"Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp a Butterfly" Not the Greatest Album of all Time


     In terms of how useful, relevant or necessary this review is, I can safely say it's not to all three of those questions. Obviously, as someone who tries to stay informed culturally, I know who Kendrick Lamar is, I listen to some of his songs, but to say that I am a fan of his, or even equipped to properly review an album of his would be a ridiculous claim to make. Even still, I do like some of the songs off of this album, and of course it is regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time, so I'm inclined to give it a listen at my friend Sweaty's behest. So without further ado, my track-by-track review.

To Pimp a Butterfly - Kendrick Lamar

Wesley's Theory - 75/100 I will be hated if I say that I liked the intro of this song the best out of this entire song, and I won't because it feels disrespectful to the rest of the song, which I actually enjoy a decent amount. A lot of it is definitely the instrumentals by Thundercat but I think the chorus to this song is pretty good too.

For Free? - Interlude N/A What.

King Kunta - 80/100 You know this was one of the first Kendrick Lamar songs I've ever heard? I was like thirteen and my brother had it downloaded on the hand me down iPod touch he gave me. Could I explain to you why it's stuck with my all these years? No idea, but I still think it's a good song. 

Institutionalized -50/100 I won't go as far to call this song a nothing burger because obviously important things are happening lyrically but as far as it goes as a song I don't really get much out of it. 

These Walls - 75/100 I'm not saying Thundercat is really elevating these tracks for me, but they're certainly doing plenty of the heavy lifting in my mind.

u - 40/100 This song just feels pretty disconnected for me. Some of the parts interest me but I think it suffers from a lack of cohesion that kills any chance on it being enjoyable. 

Alright - 85/100 What can I say man this song's just hype. I mean there's not much else to it this was also one of the other songs I knew before this albums release and yeah it's good. It's one of the songs off of this album that I'd listen to again, 

For Sale? - Interlude N/A Despite being an interlude I think kind of enjoy this one, a lot more than the other interlude at least. I appreciate the dreamier elements.

Momma - 50/100 I'm afraid another candidate in the "went as fast as it came" category for songs. 

Hood Politics - 50/100 Yeah I'm afraid I just don't have much to say for this song.

How Much a Dollar Cost - 75/100 I find myself pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this song and the story that came along with it.

Complexion (A Zulu Love) - 75/100  That line about the black James Bond really made me think about how it just like hasn't happened yet somehow?

The Blacker the Berry - 65/100 I think the rage and the beat fit quite well with the themes of what Kendrick is Rapping.

You Ain't Gonna Lie (Momma Said) - 75/100 A pretty smooth and solid track

i - 85/100 Further proof people should just rap over instruments like the electric guitar more often. The skit is fine but the first part might be the highlight of the album in my eyes.

Mortal Man - 60/100 Not really sure how to rate this song as a "song" especially considering it's length so uhhh here. 

Final Score: 70/100

    If you take any of my scores even remotely seriously about this album then you're just setting yourself up for disappointment. I mean I don't even enjoy rap music that much so why would you expect me to have any real compelling thoughts on this album. Anyways it certainly is not my favourite album of time nor would I say it's particularly easy to get through, so I'm not sure how much relisten value it has to me. Could you argue I could have made the scores of this album lower? Yeah but frankly my score for this album doesn't mean that much to me so it would have mostly just been lower to be contrarian and to be like "err I don't like rapping at all, go sing Mr. Lamar" or something dumb like that. So that's it.

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