47:28 your mama should be SO PROUD of you and your internet presence! It’s so incredible finding gems like your channel and content and I can’t thank you enough!
She is!! & thank you. I put a lot of time and effort into making great content but more importantly, I just love conversing with people like you about music haha. I appreciate y’all hanging out with me. Much love!
I agree! I found Anthony as a Grandmama-GenX-Swiftie and have loved all his continent. I've learned some things from this video and heard some good tracks.
@@AnthonyAikenJrthank you so much brother, I’ve been thinking about this album for a very long time, a lot of ur thoughts matches mine but there’s few that r just great bro
I am a 41 year old lifelong hip hop fan who grew up in the "golden era". I did my senior year English term paper on Tupac lol. With that said I feel as if Kendrick is cementing himself as the GOAT. Jay-Z, Eminem, and Nas have all been at the top of the rap mount Rushmore as far as I am concerned, but after this beef I feel as if Kendrick is one album away from being the undisputed king.
Pac:s statement at the beginning of this video embodies the kind of mind that Kendrick has. I really hope to see Kendrick Lamar live to become the activist/politician Pac could've been
The whole song "For Sale?" is a double entendre. While "Luci" does represent "Lucifer" and the temptations of the devil foisted on him by his new-found fame, it is also literally referring to Lucian Grainge, the CEO of Universal Music Group and how he tried to seduce Kendrick into signing a 360 deal by promising him wealth and the material desires of his heart. It's pretty much the same thing that he did to Drake, the difference being that Drake took the bait. The song implies that Kendrick didn't take the bait because he was more culturally moored. He says, "I didn't want to self destruct. The evils of Luci was all around me. So I went running for answers, until I came home."
@@theartfarmshow He has a distribution deal with UMG. Lucian wanted him to sign a 360 deal where they would own the rights to everything in exchange for a large up front payment. It would likely have been for millions, but it would pale in comparison to what they would make off him.
Kendrick has been (incorrectly and I think unfairly) branded as a Black power/Black empowerment "activist" when his music and his worldview is really not that. Kendrick has never claimed nor moved like an activist. He really is a pure artist who actually is sometimes a bit too individualistic in his approach - he thought if he could just make the perfect album, the perfect music, and if people can be influenced by that, then he can actually change and save the world. Thats why he got flack for The Blacker the Berry, because he equated systematic, institutional police brutality with individual choice (and circumstance) to gangbang. When Drake calls Kendrick a fake activist, it doesnt connect because Kendrick has never assumed that role. When Cole insinuates that Kendrick profits from racial stress and walks with a constant façade, it sounds weird because Kendrick's music is so personal to him and his life, and in Mr. Morale he is all but begging everyone to allow him to just be a person. To Pimp a Butterfly is not just anthropological music about the Black American experience. It is so personal to Kendrick and his discomfort with his new fame and success, his savior complex, his survival's guilt, and ultimately his hope for himself and others to continue to tell stories and make art.
I agree with this. He never said he was. But he is an artist and has a point of view, and so people connected with it & used his music for their activism. His song ‘alright’ was the protest song of 2020, and his music before that, like blacker the berry from to pimp a butterfly, was a whole anthem too. He speaks to people because he’s honest & consistent in his art. Unlike some others ❤❤❤
I agree with this. He never said he was. But he is an artist and has a point of view, and so people connected with it & used his music for their activism. His song ‘alright’ was the protest song of 2020, and his music before that, like blacker the berry from to pimp a butterfly, was a whole anthem too. He speaks to people because he’s honest & consistent in his art. Unlike some others ❤❤❤
I agree with this. He never said he was. But he is an artist and has a point of view, and so people connected with it & used his music for their activism. His song ‘alright’ was the protest song of 2020, and his music before that, like blacker the berry from to pimp a butterfly, was a whole anthem too. He speaks to people because he’s honest & consistent in his art. ❤❤❤
Say Whaaat Now? Lol Your declaration that Kendrick's Worldview is not actually about "Black Empowerment" or upward mobility shows a disturbing ignorance at play. Whoa. And what is the issue that can be taken with such a belief or goal?? Also, multiple things can simultaneously True as with Kendrick's sharing his introspection, experiences while also wanting/striving for Upward Mobility for The Culture. He's said that he didn't want to be a role model however it's a disservice to pretend that his huge platform doesn't matter or that kids aren't listening to these messages, which he takes very seriously. THAT, within itself, is an ACTIVISM in it's own right. Activism takes several forms, not just marching the streets for social justice. Surely WE OVERstand this by now?? ;) ....and Jazz isn't "weird" - the overused cultural word of The Moment - and nothing about this album would be considered as such unless you have the Emotional Intelligence of a flea.
