The Importance of ‘To Pimp A Butterfly’ and Kendrick Lamar

This isn’t a review. I hate reviews. Think of it as a thesis. Think of it as a paper that I wanted to write. I’m passionate about this album, and I want to share my thoughts with you.

It’s been more than three months since Kendrick Lamar released To Pimp A Butterfly, and many critics and rap fans are already praising it as the greatest hip-hop album of all-time. Why? Because To Pimp A Butterfly is a one-of-a-kind album. It’s a timely and powerful work of art that forces the listener to think, full of lyrical content with so many different possible interpretations and implications that it left readers over at genius.com drowning in annotations. It deserves every last bit of analysis that it has received, and if you haven’t listened to it yet, I implore you to do so.

There are few people in today’s society who are more important to America than Kendrick Lamar. He creates hopeful music in a world full of brokenness, and all he is calling for is a positive change. Kendrick isn’t just a rapper, he is a writer, a poet, and a politician. Likewise, To Pimp A Butterfly isn’t just an album, it’s a speech, a story, and a battle cry. It echoes the words of Martin Luther King Jr. in his I Have A Dream speech, and is a story of struggle and a story of standing up for what you believe in. So when Fox News says that a song like “Alright” (a song that promotes nothing but positive and hopeful vibes) incites violence, and then goes on to say that “hip-hop has done more damage to African-Americans than racism”, it’s impossible to not shake my head. “Hip-hop is not the problem,” Kendrick says, “our reality is the problem of the situation.” Of course hip-hop isn’t the problem. If anything, hip-hop is the solution.

Throughout the entirety of To Pimp A Butterfly, Kendrick is consistently providing the listener with encouragement and inspiration. Songs like “i”, “Complexion (A Zulu Love)”, and “Alright” all aim to bring optimism to the listener. Kendrick wants to let them know that they need to have faith in themselves. It’s rare to see a rapper promote confidence and provide comfort, especially one who has seen as much success as Kendrick. In fact, at his Sweetlife Festival set, Kendrick found out that his music had touched a fan in such a powerful way that she decided to continue living her life and not commit suicide, which she had considered following through with many times in the past. This isn’t the first time it was revealed a rapper’s music saved a listener’s life, as it came to light that J. Cole’s song “Love Yourz” saved the life of a man who was at the end of his ropes as well.

To a certain extent, I don’t necessarily think that “bad” rappers exist. After all, when it comes to music, it’s all subjective. Pusha T is one of my favorite emcees, but I have yet to hear another rapper make as many cocaine references as he does. Same thing goes for Wiz Khalifa and his weed allusions. I’m not saying that Pusha and Wiz aren’t talented artists, but they lack something that Kendrick has, and that is the ability and the willingness to push the boundaries, both lyrically and when it comes to the social consciousness of his music. This is why I consider Kendrick to be the greatest emcee of all time. Even though I am a fan of them, I personally do not believe that rappers like Jay Z, Drake, or even Kanye are close to being on the same level that Kendrick is. He is a breath of fresh air, and he utilizes his popularity to use his music and message to provide a voice that is speaks on behalf of those who may never have the opportunity to be heard.

The ghosts of Mandela, hope my flows they propel it / Let these words be your earth and moon / You consume every message / As I lead this army make room for mistakes and depression

To Pimp A Butterfly ends with an unexpected visit from Tupac on the track “Mortal Man”. He and Kendrick talk about discrimination, success, and music in general. This is a surreal moment for Kendrick, because he grew up listening to and, most importantly, looking up to Pac. During their discussion, Kendrick acknowledges that it’s now his responsibility to inspire the younger generation. We’ve seen evidence that music can change individual lives, and it’s very possible that music can change the whole world. Kendrick has faith in his music and the hope that it can bring. As he says on “Mortal Man,” the “only hope that we kinda have left is music and vibrations, lotta people don’t understand how important it is”. He is absolutely correct. Obviously I think that there is more hope for us than just music and vibrations, but they are definitely imperative. If you have read this far, I urge you to never ever take music for granted. To Pimp A Butterfly is evidence that music is way more than just the music: it’s about bringing hope to the listener and inspiring the younger generation. It’s about giving people the courage to face the world. It’s about growth. “Mortal Man” is the conclusion of Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly journey. Throughout the track, it quickly becomes apparent that Kendrick is striving to walk in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela. He recognizes that the younger generation is looking up to him, just as he once looked up to Tupac, and that they are his army: an army fighting for change. That is the power and the importance of To Pimp A Butterfly.

Hopefully To Pimp A Butterfly will light a fire under both the youth and the older generation as well. Kendrick is speaking to everyone and it’s up to us keep Kendrick’s message alive. After all, he’s no “mortal man.”