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. CristianBernal
    Mar 24, 2015
    6
    This album is not an easy listen. A strong political theme is established throughout the album, combined with Kendrick Lamar's storytelling ability, and a jazz-infused funk, old-school vibe give immerse artistic value.
    Even with this it seems that the artist valued storytelling over delivery, and appeared to value overproduction than rhythm and listenability.
    This is definitely not an    This album is not an easy listen. A strong political theme is established throughout the album, combined with Kendrick Lamar's storytelling ability, and a jazz-infused funk, old-school vibe give immerse artistic value.
    Even with this it seems that the artist valued storytelling over delivery, and appeared to value overproduction than rhythm and listenability.
    This is definitely not an album you can sit down, listen to once, and fall in-love with. To Pimp A Butterfly seems to be the type of piece that needs to be thoroughly picked apart and digested. Unfortunately after two listens, I still don't believe Kendrick Lamar produced an album worth much more digestion.
    6/10    … Expand
  2. Dalifeblives
    Mar 17, 2015
    4
    I'll be honest. Not feeling it. I respect the lyrics but this album is to left field for me. On the music side I will give it points and I understand the artist in Kendrick putting this together. Overall the album flows together and the content is there. Production is so so but not a fan of the off beat flows at some points. Just not for me.
  3. Ghost100
    Mar 19, 2015
    6
    I'm clearly in the minority here in not enjoying the album so I guess it mainly comes down to whether or not you're on board with the new direction he's decided to take with this album. It's more jazz influenced than either GKMC or Section.80; it makes for interesting listening and has thought-provoking lyrics throughout. I recognize and appreciate what he was going for with this album andI'm clearly in the minority here in not enjoying the album so I guess it mainly comes down to whether or not you're on board with the new direction he's decided to take with this album. It's more jazz influenced than either GKMC or Section.80; it makes for interesting listening and has thought-provoking lyrics throughout. I recognize and appreciate what he was going for with this album and I give the album points for its boldness as well as its racially fueled lyrics, but I just can't get into it like I could with his previous work.… Expand
  4. Ajjivani
    Apr 28, 2015
    5
    Theres something about every hip hop album which makes it or breaks it, and thats whether or not the artist can exceed expectations. Now I know there are a whole bunch of Kendrick fans who will come out and say that this is a perfect album but let us be genuine for a second. I am a hip hop enthusiast, I love the art and I can not go one day with out it. There is any hip hop fan will sayTheres something about every hip hop album which makes it or breaks it, and thats whether or not the artist can exceed expectations. Now I know there are a whole bunch of Kendrick fans who will come out and say that this is a perfect album but let us be genuine for a second. I am a hip hop enthusiast, I love the art and I can not go one day with out it. There is any hip hop fan will say and that is that Good Kid m.A.A.d City was a masterpiece. While this record had great subliminal messages, a wonderful theme and was immensely critically acclaimed it didn't have the "i can listen to it everyday" aspect, and as I mentioned as a music fan that is something I need to do. Great Album to listen to once, but after hearing Kendrick's last few albums, and albums like Reasonable Doubt, Illmatic, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, it's unfair for me to rank this album anywhere near it. Just my opinion, but give it a listen and tell me what you think… Expand
  5. jareddbs
    Jun 27, 2015
    6
    the one thing about kendrick is that his sound sets him apart from others. there is no confusing kendrick with someone else. his second album is a solid one but i think kendrick got lost in trying to be too different rather than just focusing on the music. his first album is a hip hop classic. this is a solid release and i am excited to hear more from him in the future.
  6. atch
    Mar 18, 2015
    4
    Not feeling it after 4 listens. I could hop on the bandwagon and gush but let me say I'm a dedicated rap fan and a big K-Dot fan and I don't like this album. Why? The beats fall flat on 80% of the album and don't do it for me. It's a work of art and I respect that but I'm underwhelmed.
  7. notaworry
    Apr 23, 2015
    6
    Honestly, who is still listening to this? .
  8. SchroederRock
    Apr 18, 2015
    5
    I don't know if it's me and not being ready for it, but To Pimp A Butterfly was just outright weird to me. There are a couple cuts that I found good and worth re-listening to, but so much of this album alienates me. Maybe with more listens it could grow on me, but my first impressions aren't positive. That's unfortunate as I think Lamar has good talent.
  9. FredinToronto
    Jul 25, 2015
    6
    I could probably appreciate the genius and the fine music if it weren't for the puerile gutter language. Even if I could tolerate the excessive expletives I could never listen to this in public or in the company of others without suffering embarrassment.
