It’s an intense exploration of big themes: exploitation, living up to responsibilities, the importance of staying true to yourself, finding strength in the face of adversity.

Dre as we are in Mingus and Coltrane.”Īmong a plethora of gifted musicians at Lamar’s disposal were pianist Robert Glasper, the producer/horn player Terrace Martin, guitarist Marlon Williams, and bass virtuoso Thundercat – all incredibly versatile players, as adept at turning their hand to the deep funk of “King Kunta” as they were to the chaotic free jazz excursions of “u,” or the lush, Prince-like slow jam of “These Walls.” The most forward-thinking jazz musicians of recent times have had hip-hop coursing through their veins, as Washington has said: “We’ve grown up alongside rappers and DJs, we’ve heard this music all our life. And this wasn’t some fusty, old-fashioned take on jazz. It was as if Lamar sought a music that could tell the story of Black America as vividly as he would in his lyrics a music that was as free-flowing and supple as his verses. He assembled a crack band of the most exciting jazz musicians of the day, installing saxophone colossus Kamasi Washington as musical director. To Pimp A Butterfly sounded unlike anything Lamar had done before: a genre-busting jubilee in honor of the funkiest, freshest, and most out-there elements of African-American music. It showed fans there was no second-guessing Kendrick – especially not in a musical sense. Now sounding tougher and more vital than before, it included a speech from Kendrick mourning the effects of gang violence and urging Black communities to celebrate themselves. When To Pimp A Butterfly was released on March 15, 2015, the song was an intrinsic part of the sprawling narrative Lamar unfurled. The first taste of Good Kid…’s follow-up was released in September 2014 in the shape of the Isley Brothers-sampling “i.” An upbeat slice of radio-friendly funky hip-hop, it preached a positive message of self-love and celebrated individuality, but seemed perhaps lighter than many had expected.

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