What is the the title of kendrick lamar's first album
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section.80
Section.80 - Wikipedia
2011-06-25
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<table><tbody><tr><th>Section.80</th></tr><tr><td><a href="/wiki/File:Section.80-Cover.jpg"></a></td></tr><tr><th><a href="/wiki/Album">Studio album</a> by <div><p><a href="/wiki/Kendrick_Lamar">Kendrick Lamar</a></p></div></th></tr><tr><th>Released</th><td>July 2, 2011</td></tr><tr><th>Recorded</th><td>2011</td></tr><tr><th>Studio</th><td>Top Dawg, <a href="/wiki/Carson,_California">Carson, California</a></td></tr><tr><th><a href="/wiki/Music_genre">Genre</a></th><td><a href="/wiki/Conscious_hip_hop">Conscious hip hop</a></td></tr><tr><th>Length</th><td>59:44</td></tr><tr><th><a href="/wiki/Record_label">Label</a></th><td><a href="/wiki/Top_Dawg_Entertainment">TDE</a></td></tr><tr><th><a href="/wiki/Record_producer">Producer</a></th><td>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Dave_Free">Dave Free</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/J._Cole">J. Cole</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Sounwave">Sounwave</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Tae_Beast">Tae Beast</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Terrace_Martin">Terrace Martin</a></li>
<li>THC</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Tommy_Black_(producer)">Tommy Black</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Willie_B_(producer)">Willie B</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Wyldfyer">Wyldfyer</a></li></ul>
</td></tr><tr><th><a href="/wiki/Kendrick_Lamar">Kendrick Lamar</a> chronology</th></tr><tr><td>
<table>
<tbody><tr>
<td><i><a href="/wiki/Overly_Dedicated">Overly Dedicated</a></i><br />(2010)
</td>
<td><i><b>Section.80</b></i><br />(2011)
</td>
<td><i><a href="/wiki/Good_Kid,_M.A.A.D_City">Good Kid, M.A.A.D City</a></i><br />(2012)
</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr><tr><th><a href="/wiki/Single_(music)">Singles</a> from <i> Section.80 </i></th></tr><tr><td><div>
<ol><li>"<a href="/wiki/HiiiPoWeR">HiiiPoWeR</a>"<br />Released: April 12, 2011<sup><a href="#cite_note-1">[1]</a></sup></li></ol>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p><i><b>Section.80</b></i> is the debut studio album by American rapper <a href="/wiki/Kendrick_Lamar">Kendrick Lamar</a>. It was released on July 2, 2011, by <a href="/wiki/Top_Dawg_Entertainment">Top Dawg Entertainment</a> (TDE). In the years leading up to its release, Lamar previously produced various <a href="/wiki/Mixtape">mixtapes</a> under the <a href="/wiki/Nickname">moniker</a> K.Dot. In 2010, Lamar released <i><a href="/wiki/Overly_Dedicated">Overly Dedicated</a></i>, his fourth solo <a href="/wiki/Mixtape">mixtape</a>. Shortly after its release, he began working on <i>Section.80</i>.
</p><p>The <a href="/wiki/Hip_hop_production">production</a> of <i>Section.80</i> was mainly handled by TDE in-house producers from production group <a href="/wiki/Digi%2BPhonics">Digi+Phonics</a>, as well as THC, <a href="/wiki/Tommy_Black_(producer)">Tommy Black</a>, <a href="/wiki/Wyldfyer">Wyldfyer</a>, <a href="/wiki/Terrace_Martin">Terrace Martin</a> and <a href="/wiki/J._Cole">J. Cole</a>. A <a href="/wiki/Concept_album">concept album</a>, it features lyrical themes delivered by Lamar such as the 1980s <a href="/wiki/Crack_epidemic">crack epidemic</a>, racism and the <a href="/wiki/Drug_tolerance">medication tolerance</a> of <a href="/wiki/Millennials">Generation Y</a>. The album features <a href="/wiki/Guest_appearance">guest appearances</a> from <a href="/wiki/GLC_(rapper)">GLC</a>, Colin Munroe, <a href="/wiki/Ash_Riser">Ashtrobot</a>, <a href="/wiki/BJ_the_Chicago_Kid">BJ the Chicago Kid</a>, <a href="/wiki/Schoolboy_Q">Schoolboy Q</a>, <a href="/wiki/Ab-Soul">Ab-Soul</a> and vocals from late singer-songwriter Alori Joh.
