★★★★★

Kendrick Lamar used his latest album “To Pimp A Butterfly” to share the challenges and successes of black culture, whilst delivering some of the realest lyric.

In the opening song, “Wesleys theory”, Lamar’s lyrics are strengthened by the underlying Motown and funk beats. Music genres that were at the height of Black music (during the late 60’s and early 70’s).

Whilst sharing lyrics on the current state of black culture he gave tribute to the black artists that came before him, and paved the way for his success.

One of the album’s main messages is success. He expresses how hard it is for any black person, more specifically black males to succeed in America.

As riches increase, the harder it is to succeed, “Oh America….I picked the cotton that made you rich.”

Lamar is not at all reaching when he wrote that lyric, because all one has to do is type “wage gap between black and white males” to see that his statement was grounded in truth.

Expressing how many blacks are still working for their “40 acres and a mule,” which is a phrase of hope , commonly said by slaves in the early 1800’s.

With his “Good kid, M.A.A.D city”, Lamar nostalgically raps about his life, growing up in Compton. In regards to Lamar’s latest work, this album shares hard truths about the black community, overlaying amazing beats.

With this album listeners can see Lamar’s transition from reflecting on what is going his own life to seeing how the world treats him and his people. Even more so

“To Pimp a Butterfly” is a call to action for the black community. He is sharing the many challenges that they face, and prompting them to overcome them and prove their adversaries wrong.

In the end, if you have not already heard “To Pimp a Butterfly,” please put this paper down and go listen to it.

It is truly a work of art that shares many growing social issues along with unique beats.