TO PIMP A BUTTERFLY - Dissect...
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THEMES Systemic Racism, Environmental Inequality, Gang Culture Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d. city serves as a narrative prerequisite for To Pimp a Butterfly. It tells the coming-of-age story of a 16-year-old K Dot (a good kid) whose actions are influenced by the harsh environment of Compton, CA (a mad city). Through God, authenticity, and music, K Dot finds escape from Compton and transforms into Kendrick Lamar, a self-realized man. TO PIMP A BUTTERFLY GOOD KID, M.A.A.D. CITY The caterpillar is a prisoner to the streets that conceived it. Its only job is to eat or consume everything around it, in order to protect itself from this mad city. While consuming its environment the caterpillar begins to notice ways to survive. PRELUDE PRELUDE ACT I 01 WESLEY’S THEORY 02 FOR FREE? 03 KING KUNTA One thing it noticed is how much the world shuns him, but praises the butterfly. The butterfly represents the talent, the thoughtfulness, and the beauty within the caterpillar. But having a harsh outlook on life the caterpillar sees the butterfly as weak and figures out a way to pimp it to his own benefits. ACT I PIMPED BY CONSUMPTION THEMES Exploitation, American Capitalism, Materialism, Ego After escaping Compton, Kendrick craves wealth, fame, and influence gained through his musical talent. He meets the album’s antagonist Uncle Sam, the American Dream incarnate, who looks to exploit Kendrick’s talent for financial prosperity. By demanding compensation for his talent, Kendrick feels empowered despite falling for Uncle Sam’s avaricious trappings. THEMES Mental Imprisonment, Depression, Survivor’s Guilt Kendrick finds himself ill-equipped for his new life outside of Compton. After using his influence as rap star for selfish returns, Kendrick hits rock bottom. He reveals his survivor’s guilt and suicidal thoughts in a drunken confession inside a hotel room. ACT II 04 INSTITUTIONALIZED 05 THESE WALLS 06 U Already surrounded by this mad city the caterpillar goes to work on the cocoon which institutionalizes him. He can no longer see past his own thoughts. He’s trapped. I REMEMBER YOU WAS CONFLICTED • MISUSING YOUR INFLUENCE SOMETIMES I DID THE SAME • ABUSING MY POWER, FULL OF RESENTMENT RESENTMENT THAT TURNED INTO A DEEP DEPRESSION • FOUND MYSELF SCREAMING IN THE HOTEL ROOM ACT II COCOONED THEMES Temptation, Good vs. Evil, Returning Home With the devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other, Kendrick works toward inner peace, finding purpose, and reconciling his past with his present. He meets Lucy (short for Lucifer) who, like Uncle Sam, attempts to lure the emotionally vulnerable Kendrick with riches in exchange for his soul. An experience with God at a gas station in South Africa sets Kendrick on a new path of leadership. 10 HOOD POLITICS ACT III 07 ALRIGHT 08 FOR SALE? 09 MOMMA When trapped inside these walls certain ideas take roots, such as going home, and bringing back new concepts to this mad city. The result? Wings begin to emerge, breaking the cycle of feeling stagnant. I DIDN’T WANNA SELF DESTRUCT THE EVILS OF LUCY WAS ALL AROUND ME • SO I WENT RUNNING FOR ANSWERS UNTIL I CAME HOME BUT THAT DIDN’T STOP SURVIVOR’S GUILT • GOING BACK AND FORTH TRYING TO CONVINCE MYSELF THE STRIPES I EARNED OR MAYBE HOW A-1 MY FOUNDATION WAS BUT WHILE MY LOVED ONES WAS FIGHTING THE CONTINUOUS WAR BACK IN THE CITY, I WAS ENTERING A NEW ONE ACT III EMERGING WINGS 11 HOW MUCH A DOLLAR COST THEMES Self-Respect, Self-Empowerment, Reclamation, Reconciliation After his pivotal trip to South Africa, a reconnection to his black ancestry, and recommitment to God, Kendrick returns home to Compton to spread a message of self-acceptance, self-respect, encourages positivity in the face of