. Jazzy rap with excellent social/racial justice insights.

There’s a lot going on here thematically, sonically, lyrically- I’d have to listen a few more times to take it all in. It’s impressive. I’m glad I took the time to listen. 4.0

Siisti kokonaisuutena. Siistejä jazz instruja. Välillä Kendrickin räppityyli pilaa kappaleen. Parhaat: King Kunta, Hood Politics, i

Kendrick Lamar has the sad tendency to tie absolute bangers to homework-music (not the kind you study and relax to). This tendency made this album immensely well received, yet I (maybe falsely) remember critics at the time discussing how they only listened to it a very few times. As a result, only a few of the tracks go in to high rotation, while the rest of the album is consumed just once. More like a book, really. The peaks are so very good, though. 3.5

He’s probably the best lyricist out there, and it’s really cool how he’s able to tell a story with this album. That being said I just don’t think most of these songs… sound good? Like I wouldn’t listen to these songs individually. It’s probably like 5 stars if i were rating like a piece of art or poetry or something but in terms of music I feel like it needs to actually sound good to be that. This is a very light 4

This is the album that put Kendrick on the map. It's a great album, but not his best album.

Its refreshing to hear a rap album with real instruments, unique song structure, and a message that isn't just sex or gang stuff. That said, he uses the n word way too much. It makes sense in some of the tracks, but not every third line. 4/5.

Next 5 songs played by my Spotify Algorithm: Boldy James, The Alchemist - Great Adventures Notorious B.I.G - Party and Bullshit J-Dilla - U-Love Danger Doom, MF Doom - Crosshairs Pusha T, Kendrick Lamar - Nosetalgia

Was cruising for a 3 then i came on and just tipped the scales. Really it's a 3.5 because it lost me in the middle but it was good.

Could've been shorter but when it was good it was really, really good.

Verbiose and artistic spoken poetry like rap layered on top of sliding jazz sounds. A beautiful album but unfortunately I just don’t like jazz that much and I don’t want to analyze too deeply. 4 stars for artistic uniqueness and lyricism but minus one for entertainment value.

I liked this. I always feel like an outsider when I listen to Kendrick. His music speaks about his experiences and I can't understand because I have all the white privilege in the world. King Kunta was my favorite track.

4.7

One of the first albums i was excited for when I was a young whippersnapper. Loved it, there is just something about it that makes it so unique

3.5 - rounded up for i and King Kunta

Album #1 - hip hop, not my style but there creativity, lyrics, talent is huge here. Compelling in parts, not so much in others. Interesting start!

Me cuesta entrar en los discos de hip hop, pero esta es una excepción.

nice

Very solid album, used to listen to this regularly when younger. Relistening now, still holds up, however some of the ad libs and ‘skits’ on the album I feel do detract from the flow, making me want to skip ahead in tracks to get back to the music. 4/5.

Lyrical skill on Kendrick Lamar is great, instrumentals were great. Rap/hip hop is not my favorite genre but really enjoyed this album

WE GOONE BE AIGHT

Really enjoying jazzy influences in hip-hop albums. Never checked out Kendrick before this, but he has a similar vibe going as does Tyler The Creator. Really enjoyable, though some songs in the end were a bit meh when compared to how the album started. Strong finish tho. Significant 19/51 Liked 8/51 Added 2/51 This one: yes, yes, yes Previous: nonono xd

Damn - what an album. I remember when it came out in 2015, I never went out of my way to listen to it because it was everywhere on my campus and I figured I'd hear in totality via osmosis. I was quite wrong. Listening to it in full now I'm impressed how prescient the album is - he captures this undercurrent that ultimately erupts in the 2020 BLM protests in an album that is full of bangers. That said, the showstopper was the the final eponymous track - the monologue he has with his father is brilliant and somehow has a new perspective on the current day discourse (nearly 9 years later (also oof that this album is nearly 9 years old)). Even if you're not keen on rap, I'd recommend taking a few min out of your day to listen to that last track a couple times over.

Really cool album with some jazz Elements

Unique and well made

Erg vet album!! Kende “Alright” natuurlijk al, en had “King Kunta” ook opgeslagen maar kon m me niet echt meer herinneren dus idk hahah. Heel leip dat er zo veel intrumentals werden gebruikt in veel nummers, had ik niet verwacht. Samen met z’n teksten vormde het een coole (en soms grappige zoals de interlude “For Free?”) combi vond. Dit album is een 4 voor mij!

Incredible; love him and loved seeing him live.

Hmmm, I remember rating this highly previously, but when the generator spat it out I found it a real slog to get through, other than about half a dozen killer tracks. Then I listened again through headphones and started to rediscover its quality; the music was more impactful and I paid attention to more lyrics, which are obviously the most important part of the album. It doesn’t work as background music, despite some of the jazzy bits sounding like that sometimes - it needs all of your attention. I prefer GKMC but TPAB is clearly an important work that I respect a lot and enjoy slightly less (but I still do enjoy it).

Couple of skips but overall a good album.

Ambitious and layered. The flow is not something I’m drawn to instantly but I respect the music that demands attention.

K: storytelling flow cohesive vocal references C: Overall an almost perfect album, the tandem of u and i one is one of my favorites. Repeating themes throughout give an overall cohesiveness to the story it tells. May be somewhat long winded and some of the songs do not stand alone outside the broader context of the album. Mortal Man is a marathon but an excellent song, especially with its transition from i.

Highly personal and influential album. Required listening.