  10. musicfan88
    Mar 24, 2015
    6
    Don't understand what people see in this. I grew up on 90s hip hop. That said, I'm a big Kendrick fan. It takes a lot to impress me. I thought his first two projects; OD and S80 were incredible efforts. Section 80 especially. And obviously GKMC was a great story and production. TPAB, however, is no where NEAR the caliber of what he's done. This album sounds like he was stuck in a studioDon't understand what people see in this. I grew up on 90s hip hop. That said, I'm a big Kendrick fan. It takes a lot to impress me. I thought his first two projects; OD and S80 were incredible efforts. Section 80 especially. And obviously GKMC was a great story and production. TPAB, however, is no where NEAR the caliber of what he's done. This album sounds like he was stuck in a studio with Flying Lotus and Thom Yorke, having pseudo intellectual and pretentious conversations about the current status of the world, their place in it, and their significance of their place. Writing on numerous topics, basically throwing his thoughts on paper, throwing it against a soundboard with odd production and hoping it sticks. Different isn't always better. And this is a perfect example of that. This is Kendrick's Yeezus. It's an experiment. An experience at best. If his message is that compelling and important, it shouldn't be hidden behind overly complicated production and song structure. And FHD gets a remarkably low critic rating, why? J. Cole created a book. With January 28th serving as the preface, and coming full circle with a reflective Love Yourz. The emotion of each song was only outdone by the perfectly fitting emotion of the production. This was as close to a 90s-esque classic storytelling album as there has been in a LONG time. And the first album I felt obligated to purchase in a LONG time. A LOT of thought went in to FHD. Can't say the same thing for TPAB. And for what it's worth, Born Sinner is imo, J. Cole's worst effort. So, needless to say, I was caught incredibly off guard by how well done FHD was. Kendrick has a BIG name, and it seems as though that's automatically granting more credit than what is deserved. It's getting to the point where he's got MJ/Tupac status -- where EVERYTHING he does is brilliant and how dare anyone question it. Wake up, people. And think for yourselves. Props to users not rating it as high as the critics.… Expand
  11. thewave
    Apr 29, 2016
    4
    I think this is an album with a great message, but it fails in quality of sound compared to his other works. I also feel like the audience the message was intended to did not receive it and paritally defeats the purpose of the album. I still think he is a great artist who is trying to expand his sound, but I also feel he is straying away from hip hop sound.
  12. SumitSumbria
    Jun 9, 2016
    4
    An exceptional piece pf art with a great message but where is music??? This is ironically a music album which has not got music. It is a collection of some random melodies which sound relevant sometimes.
    Favourite tracks - i and Wesley's Theory
    Jewel of the album - i
  13. Jammy
    May 7, 2017
    4
    I can't fault the ambition or creativity of To Pimp A Butterfly, nor the willingness to eschew the sound that launched Kendrick's career in favour of original, genre-breaking experimentation. I can't fault his subject matter, either.
    What I can fault, however, is just how ugly this album sounds. Flanged, nasal vocals, stale funk production with messy mixing, corny crass bars with subpar    I can't fault the ambition or creativity of To Pimp A Butterfly, nor the willingness to eschew the sound that launched Kendrick's career in favour of original, genre-breaking experimentation. I can't fault his subject matter, either.
    What I can fault, however, is just how ugly this album sounds. Flanged, nasal vocals, stale funk production with messy mixing, corny crass bars with subpar wordplay...
    There's only one song I'll ever return to, and that's The Blacker The Berry, which is the singular moment the stars are in alignment on this album. The production is crunchy and heavy, Kendrick brings energy to every verse and his voice is mixed nice and clean, the hook by Assassin is huge, the boom bap beat is like crack. Unfortunately, I love it because it's unlike pretty much everything else off TPAB.
    I understand this is an unpopular, dissenting opinion, and I'm in the minority here, but this album just sounds bad. I really wanted to enjoy this, but no amount of artistic merit in the world can force someone to enjoy music that sounds awful to them.
    Score: 4/10 [Below Average]    … Expand
  14. eli_fjr
    May 21, 2018
    6
    It's a hit or miss for me. There are a few bangers in there. I realize that this album sends a message deeper than many of us pick up on first or second listen.
  15. TheZombieParrot
    Jul 20, 2018
    6
    An OK album, from an OK artist. Some songs like I, Alright and King Kunta are pretty good, but the mediocrity of other songs makes the album as a whole a one listen one. I would say it's one of the best rap albums of the shallow-criticism-of-societal-issues trend. "Racism is the new Anti-Racism" is the best way to describe Lamar's philosophy.
  16. bc11
    Nov 5, 2019
    4
    Very critically overrated. I praise it's production, it was cool to see Kenny do something different with the funk, jazz & soul instrumentation influence. But a big flaw was the frequent use of interludes at the end. What if someone just wants to hear the song, he should've done the decent thing and put them as a seperate track. The album overall had incredibly poor track listingVery critically overrated. I praise it's production, it was cool to see Kenny do something different with the funk, jazz & soul instrumentation influence. But a big flaw was the frequent use of interludes at the end. What if someone just wants to hear the song, he should've done the decent thing and put them as a seperate track. The album overall had incredibly poor track listing structure. However where this album ultimatley flawed is it's lyricism. For many tracks, Kendrick has very political lyrics, politics and music should absolutley be seperate. Music is where we come to get away from all that, to sit back and entertain our ears with sounds we like and have a good time. Very divisive.… Expand
  17. Barlog
    Jan 22, 2020
    6
    Lyrically very good and creative, his technique as well as production are not as good as on DAMN.
  18. togobogo
    Sep 9, 2022
    5
    Kendrick defenity fell off with this bro section 80 and pound syndrome are so much better than this mediocre exucse of a artist smh
  19. Onlyclassicvg1
    Jul 28, 2023
    5
    This is an important--a very important--piece of work that will stand the test of time. It’s also an utter blast to listen to and live with.

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 »