adversity, and urges for the union of all African- Americans regardless of gang affiliation. In using his influence for the betterment of his community, not personal profit, Kendrick comes full circle, defeating Uncle Sam, Lucy, and his inner demons. The pimped becomes the pimp, the slave becomes master, the caterpillar becomes butterfly. ACT IV 12 COMPLEXION (A ZULU LOVE) 13 THE BLACKER THE BERRY 14 YOU AIN’T GOTTA LIE (MOMMA SAID) 15 I Finally free, the butterfly sheds light on situations that the caterpillar never considered, ending the internal struggle. Although the butterfly and caterpillar are completely different, they are one and the same. A WAR THAT WAS BASED ON APARTHEID AND DISCRIMINATION• MADE ME WANNA GO BACK TO THE CITY AND TELL THE HOMIES WHAT I LEARNED • THE WORD WAS RESPECT JUST BECAUSE YOU WORE A DIFFERENT GANG COLOR THAN MINE'S • DOESN’T MEAN I CAN’T RESPECT YOU AS A BLACK MAN FORGETTING ALL THE PAIN AND HURT WE CAUSED EACH OTHER IN THESE STREETS IF I RESPECT YOU, WE UNIFY AND STOP THE ENEMY FROM KILLING US ACT IV THE BUTTERFLY SHEDS LIGHT THEMES Leadership, Loyalty Kendrick questions the nature of leadership and the loyalty of those claiming allegiance to him. Through a metaphysical conversation with Tupac Shakur, Kendrick seeks guidance as he moves forward on his spiritual journey, destined to fulfill the legacy Shakur was unable to fully realize. EPILOGUE 16 MORTAL MAN BUT I DON’T KNOW, I’M NO MORTAL MAN, MAYBE I’M JUST ANOTHER NIGGA EPILOGUE TO PIMP A BUTTERFLY BY KENDRICK LAMAR KENDRICKLAMAR.COM POSTER DESIGN BY HANNAH SELLERS HANNAHCSELLERS.COM + + DISSECT PODCAST BY COLE CUCHNA DISSECTPODCAST.COM ALBUM MAP
Transcript of TO PIMP A BUTTERFLY - Dissect...
THEMES Systemic Racism, Environmental Inequality, Gang Culture
Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d. city serves as a narrative prerequisite for To Pimp a Butterfly. It tells the coming-of-age story of a 16-year-old K Dot (a good kid) whose actions are influenced by the harsh environment of Compton, CA (a mad city). Through God, authenticity, and music, K Dot finds escape from Compton and transforms into Kendrick Lamar, a self-realized man.
T O P I M P A B U T T E R F L Y
GOOD KID, M.A.A.D. CITY The caterpillar is a prisoner to the streets that conceived it.
Its only job is to eat or consume everything around it, in order to protect itself from this mad city. While consuming its environment the caterpillar begins to notice ways to survive.
P R E L U D E PRELUDE
A C T I01 WESLEY’S THEORY
02 FOR FREE?03 KING KUNTA
One thing it noticed is how much the world shuns him, but praises the butterfly. The butterfly represents the talent, the thoughtfulness, and the beauty within the caterpillar.
But having a harsh outlook on life the caterpillar sees the butterfly as weak and figures out a way to pimp it to his own benefits.
ACT I P I M P E D B Y C O N S U M P T I O N
THEMES Exploitation, American Capitalism, Materialism, Ego
After escaping Compton, Kendrick craves wealth, fame, and influence gained through his musical talent. He meets the album’s antagonist Uncle Sam, the American Dream incarnate, who looks to exploit Kendrick’s talent for financial prosperity. By demanding compensation for his talent, Kendrick feels empowered despite falling for Uncle Sam’s avaricious trappings.
THEMES Mental Imprisonment, Depression, Survivor ’s Guilt
Kendrick finds himself ill-equipped for his new life outside of Compton. After using his influence as rap star for selfish returns, Kendrick hits rock bottom. He reveals his survivor’s guilt and suicidal thoughts in a drunken confession inside a hotel room.
A C T I I
04 INSTITUTIONALIZED
05 THESE WALLS
06 U
Already surrounded by this mad city the caterpillar goes to work on the cocoon which institutionalizes him. He can no longer see past his own thoughts. He’s trapped.