</p><p><i>Section.80</i> received generally positive reviews from critics upon its release. The album debuted at number 113 on the US <a href="/wiki/Billboard_200"><i>Billboard</i> 200</a> and as of February 2014, it has sold 130,000 copies domestically. In April 2017, it was certified <a href="/wiki/RIAA_certification">gold</a> by the <a href="/wiki/Recording_Industry_Association_of_America">Recording Industry Association of America</a> (RIAA).
</p>
<h2>Background[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Section.80&amp;action=edit&amp;section=1">edit</a>]</h2>
<p>Prior to the album's release, <a href="/wiki/Kendrick_Lamar">Kendrick Lamar</a> released various mixtapes under the K.Dot <a href="/wiki/Nickname">moniker</a>. The first of these <a href="/wiki/Mixtape">mixtapes</a>, titled <i>Youngest Head Nigga in Charge</i>, landed Lamar a <a href="/wiki/Recording_contract">recording contract</a> with <a href="/wiki/Top_Dawg_Entertainment">Top Dawg Entertainment</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-2">[2]</a></sup> Through Top Dawg Entertainment, Lamar would release four mixtapes, including <i><a href="/wiki/Overly_Dedicated">Overly Dedicated</a></i>. Lamar felt compelled to create the album after seeing a friend of his go to jail for twenty-five years and experiencing the pain of such an event.<sup><a href="#cite_note-:0-3">[3]</a></sup>
</p>
<h2>Recording[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Section.80&amp;action=edit&amp;section=2">edit</a>]</h2>
<p>Lamar began working on the album sometime in January 2011.<sup><a href="#cite_note-:1-4">[4]</a></sup> The album was recorded at Top Dawg Studios in <a href="/wiki/Carson,_California">Carson, California</a>. Most of the album was written in Lamar's mother's kitchen and his tour bus.<sup><a href="#cite_note-:1-4">[4]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-interview-5">[5]</a></sup> While recording the album, Lamar wished for it to be "as organic as possible,"<sup><a href="#cite_note-:0-3">[3]</a></sup> at times leaving songs unfinished for extended periods of time.<sup><a href="#cite_note-:0-3">[3]</a></sup>
</p>
<h2>Music and lyrics[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Section.80&amp;action=edit&amp;section=3">edit</a>]</h2>
<p><i>Section.80</i> is a <a href="/wiki/Concept_album">concept album</a> that involves the lives of Tammy and Keisha as it explains the personal hardships in their lives.<sup><a href="#cite_note-6">[6]</a></sup> "Tammy's Song (Her Evils)" revolves around two girls cheating on their boyfriends after discovering they were unfaithful, and eventually sleeping with each other because they can't trust men; "Keisha's Song (Her Pain)" is about a prostitute who seeks comfort and control, only to her demise.
</p><p>Lamar has stated that he created the album to discuss his <a href="/wiki/Millennials">generation</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-:0-3">[3]</a></sup> Lamar dwells on a variety of subjects, such as the <a href="/wiki/Crack_epidemic_in_the_United_States">crack epidemic</a> occurred in the 80s and <a href="/wiki/Ronald_Reagan">Ronald Reagan</a>.
