To Pimp a Butterfly Review – 5/5 stars
Renowned hip-hop artist Kendrick Lamar released his new album “To Pimp a Butterfly” through Interscope Records on March 16. The album was released a week early due to an error by the distributor.
The album consists of 16 tracks, all of which tell a story about Lamar and his struggles in life.
“To Pimp a Butterfly” showcases Lamar’s talent through its uniqueness. It incorporates funk and jazz elements, creating an unseen version of hip-hop. For this reason, the album is already said to be a serious contender for album of the year.
The first few tracks start with memoirs of Lamar’s life. Lamar attacks racial tension and the treatment of African Americans.
The next few songs introduce the theme of poverty while still addressing racial tension. Lamar explains how his childhood shaped him. He states that he will not allow fame and money to change him.
Near the end of the album, Lamar emphasizes individuality. In “Complexion (A Zulu Love),” Lamar says that everyone should love themselves and not let anybody make them think otherwise. Lamar does this himself in “i,” repeatedly saying “I love myself” in the hook. In this track, Lamar simply solves the problem of depression, saying that by loving oneself you can learn to love the world.
The final track “Mortal Man” has a tendency to leave rap-enthusiasts speechless. The track itself is amazing; Lamar’s raps are dense and meaningful in regards to racial equality. However, at the end of the track, Lamar “interviews” Tupac Shakur, one of the best selling music artists of all time. Lamar asks Tupac of what he thinks is in store for his generation.
All in all, Lamar’s album “To Pimp a Butterfly” truly showcases his talent and proves his belief that “rap is poetry” to be correct.
Varun Baldwa is a senior and Managing editor for TALON Yearbook. This is Varun's fourth year on staff. In his free time, Varun enjoys volunteering, listening...
Jonathan Dai (12) is the editor-in-chief of TALON. This is his fourth year in journalism, and he was previously the photo editor. In his free time, he...