To Pimp A Butterfly
by Kendrick Lamar
User Score
9.0

Universal acclaim- based on 4386 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3,962 out of 4386
  2. Mixed: 91 out of 4386
  3. Negative: 333 out of 4386
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  1. danielwiles
    Apr 19, 2015
    3
    How this has both a higher user and critic score than "good kid, mAAd city" I'll never know. It's baffling. I don't know how it has a higher score than "Section.80" either! You have to applaud Kendrick for throwing his body and soul into the project and his passion for the subject matter and sound, but it just doesn't work. I feel this got so much high ratings because of his previousHow this has both a higher user and critic score than "good kid, mAAd city" I'll never know. It's baffling. I don't know how it has a higher score than "Section.80" either! You have to applaud Kendrick for throwing his body and soul into the project and his passion for the subject matter and sound, but it just doesn't work. I feel this got so much high ratings because of his previous album, just because it's Kendrick.

    To listen to Kendrick since Overly Dedicated, and hear him change is good, but with this album he changes too much and loses sight of his original sound.

    P.S I don't want to bring race into it but the majority of this album is too much centred on race, when Hip Hop is supposed to be about bringing people together, this album sends a segregating message often with such tracks like "Blacker the berry" and the opening lines "Every **** is a star." (repeated)

    3/10 for King Kunta and the passion. But that is the only pluses I can give to this album.    … Expand
  2. Junghova
    Apr 7, 2015
    2
    I am all for Kendrick finding his own lane and such, but this album is so over the top over rated I do not even know where to begin. I have no problem with his delivery or lyrics, but musically this album blows and after the first listen the only thing I could come up with with was "what the hell was that".....and that is not in a good way. Horrible and very forgettable.
  3. Yahia21
    May 28, 2020
    2
    Absolutely garbage. Despite the numerous positive reviews on this album, I found this super boring. Kendrick, who's known for being an incredible lyricist from his previous works, "To Pimp A Butterfly" though is stupid and absurd. He tried to talk about some interesting topics but failed massively to share his ideas. Let's not forget the production also which was catastrophic. HorribleAbsolutely garbage. Despite the numerous positive reviews on this album, I found this super boring. Kendrick, who's known for being an incredible lyricist from his previous works, "To Pimp A Butterfly" though is stupid and absurd. He tried to talk about some interesting topics but failed massively to share his ideas. Let's not forget the production also which was catastrophic. Horrible beats, Horrible features. I'll never understand how anyone can sit on their ass and actually vibe to this piece of crap. Disappointing. I'll try again to hear this **** if I ever want to change my opinion on it.… Expand
  4. Cryptoadamguy
    Jun 12, 2018
    0
    Didnt really like the album, Must not be for me dont really get the hype found it to be quite bad
  5. brainfeeder
    Mar 18, 2015
    0
    Did not meet my expectations. he did not reach his lyrical ability on this album and it really disappoints me. Compared to GKMC, which was very alive, it made you want to sing along and what was being said could speak more than a picture.
  6. RubberBandMan
    Mar 18, 2015
    0
    Kendrick Lamar was very experimental with this album. Reminded me of Yeezus although this album was very boring compared to Yeezus. I do not believe Kendrick has fallen off, I just believe he has taken the entirely wrong route with this album. A lot seem to enjoy it, but I cannot say the same
  7. The_Man_With_No
    Apr 3, 2015
    0
    Seriously, enjoyed 1/16 songs on here. Everyone giving it a 10/10 or above a 5 is just some white kid who has no true appreciation for this genre, it is terrible and Lamar has found a way to slip from the previous album by a lot. I can't find a single song where I don't cringe at least once, his flow is about the best part of the album itself and even then he's sorely lacking. His lyricsSeriously, enjoyed 1/16 songs on here. Everyone giving it a 10/10 or above a 5 is just some white kid who has no true appreciation for this genre, it is terrible and Lamar has found a way to slip from the previous album by a lot. I can't find a single song where I don't cringe at least once, his flow is about the best part of the album itself and even then he's sorely lacking. His lyrics are awful, his tone is meh, and the overall product is laughable. If this sets the standard for albums in 2015, it looks like Underground will be the only good thing this year.… Expand
  8. ArturWLM
    Aug 25, 2020
    0
    This is just cRAP. Not music. This autotune voice so awful. I guess rate 96% deserve "Violator" from Depeche mode or "The Dark Side of the moon", not this nonense.
  9. junodaisy
    Mar 18, 2015
    0
    I like when Kendrick raps and paints pictures with his stories. How Much A Dollar Cost is a fantastic hip hop record. However, I don't like it when Kendrick uses gimmicky voices and overly experimental production. Critics and music snobs will eat it up though. I also do not care for the spoken word bits on this album. He's trying too hard to be artsy and different on this project. ForI like when Kendrick raps and paints pictures with his stories. How Much A Dollar Cost is a fantastic hip hop record. However, I don't like it when Kendrick uses gimmicky voices and overly experimental production. Critics and music snobs will eat it up though. I also do not care for the spoken word bits on this album. He's trying too hard to be artsy and different on this project. For Free? Interlude is very cringe worthy. He's trying to be tongue-in-cheek with that spoken word Def Poetry Jam style interlude, but it falls very flat like Neil Patrick Harris hosting the Oscars.