</p><p>On "<a href="/wiki/A.D.H.D_(Kendrick_Lamar_song)">A.D.H.D</a>", Lamar addresses "getting fucked up, going to parties, and just being carefree,"<sup><a href="#cite_note-:0-3">[3]</a></sup> while "Kush &amp; Corinthians" notes that <a href="/wiki/Justice">justice</a> and <a href="/wiki/Morality">morals</a> are rarely cut and dried.<sup><a href="#cite_note-rapfix.mtv.com-7">[7]</a></sup> The album's <a href="/wiki/Lead_single">lead single</a> and final song, "<a href="/wiki/HiiiPoWeR">HiiiPoWeR</a>", explains the "HiiiPoWeR" movement promoted by Lamar and his Top Dawg Entertainment labelmates.<sup><a href="#cite_note-8">[8]</a></sup> The song came from Lamar's interactions with fellow rapper <a href="/wiki/J._Cole">J. Cole</a> and TDE president <a href="/wiki/Punch_(rapper)">Punch</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-:1-4">[4]</a></sup>
</p><p>The song "Ronald Reagan Era" features uncredited vocal recordings by <a href="/wiki/RZA">RZA</a>, which Kendrick mentions in an Interview with <i><a href="/wiki/Complex_(magazine)">Complex</a></i> in 2011 were orchestrated by DJ Fricktion from London, who at the time was working with RZA on various records.<sup><a href="#cite_note-:1-4">[4]</a></sup>
</p>
<h2>Marketing and sales[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Section.80&amp;action=edit&amp;section=4">edit</a>]</h2>
<p><i>Section.80</i> was released on July 2, 2011.<sup><a href="#cite_note-9">[9]</a></sup> In its first week, the album sold 5,000 copies in the United States and debuted at number 113 on the US <a href="/wiki/Billboard_200"><i>Billboard</i> 200</a>, with minimal mainstream media promotion and coverage. Within a two-week period, the album sold a total of 9,000 copies in the United States,<sup><a href="#cite_note-BS-10">[10]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-HipHopDX-11">[11]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-HipHopDX2-12">[12]</a></sup> and as of February 2014, the album has sold 130,000 copies domestically.<sup><a href="#cite_note-feb14-13">[13]</a></sup> On April 14, 2017, the album was certified <a href="/wiki/RIAA_certification">gold</a> by the <a href="/wiki/Recording_Industry_Association_of_America">Recording Industry Association of America</a> (RIAA), for combined sales and <a href="/wiki/Album-equivalent_unit">album-equivalent units</a> of over 500,000 units.<sup><a href="#cite_note-RIAA-14">[14]</a></sup>
</p>
<h2>Critical reception[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Section.80&amp;action=edit&amp;section=5">edit</a>]</h2>
<table><caption>Professional ratings</caption><tbody><tr><th>Aggregate scores</th></tr><tr><th>Source</th><th>Rating</th></tr><tr><td><a href="/wiki/Metacritic">Metacritic</a></td><td>80/100<sup><a href="#cite_note-MC-15">[15]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><th>Review scores</th></tr><tr><th>Source</th><th>Rating</th></tr><tr><td><a href="/wiki/AllMusic">AllMusic</a></td><td><sup><a href="#cite_note-16">[16]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/wiki/Beats_Per_Minute_(website)">Beats Per Minute</a></i></td><td>90%<sup><a href="#cite_note-17">[17]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/wiki/Entertainment_Weekly">Entertainment Weekly</a></i></td><td>B<sup><a href="#cite_note-18">[18]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/wiki/HipHopDX">HipHopDX</a></i></td><td>4.0/5<sup><a href="#cite_note-Vasquez-19">[19]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/wiki/MSN_Music">MSN Music</a></i> (<a href="/wiki/Robert_Christgau#Consumer_Guide">Expert Witness</a>)</td><td>B+<sup><a href="#cite_note-Christgau-20">[20]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/wiki/Pitchfork_(website)">Pitchfork</a></i></td><td>8.0/10<sup><a