To Pimp a Butterfly

by Kendrick Lamar

To Pimp a Butterfly cover art
  • Type: Album
  • Released: March 15, 2015
  • Label: TDE, Aftermath, Interscope, Top Dawg Entertainment, Aftermath Entertainment
  • Country: United States
  • Length: 1:18:51
  • Community rating: 4.54/5 from 181 ratings

Album Notes & Community Reviews

'To Pimp a Butterfly' is a musically ambitious work that weaves a dense tapestry of live jazz, funk, and soul through its hip-hop core, guided by a wide array of producers and the West Coast Get Down collective. Lyrically, the album presents a complex examination of personal and political themes, including racial inequality, depression, and cultural identity, which were heavily influenced by Lamar's travels in South Africa and unified by a recurring poem. The record's fusion of experimental production and socially conscious songwriting earned it landmark status as one of the most critically acclaimed albums of its era.

Genres

Descriptors: rap, conscious, political, funky, experimental

Tracklist

  1. Wesley's Theory (4:47)
  2. For Free? - Interlude (2:10)
  3. King Kunta (3:54)
  4. Institutionalized (4:31)
  5. These Walls (5:00)
  6. u (4:34)
  7. Alright (3:39)
  8. For Sale? - Interlude (4:51)
  9. Momma (4:43)
  10. Hood Politics (4:52)
  11. How Much A Dollar Cost (4:21)
  12. Complexion (A Zulu Love) (4:23)
  13. The Blacker The Berry (5:28)
  14. You Ain't Gotta Lie (Momma Said) (4:01)
  15. i (3:51)
  16. Mortal Man (12:07)

Credits

  • Kendrick Lamar - vocals, songwriting
  • Thundercat (Stephen Bruner) - featured artist, songwriting, production, additional vocals, bass, instrumentals
  • Terrace Martin - songwriting, production, saxophone, keyboards
  • Kamasi Washington - multiple instrumentals, saxophone, string arrangements
  • George Clinton - guest appearance, featured artist, guest vocals
  • Bilal - guest appearance, featured artist, vocals
  • Anna Wise - guest appearance, featured artist, vocals
  • Snoop Dogg - guest appearance, featured artist, guest verse
  • James Fauntleroy - guest appearance, singer-songwriter
  • Ronald Isley - guest appearance, lead vocalist
  • Rapsody (Marlanna Evans) - guest appearance, featured artist
  • Robert Glasper - piano, keyboard
  • Lalah Hathaway - vocals
  • Ambrose Akinmusire - trumpet
  • Ronald Bruner Jr. - drums
  • Robert "Sput" Searight - drums
  • Keith Askey - guitar
  • Chris Smith - bass
  • Pete Rock - backing vocals, scratches
  • Ahmad Lewis - writing credit
  • Ash Riser - additional vocals
  • Candace Wakefield - additional vocals
  • Dion Friley - additional vocals
  • Javonte - additional vocals
  • Josef Leimberg - trumpet
  • Preston Harris - additional vocals
  • SZA - additional vocals
  • Wyann Vaughn - additional vocals
  • Dr. Dre - executive producer
  • Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith - executive producer
  • Sounwave (Mark Spears) - production, songwriting
  • Rahki - producer
  • Flying Lotus - producer
  • Pharrell Williams - producer
  • Boi-1da (Matthew Jehu Samuels) - production
  • Knxwledge - production
  • Taz "Tisa" Arnold - producer
  • LoveDragon - producer
  • Flippa - producer
  • Larrance Dopson - production
  • Tae Beast (Donte Perkins) - production
  • Tommy Black - producer
  • Whoarei - producer
  • KOZ - producer
  • Dave Free - associate producer
  • Derek "MixedByAli" Ali - mixed by
  • Mike Bozzi - mastered by
  • James Hunt - mix assistant
  • Matt Schaeffer - mix assistant

More from Kendrick Lamar: full discography