To say To Pimp a Butterfly is a complex body of work would be a strong understatement. All of Lamar's prior releases have been richly detailed concept albums, but he's never made anything with as wide-spanning of a scope as this record. Using his African-American heritage, Compton, California upbringing and personal observations as inspiration, To Pimp a Butterfly sees Lamar examine how he became the man he is today. Given the concept of the record, this could've easily been an obnoxious egotrip filled with nothing but self-praise and banal brags about success. Instead, Lamar gives the listener an honest, thoughtful look into what makes him tick and the steep change in lifestyle he's expereinced since becoming famous.
Behind production that draws heavily from jazz, funk and soul as well as traditional hip-hop, To Pimp a Butterfly's narrative features a serious of heartfelt reflections from Lamar on everything from his inability to believe in himself despite all his success ("u") to the parallels in trivial, immature conflicts that plagued his neighborhood growing up to those that exist in the hip-hop community ("Hood Politics") to the music industry's trend of setting up black artists who came from nothing to fail by giving them access to millions of dollars for the first time in their lives ("Wesley's Theory"). The subjects covered may be all over the map, but each one plays an essential role in Lamar's vision for this record. Lamar does a phenomenal job of articulating how these social/internal struggles and personal experiences have defined and continue to define him as a person. The clarity and ambition of To Pimp a Butterfly's narrative is staggering and only further verifies Lamar's status as one of the most sharpest minds in the history of hip-hop.
Because of the album's strong messages and dynamic musical arrangements, the strength of the rapping itself is being unfairly glossed over. Lamar is rapping with more confidence and taking more risks with his delivery than ever before, and it results in his finest performance on the mic to date. Over the course of the album's 16 tracks, Lamar raps in everything from impassioned screams ("The Blacker the Berry") to high-pitched squawks ("Alright") to calm near-whispers ("How Much a Dollar Cost"). No matter how intense, melancholy or comical a song gets, Lamar deliver consistently memorable performances driven by genuine emotion that fits whatever the given song's tone is perfectly.
While Lamar's range of vocal deliveries are impressive, they wouldn't mean anything if it wasn't for his strong lyricism. Lamar is a masterful storyteller who loads each one of his songs with soul-bearing honesty, clever wordplay and cryptic messages that takes numerous listens to decode. Lamar breaks a lot of new ground as an artist on To Pimp a Butterfly, but the depth and intelligence of his lyrics remain the most intriguing aspect of his music.
It may sound hyperbolic, but I will not be at all surprised if To Pimp a Butterfly is brought up along side the likes of Nas' Illmatic, Wu Tang Clan's Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) and N.W.A.'s Straight Outta Compton in the greatest hip-hop album of all-time conversation. From the moment you press play to the moment it finishes, To Pimp a Butterfly takes you on a journey that is poignant, triumphant, tragic, insightful and beautiful. It's one of the rare albums that remains embedded in your brain long after you've finished listening and can not be shaken under any circumstances. If that's not the definition of a classic, I don't know what is.
4.5/5 Stars
Standout Tracks
1.Wesley's Theory
2.How Much a Dollar Cost
3.The Blacker the Berry
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