Wesley's Theory - 6.9/10 For Free? (Interlude) - 7.4/10 King Kunta - 7.3/10 Institutionalized - 7.7/10 These Walls - 6.7/10 u - 9.3/10 Alright - 5.7/10 For Sale? (Interlude) - 6.9/10 Momma - 8.1/10 Hood Politics - 8.4/10 How Much A Dollar Cost - 9.7/10 Complexion (A Zulu Love) - 7.6/10 The Blacker The Berry - 7.9/10 You Ain't Gotta Lie (Momma Said) - 6.7/10 i - 6/10 Mortal Man - 7.2/10 To Pimp A Butterfly - Kendrick Lamar - 7.5/10

A very interesting album. At its best it combines poetry with jazz, and at its worst it's swinging wildly without a target. The positives outweigh the negatives, and it's definitely something that any rap fan should check out.

Solid record

Felt like the first ‘classic’ album in a long time. What an album holy moly. I don’t think you could fit another sample in if you tried.

Great album.

How Much Dollar Cost, The Blacker The Berry are my favorite tracks on album. It is truly fine piece of music. Catchy beats, interesting sound manipulations. Definitely hooks me more then 90' NWA gangsta rap.

Really great but too long. I could see myself digging into it.

A classic. Lyricism and tone remain on top. Sticking with a 4 because it’s not an album that I would personally listen to on repeat. However I understand why it makes the list.

Today I gave TPAB a 4. A few years back that may have been higher (but not quite a 5 probably). Kendrick’s flow is well Kendrick’s flow, lyrics are good, and the beats are unique. One thing to note is how weird and cringe some of the lyrics are at the very beginning of the album. The popular songs were cool to listen to because of nostalgia in addition to them just being good

This is a very creative album. Way outside the box, but definitely some strong songwriting and production value.

It opens with a terrible track, in the same way that Bob Dylan opens Blond on Blond with the horrible song "Rainy Day Women". Then it gets better. The band is amazing, and Kendrick's rap is thoughtful and detailed, but I need to read like dozens of books to understand a lot of the things he's talking about. But that's a me problem, not his.

4/5 Kulturell einflussreiches Album mit Schwerpunkt auf politisch und sozial relevanten Themen der USA. Aufgrund der geographischen, thematischen Distanz habe ich zu einigen Themen keine Kontaktpunkte. Gefühlvolle Erzählweise voller Wut für Unterdrücker und Mitgefühl für Leidensgenossen. Großartige Beats mit vielen akustischen Elementen, wodurch das Klangbild sehr organisch klingt. Funky. Experimentell.

4 stars

Not my usual genre, but clearly a skilled artist poured his heart into this

During the start of this album I was thinking it was better than Good Kid maad City, but the middle of the album started to fall off a bit for me. Luckily the end of the album brought me back, especially with Blacker the Berry and i. I listened to this one a few days before actually writing the review so I don't have much detail here.

Probably the trippiest rap album I've heard. Which makes sense with Thundercat featuring. Alright if such a banger, enough said. i really shows the range of Kendrick by just completely changing the tempo and beat from the rest of the album This album is all over the place in a great way. I was engaged in listening the whole time cause there were no boring parts at all. Mortal man is an extremely impressive 7 minutes of song followed by the speaking between Kendrick and someone else which is a perfect outro

Not quite what I was expecting/remembered. I love how jazzy it is. But it’s also super intense and deep.

So much has been said about this album so I won't say anything

I absolutely loved MAAD City. Played that a lot, and declared Kendrick the heir to the kingdom of hip hop. From there I just watched from afar, nodding about how right I was without actually ever bothering to listen to any of his other albums. I must have listened to ‘To Pimp a butterfly’ before, but not to any great detail. Increasingly I’m aware that I am not the demographic. But that’s my own unease at getting old. Any way, I forgot how different Kendrick is. There is so much depth and variety. There is the heavy sex and fruity language … but so much more weaving throughout. A lot of it really bumps too. Yeah, he’s good is Kendrick. I need to give his latest album a good go too. He’s getting older too.

Groundbreaking classic. Saving 5 stars for something magical

The music is all very good, interesting, surprising, unique It's a cohesive album and not boring even though it's super long A lot of deep interesting lyrics and themes especially race-related Some of the lyrics are a bit weird like the stuff about sex I'm never a fan of but the music is great I love the last song it's a really good poem

King Kunta is the highlight for me, but overall a very strong endeavor.

An interesting mix of sounds and styles, remixed with hip-hop sensibility. More experimental in its ambition and production without sounding over-produced. Some tracks are more about longer, more rhythmic grooves and effects than rapping. A more eclectic mix of musical approaches within the genre than might be expected without songs that simply sound like hits.

What can I say, crazy album. Iconic. Kendrick Lamar is on another level with this album for sure. Masterpiece of storytelling with a point. And so creative. That being said, I don't fully get all of it and there are some tracks I don't vibe with at all. Not a perfect album for me but I can see why it's so well loved and I appreciate most of it.

Obviously a landmark album. The lyrics are pure poetry and I love the jazzy influence throughout the album. I was also struck by how many different ways Kendrick uses his voice on this record. This album is brilliant, but I don't see myself coming back to it often (maybe because I'm just not a big fan of rap in general). Favorite(s): These Walls, Alright, i

J’aime pas le rap, mais ça c’est ce que le rap devrait être, mixer les genres et accorder beaucoup d’importance à l’instrumentation

Sometimes maybe good sometimes maybe shit. Mostly good.

Nice to revisit.

Braucht Zeit um zu verstehen, da Sprache nicht einfach. Beats vielfältig mit Einflüssen aus jazz

De los que tocaron hasta ahora de rap es el que más me cerró, me gustó la mezcla de influencias de ritmos como jazz y blues y la teatralidad de algunos temas

Fantastic execution

Abstract, jazzy, political, purposeful. Maybe a hair overhyped, as I don’t enjoy this as much as Good Kid Maad City or Damn, but it’s a great album with a clear vision. Best song: King Kunta

Another banger by Kendrick. Probably his best. Jazzy, intense, and political; a great combination.

Wow. Dense, complex, but also really accessible to people like me that only like the musical part of the songs. It's this kind of works that reminds me of my limitations, as I cannot understand much of the meaning hidden in the English language. I wish I could understand more.

