To Pimp A Butterfly

Not Kendrick’s best tbh. I do like the range, but this album could’ve used some cuts.

I hear he's really great but haven't yet come to appreciate Lamar. I'll continue to try.

A true classic. It's hard not to give it five but there are a few always skips which bring it down. Also not as good as Good Kid.

Quite a few cool tracks on this record. /A lot/ of N words, though 'a lot' may actually be an understatement. Highlights: King Kunta, both tracks with Thundercat were absolute bangers, Wesley's Theory and These Walls, and The Blacker the Berry.

A masterful album. Really enjoyed the Snoop and Thundercat features. Not the usual type of album I'd listen to, but it kept me engaged the whole time.

Creative and interesting; could be objectively a five but has too much rap for me

Really good album but it needs a few listens to appreciate fully I think. At least for someone like me that has english as a second language. I like the vibes and the mix of instruments in the songs. Works great even just on in the background with the chill beats.

I only knew a few Kendrick songs before listening to this album - and I'm surprised how much I enjoyed this! I recognised "i" straight away, didn't realise it was his song! Sadly it was just a bit too long for my liking, and I'm not a huge fan of the talking tracks/interludes A very high 4 ⭐️

I was curious how this album would compare (or not compare) to good kid mAAd city and I was genuinely impressed. Compared to gkMc this album explored themes of grappling with fame for African Americans who find success, especially if it's at all related to a perception of gaining clout based on the historic struggles of the community. I could feel Kendrick's turmoil and exhaustion at trying to raise up instead of tear down, but was really moved by how fine a needle he was able to thread of pointing out huge social issues while giving glimmers of hope. His story-telling is unparalleled and I will definitely be giving this more listens in the future.

I was looking forward to trying out To Pimp A Butterfly. It is smooth, funky, and jazzy. Not my usual kind of thing, but I enjoyed it. The lyrics seemed to have a good message, though I felt like it wasn't always expressed in the best way.

Strong point of view and throughline across the album. Felt more like poetry at times.

Never listened to Kendrick Lamar before but I was floored by this. Is progressive rap a thing? The arrangements and choices here are wild. I didn't love all of it but it had my attention. I listened via a playlist on youtube and I think that was the right choice here, cause he's got some great videos that really add a lot to the songs.

multi layered. awesome.

Rap at its finest - in your face, politics, lyrical. Kendrick changed the rap landscape with this

(FIRST TIME LISTEN) wesley’s theory: 3/5 for free? interlude - n/a king kunta - 4/5 institutionalized - 2.5/5 these walls - 3/5 u - 3.5/5 alright - 4.5/5 for sale? interlude - n/a momma - 3.5/5 hood politics - 3/5 how much a dollar cost - 4/5 complexion (a zulu love) - 3/5 the blacker the berry - 3.5/5 you ain’t gotta lie (momma said) - 4/5 i - 5/5 mortal man - 4/5 overall rating: 4/5. it was really fun to listen to an album of a genre i don’t usually dip into, and i was really excited to listen to this because i’d heard just how good it was , and it really lives up to all the hype! honestly incredible

Lyssnade mycket på denna i gymnasiet! Mer sällan nuförtiden. Fortfarande bra och coolt med P funk-influenserna.

To me, this is Kendrick's first truly experimental album. I remember listening to this for the first time back when it first came out in 2015 and not really liking it that much. After listening to 'good kid, m.a.a.d city' religiously, this album felt like a let down. I had kept some of the songs in my listening rotation, but mostly forgot about it. I can honestly say this is my first time relistening in its entirety since then, and I enjoyed it. Honestly, I think the non-popular/non-single songs are the best. There are a whole lot of themes going on and it makes for a great listen. It isn't all capturing, so I can't give it 5 stars personally, but it really is a great album.

I'm not a hip-hop head whatsoever, but I appreciated this album. It is so eclectic that it shows some madurity in the songwriting but I find it pretentious in some way too. I'm not commenting on the lyrics as they are always second for me when listening to music; however, I'm aware that this has been praised as some of KDot's best. Way to open an album too.

