If there is one word that will describe Kendrick Lamar, it is brave. The chartbusting American hip-hop artiste, with a host of awards including the Grammy, has become the face of black music in more ways than one.
In his third studio offering, To Pimp A Butterfly , Lamar opens portals to a brave new world of music. Introspective lyrics and delving into socio-political issues, show that he isn’t afraid to take a stand. A champion of causes, the album is powered by strong credos of jazz, funk and spoken word, backed by Lamar’s infectious and forceful rap-happy sentence of truth vocals. Abandoning contemporary hip-hop structures, the album veers away to unchartered sonic territory that Lamar handles with a mastery and skill few artistes possess. The album paves the way for the multi-Grammy Award winner to bring back radical Black politics and Black music into the pop mainstream. This reflects in the album cover that shows bare-chested young hoodrocks flashing cash and booze at White House grounds.
The party begins with ‘Wesley’s Theory’ – a slow-paced sonic takeback on Wesley Snipes being jailed for evading tax returns, where Lamar pleads innocence on black stereotypes. It is a bold statement to kick off the contemplative album. The 79-minute 16-track assignment may, at first listen, seem like a work of inspired art that reflects the condemnation of racism in America, but as you dig deeper, it turns into a rich celebration of Black culture and human potential.
Snoop Dogg drops in on ‘Institutionalised’ – a wry, sentimental rap number that evokes a deep sense of varied emotions in every provocative word. Backed by rhythmic hues of drums and bass, Lamar brings it down in ‘These Walls’. ‘Alright’ and ‘Complexion’ are up there in stellar rap fan-boy glory. The artiste also holds a mirror in ‘U’ for some self-criticism.
There’s always a strong jazz presence in the background in almost every song. Pianist Robert Glasper, producer/sax player Terrace Martin and bass wizard Thundercat give the album a fluid undertone that is tenacious and unpredictable at the glamour-heavy vocals of Lamar. From the spastic slam poetry on ‘For Free?’ to the meandering ‘The Blacker The Berry’, Lamar heads into different music directions in each genre-busting song. The album’s highlight comes near the end with anthemic crowd-pulling rap frenzy in ‘You Ain’t Gotta Lie (Momma Said)’.
The homeless man in ‘How Much a Dollar Cost’ in the guise of God, and album closer ‘Mortal Man’ featuring an interview with the ghost of 2Pac catches you off guard with their infectious and yet uncomfortable vibe.
To Pimp A Butterfly is in many ways an expose to Lamar’s world – an album about tiny quality of life improvements to be made in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds - and his lyrics speak loudest as the voice of the people. Will the world give a listen?
( To Pimp A Butterfly is available for Rs. 395 in audio CD format through Universal Music)
