Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp A Butterfly |OT| It's The American Dream
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GKMC was the same. The skits were cool the first few times, but eventually I just wanted to hear the songs so I edited that shit out. Of course I kept the original version as well. I'm already working on the edited version of TPAB.
I like rap but I also like a bunch of music. for me this album is just Kendrick. it pretty much transcends any genre label you want to put on it.
also just to say this I'm probably going to listen to section.80 and gkmc more than this, but when I listen to tpab it'll be the full album or nothing. it's just one of those. it'll probably be my go-to album for any 2 hour+ car rides I take for the foreseeable future.
Pinko Marx
Banned
I don't see how people think this album is mellow at all.
Wesley's Theory
King Kunta
u
Blacker the Berry.
These are some HARD HITTING tracks.
Holy shit this makes me happy, this is how I listen to almost all of my music, full album playthroughs. Fuck I'm hyped.
compared to other music in current landscape? I can see how some might see it as mellow.
Drake's new mixtape? That shit is mellow to me.
wtf nigga what? why ill agree some ppl going overboard with this album saying its bad is like...what? u may not fuck wit it but at least respect what it is damn
theignoramus
Member
Im saying, the only song off GKMC that I really had to take time to digest was Dyin of Thirst.
breakfuss
Member
LOL it's crazy because when I was arguing that it still had some of that frenetic Kendrick I listed these very songs. Guess some people just wanted more of that.
what's your favorite artist?
On my first listen of the album I only really enjoyed "These Walls", "Alright", "For Sale?" and "How much a dollar cost"
Idk... I feel like the concept of this album is kinda weak.
Edit: WOW.. there's people that think this album is better than GKMC? WTF
Edit2: Add Mortal Men to that list.
Idk... I feel like the concept of this album is kinda weak.
Edit: WOW.. there's people that think this album is better than GKMC? WTF
Edit2: Add Mortal Men to that list.
People who talking about how TPAB is weak would go nuts in the early 90s when albums like Bizarre Ride and The Low End Theory came out.
Not every hip hop album got to be TURNT UP and aggressive to make a point. Soul on Ice had mellow type of beats but the content was aggressive and controversial as hell.
Not every hip hop album got to be TURNT UP and aggressive to make a point. Soul on Ice had mellow type of beats but the content was aggressive and controversial as hell.
For me, Overly Dedicated will forever be my favorite thing Kendrick has done. It hits every string with me (heavy West Coast vibe), but the most impressive thing about him is his ability to evolve not just as a rapper but a human being. It's too early to say whether or not this album is his greatest, but right now it does feel like something for the ages. Kendrick Lamar has done more in five years than most rappers do in their whole careers.
Also, I understand why it's not in the album, but I really want a mastered copy of his Colbert performance. I thought that was really spectacular, I think the girl doing backup is in this album which is cool, she has a great voice. And yes, I'll repeat what every one's said about Mortal Man, it left me speechless and sent coldness down my spine.
Also, I understand why it's not in the album, but I really want a mastered copy of his Colbert performance. I thought that was really spectacular, I think the girl doing backup is in this album which is cool, she has a great voice. And yes, I'll repeat what every one's said about Mortal Man, it left me speechless and sent coldness down my spine.
hugocésar;156222262 said:
She (Anna Wise) is heavily featured in the album, thank the lord. I even enjoyed Wise in Institutionalised, which a lot of people didn't care for, I'm sure. The Colbert track is amazing, and it should have been a bonus track (I've been saying this a lot). Please do a deluxe version K.Dot!
My interpretation of To Pimp a Butterfly's concept (shamelessly stolen from Rap Genius):
The Butterflies become pimped by the caterpillars.
A pimp has a women have sex to get money to give to the pimp.
Butterflies = Rappers/Entertainers
Caterpillar = Consumer/Hood/Ordinary People
So the hood produces a superstar to try and help get the hood out the cycle, but the hood perpetuates the cycle by glorifying the same thing keeping them down in the first thing.
Capitalism is what has made the pay gap so large and people so poor, but poor people want to hear rappers talk about how much money they have.
Black people are the main race getting killed by gang violence, but its also the same race that wants to hear someone talk about how they bang and how gangsta they are.
This creates a stereotype in the mainstream rap, a rapper must rap about certain topics, he must glorify egotistical and materialistic ideals or else hes perceived as corny, (The caterpillar sees the butterfly as weak).
This goes deeper than the media too, in the community, black men are pressured into pretending to be tough, have money, etc. or else theyre weak.
Seems like a never-ending cycle but Kendrick has finally found the answer which he shares to Tupac at the end of the poem.
The Butterflies become pimped by the caterpillars.
A pimp has a women have sex to get money to give to the pimp.
Butterflies = Rappers/Entertainers
Caterpillar = Consumer/Hood/Ordinary People
So the hood produces a superstar to try and help get the hood out the cycle, but the hood perpetuates the cycle by glorifying the same thing keeping them down in the first thing.
Capitalism is what has made the pay gap so large and people so poor, but poor people want to hear rappers talk about how much money they have.
Black people are the main race getting killed by gang violence, but its also the same race that wants to hear someone talk about how they bang and how gangsta they are.
This creates a stereotype in the mainstream rap, a rapper must rap about certain topics, he must glorify egotistical and materialistic ideals or else hes perceived as corny, (The caterpillar sees the butterfly as weak).
This goes deeper than the media too, in the community, black men are pressured into pretending to be tough, have money, etc. or else theyre weak.
Seems like a never-ending cycle but Kendrick has finally found the answer which he shares to Tupac at the end of the poem.
Veritigo_X
Member
No word on a vinyl release for this yet? I'm kinda surprised nothing's been said since even Section 80 got a pressing.
