Kendrick Lamar released his second studio album, To Pimp A Butterfly, on Monday, March 16. The hype surrounding the album flooded social media feeds everywhere, and the talk of the album exploded on Twitter within seconds of its availability.
The hashtag “TPAB” (To Pimp A Butterfly) was trending worldwide. After a listen, it’s obvious why people were falling subject to none other than self-proclaimed King Kendrick.
The lyrical content of this album stays true to the typical Kendrick feel. He addresses black-on-black crime and injustice quite often throughout the 16-track journey.
He is just as edgy and blunt as usual when presenting his messages in the music, but the sound of the album is entirely different than the typical, old school, hip-hop flare he tends to sport.
A strong jazz and funk vibe exudes from each track, which has more than enough power to throw those who claim to be Kendrick Lamar purists for a loop.
Kendrick clearly displays why he is one of the pioneers of the rap industry with the release of this album. The man simply does whatever he wants with his music and does not fear what the public outcry will be like.
He created an entirely unique sound for this project and did not disappoint. His ability to tell stories is highlighted in a major way throughout the CD, and the different samples and sound bites of famous individuals keeps listeners engaged at all times.
His hit single, “The Blacker the Berry,” released prior to the album’s unveiling to get a bit of hype surrounding it. Kendrick assaults the listeners with his electric metaphors and pairs them beautifully with a rugged beat that leaves heads helplessly bobbing to the rhythm.
His emotion and passion are more than obvious in this track, but sadly enough, it is comfortably tucked away toward the end of the album, forcing listeners to wait patiently.
This album is a gorgeous reason to practice your active listening skills. Kendrick Lamar’s intent is very clear. Equality and anti-violence are the staple subjects, and his lyricism does much more than just evoke thought.
It creates strong emotional vibes and will make listeners hit repeat over and over again. Although the album is rather graphic, the message is much-needed and is delivered masterfully.
With his release of To Pimp a Butterfly, Kendrick should go ahead and buy his ticket to the Grammy Awards right now.
