- Record Label: Interscope / Aftermath
- Release Date: Mar 16, 2015
User Score
Universal acclaim- based on 4386 Ratings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 3,962 out of 4386
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Mixed: 91 out of 4386
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Negative: 333 out of 4386
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Dec 1, 2015This is easily the best hip hop album of 2015, and one of the best albums overall. Kendrick lyrical ability to talk about so many issues including social, political, personal, etc., is just incredible and the production on the album is on point all of the way through. This was an instant classic and something we will compare other albums to in the future.
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Dec 20, 2017I would've thought he could never top this album, but I was wrong. I still give this a 10 because it deserves it without question. It is a lyrical masterpiece from the Bob Dylan of hip-hop and the modern, urban era. I do think DAMN is even better, but this is still a perfect 10.
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Mar 17, 2015
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Mar 17, 2015
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Mar 17, 2015
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Mar 18, 2015Kendrick had a lot to live up to after GKMC, but he has somehow managed to to create something in a different league all together. This album is epic, this album is legendary. Kendrick has made something very special here, and it's very clear his only focus is on his art and it's so genuine and so lovely. This may be in the running for one of the best albums of the 2010s thus far.
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May 11, 2015
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Jan 2, 2016What an incredible album. A very thought provoking and damn well produced album. One of the best albums of the past decade of any genre. I personally did not dabble into Lamar's discography until the release of this album. But man, this is incredible and the man behind it created one incredible album!
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May 20, 2015
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Mar 18, 2015Philosophical, insightful, emotional, passionate, and wise.
Production is exemplary, and the message behind it is well executed.
MARK MY WORDS:
Kendrick Lamar will go down as one of the greatest rappers of all time.
and rightfully so. -
Mar 20, 2015
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Mar 22, 2015
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Mar 19, 2015I am amazed by this album. Amazed by its diversity, by its technicality, by its modernity yet with deep old-school influences... And I am especially amazed by the fact that the album is in the end a good surprise, despite extremely high expectations. With "To Pimp a Butterfly", Kendrick is clearly creating new standards to refer to.
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Mar 17, 2015A masterful, seamless fusion of Hip Hop, Jazz & Funk. The term "Neo-G-Funk" springs to mind. Uniquely aggressive but intensely mellow, the story of the caterpillar is a heart felt raw composition of good kid lost and in need of answers. King Kunta is back and he has no ruler.
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Mar 17, 2015
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Jan 6, 2016
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Mar 20, 2015I don't have words to be honest. This is one of the greatest works of art I've ever experienced in hip hop. It's unique and different from all that horrible banger music, better than GKMC and Section 80 in my opinion.
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Mar 17, 2015
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Mar 18, 2015I'm going to make a daring statement: Kendrick Lamar has surpassed Tupac, BIG, Nas and André3000 with this album. This guy just dropped a work of God. This album is surely the best rap album of this decade. IT'S A PIECE OF ART! WHY ARE YOU EVEN READING THIS? GO AND LISTEN THE DAMN ALBUM! King Kendrick for life!
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Feb 14, 2016A literal masterpiece in every conceivable way. The narrative, the message are coherent and consistent throughout. An album you can listen to dozens of times and find new intricacies every time. Production and recording is amazing. The best album of 2015, should win the Grammy for Best album of 2015. Kendrick's Opus.
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Nov 21, 2015
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Mar 19, 2015The best rap album I have ever heard. This album is quite simply a masterpiece of modern expression, dabbling in questions of contemporary racism, suicide, and relationships. No spoilers, but the last few lines are harrowing.
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Mar 18, 2015
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Apr 1, 2016
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Mar 17, 2015Simply amazing. The album itself feels like a story that wanted to be told a long time ago. That story my friends was recently told by Kendrick Lamar. Kendrick might become the next Tupac. "Just saying"...
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Apr 14, 2017Simply a phenomenal and complete work of art that will go down in history as one of the smartest and most well structured albums ever made. Not just a hip hop album, but a hip hop album bathing in the waters of every other constructed genre out there
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Mar 23, 2015
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Mar 29, 2015
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Jul 21, 2015
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Mar 19, 2015Easily the best album of the year so far, drawing influence from a myriad of sources the music sounds like a tribute to what black music is, and has been. Kendrick has crafted a beautiful album, one I believe will stand the test of time.
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Jul 10, 2018
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Mar 18, 2015
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Mar 18, 2015
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Mar 18, 2015Kendrick just took another level with his last album. The production is just perfect and what about the storytelling ! To Pimp A Butterfly is definitely on my top 5. Masterpiece.
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Mar 18, 2015This album is absolutely incredible. One of the best LP's i've heard in years. Don't go in expecting Good Kid 2 because this albums whole different feel is what makes it so so good. Very funk/groove/soul production and samples, perfect choices. Kendrick destroys every single track.