I dunno. I think Bizarre Ride II and Low End are classics, but I also think TPAB kinda sucks.
Pinko Marx
Banned
Alright is my shit. Pharrel seems to have a direct line to my ear, whatever he touches is fucking gold in my eyes.
depths20XX
Member
Yeah, those albums are actually enjoyable to listen to.
to each it's own...I know a few posts before I said to let the album marinate...but it's already competing to top GKMC...and I fucking love that album.
richardhawk
Member
Kendrick.
Grover Cleveland
Member
The whole "wow you like/dislike thing? You must like/dislike other thing and not be a real fan of things" way of taking someone's opinion of something and extrapolating it out across the rest of the medium be it music, film or literature is stupid full stop.
serenewarfare
Banned
It's on TIDAL streaming. That service streams FLAC.
Still making my way through a first listen. It's an interesting album..nothing like the first. It's Incredibly introspective, provides a unique, raw perspective, and i commend him for trying something like this as his second album. Itll take some time to digest.
My only gripe so far is the way he sounds on certain tracks. I know its done on purpose but im not sure it works with the track itselt. Again i haven't even heard the whole thing yet. Lol
My only gripe so far is the way he sounds on certain tracks. I know its done on purpose but im not sure it works with the track itselt. Again i haven't even heard the whole thing yet. Lol
Artofwar420
Member
This album is tight; it flows so well. I get why some people don't like it, so trying to convince you otherwise doesn't make sense. I like it, you might not. That's that.
theignoramus
Member
Entertainment Weekly has a good conversation piece on the album. It's not really a review, just a conversation between one of their senior writers and an editorial assistant, talking about their initial impressions.
http://www.ew.com/article/2015/03/16/ew-reacts-kendrick-lamar-pimp-butterfly
I get the feeling the thoughts conveyed by these two will be pretty common in critical circles.
http://www.ew.com/article/2015/03/16/ew-reacts-kendrick-lamar-pimp-butterfly
I get the feeling the thoughts conveyed by these two will be pretty common in critical circles.
FootballFan
Member
Really not liking this, unfortunately.
Can't pinpoint why, I'll have to listen to it again.
Can't pinpoint why, I'll have to listen to it again.
Yeap. Great song.
metalslimer
Member
You Aint Gotta Lie feels a little out of place coming right off Blacker the Berry but I really like it along with Complexion.
I haven't been this obsessed with an album in a long time.
I haven't been this obsessed with an album in a long time.
"Oh America, you bad bitch, I the picked cotton that made you rich
Now my dick ain't free"
The album is definitely growing on me but it's still something that I like the idea of more than the execution. If you dig the funk, jazz and soul influence that's plastered all over the album it'd be cool though. I find it a lot more enjoyable to listen to what Kendrick is saying more than the music itself eg. I like the idea of both For Free? and For Sale? but both have hooks I can't deal with. The album itself feels like Kendrick was having an existential crisis after a show, started reflecting, went on a trip (spiritual/drug induced?) and decided to write it all down.
I'll probably come back to listen to These Walls, Alright, How Much a Dollar Cost, The Blacker The Berry, You Ain't Gotta Lie and i. Still feeling S80 and GKMC over this.
None of it is epileptic banger material, that's why.
I'll probably come back to listen to These Walls, Alright, How Much a Dollar Cost, The Blacker The Berry, You Ain't Gotta Lie and i. Still feeling S80 and GKMC over this.
None of it is epileptic banger material, that's why.
Yaphett Kotto
Member
Whole album is fire.
Can't stop listening to it.
This is up there with Section 80 for me, my favorite album ever, and that is a hard tally to make.
I already know this is going to be a played out album for me by the end of the year. Too good.
Its not even a snap judgment for me. I know when an album is going to be one of my favorites or not. This is definitely up there for me. Of course, jazz is not for everyone and the topics Kendrick touch is not everyone's tea, but I find it to definitely be up there with his other projects.
Can't stop listening to it.
This is up there with Section 80 for me, my favorite album ever, and that is a hard tally to make.
I already know this is going to be a played out album for me by the end of the year. Too good.
Its not even a snap judgment for me. I know when an album is going to be one of my favorites or not. This is definitely up there for me. Of course, jazz is not for everyone and the topics Kendrick touch is not everyone's tea, but I find it to definitely be up there with his other projects.
Rock And Roll
Member
Just finished my first listen. I was concerned with the 80 minute length as I'm usually not a huge fan of long albums. However, this album pulls it off without ever being boring. Sonically it sounds amazing and I love the jazz influence, sounds a lot like McCoy Tyner piano trio, will be interesting to read who played on this (Brian Blade on drums?)
I do understand why people wouldn't like this album though. Personally I love the risks taken and I think it pays off spectacularly as it sounds completely unique.
I'll pay more attention to the lyrics and themes on the next couple of listens but for now, this album is fantastic. 9/10
I do understand why people wouldn't like this album though. Personally I love the risks taken and I think it pays off spectacularly as it sounds completely unique.
I'll pay more attention to the lyrics and themes on the next couple of listens but for now, this album is fantastic. 9/10
Mortal Man is becoming my favorite Kendrick anything. It's so good. Tbh the only tracks I don't love at this point are the interludes, u, and i (I do like For Sale, but it ain't all that--it is an interlude). I wanna say this whole album is about to knock Section.80 off the top spot, but they feel different enough to not be in competition with each other.
I don't get the joke.
While those songs may hit compared to the rest of TPAB, none of the songs go hard when you compare it to stuff Kanye has put out in the last 2 years, and the music that he's influenced. It's not an insult, I love Kanye, but I think I'm loving TPAB more than anything Kanye has put out since MBDTF.
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