Review Summary: Just proof that To Pimp A Butterfly was a masterpiece.
Here we have a collection of what looks like outtakes and song ideas as well as complete songs from the To Pimp A Butterfly sessions. All of the songs and the album are untitled, and in the context of Kendrick’s career, this is a significant release for him because it establishes a sort of behind-the-scenes of To Pimp A Butterfly, and it does so very uniquely. The songs were written between To Pimp A Butterfly and Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City, and they show just how experimental with lyrical content, style sound Kendrick was. I think it really finishes the picture for us that Kendrick merely compromised and made a conventionally great album with Good Kid, and with his notoriety from that album he had room to experiment and made sure that his experimentation was heard and better respected. Quite genius if you ask me. There’s a mantra that is included throughout various tracks on this album that isn’t included in the final cut of To Pimp a Butterfly that I just love: “PIMP PIMP! HOORAY!” It establishes a bliss and camaraderie that he’s bringing with his message: the unity of an entire community to be happy while fighting for liberty and liberation as well. Yet, at the same, it’s the least preachy that it could ever be. I don’t know if I’m ranting here, but man, I just love what Kendrick has been doing this past years after GKMC. This release just proves that he’s a true artist and I’m glad he released them.
The highlights here include “untitled 2″ (one of my favorites by him, period), “5″ and “8.” All of these songs are completely different; “2″ has an ethereal, atonal and trap flavor to it; “5″ is very jazzy, in the vein of Flying Lotus with its bassline and production style; “8″ is unapologetically funky. The lyrical content is typically brilliant, as with To Pimp A Butterfly. The lyrical highlight for me is definitely “2,” which discusses the potential dangers of his neighborhood and the lifestyle therein. There he seeks salvation. On the next track, he literally talks about traditional cultures among races, like Asians, Indians, Whites and Blacks. It’s all very creative and a very civil discussion of these hot topics. I guess we all need to be like Kendrick; just chill out and talk like adults about the differences among us and admit they’re there, but don’t necessarily blame anyone for them.
I loved this, though some songs are definitely much better than others. They are outtakes after all. These songs were sketches, untitled, unmastered. Nothing less than that, but certainly more: proof that Kendrick is a genius who had us all fooled at one point.
7.5/10
