2015 was an interesting year in my life. I had just finished high school, headed off to college, and discovered my true passion for hip-hop. Growing up, I always enjoyed hip-hop and it was always popular among the kids I grew up with, but I never really had a passion for it.
I listened to it to get hooked, but my taste in rap never went beyond what was popular on the radio. That changed when I entered high school. The internet had become the main source of where the most talented young artists were popping up, and a new wave of MC talent was moving to the forefront.
Artists like Kid Cudi, Wale, Tyler, The Creator, A$AP Rocky, Big Sean, Mac Miller, J. Cole, and Kendrick Lamar have begun to take their internet fame into the real world, making the most Growing up to be part of the popular youth. MC.
Of that group, Kendrick Lamar was the most talented, with the most legendary hip-hop figure Dr. Dre backing him.
his debut studio album, Good boy, MAAd Citywas the most beloved hip-hop album of 2012, and was praised by young and veteran hip-hop listeners alike. His pen was sharp, his expression creative, and his storytelling impeccable.
Naturally, the anticipation and hype for his next studio album were over the roof, with fans embracing anything but a “classic.”
Reaction to To Pimp a Butterfly
Three years after the release of his debut studio album, Kendrick Lamar has released the long-awaited sequel. pimp a butterfly.
Looking back, I think everyone looked back at the release of this project and loved it immediately. But that wasn’t necessarily what I experienced.
First single “I‘ was not what young hip-hop fans wanted. It was a bright and positive song, more like a folk song than a rap song. second single “king municipality,” was, in the eyes of fans, a funky old-school hip-hop song that stood out from his previous work.
I vividly remember going to school the day after the album was released and hearing my classmates calling the album “boring” and saying there was too much rap. I understand why.
If you are not familiar with artists and producers such as DJ Quik, Tha Dogg Pound, George Clinton, Thundercat, Madlib, Flying Lotus, Knxwledge, etc., chances are you are not enjoying the album because K. Dot decided to do so. bottom. Something very drastic and sonically different.
But for someone like me who learned about artists and started falling in love away from “mainstream” hip-hop, backpack wrapI immediately fell in love with the album and the funk and jazzy sound that Kendrick was rapping on the album.
and other songsWesley’s theory“institutionalized“mom“Complexion (Zulu Love),” and “Mortal Man‘ has become a regular in my music rotation and I was so happy to hear a hip hop album that was so funky, soulful and unique on a mainstream level. So why was this release so important?
IBringing a classic sound to a new generation of hip-hop fans
As mentioned earlier, hip-hop TPAB It was not prevalent at the mainstream level at the time.If you’re a seasoned hip-hop listener, the sound is Nothing new. California was littered with artists who used similar productions. 90’s etc. Snoop Dogg, DJ Quick, Spice 1, The Dog Pound, DOC
G-Funk was one of the genre’s most popular production styles during Death Row’s peak.But in 2015 it was just a distant memory. Kendrick brought it back to the forefront in a way no other artist at the time did.
Kendrick voiced his dissatisfaction with black people through lyrics.
It would be foolish not to mention the cultural significance of this album. The album became the soundtrack for the race movement. Kendrick’s lyrics were a lens for listeners to see how black people felt.
Professor Maurice JohnsonUsing Hip-Hop as a Tool to Discuss the Media’s Depiction of Black People said: almost TPAB: “This album came out when I was 18 and at a time of heightened racial tension in the country. Michael Brown and 12 years old tamil rice He recently lost his life at the hands of law enforcement. ”
He continued, “These frustrations were expressed through songs such as:are you OK“The Blacker The Berry” and an imaginary conversation with hip-hop Icon featured Tupac Shakur at the end of the album, which included excerpts of interviews with the late artist/activist.
I can’t fathom all the nuances, messages and themes that Kendrick was supposed to hear on this album, but it was the hip-hop that set the bar for Kendrick’s peers and served as part of his musical excellence. It can be admitted that it was a benchmark for his listeners.
Eight years later, it’s still as relevant and important as it was in 2015.