Wow this is interesting. So far out of my comfort zone, which is exactly why I start doing the 1001 album thing. Not sure it will be entering my regular rotation - it's just not my genre - but it just hits.

Cool beats, great flow. However, I'm not american enough to appreciate skin tone 5 lyrics

I have nothing witty nor interesting to write here this time. It's not good enough for a 5 but its definitely not as hit or miss that 3s are

A very highly critically rated album. Stunning production. Some tracks I struggle to follow the flow of Kendrick. Drags a little in the middle of the album (three tracks) but overall a work of art. Superb

My favorites are "Alright", "These Walls", "Momma", "Mortal Man". It's a pretty complex album I thought and probably would warrant a number of listens before I could feel like I truly appreciate Kendrick's work. Lots of funk and jazz all throughout. I can see why it was so hyped when it came out and started winning all of those awards. 8/10

Even though I am not a fan of rap, this is an amazing album and I can appreciate the artistry involved.

Undeniably an excellently crafted work of art; but it’s less to my personal taste than good kid, m.A.A.d city.

heard before: nope The jazz influences on this album are absolutely feral. I've not heard DAMN in it's entirety, but if it's as good as this album, Kendrick earned that Pulitzer for sure. The musical composition of the rap over the jazz highlights the longevity and influence of black artists, and celebrates these sounds in a way that creates an explosion of sound and culture. The experimental sound reminds me a lot of Tyler the Creator, and I really can't believe I avoided this album for so long. 10/10 recommend, yall should go back and listen for sure. Fave songs: u, For Free? Honorable mention: Alright

Riktigt bra skiva. En modern hiphopklassiker med både hits men som också passar som ett helt koncept.

cool album. i loved the instrumentation, the pastiches of the last 50 years of musical genres, and the production. several of the guests brought a lot to their tracks. the lyrics were very hit and miss to me. kendrick will go from a poignant song about institutional racism to a braggadocious song about sex or just repeating nonsense. another 3.5 star album to me but I liked enough of it to rate 4 stars here. favorites: wesley's theory, for free, king kunta, momma

Love

This is probably my favourite hip-hop album. I love the production, the influences from funk and jazz and how insightful Kendrick Lamar’s lyrics are. It’s a little long for my tastes, but To Pimp a Butterfly is an essential listen.

Good album with some real bangers, but I always have a tough time getting through the whole thing

All my lifes I has to fight

Excellent but not the kind of thing I would just put on usually

This is definitely a level or two above most of the rap albums we've had in terms of sophistication (both production and thematically). Really cool fusion of different styles and the callbacks/references fit in really smoothly without sounding forced, there's a real variety in moods. But, I can't make up my mind whether I like his voice or not, it's too long, and there are a couple of tracks that I don't like as much (For Free? as track two is definitely going to put some people off). 4/5, but only just.

A lot of jazz and funk. Good songs: These walls, u, hood politics, the blacker the berry.

3.6 Objectively really good, one of the biggest hip-hop albums ever, but it's never hit the 'wow 10/10' for me unfortunately, still a nice listen tho. Fave songs: these walls, alright

I said I'm trapped inside the ghetto and I ain't proud to admit it Institutionalized, I could still kill me a nigga, so what? If I was the president I'd pay my mama's rent Free my homies and them Bulletproof my Chevy doors Lay in the White House and get high, Lord Whoever thought? Master, take the chains off me! America is a pretty fucked up place - We went a long time with white people not recognizing the shit that the white government and white people have done to black people. 4/5

Wauwzers

Ça c'est du hip-hop qui hipope

j'ai déjà oublié mais il me semble que j'ai aimé

hella entertaining. melodic. dramatic! minus point kasi meron pa rin akong skip tracks

Incredible album. Amazing flow throughout, with socially/politically/personally poignant lyrics. For me, this one falls into the trap of other long albums and I lose the thread, but it always comes back together. Masterful use of many styles. I could listen over and over.

these wallls, how much a dollar cost👌 inspiring album

Excellent stuff. A great listen from start to finish. Highlights include King Kunta, How Much a Dollar Cost, The Blacker the Berry. Don’t bother with the censored version on Spotify (I tried both out of interest) it makes it a jarring experience with all the gaps.

I really like this album. I've never been a big fan of the skit/talking tracks on hip hop and rap albums, but otherwise this would be 5 stars. There are some great tracks and consistency to this album that makes me like it the most of his albums.

obviously not my first listen, but this was a lot better than i remembered it. I keep 'Alright' in pretty standard rotation and always remembered loving "i", but not the album version. wish it wasn't this live rendition for that song on this album

Variable, some stuff I like, some is too rappy, the melodical stuff is nice

Some of the more poignant rap of the last 10 years. Kendrick is raw enough to get the feeling across. Something I have zero life experience to, but he gives me a peak in the window of the life his demographic lives in. All while going hard

I've listened to some of Kendrick Lamar's later albums and they're so different from this. This feels like musically, he's having a good time experimenting with a bunch of different sounds while still putting together a cohesive album. Though I wasn't expecting any of the songs to go as hard and depressing as the end of "u"

Een verbazend goed album met veel samenhang, duidelijke rode draad, heavy teksten en verschillende genres die duidelijk als invloed zijn geweest

Been meaning to check this guy out was good, orginal hip hop

Overplayed this when it first came out and havent listened to it much since, but the break did it the world of good for me. I’m still not 100% sure it deserves all the hype - it is class, but from memory it won just about every AOTY award going and was universally scored 10/10. Critics make out its the greatest album of all time, which I don’t get. But it is mint. It covers rap, soul, hip hop, and it’s way more experimental than 99.9% of albums in these genres. And its political as fuck, which is always a big tick for me. 4 seems too low, 5 is too high. A solid 4.75 for me

I didn't like everything on this album but the good tracks are top quality. The interludes and skits I am never a fan of and didn't enjoy them here either. Think this might get a higher rating with subsequent listens, but overall another great album from Kendrick. Highlights: Wesley's Theory King Kunta Alright i

The album’s really good and the high points are amazing but in general it starts a bit better than it ends so I can’t call it perfect but it’s still great and I wouldn’t argue against anyone who gives it a 5 but it’s a 4 for me.

