Very rarely does an artist transcend what an album can be. While many rappers in the game today create albums in a standard fashion which includes a few singles and some tracks to fill in the gaps for time, some rappers take the time to construct an album that tells a story. In 2015, Kendrick Lamar did just that when he released ‘To Pimp A Butterfly,’” the highly anticipated follow-up release to ‘good kid, m.A.A.d city.’ 

An important thing to take note of here is that this album is definitely not for everyone. If you’re a fan of the “skip track” button on Spotify or Apple Music, this album won’t work for you. However, if you’re a fan of the art of storytelling and you want to take the time to listen to this album uninterrupted, you’ll find it’s an incredibly rewarding experience full of rich storytelling and vibrant musicianship. 

Lamar’s 2015 album is an absolute masterclass in the art of storytelling, superb musicianship, wax poetic lyricism, and most importantly of all, it’s a masterclass in subverting expectations. 

On the musicianship front, Kendrick gets help from notable artists such as Thundercat, George Clinton (Parliament and Funkadelic), and Snoop Dogg. The products of these collaborations are as memorable as they are rich, complex, and unique. Most of all, the beats are a breath of fresh air in a world where rap has become overwhelmingly commercialized and mundane. 

Kendrick is also able to expand on and contribute to the hip-hop subgenre known as progressive rap, combining elements of jazz, soul, funk, and pop to create a truly eclectic piece of music that stands out from the rap music crowd in more ways than one. 

Kendrick dives deeper into the world of his lyrics than he has on any other project. Lamar’s sophomore album ‘good kid, m.A.A.d city’ is structured much like a film, with the content of his lyrics as well as the tracklisting helping to guide the listener through the story. On ‘To Pimp A Butterfly,’ Kendrick constructs a novel that leads the listener down a deeper, darker, much more detailed path into the more mature territory of Kendrick’s Compton upbringing.

The title ‘To Pimp A Butterfly’ has an integral meaning to the story. Kendrick speaks and focuses on a man going through a transition in his life. The man (Lamar) works hard, catches a lucky break, and becomes everything he’s ever wanted; he’s living high on the hog and has no plans of coming down anytime soon. Even after all this fame and money, he’s still developing as a man and is slowly succumbing to the pressure of this change. 

Let me put it this way. Kendrick is a caterpillar who has become institutionalized by his own cocoon (Compton) and is struggling to adapt to the change. It tosses him into the throes of deep depression and a burning resentment toward the people around him. Even through all the turmoil, the cocoon breaks and he emerges a butterfly, ready to explore his full potential. Hence the title, ‘To Pimp A Butterfly.’ 

I’ve been a big fan of Kendrick for a very long time now, and I have to agree that this album is his masterpiece. An album with music, lyrics, and a knack for storytelling this rich is as good as hip-hop gets. Every time I finish listening to this album, I always wish that I could forget all the songs so I could give it another listen with fresh ears. 

This album earns a 4.9/5