href="#cite_note-pitchfork-21">[21]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/wiki/PopMatters">PopMatters</a></i></td><td>8/10<sup><a href="#cite_note-popmatters-22">[22]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><td><i>RapReviews</i></td><td>8/10<sup><a href="#cite_note-23">[23]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/wiki/Tom_Hull_(critic)">Tom Hull – on the Web</a></i></td><td>B+ (<a href="/wiki/Christgau%27s_Consumer_Guide:_Albums_of_the_%2790s#Grading_key"></a><a href="/wiki/Christgau%27s_Consumer_Guide:_Albums_of_the_%2790s#Grading_key"></a>)<sup><a href="#cite_note-Hull-24">[24]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/wiki/XXL_(magazine)">XXL</a></i></td><td>4/5<sup><a href="#cite_note-XXL-25">[25]</a></sup></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p><i>Section.80</i> was met with generally positive reviews. At <a href="/wiki/Metacritic">Metacritic</a>, which assigns a <a href="/wiki/Standard_score">normalized</a> rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an <a href="/wiki/Weighted_arithmetic_mean">average</a> score of 80, based on 11 reviews.<sup><a href="#cite_note-MC-15">[15]</a></sup>
</p><p>Andres Tardio of <i><a href="/wiki/HipHopDX">HipHopDX</a></i> praised the album, writing that Lamar "may have been searching for answers, but that journey allowed him to find out of this year's most outstanding albums with <i>Section.80</i>."<sup><a href="#cite_note-Vasquez-19">[19]</a></sup> Reviewing the album for <i><a href="/wiki/Pitchfork_(website)">Pitchfork</a></i>, Tom Breihan believed that, "self-serious flaws and all, <i>Section.80</i> still stands as a powerful document of a tremendously promising young guy figuring out his voice."<sup><a href="#cite_note-pitchfork-21">[21]</a></sup> In the opinion of <i><a href="/wiki/XXL_(magazine)">XXL</a></i> journalist Adam Fleischer, the record reveals "its author's brain is neither lost nor useless, as he weaves together carefully constructed thoughts before spewing raps on each of the project's 16 tracks, ensuring nothing is disposable or without purpose."<sup><a href="#cite_note-XXL-25">[25]</a></sup> David Amidon from <i><a href="/wiki/PopMatters">PopMatters</a></i> compared Lamar to an <a href="/wiki/Ice_Cube">Ice Cube</a> early in his career, as "he's only telling us what he sees, and while he might not offer solutions as often as [Ice Cube] did, he's certainly able to paint us vivid a picture."<sup><a href="#cite_note-popmatters-22">[22]</a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Tom_Hull_(critic)">Tom Hull</a> said Lamar "runs a song about 'niggas and ho's' so far into the ground he can raise a flagpole in top of it, but also recalls the evils of the <a href="/wiki/Reagan_Era">Reagan Era</a>, which is pretty good for a guy who was just born as <a href="/wiki/Iran%E2%80%93Contra_affair">Iran-Contra</a> piled up."<sup><a href="#cite_note-Hull-24">[24]</a></sup>
</p><p><i>Pitchfork</i> placed the album at number 45 on its list of the "Top 50 albums of 2011".<sup><a href="#cite_note-26">[26]</a></sup> <i>Complex</i> named the album the 7th best album of 2011.<sup><a href="#cite_note-27">[27]</a></sup> In honor of <i>Section.80</i>'s fifth anniversary, <i><a href="/wiki/Forbes">Forbes</a></i> columnist Ogden Payne wrote an article explaining how the album had propelled Lamar into "hip-hop royalty," deeming it "the genesis to Kendrick Lamar successfully balancing social commentary with mass appeal, while simultaneously laying the foundation for his label as King Kendrick."<sup><a href="#cite_note-28">[28]</a></sup> <i><a href="/wiki/NME">NME</a></i> placed the album at number three on their list of "101 Albums To Hear Before You Die" in 2014.<sup><a href="#cite_note-29">[29]</a></sup>