Kendrick Lamar is the prince of west coast hip hop. I’m familiar with his big hits, but haven’t listened to his full albums before this. I think I would grow to appreciate this even more with multiple listens, which I’m eager to do. His raps are fantastic, even though his mushy delivery makes it hard to understand the lines at times. He’s already made a huge name for himself and I’m excited to check out more.

Not my cup of tea but maybe a 3/4 cup

cooooll???

I wanted to love the album and I really did appreciate and respect the mix of musical styles. Unfortunately there were a few tracks that just did not sit well with me, and made loving it complicated...enough so that it brought the entire album experience down a notch for me.

I enjoyed most of this. Varying styles and some good special guests.

I’ve heard a few songs from Kendrick Lamar over the years but this was my first full album listen. This is a dense work, packed with a variety of hip hop styles that really kept my interest. The songs deal with a lot of racial and social issues that had me interested in hearing more. Great!

How did I never hear this guy? Liked the acid jazzy stuff, harder time with the others

Great album, maybe not as good as GKMC, reason for the 4

Not always keen on the lyrics but the beats are absolutely brilliant on this.

Again, I can appreciate the lyricism, creativity, and expression, but the subject matter and lifestyle don't resonate.

Loved this album. Reminds me of my favorite 90s rap. Worth buying -- 4/5

Obviously good, just not my cup of tea

I'm very selective when it come to hip-hop. Extremely selective probably, thoroughly disliking 99% of it. Only albums I really like anymore are Illmatic and the Infamous, despite regularly listening to NWA, Dre, Snoop, Biggie etc when a teenager. I absolutely detested the hip-hop that came later, which seemed to revolve around how much money and/or how many girls/cars each had, and I realised a lot of that stemmed from the previous named artists, just taken to the next level. Illmatic/Infamous actually spoke about the real, in some way grim, lives a lot of people are tapped in. Onto this album. I've not even bothered with hip-hop artists in the last 15 years, writing them all off as the same. But this album definitely brought me back to the first time hearing Infamous. The beats are honestly incredible. First track floored me with the Aphex Twin vibes; the variety is amazing though, subsequential tracks drifting through jazz, soul, standard hip-hop, ambient, electronics etc. Some of the vocalists don't do it for me, but I only found one song skippable (Hood Politics) which is very good going. Looking forward to giving it another couple of listens to fully digest the lyrics

Did like

Il fatto di non riuscire a seguire i testi non me lo fa apprezzare al 100%

Highlight: Alright

Lirycznie dobre, muzycznie gorzej. Trochę bardziej agresywny niż poprzednie rapy. Takie 4=

Already love it

Another solid installment. This is prob a 3.5 for me but I'll round up.

In demographic terms, I'm the kind of listener that heard hype about Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A Butterfly well before I got my ears around it in any kind of substantial way. This means I didn't have a friend turn it on for me. No one in my circles passed this my way, but plenty media to tell me how insanely profound this record was. I've listened a number of times prior to getting this as my daily assignment. It's good. His flow is sublime and I agree he's like a drummer in some ways—percussive delivery. That said, I think I got too much hype from all the press because I was also left with a sense of "Is this it?". Expectations can be a double-edged sword sometimes and so I'm here to tell you it's a solid four stars to these ears.

Thought I'd hate this album. I thought it was going to be Kanye West 2.0 where self gratification is the main goal. Fortunately for me I was very pleasantly surprised... A delicate blend of music, poetry, powerful speeches and heartfelt dreams. Yeah sure, there were too many N bombs, and in my opinion, an over abundance of pussy and dick references. BUT overall it was a good listen.

Great hip-hop album

Un album magnifiquement conclu par une You know I'm saying-outro rappelant comme deux gouttes d'eau le You know I'm saying-interlude de l'album Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). Vous savez je suis en train de dire ?

Kendrick Lamar rend ici un vibrant hommage au rap old school, proposant une outro multipliant les "you know what I'm sayin", afin que personne n'oublie que le hip hop est avant tout un genre musical de gros noeudnoeud

Day 1

I'm listening to the albums of this project while working, so I'm afraid hip-hop albums are probably suffering from not having sufficient attention paid to the lyrics, and not routinely getting a second or third play. This album certainly grabbed my attention, though, and got a second play through. I definitely feel like I should come back to it again when I can concentrate on it more, too. Fave track - "King Kunta" was an immediate standout. Also really enjoyed "How Much A Dollar Cost" and "The Blacker the Berry"...

4.0

socially conscious lyrical hip-hop 4/5

Really interesting - I liked the medley between rap and jazz. Definitely not what I would normally go for but I can tell it’s good. Top pick is ‘These Walls’ but I also enjoyed ‘i’ and ‘The Blacker The Berry’

8/10

Noice

Es medio largo, pero está bastante fachero (Casi 80 minutos kjjjj). Combina muchos géneros, entre Jazz, rap, hip hop. Muy progre nomás.

Really want to spend time with this to get more from the lyrics. Some of the beats are amazing.

