To Pimp A Butterfly Analysis

He quotes, “We all got dreams and we all start reaching” (L. 24), expressing dreams becoming reality. Lights are spotlighted fame, while the money being thrown is income. Drake quotes “Housekeeping knocking to see if all ya”ll decent” (L. 25), suggesting party lifestyles. Being intoxicated, while not remembering who the partner was the night prior. It's hard to leave a surreal occupation with difficulties, which is expressed in “Houstatlantavegas”.

Kendrick Lamar was born on June 17, 1987. His nickname was K Dot and his country of residence is the U.S.

Lamar criticizes the state of contemporary politics in the track “Hood Politics.” He points out that the system of government is set up to keep caterpillars and butterflies in their state of, in the instance of the caterpillar, shunned and for the butterfly remaining pimped. “From Compton to Congress, it’s set trippin’ all around/Ain’t nothin' new but a flow of new DemoCrips and ReBloodlicans/Red state versus a blue state, which one you governin’?/They give us guns and drugs, call us thugs.” Lamar believes that all politicians are the same, regardless of party.

In the concept album, good kid m.A.A.d city, Kendrick Lamar creates an autobiographical narrative that describes the societal pressures of growing up as a black teenager in Compton, and how his self-awareness and musical passion allowed him to escape from the city’s cycle of violence. Through the album’s storyline Kendrick makes the case that, despite coming from a hedonistic, gang infested city, he is able to transform into a puritan. Kendrick narrates this story through several different perspectives, including actual people from his life as well as his own psyche. Kendrick Lamar mainly invokes the persona of K.Dot, who is based on Kendrick’s actual seventeen year old self. This story begins from the first person perspective of naive K.Dot, who is characterized by a raspy, inflicted voice. The lyrics of this character show the ignorance and lack of direction in his life, as well his self-doubts and impressionability. It is eventually revealed that K.Dot has a passion for music. While K.Dot is a good kid at heart who is not gang affiliated, his innocence is tainted by the desires of the Compton lifestyle. After a violent encounter, a transformation begins to occurs from within K.Dot. He realizes that the negative influences of gang culture have corrupted him,

In the essay, “Hip-Hop’s Betrayal Of Black Women”(221), by Jennifer McLune, she vents her feelings regarding hip-hop songs that are rhythmically diminishing the value of black women. She provides example on how the lyrics are being voiced and how hip-hop artists do not seem to care. Kevin Powell in “Notes of a Hip Hop Head” writes, “Indeed, like rock and roll, hip-hop sometimes makes you think we men don’t like women much at all, except to objectify them as trophy pieces or, as contemporary vernacular mandates, as baby mommas, chicken heads, or bitches” (221). There have been apologizes for what the rappers have said but nothing to resolve the dehumanization of black women. McLune informs the readers that hip-hop singers belittle black women and make them invisible. Jay-Z, a popular hip-hop artist is brought to center stage by McLune. The essay shows the example of a part of Jay-Z song that says, “I pimp hard on a trick, look Fuck if your leg broke bitch hop on your good foot” (222). This lyric is a perfect example of how hip-hop artist have no remorse in the words they sing. The hurt feelings and loss of self-esteem black women suffer, is of no concern to the rappers. McLune expresses that those who are underground hip-hop artist follow the footsteps on being sexist and using crude words in their lyrics just because they yearn and dream of being in the spotlight. Upcoming rappers want to be loved like Jay-Z and other famous notorious rappers.

It is a given that when people hear the term “hip-hop” the first image that comes to mind is that of an uneducated, jobless, violent thug with a gun control issue. This stigma is embedded in today’s society because of artist such as Young Jeezy, 50 Cent, Ice Cube, etc. that glamorize the calling of picking up a gun and “hustling” to sell drugs on the streets. This can be seen in a number of songs, but one song that can be picked out of the lineup is Young Jeezy’s Soul Survivor. “But if you lookin' for me I'll be on the block / With my thang cocked possibly sittin' on a drop, now/ 'Cuz I'm a rida/' Cuz er'ybody know the game don't stop/ Tryin' to make it to the top 'fore your ass get popped, now/ If you a rida” There is not much depth to this song, the story behind this song is that most youths that belong to the streets of ghetto usually get into the business of selling drugs to get quick cash. When he mentions “sittin’ of the drop” he is referring to the drug deal location, which shows how most rap has a criminal element to it. Through all of the “gangsta” glorification throughout “hip-hop” from to the gun slinging and alcohol consumption Lupe took a different