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Mar 18, 2015Just wow kendrick just wow. thank you for blessing us with this album, thank you. Some people might hate this album, but they are really not paying attention to what he is saying. Those people are really into banger beats.
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Jul 11, 2015This is the most mature Kendrick album to date... At 28 years old, instead of doing what 99% of rappers are doing, he discusses love to another extent and brings back politics in rap due to the struggles of African Americans...
His lyricism is complex and is better than his last two albums...
When I first heard i last year, I thought that this album would flop but it is his best to date... -
Mar 19, 2015There are few rappers who can make a classic and followed it up with something even better and Kendrick Lamar is one of those rappers. I personally did not believe that there would one that is as good as good kid, m.A.A.d city but To Pimp a Butterfly proved me wrong. I could basically see no album topping this one this year. Well done, Kendrick and keep up the good work.
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Mar 17, 2015The people who love music will love this album. It is innovative, it is smart, it stays culturally true, the concept will go over the heads of most people who hear it, and it is unrelentingly creative. Kendrick Lamar, in my mind, just earned a place with the Hip Hop legends.
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Mar 26, 2015For somebody who isn't very experienced with modern hip hop, To Pimp a Butterfly is both accessible and infinitely layered, making for an album that grabs me on first listen, but will take a hundred more to digest.
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Apr 4, 2015I am genuinely into rap on the whole, and I have heard many great rap albums in my life thus far. To Pimp a Butterfly is a standalone game changer for rap. It's angry, it's smooth and beautiful, and it brings you to tears. there's no other way to put it. It's a masterpiece.
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Mar 25, 2015I laugh every time I hear someone mention "Yeezus" and try to compare that half-baked effort to this masterpiece. Kanye isn't a real rapper, he's a persona. Kendrick is real and it shines through with flying colors on this release. Originally I gave this a 9, I'm updating to a 10 because subsequent listens have impressed me that much. God bless Kendrick Lamar.
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Mar 17, 2015This album is a true work of art. Never have I listened to an album that has SO MANY concepts within it. This album takes you to places of Kendricks mind and where he's been, along with his experiences as one of the top rappers in the game. Absolutely incredible album. An album to get a real personal experience from.
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May 13, 2015
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Mar 18, 2015
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Apr 1, 2015
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May 7, 2015Kendrick (and Dre) knows how to make an amazing album. For the title, i'd liked 'good kid wILL world' but 'To Pimp a Butterfly is cute. Amazing lyrics and concrete flow, Kendrick is back
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Apr 12, 2017This review contains spoilers, click expand to view.
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Apr 5, 2015
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Apr 13, 2015Damn, man! This is hardcore, ain't no one wanna being fast as Kendrick. When listening to "i", it was really cool! Hope his next album gonna be more hardcore!
"I" is highly recomended for Rap practice! -
Mar 21, 2015
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Mar 19, 2015
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Mar 19, 2015
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Oct 8, 2017
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Mar 17, 2015
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Apr 23, 20189.5/10................................................................................................................................................
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Jun 8, 2015The trendiest, nuanced rapper of a generation makes probably the best rap album of the decade, that suggests an ideology of togetherness with respect and admiration.
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Mar 21, 2015Without a doubt one of the most beautiful, complex and excellent hip hop album ever constructed. Kendrick Lamar mixes world issues and his own through high levels of poetry on funky, jazzy and experimental hip-hop instrumentals. Definitely up there with albums such as Aquemini, Me Against the World and other greats.
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Jan 18, 2018
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Mar 21, 2015One of the best albums this year, (maybe if not the best!) hands down. Every single song is well-crafted, written and produced. Each one tells a really amusing and interesting story. Kendrick Lamar just raised the bar for a new level of hip-hop. A true mind blower. He's going to be next king of hip-hop, for sure.
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Sep 29, 2015
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Mar 18, 2015
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May 27, 2016Kendrick is focused and determined to make the best album he could, absolutely beautiful, stunning on so many levels. To Pimp A Butterfly is unbelievably crowded with ideas but still never looses sight of what it aims to be, a musical masterpiece.
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Mar 17, 2015
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Jun 13, 2015
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Mar 17, 2015
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Mar 17, 2015
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Aug 8, 2015Kendrick Lamar definitely go down in history as one of the best representatives of hip hop. This album is also enshrined as one of the best artists of the 21st century.
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Mar 17, 2015Lmao @ people actually thinking this is his 2nd studio album... like did Section 80 randomly disappear from his discography? amazing stuff nonetheless.
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Sep 25, 2015Isso é arte pura. Melhor álbum de rap da atualidade, junto com os do Kanye. Todas as músicas tem produções e rimas impecáveis, que faz o não amante de rap começar a gostar. King Kunta com certeza é a melhor música do álbum.
