Kendrick Lamar recently finished his “Kunta Groove Sessions” tour where he played cuts from To Pimp a Butterfly for small venues.
Lamar‘s producer and saxophonist, Terrace Martin, explains why the Compton, California rapper will probably not perform songs from that album in another setting.
“We didn’t do that album for popular culture,” Martin says to Complex. “We did that album for people who have no way out. We did that album for people who can’t even afford to go to the shows. We did an album for people who need hope. You don’t prostitute that.”
Martin also details how the album’s meaning has morphed to reach a broader scope than initially imagined. He says that seeing people from different races and backgrounds helped this evolution to happen.
“Kendrick’s album is definitely from the heart, mind, and soul of a young Black male speaking to his people,” Martin says. “But also, more than pro-Black, I believe this album has become pro-human being, pro-everybody. Playing this music for a mixed crowd is simple because we don’t look at it as a mixed crowd. We look at it as our relatives within the art community, where we don’t experience Black and White or none of that bullshit that the police and the government got us going through as Black people. Within the art is a place of safety. A place of love, man.”
He continues by saying that Lamar and his team embrace White support of their mission. Nonetheless, the producer maintains his original purpose for the album.
“To Pimp a Butterfly is beauty within the problems of our culture and our people,” Martin says. “It’s a wake-up call. It’s an audiobook to help get the message out to others, including some allies that can help us. We have allies that understand struggle, but sometimes they don’t know we going through this shit. But I will say it again: To Pimp a Butterfly is a Black album.”
For additional Kendrick Lamar coverage, watch the following DX Daily:
It’s a Pro Album
The shit sucked . For every race. They wont play, cuz people don’t want to hear it. That’s why people were leaving festivals after Future’s performances
Everybody wanna cut the legs off em
Shout out to Kdot, T.M. an everyone who played a role in supporting an putting TPAB out into the world. Even if you didnt like it we need that balance in Hiphop some folks can’t relate to sellout negros.. Create Awareness
Your lame
You’re
Lame
Bored
Waaaa boooo hoooo waaaa sniffle sniffle
Glub glub glub wee wee he he
probably one of the greatest albums ever
Its the highest rated album ever and its well deserved
haven’t heard an album that good in YEARS
easily one of the greatest albums this genre has ever seen… from a pure objective standpoint, kendrick proved that he was a genius
this album will never get topped, mark my words.
it’s up there with illmatic if we’re being honest… not sure if kendrick can do better, it’s just a masterpiece
I got a serious question for all yall real hip hop fans…
2 different albums sonically and thematically, but in terms of creativity, lyrics, cohesiveness, impact etc. do you think “To Pimp A Butterfly” is BETTER, EQUAL or LESSER than “The Love Below”?
They both suck anus
its def more than pro black..that album can fit in any garbage can white black brown green. all types of garbage cans
lol…why do u hate it???
A lyrical masterpiece.i think TPAB will be up a classic in the next years
I’m bumpin’ this album for the rest of my life dawg. It don’t get boring to me. Such a Classic.
All music should be to improve your society, to paint the current news and to raise the creative bar. If not, you are the corrosion. KDOT is attempting to be the solution. Though one should ask why continue writing the Nword in your verses if you seek the new thought.
Still & will be album of the year*long live the 80s & 90s*