Liked listening and some great moments, struggling to remember much so needs another listen

Let’s be honest, this is some crazy shit! I mean that in a good way. Kendrick took some risks musically on this album and to me those risks payed off. The first track, “Wesley’s Theory”, with its fat bass and chirping keyboards in the background lets the listener know that they’re in for one hell of a weird journey. The next track “For Free” has some odd vocal rhythms over some jazz sounds but the third track, “King Kunta” brings you back to the funky hip-hop. It’s my favorite track on the album, with its metronomic guitar, great bass riff and some damn good rapping over it. The rest of the album keeps the attention of the listener with some well-crafted songs that shift between the funk and the jazz or sometimes combining them. The last track, “Mortal Man”, has a clever idea at the end of it but I feel like it’s a little bit long and that idea doesn’t really seem as clever through multiple listens. I feel like I would just turn off the track after the music the next time I put this on (I guess I'll see) . As a whole though I did like the album a lot and it reminded me that I still need to listen to his newest album that came out a few months ago.

Top 3 Songs: 1 - Wesley's Theory (1) 2 - King Kunta (3) 3 - Hood Politics (9

Not my personal favorite kendrick album but a classic for sure.

This is fucking great.

8th December 2022 Listened in the morning while travelling to London. Work Christmas do in the evening. Feels like LA.

I had this on repeat for a long time when it first came out. There's so much praise that you can give this record, and it deserves all of it. From the themes Kendrick touches on and the story it tells, to the insane variety of musical styles and influences, and the fact that there's really not much filler despite it being over an hour long. Out of all of that though, the thing that stands out the most is how good the record sounds with the amalgamation of hip-hop, jazz, and soul. It's a musical feat. Standout tracks are King Kunta & These Walls.

This album is great. The production is great. It started off slow for me but on the second half, Kendrick Lamar did not disappoint. I love the jazz and the beats. His rhymes on top of that causes me to think. Great to see that there are still rappers out there causing people to think and reflect. Good to see poetry still a focus in hip hop.

Clear poetic influence and good tunes, love me some Kendrick

[Wesley's Theory] The album opens up with some reggae-soul sample that goes "Every n**** is a star..." then suddenly hits with some beautifully complex array of beats. I get that a lot of people will be dazzled by such display of complexity, and maybe even the rampant use of the n-word. But this is a nice introduction to the album, a complex, dark, and exhausting album. I already heard this album a lot of times, and this is my introduction to Kendrick. Yet even now, it's still among my favorite songs of his. Far from the chill vibes of the rest of his discography, but still mind upliftingly good. [For Free?] This interlude is not something that I would casually listen too, but still, it's very fascinating. Here, we got a string of obscenities and profanities over a jazz track. Setting aside the humorous element of such contrast, there's a number of possible interpretation for this. But I'll focus on how Kenrick, the so-called "savior of hiphop", is pushing the genre to its limits. "For Free?" is far from the average hiphop track, song or interlude. It's some fascinating effort to explore, not to represent the genre. [King Kunta] A lot of first-time listeners, including me before in fact, unsurprisingly cites this as their favorite track off the album. It's no surprise, "King Kunta" is akin to MBDTF's "Power" and DAMN's "HUMBLE". It's popular, not necessarily because it's better than the rest, but because it's less demanding of a listen. Being less complex, it's easy to get tired of this song after a few listen. Personally, it may just be a demand for the album to take seriously, both in terms of buying it obviously, and in terms of listening to the rest of it's dense 80 minute runtime. [Institutionalized - Complexion] A huge chunk of the middle of the album. This is the meat, where most of the message comes from. Unfortunately, this is the section that I find hard to get into. While some songs stand out, it feels like every song is just the same Kendrick-rapping-with-a-weird-voice-over-the-same-soul-track thingy. Not a big fan of Kendrick's peculiar vocal style either. "Loving you is complicateHHHE!" is personally among the worst verses he ever did. The hooks are not that great either. I remember the thing about shit not changing "until you get up and wash your ass" and the stuff where Kendrick is babbling "BOOBOO!", in a bad way. "Alright" is a unique song in this period, although I'm not a fan of that repetitive rock-ish tune. I can see why it became an anthem for the BLM movement though. [The Blacker the Berry] Damn, this track is so good. I wonder if my relistens would include the whole album if it wasn't for this highlight. Basically, this is the album at its most emotional, the climax. A mind blowing masterpiece of his. [You Ain't Gonna Lie - i] The cool down after "The Blacker the Berry" is somewhat the same vibes as the aforementioned middle of the album. For some reason though, I liked these tracks. Perhaps it's the more positive nature of these tracks. [Mortal Man] Finally, the album ends with this complex 10-minute closer. Here, he finally finished the thematic poem that was being recited throughout the album, after that, he had a fictional chitchat with TuPac, effectively explaining the whole idea of the album. The conclusion, one might say. Whew! Pardon for such lengthy review, I decided that writing my mixed feelings about this complex masterpiece is easier done track-by-track-ish. As one can see, it's an exhausting, complex, demanding album. But it's art, enjoyable for me or not. A modern classic. Still, I will rate it based on how I enjoy it. After all, I'm here to listen albums, not to be a critic wanabee. Will it eventually be a 5? Perhaps, but as you can see, even now I'm still intimidated by this mammoth.

On the one hand, there's not a lot here that I'd listen to repeatedly. The production is a bit chaotic, which I don't care for. On the other hand, Lamar's lyrics and flow are incredible. This one earns four stars for the artistry, even if it's not an album I'm likely to listen to much.

I was blown away by this album. I had already known that Kendrick Lamar was one of the most talented rap/hip-hop artists of our time, and man does this album prove so. I'll definitely be listening to more of his work.

Has some dank classics. King kunta top song for me though

A lot of feels. I feel as though I can feel what he does in this album. I do appreciate raps close ties to poetry.

Very good and very interesting. I’ve said this over and over at this point well over halfway into this list, but I suppose it beats repeating: I inevitably struggle a with hip hop that is particularly focused on the black experience because it’s not made for me. I’m a tourist, and consuming this for enjoyment is unavoidably voyeuristic.

