Genius - An Exegetical Study of "To Pimp A Butterfly" lyrics

Kendrick Lamar's third studio album To Pimp A bu*terfly was released this past Sunday, twenty years and one day after 2Pac dropped Me Against The World. The almost 80 minute epic is a celebration of music, black culture, and storytelling. The straightforward storyline chops of good kid, m.A.A.d city may not be evident, but the poetry exceeds its predecessor. Kendrick plays multiple characters as he navigates his way through fame, weaving extended metaphors through multiple songs to deliver his message. To Pimp A bu*terfly can be read as a short story, visualised like a film, or listened to like a sermon atop of Sinai. "Every n***a Is A Star" are the first words we hear. Then it's Kendrick, fantasising about fame and fortune, followed by rhymes from the perspective of the "pimp" (Uncle Sam) on "Wesley's Theory". Themes of fame and exploitation continue in "For Free (Interlude)", where a woman (possibly Lucy) highlights the dissimilarity between Kendrick and a "baller a**, boss a** n***a." The two opening cuts describe Kendrick as the caterpillar whose only thoughts are consumption. He continues on "King Kunta" - an unapologetic track that captures his vanity. Kendrick questions the loyalty of his friends, claiming to have risen from "a peasant to a prince to a motherf**in' king" - when in reality he's getting "pimped," ready to become the next Wesley Snipes. I remember you was conflicted, misusing your influence. Sometimes, I did the same Vanity turns to vice throughout "Institutionalized" & "These Walls." Kendrick faces two of fames main vices: money & women, as well as the added temptation to use his influence for noxious means. The intro on "Institutionalized" : "I'm trapped inside the ghetto and I ain't proud to admit it / Institutionalized, I keep runnin' back for a visit" and Snoop Dogg's outro portray Kendrick in the "consumption" mindset. As he's trapped in the cocoon, things take a turn for the sinister during "These Walls." While Kendrick describes having s** with a woman in the first two verses, the third details she's the baby momma of the g**ner who k**ed his homie in "Sing About Me" from good kid, m.A.A.d city. Abusing my power full of resentment Resentment that turned into a deep depression Found myself screaming in a hotel room He screams "loving you is complicated" - slipping into a deep, self loathing depression on "u" Kendrick comes to realise Lucy and Uncle Sam have trapped him in fame, and goes so far to suggest suicide, guilt stricken over his teenage sister becoming pregnant and the d**h of his friend Chad Keaton. He tries to find God on "Alright", yet still struggles, promising to either beat his depression or commit suicide: "I keep my head up high / I cross my heart and hope to die." I didn't wanna self destruct The evils of Lucy was all around me So I went runnin' for answers Immediately after seeking out God on "Alright", Lucy (Lucifer) comes to the forefront on "For Sale (Interlude)."Juxtaposing the earlier "For Free (Interlude)," Kendrick wrestles with Lucy as she tries to "pimp" him into guaranteed fame and success: "Lucy gone fill your pockets / Lucy gone move your mama out of Compton / Inside the gi-gantic mansion like I promised". Until I came home As he begins to remember who he was before the fame, Kendrick returns to Compton during "Momma" and "Hood Politics." In the third verse of "Momma" he goes home to Africa where he meets a boy who gives him an ultimatum, which he agrees to: "I can be your advocate / I can preach for you if you tell me what the matter is." After taking his vow, Kendrick soon realises on "Hood Politics" that the caterpillars continue to consume everything, and the plight of the caterpillar has a cause-effect relationship the ghettos (cocoons) internal struggle: "From Compton to Congress / 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'?" But that didn't stop survivor's guilt Going back and forth Trying to convince my self the stripes I earned Or maybe how A-1 my foundation was But while my loved ones was fighting A continuous war back in the city I was entering a new one Money, race, and violence are represented by the subsequent three tracks: "How Much a Dollar Cost," "Complexion (Zulu Love)" & "The Blacker The Berry." It's here Kendrick completes the evolution from caterpillar to bu*terfly and is free of Lucy & Uncle Sam. He attempts to unite his brothers and sisters against racism during "Complexion (Zulu Love)" , however becomes angry and frustrated by the hypocrisy of the ghetto in "The Blacker The Berry": "So why did I weep when Trayvon Martin was in the street? / When gang banging make me k** a n***a blacker than me? / Hypocrite!" Kendrick's journey is a manifestation of his own experience. As he weaves through Compton (the cocoon) he gains wisdom - "The Blacker The Berry" is one approach, "i" is another. On the prelude to "i", "You Ain't Gotta Lie (Momma Said)" - he explains to the caterpillars (people in Compton) they don't have to indulge in d**, money & violence, and completes this advice with the penultimate track: a live version of "i". When a fight breaks out in the crowd, Kendrick begins to acapella. Slowly the fracas ceases and the crowd becomes mesmerised with their leader and his words: "NEGUS": "N-E-G-U-S definition: royalty; King royalty - wait listen / N-E-G-U-S description: Black emperor, King, ruler, now let me finish". The caterpillar consumed, the cocoon institutionalised, and the bu*terfly flourished. Kendrick reflects on his journey and looks towards the future throughout "Mortal Man." Like Mandela, Malcolm X & Martin Luther King - Kendrick Lamar Duckworth requests unwavering loyalty from his fans: "generation X, will I ever be your X?" He wants everyone to join him. To Pimp A bu*terfly is a vicarious journey through K Lamar. While the caterpillar and the bu*terfly are one in the same; the struggle, triumph and emotion are all experienced to ask one question: what's your perspective on that? A war that was based on apartheid and discrimination Made me wanna go back to the city and tell the homies what I learned The word was respect Just because you wore a different gang colour than mine's Doesn't mean I can't respect you as a black man Forgetting all the pain and hurt we caused each other in these streets If I respect you, we unify and stop the enemy from k**ing us But I don't know, I'm no mortal man, maybe I'm just another n***a What were your takeaways from Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A bu*terfly? Let us know in the comments.