To Pimp A Butterfly

Background/Theme

To Pimp A Butterfly is Kendrick's 3rd album. He mixes genres such as soul, funk and predominantly jazz. Kendrick states in an interview with Jimmy Fallon that he wanted his debut album to be like this one, but he didn't have the confidence, and wanted to wait until he could execute it perfectly.Actual books could be written about the deeper meanings, metaphors and storytelling in this album but I'll give a somewhat brief summary. In this album, Kendrick shifts the theme of his personal expiriences in Compton, to his experiences as an African-American artist in the music industry and navigating the perils of fame. This idea is very clearly explained in the first song on the album "Wesley's Theory". The song describes how racist American institutions upheld by white supremacy exploit black creators for profit. I highly, HIGHLY recomend clicking the link on Wesley's Theory and learning more about the song. One of my favorite things about this album, is the poem. After every song (except the first two) Kendrick reveals more and more of this poem, until the poem is completed on "Mortal Man". As the album progresses, Kendrick dives deeper into his personal stuggles with self doubt and depression. In the song "u" we get a very clear look at this, and he paints a vivid picture of what is going on inside of his head. After "u" where Kendrick is at his lowest, Kendrick bounces back with a positive song that has since become a BLM protest anthem, "Alright". Throughout the album, Kendrick addresses many racial and social issues affecting the African American community. Songs like "King Kunta" and "The Blacker The Berry" examine systemic racism, oppression, and the struggles faced by black individuals in America. Within many of the songs on this album a character named "Lucy" (Lucifer, aka the devil). Lucy tempts Kendrick with wealth and power in songs like "For Sale?" and "Momma". As the album concludes, Kendrick tells us the full poem. At the end of "Mortal Man", Kendrick edits an interview with Tupac, to make it sound like Kendrick is asking the questions. They talk about the responsibilities and imapct of being an influential artist.

Commercial/Critical Success

"To Pimp A Butterfly" achieved significant commercial success upon its release in 2015. The album recieved widespread critical acclaim for its artistic and lyrical depth, innovative production and deep storytelling. It resonated with both critics and audiences, solydifying Kendrick's position as one of the most influntial artists of his generation. In terms of commercial performance, "To Pimp a Butterfly" debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 324,000 copies in its first week. It was Kendrick's first album to reach the top spot on the chart. The album remained in the top 10 for several weeks.

Overview

Ultimately, "To Pimp a Butterfly" serves as a commentary on the complexities of fame, personal growth, racial identity, and the social struggles of the African American community. While "good kid mA.A.d city" might be regarded as one of the best hip hop albums of all time, "To Pimp A Butterfly" is considered one of the best albums in general. "