The surprise album from the legend approved, new West Coast master, Kendrick Lamar. If I'm being honest, I was sad that the album dropped a week earlier than its original release date but I'm over it now because this meant that we got to hear the album earlier that originally anticipated.
To Pimp A Butterfly, I'd say that is a follow on from Kendrick's second album, good kid, m.A.A.d city. It's a mad, thought provoking and groundbreaking combination. Kendrick Lamar constantly proved to be one of the best to be taken seriously because he preaches the truth! This album is a true masterpiece of music.
In this review, I'm going to list my 10 favourite featuring artists and the best final surprise on the FINAL track.
Firstly, there are numerous artists on this album which makes it even incredible! Kendrick collaborated with some of hip-hop's greatest as the list of collaborations goes across the musical spectrum!
- Snoop Dogg - is one of the West Coast legends that helped transfer the "West Coast touch" onto Kendrick. He's always been Kendrick's supporter. He laid some bars on the Institutionalized track.
- Flying Lotus - well, I've never heard of him until he appeared on Kendrick's album and track Never Catch Me. However, I loved and still love his aunt, the late Alice Coltrane's jazz pieces. I'm also in love with Wesley's Theory, so thank you for producing that!
- Terrace Martin - having appeared on mAAd city, Martin reappeared again on To Pimp A Butterfly, as he helped with the funky and jazzy grooves of the album. Martin is also influenced by the late jazz Miles Davis.
- Anna Wise - offered her lovely vocals on the Institutionalized and These Walls tracks. She also did some vocals on the mAAd city album.
- Rapsody - females are underrated way too much! Rapsody, who's one of my favourite MCs' focused on skin colour on the track of Complexion (A Zulu Love). Though the track name, itself, should've have given you a clue.
- Bilal - former member of the Soulquarians, which also included Erykah Badu. Bilal features on These Walls and Institutionalized. Give his A Love Surreal album a listen too.
- Lalah Hathaway - as a backup vocalist, she lends her pipes to Complexion (A Zulu Love) and apparently, more importantly, it's her 2008 song; On Your Own that serves as the foundation of Momma.
- Thundercat - a singer/songwriter. This guy is a SICK bass player! He accompanies on Wesley's Theory and These Walls. You could say that he's bass playing is... F L A W L E S S.
- Ron Isley - well, omfg he and James Fauntleroy...one the same track! How Much A Dollar Cost, these two both have splendid voices. Isley is somewhat of one of my favourite soul legends because of Twist and Shout (yes, it the Isley Brothers that made this a hit before the Beatles).
- Tupac Shakur - last but not least, ladies and gentlemen... Kendrick has relentlessly stated Tupac as his idol and it's no wonder that the track that Tupac appears on is Mortal Man. This track touches on the necessity of Tupac's career and it's also the longest and final track on To Pimp A Butterfly, as it is 12 minutes long. Ending with an interview as Kendrick asks the legendary rapper, questions on opportunity, evil and how he, Kendrick can understand his own place in hip hop. The true and final move, Kendrick does is call out "Pac" as it begs to spend more time with his hero.
On Your Own
Moreover, To Pimp A Butterfly kind of lines with Tupac's Me Against The World album as Kendrick's album was released March 16th, 2015; whereas' Tupac's was released March 14th, 1995. It had been the 20th anniversary of Me Against The World.
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