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To Pimp A Butterfly Image
Metascore
96

Universal acclaim - based on 44 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
9.0

Universal acclaim- based on 4386 Ratings

  • Summary: The third full-length studio release from the hip hop artist features guest appearances from Bilal, George Clinton, James Fauntleroy, Ronald Isley, Rapsody, Snoop Dogg, Thundercat, and Anna Wise.
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Top Track

I
Is this mic on? Hey! Hey! Turn the mic up! I want the mic We bringing up nobody-nobody-nobody But the number one rapper in the world He done... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 44 out of 44
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 44
  3. Negative: 0 out of 44
  1. Apr 27, 2015
    100
    This is an important--a very important--piece of work that will stand the test of time. It’s also an utter blast to listen to and live with.
  2. Mar 23, 2015
    100
    Kendrick can’t be Pac or know everything it took to be him, but he isn’t going to let doubts stop him from making groundbreaking music. With To Pimp a Butterfly, it’s never been more apparent that he’s doing just that and prepared to stride past any and all obstacles.
  3. Mar 25, 2015
    100
    Rather, it is not a rap album; it is the absolute rap album. There is craft here (and in fact this is the most musical mainstream rap record since Aquemini) but just enough room for it.
  4. Mar 18, 2015
    90
    It’s a rare record that gives us a call to action, something to act on after the beats drop out and we’re left in silence.
  5. Uncut
    Apr 29, 2015
    90
    A genuine 2015 classic. [Jun 2015, p.77]
  6. Mar 23, 2015
    90
    At brief points Lamar does err on the side of self-indulgence, but for the most part his grandiosity is matched by his talent. A worthy follow up to its platinum-selling predecessor, To Pimp A Butterfly stands as a fearless and uncompromising manifestation of Lamar's desire to push the culture of rap forwards--a crusade that's as much in his blood as the city of Compton.
  7. Mar 17, 2015
    80
    At its best, it’s a howling work of black protest art on par with Amiri Baraka’s incendiary play “Dutchman,” or David Hammons’s moving decapitated hoodie “In the Hood”.... He hasn’t outrun his tendency toward clutter. He is a dense rapper, and even though he’s more at ease with the music now, he still runs the risk of suffocation.

See all 44 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Negative: 29 out of 635
  1. Feb 1, 2020
    10
    Quite simply one of the best, if not the best album I’ve ever heard. The building of the spoken word piece is still genius almost 5 years later.
  2. Jun 18, 2017
    10
    why didn't this win album of the year. why is there 139 negative reviews? the flow the lyrics the rhyme schemes the beats story tellingwhy didn't this win album of the year. why is there 139 negative reviews? the flow the lyrics the rhyme schemes the beats story telling everything makes this album a classic. i don't get why some people don't like this album.

    wesleys theory: i don't like the beat very much 7.5/10
    for free: 9/10
    king kunta: 10/10
    institutionalized: 7/10
    these walls: 7/10
    u: 9/10 woww
    alright: 10/10 it's more than alright
    for sale: 6.5/10
    mamma: 7/10
    hood politics: 7/10
    how much a dollar cost: 9/10
    complexion: 8/10
    the blacker the berry: 10/10
    you ain't gotta lie: 7/10
    i: 9/10
    mortal man: 8/10

    light 10/10
    Expand
  3. Mar 17, 2015
    10
    Run the Jewels 2 + Black Messiah + Random Access Memories + Yeezus + Run the Jewels + good kid, m.A.A.d city + London Zoo + Geogaddi +Run the Jewels 2 + Black Messiah + Random Access Memories + Yeezus + Run the Jewels + good kid, m.A.A.d city + London Zoo + Geogaddi + Amnesiac + Things Fall Apart + Aquemeni + Music is Rotted One Note + The Chronic + Loveless + Laughing Stock + Sign "☮" the Times + Aja + Physical Graffiti + Expensive **** + Innervisions + Exile on Main Street + Superfly + Maggot Brain + There's a Riot Goin' On + Electric Ladyland + The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady = To Pimp a Butterfly

    10.0
    Expand
  4. May 13, 2022
    10
    ‘To Pimp A Butterfly’ - The best album I’ve ever heard. This is the standard for music
  5. Aug 11, 2015
    10
    The best album EVER!!!!!! If it's not the best album ever, it's the best RAP ALBUM EVER!!!!!!! This album is a masterpiece to say the least.The best album EVER!!!!!! If it's not the best album ever, it's the best RAP ALBUM EVER!!!!!!! This album is a masterpiece to say the least. This album is so amazing and original to the point you wonder what can this guy do next (he's already done everything). Kendrick is one of the few artist in MUSIC history that has dropped two classic albums in a row!!!! That's hard to pull off, especially these days!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Expand
  6. Mar 19, 2015
    10
    the true spiritual successor to voodoo - d'angelo.

    this is d'angelo. this is lauryn hill. this is chris tucker this is dave chappelle. this
    the true spiritual successor to voodoo - d'angelo.

    this is d'angelo. this is lauryn hill. this is chris tucker this is dave chappelle. this is dilla this is pac.

    this is a masterpiece.
    Expand
  7. Nov 22, 2021
    0
    Makes me feel happy. You don't even need to understand the nuances or anything just chilling out with this still makes it good

See all 635 User Reviews

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