I remember when Kendrick came to Ghana a few years ago, he was walking around freely and most people here don't know who he is. I was telling my friends who he is and they were like 'we don't listen to him'. Recently they've turned Kendrick fans because of the beef.
@@imtired3861 some of us knew. I was the only one among my friends who made a big deal about him being here. It is also funny that there are a lot of J Cole fans here. I don't know why they don't fk with Kendrick
@@RAYDEEY17Cuz Kdot is more than just a lyrical rapper, the probably don't even understand the metaphors and entendres. They fck with Cole and Eminem heavy cuz wordplay is easier to get.
I just went to listen to the album in full front to back for the first time and I have to say I need the drugs Drake was taking when he thought he could fuck with Kendrick
I woke up this morning thinking about "Always rapping like you trying to get the slaves freed." That line still pissed me off to this day. I never had any strong feelings about Aubrey's lightskin limericks before because party music is all about having fun. But there's a difference between not being a conscious robber and simply not caring about the culture that built us up to what we are today and what they had to endure to get us here. The people that came from the bottom of mankind. Fuck the minstrel maestro. He not like us. Black people forever.
Loved To Pimp A Butterfly - listened to it regularly especially it came out. It was a beautiful blend of educational, thought provoking lyrics, soulful samples over a jazzy beat. The line "Better look ways before you cross my mind" still blows my mind. Rolling Stone put it the #1 album that year. Should've won the grammy Album of the Year.
To this day I will never understand why Drake even said that line, it just goes to show you how out of touch he really is and it’s sad because this man is damn near 40.
I will admit so much of what goes on in the album went over my head because of it's complexity, but the jazz and flows make it ludicrous to call tpab boring. This breakdown really helped me better understand Kendrick's journey
agree. as many times as ive listened to TPAB a lot of it i just dont know the deeper meaning of.. but i keep listening because the record goes hard as hell. wesleys theory, king kunta, alright , these walls? the only way someone calls it boring is if they didnt listen to it or if they decided not to like it over beef with kendrick
I will always appreciate a TPAB breakdown. It’s still my favorite body of work to this day. Amazing video brotha, even the singing and rapping 😂. Keep these Kendrick videos coming.
I know every word of every song on this album. I'll never forget the first time I heard it. I listened to it in the dark with headphones on and got goosebumps during every single song at least once, and I cried at the end of the conversation with 2Pac. I don't know that there will ever be another album that will be as powerful as To Pimp A Butterfly is.
Thank You for giving 48 minutes of your time, that you can't get back to breakdown, highlight, and expound the meaning of the masterpiece "To Pimp a Butterfly". Bravo!
Thank you so much for this video. Just today (4 August 2024), I was having a conversation with a friend of mine about Kendrick's discography. It was probably a 2-hour long conversation. About an hour of that was basically about To Pimp a Butterfly. It's easily one of my favourite albums of all time - in any genre. Anyway, bring it in (hug)
Interestingly enough I did a dissertation on this album (among a couple of others). The key things I took away from researching this album and analysing the elements ereL 1. Like you said, the lyrics are about fame and industry connections. However, you gotta listen to the melody of it, and it almost sounds a bit dark, and, dare I say, Cultish (more on that in a mo). 2. The Character of Uncle Sam doesn't "Re-occur" or "reappear", rather the characterisation morphs. See, throughout the album, Uncle Sam morphs into a character called Lucy, who tries to tempt Kendrick with the typical tropes of being a famous artist (money, cars, a gigantic mansion etc.). This is characterised by the lyric "What you want, you? A house and a car? 40 Acres and a Mule? A Piano? A Guitar? Anything, see my name is Uncle Sam, 'm your Dawg, motherf***er you can live at the mall", which is actually repeated in "Alright", but instead of the lyric stating that his name's Uncle Sam, it changes to "See my name is Lucy, I'm your dawg". Lucy is almost like Uncle Sam's alter-ego, when in reality they're the same entity. I pointed out that I believe that Lucy is a shortening of the name Lucifer, or the Devil. When writing this dissertation, I was introduced to a DMX song called "Damien" (from the album "It's Dark and Hell Is Hot") which contained the character "D" or "Damien", who is portrayed in a very similar way, leading me to believe that Kendrick took inspiration from DMX for the album. 3. Another thing that is very prevalent in Kendrick's earlier albums is the concept of Duality. In TPAB, the album starts off taking a long look at the industry, fame and the trouble that comes with it. By the end of the album, we've now shifted into Social issues, with tracks such as Alright, The Blacker the Berry, Complexion (A Zulu Love), Hood Politics, I and Mortal Man. The album's ending features clips from Tupac - which is why the original name for the album was going to be To Pimp a Caterpillar (To-PAC/2Pac/Tupac). This then alludes to the very dualistic life that Tupac had, going from being very conscious and being an advocate for social justice through tracks such as Trapped and Brenda's Got a Baby, to signing to Death Row after they bailed him out of Jail after SA allegations/Charges. This then put him in a position where he ended up screaming Thug Life until his untimely demise in 1996.
