The Cultural Relevance of To Pimp A Butterfly: A Thread (RTs appreciated)

Happy birthday to the GOAT

Cover: This album as a whole can be seen as an attack on the power positions that’re still prevalent in America, and it’s made clear the moment you look at the cover. It’s a picture of Kendrick and a group of Black people flashing money and bottles of liquor outside . . .

. . . the White House, as a white judge lies dead on the ground. This symbolizes them rising up against their oppressors and rewriting the political structure.

Lyrical Content: In the song ‘King Kunta’, Kendrick references an 18th century slave named Kunta Kinte who tried to escape from his masters, but was eventually caught and punished. His masters cut his foot off. Here, Kendrick is comparing himself to Kinte, saying that . . .

. . . the industry is trying to cut his foot off and slow down the success of a socially-conscious Black man.

The song ‘Alright’ also has multiple references to the plight of Black people, but one line stands out in particular.

“And we hate po-po, want to kill us dead in the street for sure.”

This line refers to the Black community’s general (justified) distrust of police officers due to the disgusting murders of countless innocent African-Americans at the hands of the police.

Impact: This album is, without a doubt, a very important landmark in the middle of the long-standing Black Lives Matter movement. Many of the songs have been used as a rallying cry for justice and have given countless numbers of Black people a voice and the courage to stand up.

Conclusion: The effects of this album are still felt today. Its themes of racial inequality and the struggles of Black people in America are still relevant today. Until change is brought to the system, it’ll continue to be relevant.

Black Lives Matter.