I like his voice, and I *really* like the variety of stuff he’s doing in this

I am shocked by how much I was impressed by and enjoyed this album, as hip-hop is really not a genre I tend to like listening to. This is one of those albums that makes you understand why they are called musical artists - it was definitely a work of art. The flow, the variety in the musical and lyrical styles, the cadence changes and poetry. It's not something I'll likely go back to, but I'm glad I listened to it

One of the best rap albums of the 2010s and arguably of all time. even tho not one of my personal favourites, I still respect Kendrick for his artistic approach to fuze jazz and hip-hop in a such a beautiful way to convey a powerful message to the listener.

I get why people love this album I don't like rap but it is some good music on this album

Kendrick fart-guy

Baanger

favourite song: how much a dollar cost least favourite song: institutionalized really really great album just not quite a 5/5 for me.

*listened before* I can’t remember if I listened to this once or twice before, but I just can’t get into it like everyone else. I’m not denying that it’s great, because it is, but I just don’t hear what everyone else does. Maybe that’s because I overhyped it for myself though. Anyway, my score can only go up from here, and I’ll definitely listen again. Favorites: Wesley’s Theory(incredible opener), King Kunta, i Disliked: - Album cover: 5/5 iconic

Stops short of amazing for me, but it is really good.

Kendrick seals his reputation as the most essential artist of the 2010s.

Very intresting and thought provoking

Very melodic and complex. Not sure how I feel about this yet, but I think I like it. Modern jazz. The more I listen, the more I really like this.

Moderne hiphop, beetje gangster maar ook wel wat klassiekere (jazz?) invloeden. Snap dat dit populair is. Maar sommige nummers net ietsje te gangster.

Great 90's south central hip-hop feel.

First time properly listening to Kendrick Lamar, loved it. Nothing particularly stood out musically, but very good to chill to. Lyrics could be just poems, really fucking good!!!

Amazing songs with thundercat

great album. One of the best rappers in a long time.

Loved the blend of hip-hop and acid jazz. I think I'll like it even more the second time round.

A fantastic blend of jazz and hip hop. Some outstanding tracks

👍🏼👍🏼 Video for Alright should be watched too

Very good album!

I've only listened to a few songs by Kendrick Lamar and the album "Damn." and I always thought that he's OK but nothing more than that. To Pimp A Butterfly changed my view on Kendrick. The production is great, he got big name guests and the flow and lyrics are good. It doesn't quite reach to the top for me but it's a very good album.

Enjoy it alot! Great album, but to me it's not as good as people say it is. 4 Made it to "i" and it took on the show. Love the energy on that song. Justified the 4/5

Mature but unrefined at the same time. Serious and fun. Glad I listened to it.

Talented Artist and poet.

listened to again masterful and thoughtful

I always have a really hard time reviewing the hip hop albums on this list. I can't relate to the content, and I always get put off if it's the excessive guns, drugs, women, money type of bravado. I can appreciate black culture and so I always try to keep that lens in mind when listening. So far, 243 albums deep into this journey I've had a lot of hip hop albums and I'll say To Pimp a Butterfly would be among the best that I've heard. I still struggle with some of the lyrical content but Kendrick puts so much energy into his performance, and the production is stellar. There is a lot going on, many musical influences throughout, and the musicality of it all is excellent. The political message hasn't changed, still covering the same topics because sadly things haven't changed. Overall enjoyed listening, though don't know that I'd go out of my way to listen again.

This is the first album on here I've really felt like one listen isn't enough to really grasp it - there's clearly a lot going on underneath the surface. View this 4 stars as entirely provisional.

Hard to listen to, but not to say I don't like it, I do. A lot of it is just really difficult material. Lyrically dramatic, musically brilliant. I almost never choose to listen to rap, but I have chosen Kendrick Lamar the most in the last several years… just not without headphones.

4.1 - Solid album, amazing experimentation and lyrics, but a bit dense for regular listening.

This is good. I am not the biggest fan of this style of hip hop, but it's certainly good music.

Jazz, funk, soul, electronic and hip-hop, in an electrifying concept album mix. Listening to this I realise what I've missed when I stopped listening to hiphop due to the insane amount of dribble that kept flooding the market. I'm glad to know things like this exist. One of the better hiphop albums I've heard in my life

One of the best Kendrick albums!

this is an album where you know every second was so expertly planned and crafted. every song has a purpose. nothing is filler. kendrick lamar has a lot to talk about and he spends his 1 hr 18 min runtime wisely and productive. i mean, this whole album is pure art! i cannot fathom the amount of relentless work and creative energy that went into this. the album as a whole is so beautiful and thought provoking. what stands out is that this album is unapologetically created for black people. the songs that lamar chooses to sample. the interview with tupac at the end of "mortal man". the contemporary and historic artists lamar features in his songs, including george clinton of parliament funkadelic and ronald isley of the isley brothers (!). the spoken word poetry in "i". and of course all of the topics that he covers within his lyrics. also: king kunta must be one of the best songs in the universe. i will fight you on this.

This hip-hop album is rapper Kendrick Lamar's third. Kendrick Lamar is a lyrical genius and he used this album to discuss political themes about black culture, racial inequality, discrimination, and depression. The album debuted at number one on charts in US, UK, & Australia, won Best Rap Album at the 2016 Grammy's, and was certified platinum in 2017. To Pimp A Butterfly has garnered widespread critical acclaim from all around the world. It appeared on many top ten album lists for 2015, and has been rated highly by most music publications. The album did a good job of expressing its messages while also being fun to listen to. I respect Kendrick Lamar and love his rapping skills, so this album is great for this reason alone. Although some of the spoken word / skits on this album get in the way of the great musical flow he had going, but this is just my opinion. Still one of the best Kendrick Lamar albums out there today.

It's lit

So many layers. I love it!

