To Pimp a Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar

A Storytelling Concept Like None Other

In a few short years, Kendrick Lamar's formidable talent and intelligence have taken him from a hip-hop-peasant to a hip-hop-King. With the year ending, Kendrick's third studio album, To Pimp a Butterfly, has been appearing on and topping most (if not all) Top Album lists. A landmark album and a landmark artist, without a doubt.

Kendrick made his way out of Compton, a journey and life depicted in his previous album, good kid, m.A.A.d city. He has proven his game and found fame and fortune. Returning to his roots, Kendrick looks both inward and outward: Kendrick voices poignant political, cultural, and personal criticisms while illuminating contradictions. At other points, he reflects on and celebrates his individual, cultural, and racial heritage.

The themes and experiences found in To Pimp a Butterfly reach so broadly in terms of Black Culture, music, social injustice, and emotion.However, all of its tracks are voiced astonishingly cohesively through an honest, fearful, and unapologetic lens sounding like the best of funk, soul, jazz, and hip hop. Recognizing both the despised and the beautiful within himself, his culture, and all that is around him, we're given a chillingly convincing masterpiece by the only one that could provide it: Kendrick Lamar, by far, realest Negus alive.