Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly (2LP)

Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly (2015)

Winner of the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Rap Album and ranked #19 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

To Pimp a Butterfly stands as a dense, multifaceted document of Black American life, shifting away from the linear narrative of his debut toward a sprawling exploration of fame, depression, and cultural heritage. The record incorporates a heavy influence from jazz, G-funk, and avant-garde soul, featuring contributions from Thundercat, Kamasi Washington, and Flying Lotus. It operates as a continuous suite, anchored by a recurring poem that only resolves in the final track’s interview with Tupac Shakur. The vinyl edition is essential for navigating this complexity; the physical act of flipping through four sides mirrors the intentional, chapter-based structure of the music. Analog playback brings a necessary warmth to the live instrumentation, particularly the thick, walking basslines and the frantic, improvised saxophone flourishes that define the record’s sonic identity. This pressing ensures the intricate layers of spoken word and multi-tracked vocals remain distinct within the soundstage.

Album Highlights:

• Extensive jazz and funk fusion production
• Features the anthem 'Alright' and 'King Kunta'
• Double LP set for maximum dynamic range

Tracklist

Side A

• Wesley's Theory
• For Free? (Interlude)
• King Kunta
• Institutionalized
• These Walls

Side B

• u
• Alright
• For Sale? (Interlude)
• Momma

Side C

• Hood Politics
• How Much A Dollar Cost
• Complexion (A Zulu Love)
• The Blacker The Berry

Side D

• You Ain't Gotta Lie (Momma Said)
• i
• Mortal Man

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