I usually turn away from rap music pretty quickly. The few that do manage to engage me need to have either interesting lyrics (and not the same old gangsta tropes) or a sick beat. Fortunately this had both

This is a sprawling album that covers a lot of ground sometimes within the same song. It is put into the hip-hop rap genre but at times feels more like an avant garde jazz album. You also hear soul, funk and gospel influences. Some songs songs have a Parliament-Funkadelic, 90's Oukast, Chic and the Isley Brothers feel to them. If you listened to this album for a week, you would probably come up with more. One of the reasons has to be all the producers and musicians he worked with recording in multiple locations. Contributors include Flying Lotus, Kamasi Washington, Terrace Martin. Thundercat, Snoop Dogg, Dre, George Clinton, Bilal, Anna Wise, James Fauntleroy, Ronald Isley, Rapsody and more. Kendrick toured South Africa including Nelson Mandela's prison cell which apparently had a huge influence on the songs and album. As previously mention this album covers a lot of ground with song contents addressing racial inequality, discrimation even within the black community, culture, anxiety and depession. Song highlights for me included "Wesley's Theory" with Thundercat and George Clinton, "Complexion (A Zulu Love)" sounding like 90's Outkast, "The Blacker The Berry" a more aggressive song about race inequality and "i" which samples The Isley Brother's "That Lady" and is probably the song with the best dance beat. The last song "Mortal Man" spends a good two minutes on the meaning of To Pimp a Butterfly which I found quite interesting. This album is big at 78 minutes but quite an achievement.

I do think there's some filler here, but overall this album is bursting with incredible arrangements and complex harmonic structures.

Decent. Socially conscious rap.

Delving even deeper into the vein that 'M.A.A.D City' opened, this album is a genuine and vulnerable telling of one man's struggle in a violent and oppressive world. What stands out on the surface may sound like bravado and avarice, but lying just underneath that facade is fear, self-doubt, and despair. In sharing that story, Kendrick has lent his voice to the telling of many people's stories. The list of examples is nearly as long as the entire album, but I'd point to 'Institutionalized', 'These Walls', 'Alright', and 'How Much A Dollar Cost' as prime examples of what I'm talking about. The tracks themselves are filled with the life and a diversity of numerous artists and musical elements from a wide array of genres. Check out 'For Free?' (spoken word), 'These Walls (R&B), 'u' (jazz), and 'Alright' (hip-hop) to get a sense of just how dynamic this album is. I think the statement from the Wikipedia article which says the album is, 'supremely "cinematic" production qualities but [with] "the freedom of a mixtape",' summarizes it perfectly. The rhymes and rap techniques are simply on another level. The internet has covered this thoroughly, so check that out if you don't hear it for yourself. My absolute favorite flow is on the tail end of the track 'i' and I only wish that it could carry on, instead of being broken up by the fight in the crowd. Please. Take the time to listen past the language and the talk about pussy and bitches! This album has so much to offer on every level, and it would be a shame to misjudge this book by it's cover.

I can see the craft that's gone into this - it's not something I'd normally listen to but I did really like it.

Dense and interesting - feels like I need to listen to it a few more times. But also feel like I'm not really the audience for this.

King Kunta, Alright i How much a dollar cost Très bon quand même!

Não é meu estilo preferido, mas é Kendrick Lamar!

Wasn’t feeling this after the first two tracks but from King Kunta it turned a hard corner and kept building through the end. Went back and listened to the first two again after finishing and had a different perspective. Not sure of the backstories of Lucy/rival beef/abusing power dynamics but enjoyed the theme building with reveals after each song. Great hooks and lyrics, good classics r/b samples, beats, social commentary etc. Shit don’t change till you wash yo ass. 4.1

Sprawling, inventive, fun.

Poweful album! Love the funk & fucking love King Kunta! If you can listen to that song w/o moving your body we can't be friends.

Tricky. Full. Good fun production. 4/5 for impact -

cool, assez chill

I love many of the tunes, the jazzy vibe of this one is great, I remember all the fuzz and all the respect Kendrick got with this one, but to me this one is a too long, I don’t care that much about the snippets and I get it, they was conflicted lol. Funny thing is that to me GKMC is his master pieces and that one is long and all that. It’s a 4/5 to me. Is that a Radiohead sample in How Much A Dollar Cost?

Is it hip-hop? Is it jazz? Is it funk? Is it ALL of them in some kind of gritty dinner party album? Excellent work of art.

Rhymes and good flow coupled with talking about difficult social issues

Wesley's Theory prod is fucking groovy and feels 90s I love it. For Free? ending is nice. King Kunta very groovy as well. Don't like Institutionalized. These Walls: Kendrick's flow is great in the verses, a little bit less fan of the chorus though. u prod is nutty so far. The break was unexpected. The beat switch was really nice and lead to two great verses. I need to relisten to this song and truly focus on the lyrics. Alright: This song is insane For Sale? better than the first interlude, need to read the lyrics properly to enjoy the song at its fullest I think Momma: I loved the first part because of the way he raps and the flow of his constant delivery. Then we got to the second part of the song and I can't believe this guy raps like this, he's insane. Hood Politics: perf, it's great he raps well. fav part "Critics want to mention that they miss when hip-hop was rappin' Motherfucker, if you did, then Killer Mike'd be platinum" Is it me or does he complete his poem at the end of each track? How Much a Dollar Cost: very interesting storytelling in this one Complexion: Not a fan of the song but Rapsody's verse was great. The Blacker the Berry: I love his aggressive flow. His verses are great and the writing is excellent. You Ain’t Gotta Lie: I don't like the chorus. The third verse is great, sigh. He's too good i: This song is insane, starts as a great song to vibe and ends on a powerful message with the N word and the word 'Negus' Mortal Man: Damn. I didn't really get into the first part of the song, but I love that he finished his poem and the interview part was legit passionating.

Pimpin

Wow, I had no idea.

