To Pimp A Butterfly

“To Pimp a Butterfly” is the third studio album by American rapper Kendrick Lamar1. The album was released on March 24, 20152. The recording sessions for the album took place at various studios throughout the United States13.

The album was a two-year process of Kendrick having a vision of what he wanted to talk about and how he could execute that4. He worked with the best musicians in his own backyard from L.A. — Sounwave, Terrace Martin, Kamasi Washington, Robert Glasper4. The production also involved several other high-profile hip hop producers, as well as executive production from Dr. Dre and Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith1.

The album is a deep character study that runs throughout the narrative2. It’s a story of Kendrick tackling his own insecurities, but also making it relatable to the listener4. The whole body of the story is Kendrick basically accepting his role as a leader, learning how to accept it, and appreciating it and not running away from it4.

The album took more than three years to make, involving multiple studios in LA, New York, Washington and St Louis, as well as Lamar’s tour bus3. The album was made from scratch, with Kendrick writing to a drum loop over and over again until it felt right4.

Upon its release, “To Pimp a Butterfly” received widespread acclaim from critics and was also a commercial success4. The album is considered a classic and has been compared to the likes of Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, and Nas2.