Kendrick Lamar's to Pimp a Butterfly

<p>Breaking the global record for streams in a single day nearly 10 million people around the world tuned in to hear Kendrick Lamar's sophomore album in the hours after its release. <i>To Pimp a Butterfly</i> was widely hailed as an instant classic garnering laudatory album reviews many awards and even a canonized place in Harvard's W. E. B. Du Bois archive. Why did this strangely compelling record stimulate the emotions and imaginations of listeners?<br>This book takes a deep dive into the sounds images and lyrics of <i>To Pimp a Butterfly</i> to suggest that Kendrick appeals to the psyche of a nation in crisis and embraces the development of a radical political conscience. Kendrick breathes fresh life into the Black musical protest tradition and cultivates a platform for loving resistance. Combining funk jazz and spoken word <i>To Pimp a Butterfly</i>'s expansive sonic and lyrical geography brings a high level of innovation to rap music. More importantly Kendrick's introspective and philosophical songs compel us to believe in a future where perhaps <i>we gon' be alright</i>.</p>