Of course people will always say TPAB is boring - these are the same types that say reading books is boring, that drawing, painting, assembling puzzles, etc. is boring. Arts, crafts, and working on critical thinking and literacy skills are boring when we've been bombarded with instant information and entertainment for our whole lives
People loved TPAB when it came out. This new claim that it was boring is revisionist history. When it first came out, everyone said it was the best of the decade was the consensus.
@@yugfus Ok, thanks for the info. I don't keep up with music critiques anymore, and have never watched the awards ceremonies. I still have the same attitude towards music as I did when I was a kid, borrowing stacks of CDs picked randomly from the library: I just try stuff randomly and discover good music along the way ^^
Wow. What an amazing, thorough, and engaging dissection of this album. I already loved this album, and this video makes me love it even more. Thank you.
Im an og Swiftie and and listened to Kenny since section 80 and the music video for adhd came out. When i watched your last video it makes sense why these two people are my favorite artists as a neruodivergent. Before the rap beef this year, as you probably had to as well, i was always having to fight and argue about the goatness of Kenny. Sorry i don't know how else to put it. Anthony I have watched you since your first Tay video can you please do a deep dive on Mr Morale and the big steppers? I think the Swifties would eat that album up, no skips if you could serve it on a plate. I understand why other fans love mad city or think to pimp a butterfly is the greatest of all time from him but there's something about mr morale that is all encompassing to me. The swifties would love that album 🫶💙🫶💙🫶
TPAB is Kendrick’s best album by far and one of the greatest Alabama ever made. In my opinion it’s top 10 All time. It’s like funk meets jazz, meets r&b meets Hiphop, meets Public Enemy meets Ice-Cube meets 2Pac, meets Brand Nubian, meets X-Clan, meets Dead Prez, meets OutKast. The message in this album is a powerful revelation of what America is for black people. Drake can’t relate to that. He’s not a black American, he is a black Canadian who didn’t live the life of a black American. This album is art. Not music to party, get high, drunk, or have sex to.
Alright is an absolute breath of fresh air and a reassuring squeeze of your shoulders after the end of these walls and u bring you deep into an emotional down. I absolutely love that run of the songs. I cry every time.
I seriously think of the opening Tupac clip whenever I hear KDot interviews speaking on his childhood in Compton and listening to his transitions in his music.
"You can literally hear Kendrick take gulps of alcohol you can hear him swallow alcohol " I'm a big Kendrick Fan. Fact anytime with the boys Kendrick comes up, i mean i bring up Kendrick 😂, I will describe it like that and hype it like that. But sometimes i sit down and wonder what is it with Kendrick that people love him this much, dude make the most basic thing resonate like a eureka moment to his listeners? What's it with Dot? Heck i wanna be this influential ❤😢 I'm DAMN jealous of the man Blac boy fly. I wasn't jealous of the talent he got I'm terrified he'll be the last blac boy to fly out of Compton 😟
Dude, I've been subbing to you for a while following your taylor swift journey, but im also a Kendrick/Hip-Hop fan and I've watched a lot of videos breaking down this album bc I love it so much. I've gotta say this is one of the best ones I've seen. SO well written and also really well edited. I've really enjoyed these video-essay format videos from you lately! Well done 💐💐💐
Every time I see a video like this it humbles me. I caught on to some themes missed a lot. For example, I thought when Kendrick said he was going back home, I thought he was talking about going back to Compton, not Africa. Thanks for the help, some of us are reading challenged.
I’ve been listening to this album for years and this essay really put into perspective on themes I picked up on but didn’t really flush it out love this love your channel don’t ever stop sharing yourself with the world through the art you love thank you friend thank you for your work
Subbed after the first breakdown ! Love your Intelligent conversations about K-dot. Because evidently, reading comprehension is not as common as "common sense" even! So glad you're here as a buffer for the stupidity/ insanity.
the first time i heard U , i was laying down listening to the album and it completely made me sit up and lock in on it, i replayed the song at least like 3 times . ts is potent
No , this breakdown is very good sometime you do perfect job .... like that TPAB continue from GKMC DO next DAMN and MMBS for comperhension more kendrick lamar.
I have to listen to this album again. It threw me off at first because I thought it was a huge departure from GKMC, but this video made me realize it is the logical next step from GKMC.
Kendrick is probably the most influential artist of this generation frfr, like hearing Alright at the protests and everything gives me chills every single time I hear it and seeing his growth and stuff over the years is truly beautiful
The people that call this album boring didn’t listen to it fr. I was 14 when this came out. I loved the heavy jazz sound throughout it cause it’s music you can actually dance to, but still get something from listening to it