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Mar 18, 2015This review contains spoilers, click expand to view.
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Aug 12, 2015
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Jul 6, 2015Honestly this is one of the best modern hip hop albums that I've heard. By letting some time ago after its debut and being able to fully digest it, I can say that the musicality and lyricism that Kendrick displays on this album surpasses all of his previous material. I've never heard an album like it, and probably never will.
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Mar 23, 2015I love this album, it gets better for everytime. Cant compare it to GKMC. He must evolve and try new styles. Love this side of him. People not liking this are probably those who needs loud hiphop with naked woman and wannabee gangstas. That is so boring and i am tired of it. Hope Kendrick Lamar sets a new standard. #youaintgottalie
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Mar 18, 2015To Pimp A Butterfly is a beautiful album- and definitely the best since Daft Punk's 2013 masterpiece Random Access Memories. Steeped in soul and funk, and very sexually and socially charged, Kendrick Lamar's sophomore album is a classic, and people will continue to listen to it for decades to come.
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Mar 29, 2015
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Mar 20, 2015This is the most unique and innovative album I've ever heard. Instant classic. Kendrick is on top of the game and nobody can reach him. I wonder whats next?
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Jul 23, 2020
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Mar 18, 2015Kendrick seems to have outdone himself on this album. The production is much more lavish that GKMC and his lyrical ability has greatly improved. This will be one of the best hip-hop albums of the decade.
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Mar 17, 2015
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Mar 18, 2015
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Dec 1, 2017It's still weird how much every single song in this album grew on me. It's all around phenomenal and inspiring. The mix of jazz, funk and rap play perfectly in harmony and those combined with the excellent lyrics make this an absolute masterpiece.
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Mar 19, 2015
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Mar 17, 2015Perfection.................................................................................................................................That is all
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Dec 7, 2015
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Mar 24, 2015Considering his phonographic prejudice, I would not be surprised if the gym Grammy ignore such a work of art. Something far inadmissible. By far the best album of the year (along with I Love You, Honeybear), and also the best and, why not, one of the best rap albums of all time.
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Mar 17, 2015
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Mar 17, 2015It is a bit challenging for those expecting GKMC 2. It is a very different album from its predecessor, but just as masterfully crafted. An essential album for our time.
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Mar 17, 2015Masterpiece. It's hard to listen it at the beginning, but it grows on you. It is innovative, it is smart, it is different, the production it's amazing, and the lyrics are out of this world. 10/10
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Mar 17, 2015
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Mar 17, 2015Musical and literary masterpiece. Beautiful from beginning to end no matter how you look at it. Musically pleasing but unsettling to the mind, the album's content is difficult to dissect, yet the message is heard loud and clear. With To Pimp A Butterfly Kendrick Lamar cements his place as one of the greatest hip-hop, no, musical artists of all time.
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Mar 17, 2015
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Mar 18, 2015An unflinchingly different yet brilliant album that is sure to upset and isolate some of Kendrick's listeners. However, the man himself asks the question best, "When **** hits the fan, are you still a fan?"
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Mar 18, 2015amazing, unique, creativity pushed to new bounds. Kendrick shows that hip hop is still alive and that it is far more than rapping. The messages and story inside the album alone are enough to buy.
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Mar 18, 2015I’m not going to say it's automatically a “classic”...because that will be determined overtime like GKMC and section.80 But i’m going to go bold and say its a masterpiece in its own genre. The way he fuses Jazz, Funk and Hip-Hop together with his multitude of producers is flawless. It hasn’t been done as well since “ATliens” by Outkast.
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Mar 18, 2015Absolutely brilliant. It's dark, empowering and reflects the social conformity of growing famous. Kendrick is our next rap prophet, if he isn't already.
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Mar 18, 2015
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Mar 18, 2015To Pimp a Butterfly is the perfect follow up to Good Kid M.A.A.D City. It perfectly exemplifies his post-fame career as the now King of hip hop. He is very conscious, relatable, influenced, and influencing. His respect for Jazz, Funk, and old Hip Hop are on his sleeve. He is empowering and compelling. This is an instant classic.
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Mar 18, 2015This album sits on your chest and reaches towards your earlobe and forces nostalgia into your soul. There is a realism and genuine verbal struggle that is voiced. The interludes and systematic poetic outburst ties this piece together visually. It feel like an honest representation of who Kendrick Lamar really is.
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Mar 18, 2015
Awards & Rankings
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The WireMay 15, 2015Lamar 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]
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The SourceMay 6, 2015Each 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]
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Q MagazineApr 29, 2015It's a challenging, ambitious combination of words and music that becomes increasingly absorbing over time. [Jun 2015, p.103]