Good Kid, m.A.A.d City, the Compton native’s major label debut, marked a turning point in hip-hop history and the emergence of a new generation of talent with the type of handwriting typically found in Russian novels.
He could have easily followed that album’s template and released another “Bitch, Do not Kill My Vibe” or “Swimming Pools,” but instead he rewrote his own story, as he has done with every album since.
Rap is less of a theme in To Pimp a Butterfly than jazz. More than any of his rap pioneers like 2Pac or Snoop Dogg (who both appear on the album), it shares more characteristics with the deconstructive free jazz of Kamasi Washington, who contributes to multiple tracks.
The project is not divided into rhythms and vocals; rather than being merely a vortex for ideas, Lamar’s voice transforms into an additional layer of instrumentation as he uses it like a saxophone in interaction with the sounds surrounding him.
Because this is not the kind of music that is easily imitated, the fact that no album has ever sounded like To Pimp a Butterfly before or after emphasizes its grandeur.Through Jim Crow laws, mass incarceration, police brutality, slavery, the Civil War, and economic injustice, To Pimp a Butterfly serves as a monument to the centuries-long struggle of Black people to survive in the land of the free.
A testament to that harsh past and the unwavering hope required to survive as a Black person in America is To Pimp a Butterfly.
HipHopDX examines why To Pimp a Butterfly is among the most influential albums of all time as the record marks its tenth anniversary.
Music For The Moment
Perhaps it was a coincidence, or perhaps Kendrick Lamar’s awareness of the American context in 2015, but To Pimp a Butterfly immediately established itself as a State of the Nation album. The song “Alright” became the unofficial anthem of the protest movements against police brutality, and it served as the soundtrack for the uprising following the deaths of Michael Brown and Freddie Gray at the hands of police.
In rap’s first truly revolutionary moment since the days of Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power” and N.W.A.’s “Fuck Tha Police,” the song’s hook would be yelled at rallies across America. “Alright” appealed to a sense of excruciating strain, decades of anguish and frustration in coping with state-sanctioned violence, and the human spirit is enduring resilience in the face of oppression.
Jazz Rap Goes Mainstream
The Compton superstar’s album Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City was a complexly written, lusciously-sounding record that did not always feature the kind of massive swings for which he would eventually be known. Although he did not want to create a jazz album, multi-instrumentalist and close colleague Terrence Martin pushed Kendrick in that direction by pointing out chords that Lamar enjoyed as having a jazz influence.
However, this was not jazz rap as Q-Tip used it in A Tribe Called Quest. From “How Much a Dollar Cost?” to “For Free?” To Pimp a Butterfly is genuine free jazz with a hint of funk reminiscent of George Clinton.
At a time when Atlanta-heavy hip-hop was the dominant sound, with artists like Future and Migos dominating radio and clubs and pop-friendly Drake at the height of his popularity, To Pimp a Butterfly could not have served as a more stark reminder that hip-hop is an intellectual art form, as Kendrick has frequently argued in support of the genre.
The Ghost of 2Pac
If you looked closely at his battle with Drake, you would see that Kendrick takes 2Pac very seriously. In the To Pimp a Butterfly sequel “Mortal Man,” which includes a fictitious discussion between the two generations of West Coast titans, this was never more evident.
Actually, the audio for “Pac” comes from an unseen 1994 interview with Swedish music writer Mats Nileskär, which was conducted just a few weeks prior to his shooting at Quad Studios. Lamar and Shakur talk about important issues like America’s income disparity and Black men’s low life expectancy in the fictitious dialogue.
The discussion captures the essence of To Pimp a Butterfly’s broader themes of the Black soul in America as well as Kendrick Lamar’s relationship with 2Pac, which began when he watched him film the “California Love” music video in Compton when he was a young youngster.
Conscious is King
Conscious rap had long since faded from popularity by the middle of the decade. Drake, Future, and Nicki Minaj were the top musicians in the game, while the newcomers were Rae Sremmurd and Fetty Wap. Sure, their songs were catchy, but they were not brain- or soul-satisfying. Like his hero 2Pac, Kendrick’s greatest talent has always been creating innovative songs that appeal to a broader audience.
In Kendrick’s now extensive discography, “The Blacker the Berry” is maybe the most shocking tune. With Assassin’s dancehall-inspired hook, Dot spends a lot of the song talking about Black stereotypes, the spirit of revolution, and how common gang violence is in Black neighborhoods. This type of art is something that every challenging, emotive, intellectually stimulating and still sound amazing.