In his song titled “m.A.A.d city” he talks about his early memories, witnessing murders when he was only nine years’ old, “Seen a light-skinned n***a with his brains blown out” (Lamar). Principally as a result of his early traumas, Kendrick is against these murders and gang activities, while seeking hope of peaceful living conditions in these neighborhoods. His intention is to unify the street gangs, in order to stop the violence and establish collective peace within these communities. In his poem from To Pimp a Butterfly, he clarifies his approach on this

The connection that is drawn between the formerly economically challenged rapper and the child whose parent works two jobs, and can’t pay his child’s college tuition is paramount in making this point. The illusion of the American dream is set through many hip-hop songs. The picture of the evolution of the rags to riches story is set by many rappers in current hip-hop culture, this picture is the basic premise

Explaining how Lamar is a prisoner to the conditions he was born into, son of a gangbanger in Compton, childhood friends dead or drugged out. Lamar is a product of the ghetto where his heroes are the musicians who escaped such as Tupac Shakur. Just like his heroes, Lamar transformed music into an art through his memories, while maintaining his roots where he has tried to escape the streets. Knowing that when he reaches his goal he has to address issues such as race, like in "To Pimp A Butterfly" where it's shaped by beliefs and biography (Sorensen,

Almost 20 years to the day of it’s release, Kendrick Lamar’s ‘To Pimp a Butterfly’ (TPAB) was released. Between the release of his previous album and the recording of TPAB Kendrick paid a visit to South Africa. As he toured the country - visiting historic sites such as Nelson Mandela's jail cell on Robben Island - his worldview broadened, and so did his music. The trip led Kendrick to scrap "two or three albums worth of material," according to engineer/mixer Derek "MixedByAli" Ali. Kendrick wanted to make music that reflected the sounds of his upbringing in Compton, Calif. He began to listen to the likes of Sly Stone, Donald Byrd and Miles Davis. Kendrick incorporated

Unlike many other mainstream artists, Kendrick Lamar attaches great importance to the lyrics of his songs. Lamar’s song “DNA”, released last April, became a real breakthrough in the world of hip-hop music. In this song, Lamar reflects on various social issues faced by the modern African-American community of the USA. The song’s lyrics, as well as the music video, portrays the most common stereotypes and biases labeled to the African-American community. The central aim of the song is to sarcastically demonstrate the image of African-Americans as they are viewed by biased media. By the use of symbolical sarcasm and double meanings, Lamar underlines the acuteness of the race inequality that remains existing in the modern America.

The next segment included, “Ha. Butterflies. Stand on walls, do that dance. Yeah… Buddy’s cool.” This was to me very jumbled. In this piece, I would have to say that Freud would say that unconsciously, there was a link between a butterfly and me. To

At this moment, Kendrick’s monologue addresses the battle encountered by African Americans today and the frustration that comes with wanting and deserving more than they have. The backing vocals in this section of the song imply that American society wants African Americans to submit to it and praise it, even though many of them have suffered from it. This introduction signifies how dazed society is to the black people and how there is a constant battle between

this song gives one a sense of hope and helps to build faith in the future. Kendrick describes the feeling of despair he once had to overcome in order to get him to where he is today. He also talks about the “evils of Lucy”, a nickname for the Devil Lucifer,who continuously tries to destroy his faith and lead him closer to the path of destruction, but how God got him through the tough times. The message of this song is to assure anyone listening that even though they are going through a hard patch, and they are the minority of society, he assures them that they will be alright, similar to the famous saying, “there’s always a light at the end of the

In modern music, the message of the song tends to be drowned out by its ability to sell. In order to determine the substance of a piece of music, one must take a critical look at the work and the message therein. Chamillionaire’s song, “Good Morning” depicts the good life in such a way that one must love themselves, as well as their haters, in order to live well. The video portrays Chamillionaire’s life of excess, including depictions of expensive cars, designer clothes, diamonds, and other luxuries to suggest that a life well lived is a materialistic one.