"These Walls" reminds me of Prince's "If I Was Your Girlfriend" sonically for some reason. From a music standpoint, this album is a marvel. I love The Isley Brothers influence and hearing "That Lady" during "i". Bringing elements of The Isley Brothers, one of my all-time favorite groups, into this was a huge plus. But my God, this album is just a bit too long. I found myself wishing Kendrick would tighten up this thing to come in under an hour. Admittedly this genre is not in my wheelhouse, but this album brings me in better than most.

This is a great album. A critical moment in the 2010s was its release and influence on music and a revival of conscious rap, which is the only hip hop I could ever truly enjoy. Great production, blending a mix of genres, which creates a classic sound, mixed with Lamar’s technical genius and storytelling.

Fantastic rap album. Slightly prefer good kid mad city, but still a great album, with many good songs (Alright, Momma, How Much A Dollar Cost)

Сложно слушать реп в таком количестве. Все-таки, это органически не моя музыка, несмотря на ее талантливость. Это музыка 21 века, музыка настоящего момента, она переполнена информацией, в каждый трек интегрирован наш мини-мир. Кроме избытка информации, в ней много ежесекундных изменений, много голосов, она полифонична, это музыка общества, музыка масс. Но когда я слушаю музыку, я хочу быть одна, наедине с ней. А реп погружает меня в социальный контекст. Это не музыка эскапизма, она транслирует другое, она направлена на другие ощущения. А я пока не нуждаюсь в этом.

Smooth rhythm. Nice collaborations. Couldn't always relate.

Real shit in a positive way.

This is a very specific experience. I know this album and I loved it the first time I listened to it some years ago, but re-listen to it now made me note how much Kendrick Lamar was "raw" and inexperienced when it was launched. His work as so much better now that even this album being a classic for modern hip-hop, it's easy to note the fails and drawbacks. An awesome album that, for me, was overcome by the new albums, but it's still a great work.

Strong 4 stars. So many interesting styles and it feels like a solid cohesive story throughout.

Classic. One I was actually already familiar with.

Uitstekende hip hop

Good album. Sara's favorite rapper.

Technically good rapper, good beats, but I find that he is sometimes just too serious and I lose the sense of fun when listening to this album.

Pretty Decent, DNF

In a time where beats have come to rule hip hop at the expense of lyrics Kendrick Lamar pushed back.

Listened to this constantly for about a year when it first came out. Love it.

Deece

G - Influential, Explores Black History and shines a light on the atrocities and institutional racism that has been prevalent in America since the beginning of time. ☆☆☆☆ B - an album with a very important message and highlights the history of a culture and music. While it isn't my type of music, I'm glad that I listened to it ☆☆☆

It was interesting to wait until after we got 50 Cent to go back and rate Kendrick Lamar. Both benefited from the guidance and executive production of Dr. Dre but they could not be more different. Where 50 Cent was very one note (just pure aggression), Kendrick Lamar was all over the place, exploring different themes and musical styles. Not all of it works for me but it was captivating.

For Free? (Interlude) is a nicely strange, jazzy, improvisation. I don’t think I’ve heard anything like that on a hip hop album before. King Kunta has a nice flow. The funk is most definitely within me after having heard this track. A couple tracks lost my interest, like: Institutionalized and Hood Politics. Overall this is a nice discovery. I’ve been meaning to explore hip hop more and this was a good place to start. I will be seeking other Kendrick Lamar albums.

So many genre influences, I was really impressed!

Groovin', smart, emotional, super dense with references and guests. This one will be listened to for decades at least.

So many clear influences all wonderfully blended together to make an album that is worldly and rich in its sound.

This album is great great great. This album was like an oasis in 2015. Love this one.

it didn't hold up like i thought but i still loved it

Yay! Intro..... spicy ALRIGHT So far it's a journey. I feel like I'm going somewhere with this. This album cover is iconic. A bit long I need more listens

Монументальная работа. Одного прослушивания явно недостаточно. Охватываемые темы мне не настолько близки, как сам подход к раскрытию материала. Буду стараться разобраться в его творчестве сильнее.

Yeah, I fuck with this. It's a great balance between socially engaged, conscious, and conceptual hip-hop & the hard, raw sound with its roots in Compton. Sometimes, the metaphorical and conceptual stuff seems to think it is cleverer than it is, and the album gets a bit loose and sprawling at times. But it still combines most of the stuff I love in hip-hop. Shame I'm not into his other material so much. Solid 4 for this.

Nice

Got a lot of media coverage on release, but I think its justified. Only criticism is it has some weak tracks and drags on a little in places. Fav tracks: first two and these walls

Very interesting

Hello

Liked the third song; King Konta and Alright, the rest is not rlly my jam.

A Good album that cemented Kendrick Lamar as a truly mainstream rapper despite producing an original and often obscure contribution to the genre. Definitely over played but I guess that is just the sign of a great album although not my personal favourite.

My least favorite of his, but still a classic.

Liked it a lot. Thought it was very insightful

Rap actual, mola. Bases soul/jazz

Good! Cool musical bits and I liked the lyrics. Loses a point for being long. 7

A lot more experimental than I expected - enjoyed it. How much a dollar cost, with the Radiohead sample, was a highlight.

Lotta good tracks, and a lot of fun to listen to through and through

(already heard this a bunch before, will just rate it, 4.5)

good. listened to it during war with brandon derek MJ. alright slaps. as Matthew said "Kendrick goes hard"

Definitely an important and impressive album incorporating all the jazz but it still drags in places for me

7/10. Not really my style, but it does feel very well put together as an album, and was lyrically interesting enough to make me at least want to keep listening. There were only a few songs that I enjoyed listening to in their own right, and I still didn't quite love the sound, but overall a positive experience.

Brilliant. Although there are some tracks that I don't LOVE, everything flows together perfectly. Special mentions to 'For Free ?' and 'i'.

Not bad.

really liked it

Didn't listen to it because I used to listen to it A LOT a while back. Excellent!

Tyler the creator esque imo. Or maybe Tyler’s Kendrick esque😦