Kendrick Lamar
Grade: A-
Hey Kendrick, what’s the yams?
According to Lamar’s new song, “King Kunta,” yams are the powers that be.
What is most interesting about Kendrick Lamar’s new album, “To Pimp a Butterfly,” is that it is hard to tell if he is more interested in criticizing the current powers of America or himself as a new power figure.
In the novel “Things Fall Apart,” Chinua Achebe writes that a man’s worth in Ibo society in Nigeria stems from his yearly yam yield. So when he says that he has the yams, he means he has become a figure of power and wealth. This is new to him.
Second albums and films following a critically acclaimed debut are always fascinating to track. Quentin Tarantino made “Pulp Fiction” after “Reservoir Dogs.” Kanye West followed up “The College Dropout” by teaming with composer Jon Brion to make “Late Registration.” Second albums and films tend to be when the artist challenges themselves to go bigger and better. You know, like “Caddyshack II.”
In K. Dot’s second album, he makes it clear his aspirations are not just to make it to the top, but to stay there. In the opening track “Wesley’s Theory,” Lamar jokes about the culture of a young rapper wanting the wealth and luxury of making it. “When I get signed, homie I’mma act a fool / Hit the dance floor, strobe lights in the room.”
Then, Lamar’s mentor, Dr. Dre, comes in to drop some knowledge in a message to Kendrick.
“Yo what’s up. It’s Dre. Remember the first time you came out to the house? You said you wanted a spot like mine. But remember, anybody can get it. The hard part is keeping it, motherf-----.”
Kendrick Lamar has gained the reputation as the best rapper in the game, but the question is if he has what it takes to maintain that title. People want to shoot down the man on top. It’s easier to criticize those always in the forefront.
So when the next full length track, “King Kunta,” gets going, Lamar is on a mission to make a statement. He speaks of how he now runs the game and has the whole world talking. He takes shots at other rappers not writing their own lyrics.
“I can dig rapping, but a rapper with a ghost writer? What the f--- happened? (Oh no) I swore I wouldn’t tell. But most of you share bars like you got the bottom bunk in a two-man cell.”
As the album progresses, society becomes more of a factor. Songs such as, “Hood Politics,” “How Much a Dollar Cost” and “The Blacker the Berry” take a far deeper look in how the world works and the issues with race and social status in America.
But the album still ends on the vainest track of all, “Mortal Man.” It is a captivating series of questions from Lamar asking where he stands with ?his fans.
I mean he said it best.
“When shit hit the fan, is you still a fan?”