    Very disappointed with this project.    … Expand
  10. Yeelect
    Mar 18, 2015
    0
    Horrible album. He definitely went down hill with this one in my opinion. If he would have created a good kid maad city part 2, I would have fell inlove with it. but this seems very boring.
  11. popo300
    Mar 19, 2015
    0
    The album was really boring. Kendrick should stick to making bangers like TBTB, this is music made for critics to like and is ignoring the consumer totally.
  12. lfarzadl
    Jan 25, 2020
    0
    Overrated album that has some nice instrumentals, flows, and verses here and there but I mostly just found myself bored throughout.
  13. itachiuchiha007
    Jan 23, 2020
    0
    when i feel like sleeping i put this album on. this is so boring i swear ****
  14. emilbodsater
    Mar 29, 2015
    3
    I can't agree at all with the majority, this album was nothing but a big pile of **** Boring beats with mediocre lyrics, same old flow with one of the most annoying voices ever, and his delivery isn't something special. I read an review here where someone said that this is the best rap album of this generation, that's just so wrong, GKMC and Section.80 was easily better than this, SSLP,I can't agree at all with the majority, this album was nothing but a big pile of **** Boring beats with mediocre lyrics, same old flow with one of the most annoying voices ever, and his delivery isn't something special. I read an review here where someone said that this is the best rap album of this generation, that's just so wrong, GKMC and Section.80 was easily better than this, SSLP, MMLP, TES, Relapse, Recovery and MMLP2 are all better than these, Jay has numerous albums better than this, so does Nas and then there's a lot of underground rappers that produce better music then **** like this, especially Logic, Immortal Technique, Vinnie Paz and R.A. The Rugged Man.