First track hits hard with an eerie funk groove. Sick. King Kunta is next, a big track with a catchy hook. Institutionalized is more low key, but I like These Walls, a smooth beat and an old school sounding chorus. Not vibing with 'u', but we're back with Alright and its stop-start beat and aggressive rapping. How Much a Dollar Cost and Complexion are other standouts for me. The Blacker the Berry is even better, a dark rumbling beat matching the angry lyrics. By the end, I'm feeling the weight of this album, there are parts that are harder to get through but the artistry is obvious.

Some stellar tracks on here, but a lot of filler as well.

Already listened. Already favourite. Wicked

So this is the best album of all time according to the users of rateyourmusic.com and albumoftheyear.com (2 popular music rating sites). As you can imagine this album would have to be very very very good for me to not think it’s overrated. After this single listen, I am not convinced, but it definitely seems like an album worthy of multiple focused listens. I found quite a few songs didn’t really stand out but the others were really cool. The jazz influenced instrumentation is very nice and some of the bass playing is ridiculously good. I found his vocals a little bit annoying sometimes. Overall, although I’m not that into hip hop or rap, I can completely understand the hype this album gets and I definitely want to get into it more through repeated listens.

While I’m a big Kendrick fan and recognise his significance in lyricism and influence on hip-hop as a whole, I dont quite understand the position of this album as supposedly “the best album of all time”. Perhaps I’m missing something, but I’ve heard it plenty times and enjoy it as a very good album and not much more.

A really interesting album with many great highs and a few crass lows that knock it down a notch

Great album.

I am in a strangers basement. I am 16. Kendrick said, hey do you mind if I redefine an entire genre for the next decade??

Killer. As with lots of rap, there were plenty of lyrics and ideas I wasn't completely down with, a lot I didn't quite catch on the one listen, and others that landed good and hard. The diversity of styles was impressive and the music was quality throughout. And, no question, dude's got chops. I get why he's a titan in the rap game.

Loved it on a previous listen. This time Less so. Still a good record.

at its best when it’s playing with genre, samples, and expectations. some really great music here with really fun production. the lyrics go so absolutely insane from personal to more intense topics from sex to politics to race its amazing. and beautifully written. this speaks about an experience i can’t relate to but really fun despite this for me. love when it’s silly and love when the lyrics are deep and referential. will listen again. favs: wesley’s theory, i, and mortal man. didn’t expect to like it this much and i understand why it’s so acclaimed. think it’s a 3.5-4 but really solid!!

Been meaning to listen to more from him, glad i did (better late than never!)

A slightly-overrated follow-up to the generational masterpiece that is "good kid, maad city." Musically, one of the most impressive hip-hop albums, maybe ever. Lyrically dense with introspection and concepts. A great project that should absolutely be heard at least once, but has lost some of its luster over the years.

felt kinda special to listen to like a big movie just ended when the album was over

The highs were high. Good enough album.

This one brings back a lot of good memories. I like everyone of theses songs, but MAAD City is one of my top Kendrick songs. Big fan of Kendrick, and appreciate his lyricism and influence on the hip hop genre.

Definitely enjoyable and had some serious hits on here. My favorite is “King Kunta”

Great album. Lyrically and musically, it's good! I prefer Damn as his masterpiece, though.

my bf loves him. I liked the Album but not too much.

Slow start, but finishes strong 3.75

Kendrick’s album is like opening up a diary and reading through dozens of poems. It’s raw and emotional and sometimes unsettling. At parts it’s like we are in the same room and he’s singing a gospel. My favorite part is the story at the end of the songs that keeps growing. It kept my attention and peaked my curiosity. Mortal man finally recaps the whole story and to tell it as though he is speaking in an interview with his role model Tupac… brilliant.

A long introspective journey by Kendrick. Riddled with poetry and spoken word inserts the multitude of tracks is accompanied by gospel, and classic hip hop ad libs. It’s tough to define any song as a pure bop or radio hit (despite some being so). I feel like this album would be undervalued if you don’t sit in a chair and listen to it front to back with no distractions, like a movie. As such, I’m booting my ranking up into the high 4s.

Not in this world enough to know how influential this album has been, but it was captivating. I feel like an observer rather than a participant, but as a white person, I think that's probably the point. It is still very hard to get past the language, it's just so much all the time

I could do without all the skits, but overall a great album.

