“To Pimp A Butterfly” (Kendrick Lamar) – Every Song Ranked

By 2015, Kendrick Lamar had already made a name for himself in the Rap world. Albums like “Section.80” and “good kid, m.A.A.d city” won over fans and critics alike, but it was “To Pimp A Butterfly” which cemented him as one of the greatest Rappers – and music artists – of all time.

This album has some of the best lyric-weaving and production I’ve ever heard – all sixteen songs are impressive in their own right … but how would I rank them all?

Before we begin, you can check out some of my related blog posts below:

What I learned from re-listening to David Bowie’s entire discography

“Blackstar” – Songs Ranked

“Demon Days” Songs Ranked

2015: The Year In Music

Good

16 – For Free? – Interlude

To be clear, every song on “To Pimp A Butterfly” is at least Good. They all have interesting songwriting and production decisions. That being said, there’s definitely one song which lags behind the others.

“For Free? – Interlude” is the second song on the album, and it’s a jazzy fever dream. It’s energetic and it sets a harsh tone for the album, that’s for sure, but as an individual song it’s too chaotic for me.

15 – u

The first half of “u” is really engrossing, possibly enough to break into my “Great” tier. The second half, unfortunately, is nowhere near as tight.

The cracked, pre-pubescent vocal style doesn’t do it for me.

14 – For Sale? – Interlude

It’s a bit of a stretch to call a five minute song an “Interlude”, but oh well.

My complaint about “For Sale? – Interlude” is that it sounds a bit too peppy / bright compared to the rest of the album. High-pitched synths are always risky and I rarely like them, but at least that low-end is booming.

13 – You Ain’t Gotta Lie (Momma Said)

One of the groovier songs on the album. It’s simple but I dig it.

12 – Hood Politics

If the whole song had been like those first thirty seconds, I would’ve loved it.

“Hood Politics” is still one of the most lyrically-profound songs on the album. Those final few seconds in particular are really gripping.

Great

11 – i

Where other songs on the album go for a groovier, funkier style, “i” is an all-out party.

This has some great drumming and a rhythm I just want to dance to.

10 – Complexion (A Zulu Love) (feat. Rapsody)

“Complexion (A Zulu Love)” has an old-school vibe which I love. Maybe it’s that simple, hefty bassline.

Where some of the songs up until now have dipped in quality in the second half, the midpoint switch-up here has immense weight.

9 – Institutionalized (feat. Bilal, Anna Wise & Snoop Dogg)

Ooooh that drum beat at the start. You immediately know you’re in safe hands.

“Institutionalized” takes a harder turn quite early on, but the drums and lyrical flow combo hits the spot.

8 – Momma

That beat feels way ahead of its time. It’s the kind of rhythm you’d hear on Lo-Fi songs today, let alone 2015.

Otherwise, “Momma” is the same old story – fantastic lyrics and production all around.

7 – Mortal Man

It takes some major balls to end your album on a 12-minute, more philosophical song. That’s why “To Pimp A Butterfly” – and Kendrick Lamar himself – are considered among the GOATs.

I was pleasantly thrown off-guard on my first listen when the final seven minutes were spoken word. Kendrick ties together the themes of the album, all while a subtle jazz ambience plays in the background.

6 – These Walls (feat. Bilal, Anna Wise & Thundercat)

“These Walls” is the sexiest song on the album for sure.

Those synths are pure 90’s cheese, and Thundercat’s bassline keeps the low end bopping.

Amazing

5 – Alright

Back in 2015, “Alright” became Kendrick’s biggest global hit – and it’s still amongst his most recognizable to this day.

If there’s one song from this album which consistently plays on radios and in clubs, it’s this one. The hook is simple but effective, with a good drop to boot.

4 – The Blacker The Berry

The most confrontational song on the album. “The Blacker The Berry” is aggressive and vitriolic, but it paints a picture of Kendrick’s experiences as a black man so vividly.

Assassin’s choruses slap you across the face, and then Kendrick’s verses make you question everything about the toxic culture we’ve built as a society.

3 – King Kunta

Before I listened to this album, “King Kunta” was the one song I knew from it. A bit random, in hindsight, when there were hits like “Alright” which I seemingly missed. I’ve loved “King Kunta” ever since I chanced upon it almost a decade ago.

It has my favourite riff on the album – that bassline is groovy as hell. The song never goes the direction you expect, and so it’s a thrill-ride from start to finish.

2 – How Much A Dollar Cost (feat. James Fauntleroy & Ronald Isley)

“To Pimp A Butterfly” is billed as a genre fusion album, but I’d say the main two genres are Rap (obviously) and Jazz. No song on the album does the soulful, jazzy, instrumental sound better than “How Much A Dollar Cost”.

It’s Stevie Wonder-esque with how smooth it is – both in the production and the songwriting. I hear hints of Motown, which is no doubt an homage to the history of black culture. A really intelligent, sultry song.

All-Time Great

1 – Wesley’s Theory (feat. George Clinton & Thundercat)

I don’t think I’ve ever heard a song like “Wesley’s Theory”. It boasts some of the best, most engrossing production of all time – the mix is so perfect that every part comes through and shines.

Thundercat absolutely kills the bass, George Clinton shines on his feature, and the chorus melody is such an earworm. It’s a bold, enormous statement to begin the album – and, in my opinion, it’s one of the greatest album openers of all time.

Aaaand that’s my list! If you liked this post and want to support me, please consider giving me a one-time donation. Even a few pence (or whatever currency you use) is fantastic! I’ve never monetized this blog before, but it would be great if I could do this comfortably and not have to worry about the yearly website domain costs. Thank you so much!