I REMEMBER YOU WAS CONFLICTED • MISUSING YOUR INFLUENCE
SOMETIMES I DID THE SAME • ABUSING MY POWER, FULL OF RESENTMENT
RESENTMENT THAT TURNED INTO A DEEP DEPRESSION • FOUND MYSELF SCREAMING IN THE HOTEL ROOM
ACT II C O C O O N E D
THEMES Temptation, Good vs. Evil, Returning Home
With the devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other, Kendrick works toward inner peace, finding purpose, and reconciling his past with his present. He meets Lucy (short for Lucifer) who, like Uncle Sam, attempts to lure the emotionally vulnerable Kendrick with riches in exchange for his soul. An experience with God at a gas station in South Africa sets Kendrick on a new path of leadership.
10 HOOD POLITICS
A C T I I I
07 ALRIGHT
08 FOR SALE?
09 MOMMA
When trapped inside these walls certain ideas take roots, such as going home, and bringing back new concepts to this mad city. The result? Wings begin to emerge, breaking the cycle of feeling stagnant.
I DIDN’T WANNA SELF DESTRUCT
THE EVILS OF LUCY WAS ALL AROUND ME • SO I WENT RUNNINGFOR ANSWERS
UNTIL I CAME HOME
BUT THAT DIDN’T STOP SURVIVOR’S GUILT • GOING BACK AND FORTH TRYING TO CONVINCE MYSELF THE STRIPES I EARNED OR MAYBE HOW A-1 MY FOUNDATION WAS
BUT WHILE MY LOVED ONES WAS FIGHTING THE CONTINUOUS WAR BACK IN THE CITY, I WAS ENTERING A NEW ONE
ACT III E M E R G I N G W I N G S
11 HOW MUCH A DOLLAR COST
THEMES Self-Respect, Self-Empowerment, Reclamation, Reconciliation
After his pivotal trip to South Africa, a reconnection to his black ancestry, and recommitment to God, Kendrick returns home to Compton to spread a message of self-acceptance, self-respect, encourages positivity in the face of adversity, and urges for the union of all African-Americans regardless of gang affiliation. In using his influence for the betterment of his community, not personal profit, Kendrick comes full circle, defeating Uncle Sam, Lucy, and his inner demons. The pimped becomes the pimp, the slave becomes master, the caterpillar becomes butterfly.
A C T I V
12 COMPLEXION (A ZULU LOVE)
13 THE BLACKER THE BERRY
14 YOU AIN’T GOTTA LIE (MOMMA SAID)
15 I
Finally free, the butterfly sheds light on situations that the caterpillar never considered, ending the internal struggle. Although the butterfly and caterpillar are completely different, they are one and the same.
A WAR THAT WAS BASED ON APARTHEID AND DISCRIMINATION• MADE ME WANNA GO BACK TO THE CITY AND TELL THE HOMIES WHAT I LEARNED • THE WORD WAS RESPECT
JUST BECAUSE YOU WORE A DIFFERENT GANG COLOR THAN MINE'S • DOESN’T MEAN I CAN’T RESPECT YOU AS A BLACK MAN
FORGETTING ALL THE PAIN AND HURT WE CAUSED EACH OTHER IN THESE STREETS
IF I RESPECT YOU, WE UNIFY AND STOP THE ENEMY FROM KILLING US
ACT IV T H E B U T T E R F LY S H E D S L I G H T
THEMES Leadership, Loyalty
Kendrick questions the nature of leadership and the loyalty of those claiming allegiance to him. Through a metaphysical conversation with Tupac Shakur, Kendrick seeks guidance as he moves forward on his spiritual journey, destined to fulfill the legacy Shakur was unable to fully realize.
E P I L O G U E16 MORTAL MAN BUT I DON’T KNOW, I’M NO MORTAL MAN, MAYBE I’M JUST ANOTHER NIGGA
EPILOGUE
TO PIMP A BUT TERFLY BY KENDRICK LAMAR KENDRICKL AMAR.COM
POSTER DESIGNBY HANNAH SELLERS HANNAHCSELLERS.COM
+ + DISSECT PODCASTBY COLE CUCHNA DISSECTPODCAST.COM
A L B U M M A P