A rap album I like? Must be dreaming. yeah this was different. Lots of interesting stuff start to finish. Didn’t have me poking the skip halfway through the tracks. Well done.

Not really sure why I've never listened to this one. Definitely should have. Will I listen to again: 90%

could i write poetry to this? n

schöner fetter soul-Hiphop

I've listened to this album multiple times, and each time I've enjoyed more than the previous listen. Some of the tracks on this album are absolutely top class (the first track may be one of the finest openers to an album I've heard so far), which does mean that a few of them fail to live up to those lofty heights.

Second Kendrick album and I am just as impressed as the first time. He is so talented (not sure why Drake thinks he even has a chance of being this good). He speaks of a world and a life I am far removed from, but his words help me see that world. He makes it seem so natural, simple and easy but it is soooooo deep and complex.

Kendrick is such a talented writer and rapper, and this really feels like a complete album and not just a bunch of songs that sort of go together. Love his depth and his creativity.

4/5

Way better then the other I was listening to. Now wonder it influenced so many artists out there. I really liked this!

uppfyllingarefni. hlaðin oflofi. galbürg er betri. 4,5.

The kind of rap that makes me want to listen to more rap.

I love Kendrick but to pimp a butterfly isn’t my end to end favorite. Great tracks and classic Kendrick story telling. Listenability drops off for me a few times but overall still a very sticky album

Overrated but good

Another solid rap album on this list.

Hieno crossgenrelevy! 4/5

Good Kid M.A.A.D City is better. This one has its moments though. Kendrick is a bit overrated, but only because people talk about him like he’s the GOAT

6 / 10 Musicalmente la mezcla de estilos es una pasada. El rap es lo que no me atrae. Pero sin duda merece una escucha detenida.

i thought that this album had a very interesting take on a mix of jazz and hip hop rap, i really enjoyed it (^O^)

Parts of this album were pretty cool (King Kunta. Alright), and other parts were, uhh, not (Institutionalized). It was cool hearing George Clinton after getting Funkadelics and Parliment this week. I think overall i liked it more than Good Kid, M.A.A.D City.

Solid. Conceptual.

Лучший альбом эвер 8/10

Good album. This is just a really good hip hop album with a lot of great textures from jazz, soul, R&B, etc. It's a good vibe album and the kind of hip hop/rap that I enjoy. ****

Pretty groovy

K-dot!

Ngl this album pre fire. Language gets intense but their messages are powerful. Beats are also fire

Very dense and good but still not my thing particularly

Really enjoyed this, I knew I like Kendrick Lamar from Swimming Pools; but this was a really interesting and eye opening adventure of an album to listen to.

An iconic album, K Dot won that Pulitzer for a reason. Fave is King Kunta.

Sick beats so smooth they slap, but Kendrick’s lyrics? Like your wild uncle at Thanksgiving, brutally honest, super explicit, and definitely not for polite company.

One of those albums where I can tell there's a lot more depth to it than I really appreciate, however not really my thing

It took me a few days to get through this album because it's so long and dense. I really enjoyed most of it, but less as a musical experience and more as a work of literature. I had to sit down with the lyrics and read a lot of annotations to truly understand the meaning and depth of a lot of the lyrics, like I was back in high school studying Shakespeare. In terms of writing, there aren't many rappers out there better than K.Dot (I'm writing this only weeks after the Kendrick-Drake rap beef of 2024). The imagery, the layers of meaning, the depth of personal storytelling and vulnerability, the recurring motifs and refrains — this is some deep stuff. As a rapper, Kendrick has good flow and excellent phrasing, though the voices he puts on can be a bit jarring and even annoying at times. Musically, the beats and melodies sometimes take a back seat to the words/story, but I didn't mind it most of the time. It's definitely not as "hooky" as most rap/hip-hop, though. I can't give this a 5 for a couple reasons. I didn't love the sound of "Hood Politics" — it's one of the few songs I found annoying to listen to. The final track is also way too long and gets a little too artsy and esoteric for my tastes. The whole weird discussion in the middle is awkward to listen to. And then when he feels the need to explain the symbolism of the entire album, it feels too much like being lectured at — your audience can figure it out on their own. It's an ambitious concept album that mostly succeeds, but it does fall flat in a few places. And I'm not sure how much I'd listen to it again. I'm not sure individual tracks would stand on their own either. 4/5

I was really surprised by this. Does that mean I hate Drake?

