Kendrick Lamar is an American rapper from Compton, California. The release of his2 third studio album, To Pimp A Butterfly, has been described as “a masterpiece of fiery outrage, deep jazz, and ruthless self-critique”. The album is one that critiques American society and Black America’s views on that society, as well as how Black America is institutionalized and “pimped” out at its own expense all for the success of American society. Lamar provides his audience with an analogy of a caterpillar being imprisoned by its environment; cocooning itself in an internal struggle; all to be released as a butterfly with a changed outlook. To Pimp A Butterfly tells the story of Lamar’s metamorphosis through five stages; the caterpillar, the cocoon, the cocoon within its roots (original environment), release from the cocoon, and the butterfly. The Caterpillar “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”- “Mortal Man” …show more content…
Lamar’s monologue, “Mortal Man”, as he describes the caterpillar as 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”. Three tracks highlight Lamar throughout his time as a caterpillar, “Wesley Theory”, “For Free”, and “King Kunta”. As an entertainer, Lamar becomes successful; however, within the realm of success he finds that he has been imprisoned by his new environment, the entertainment industry”, which eventually leads his to succumbing to being