    Kendrick is so damn overrated.    … Expand
  15. AaronM
    Dec 29, 2015
    2
    There is nothing memorable about this album. I have a distaste for meaningless rap and that's all To Pimp A Buttlerfly is. While it is admirable to change the sound of the music created, it fails miserably as far as substance, direction, and cohesiveness. I was expecting some far better after Good Kid, Mad City.
  16. KR1527
    Sep 11, 2015
    3
    I was a huge fan of Section 80 and good kid, m.A.A.d city but this album is so hard to listen to. I find it way too politically themed and no fun. Very disappointed in this album.
  17. Jiano74
    Nov 10, 2016
    3
    This album is nothing special. As someone who grew up listening to Eminem, that is what I class as brilliant rap music, that and the work of 2Pac and Biggie but this has to be one of the most overrated albums of all-time.
  18. JesusNN
    Aug 30, 2019
    0
    No me gusto absolutamente nada, tiene mejores álbumes que este, le doy un cero.
  19. RstJ
    May 29, 2015
    1
    Major disappointment for a guy who released one of the best rap records in history. There's no sense of humor on this record, just endless penthouse drunk guy ranting and a self-congratulatory/condemnation vibe that makes it clear Lamar thinks he's a tremendously influential role model rather than a dude with one good record and one piece of junk (this one). Yeah, he jazzily experimentsMajor disappointment for a guy who released one of the best rap records in history. There's no sense of humor on this record, just endless penthouse drunk guy ranting and a self-congratulatory/condemnation vibe that makes it clear Lamar thinks he's a tremendously influential role model rather than a dude with one good record and one piece of junk (this one). Yeah, he jazzily experiments all over the place, but there's not a single coherent piece on here. He never finds a rhythm, never finds an internal logic, and never tells a compelling hood story the way he did on m.a.a.d city. He'll cruise for several more years of this messy new "style" because no critic is ever going to stand up and tell him "this sucks." But do not expecting to be hearing many cuts from Butterfly bumping out of whatever speakers you happen to be in range of this summer. This is bound to be one of those records that everybody loves--and nobody listens to.

    2015's biggest disappointment.    … Expand
  20. JaneMetascore
    Dec 18, 2019
    2
    Kendrick doesn't live up to the promise of P.E., Wu-Tang, Pac, and Dre. The more fans know about him the less pleasing is this recording. This music is no longer groundbreaking, and its initial boringness, or repetition, is now childishly simple. When audiences respond to Lamar they have given up on Hip-Hop, like its kiddie Jackson 5, or just crap.
  21. JimNielsen
    Aug 31, 2019
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Not as good as he did in recent years...he did a very good job with Damn though… Expand
  22. Jackpatrick
    Oct 13, 2019
    1
    Not good at all defo not 5th best of all time, gives me a headache to listen to it
  23. Malachi14
    Jan 2, 2020
    3
    Overrated album that has some nice instrumentals, flows, and verses here and there but I mostly just found myself bored throughout.
  24. Lantsd11
    Jan 22, 2020
    1
    His other stuff is better and doesn’t even compare to this. Can’t find a song to like on this.
  25. Hkenn
    Nov 22, 2021
    0
    Makes me feel happy. You don't even need to understand the nuances or anything just chilling out with this still makes it good
  26. freddiegibbsfan
    Mar 28, 2022
    0
    horrible album, robbed nicki minaj at the grammies. All songs here are so bad.
  27. oldschoolrap
    Dec 7, 2022
    0
    Good in the US. Outside the country it's just an average album. In Europe it doens't work, I'm sorry. We don't have such situations here and the topics are just based on US society. In Europe this is just a good album, nothin more. Good sounds but in terms of message, it doesn't arrive anything.
  28. andrew9
    May 13, 2022
    0
    the greatest album of all time .
  29. rickymc
    Mar 29, 2023
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Honestly this album is extremely overrated, tried to get into but no just too boring… Expand

Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best Album of 2015
3
#3 Most Discussed Album of 2015
11
#11 Most Shared Album of 2015

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
96

Universal acclaim - based on 44 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 44 out of 44
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 44
  3. Negative: 0 out of 44
  1. The Wire
    May 15, 2015
    90
    Lamar offers a commitment to effect change through the work itself. Whether or not that's realistic ideal the delivery is so powerful it's hard not to get caught up in the rapture. [May 2015, p.50]
  2. The Source
    May 6, 2015
    90
    Each song means more with reference to the project's overall concept than it does as a standalone record, which shouldn't take away from its impact, but rather speak of the courage of its creator. [Apr-May 2015, p.87]
  3. Q Magazine
    Apr 29, 2015
    80
    It's a challenging, ambitious combination of words and music that becomes increasingly absorbing over time. [Jun 2015, p.103]
See all critic reviews »