1950's in the Hood

Not really my genre but that was a really good experience, a lot of jazz influences in that album and I kinda get the message he was portraying.

Enjoyed it more than I expected to

Great overall album propped up by some iconic songs. The concept of the album sometimes detracts from it being a regular rotation, but serves a larger purpose of making a more legacy achievement that moves the genre forward.

It was ok. Few great tracks.

I first heard this on an Amtrak to Chicago on a trip to visit my best friend. When I asked him what I should listen to he told me Good Kid, M.A.A.D City and this one. In that order. I didn't know what to expect, just that I had heard a lot of great things about Kendrick and wanted some new rap to listen to. I had no idea that anything like this existed. Sure, jazz has been used as a backdrop for hip hop since its inception, but this was the first time I had heard it being used as original compositions rather than samples. Not to mention the power behind the lyrics on so many levels. I'm glad I listened to the two albums back to back like that. And I'm glad this album holds up nearly 10 years later.

not as cohesive and catchy as good kid, m.a.a.d city but there's no denying Kendrick's talent and why this is critically acclaimed.

Kendrick bypassed me somehow, I never heard even one of these songs before let alone the whole storypiece, but it's a great group of collaborators he's brought together. Is this avant-garde-hop? Extra points for the 2pac interview.

Kendrick is like no other and has created a space that he and only he can occupy.

Good shit

Rap. Aber sehr interessante und abwechslungsreiche Musik.

Great album - not written for me, but I can appreciate some of the wizardry of the samples and the musicality of his lyrics.

*This* should have won the Pulitzer. (Well, no. But it is head and shoulders better than that dull and uninspired prize winner...)

4.5. Amazing album with a skip track. One of the greatest rappers of our generation

Ok I know I’m not going to want listen to this album regularly, but like most of Kendrick’s stuff I find myself really with this album. Just feels so detailed and moves in unexpected ways with the jazz elements and spoken word etc. maybe would be good live…. It’s a 3.5

Passion, rage, flow, beauty.

Ambitious, stylish, well-produced. I liked this better than “good kid, m.A.A.d city.” I’ll listen to this one again.

True Rating: 4.5 If not for the length, I might think this a masterpiece, not to use such a loaded term, but it’s hard to set time out for an album this long with an overarching concept. However, I don’t know if I could say anything is worth cutting to shorten. It’s just an endeavor to enjoy completely, and that’s a shame for 0.5 points.

It is a really great album, no denying that, but as far as I'm concerned it has quickly become the most overrated album ever. Kendrick is quite annoying in spots and some of the songs are more impressive than they are enjoyable.

Visionary stuff but not always easy to listen to!

Probably would've said 5 the first time I heard it but some of the tracks are cringe like a decade later so I'm downgrading it to a 4. Kendrick is at his best for me when he sticks to serious conscious lyrics. When he tries to go less serious or god forbid get sexy it's like... Alright cmon my man

The album cover describes where we’re going. Insightful, creative, amazing. As he walks you lyrically through his worldview the music spans many genres. He maintains the hip hop tradition of skits, cameos and interludes. All stimulating and amazing.

This was a good rap album, classical Kendrick Top tracks: King Kunta, Alright, You Ain’t Gotta Lie (Momma Said)

this album is when i first started appreciating kendrick and his storytelling albums.

A fun one to relisten to. As ambitious and as uneven as I remember.

Sometimes the hits are hits for a reason. This album is phenomenal. Dare I say almost perfect. The length is a bit of an issue and I do prefer good kid. Curious to see if it continues to age well. Not sure people will remember the random negus spelling bee in the future

Mama is an underrated song in this album

Better than I thought it would be. Reminded me of Andre 3000 in certain ways

I know this album well.. Thanks to my son and the Dissect podcast. Although I appreciate the artistry, but I try to avoid music with certain language... and this album has all of that language. Despite the cons... the use of poetry, storytelling, nods to jazz and the history of African-American music such as Parliament, James Brown, and G-Funk. But the inner turmoil presented in "these walls" and "the blacker the berry" are what really make this album special. Too bad about the language

this album got the yams

why did i like it some of the lyrics were a bit woah though

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.