</p>
<h2>Track listing[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Section.80&amp;action=edit&amp;section=6">edit</a>]</h2>
<p>Songwriting credits adapted from <a href="/wiki/Broadcast_Music,_Inc.">BMI</a> and <a href="/wiki/American_Society_of_Composers,_Authors_and_Publishers">ASCAP</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-30">[30]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-31">[31]</a></sup>
</p>
<p><b>Notes</b>
</p>
<ul><li><sup><b><a href="#ref_a">^[a]</a></b> </sup> signifies a co-producer</li>
<li>"A.D.H.D" contains additional vocals from Ab-Soul</li>
<li>"HiiiPoWer" contains additional vocals from Alori Joh</li></ul>
<h2>Personnel[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Section.80&amp;action=edit&amp;section=7">edit</a>]</h2>
<p>Credits are adapted from <a href="/wiki/AllMusic">AllMusic</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-32">[32]</a></sup>
</p>
<div>
<table>
<tbody><tr>
<td>
<ul><li>Kendrick Lamar – primary artist</li>
<li>Sounwave – producer</li>
<li>Terrace Martin – producer</li>
<li>J. Cole – producer</li>
<li>Wyldfyer – producer</li>
<li>Tommy Black – producer</li>
<li>Dave Free – producer</li>
<li>Derek "MixedByAli" Ali – mix engineer</li></ul>
</td>
<td>
<ul><li>Ab-Soul – featured artist</li>
<li>BJ the Chicago Kid – featured artist</li>
<li>Colin Munroe – featured artist</li>
<li>Schoolboy Q – featured artist</li>
<li>Ashtrobot – featured artist</li></ul>
</td></tr></tbody></table></div>
<h2>Charts[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Section.80&amp;action=edit&amp;section=8">edit</a>]</h2>
<div>
<table>
<tbody><tr>
<td>
<h3>Weekly charts[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Section.80&amp;action=edit&amp;section=9">edit</a>]</h3>
<table>
<caption>Chart performance for <i>Section.80</i>
</caption>
<tbody><tr>
<th>Chart (2011–2012)
</th>
<th>Peak<br /> position
</th></tr>
<tr>
<th>US <a href="/wiki/Billboard_200"><i>Billboard</i> 200</a><sup><a href="#cite_note-ac_Billboard200_Kendrick_Lamar-33">[33]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>113
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>US <a href="/wiki/Top_R%26B/Hip-Hop_Albums">Top R&amp;B/Hip-Hop Albums</a> (<a href="/wiki/Billboard_(magazine)"><i>Billboard</i></a>)<sup><a href="#cite_note-ac_BillboardRandBHipHop_Kendrick_Lamar-34">[34]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>21
</td></tr></tbody></table>
</td>
<td>
<h3>Year-end charts[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Section.80&amp;action=edit&amp;section=10">edit</a>]</h3>
<table>
<caption>2012 year-end chart performance for <i>Section.80</i>
</caption>
<tbody><tr>
<th>Chart (2012)
</th>
<th>Position
</th></tr>
<tr>
<th>US Top R&amp;B/Hip-Hop Albums (<i>Billboard</i>)<sup><a href="#cite_note-35">[35]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>94
</td></tr></tbody></table>
</td></tr></tbody></table></div>
<h2>Certifications[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Section.80&amp;action=edit&amp;section=11">edit</a>]</h2>
<h2>References[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Section.80&amp;action=edit&amp;section=12">edit</a>]</h2>
<div>
<ol>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120719033922/http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hiiipower-single/id432158310">"HiiiPoWer – Single by Kendrick Lamar"</a>. <a href="/wiki/ITunes_Store">iTunes Store</a>. April 12, 2011. Archived from <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hiiipower-single/id432158310">the original</a> on July 19, 2012. Retrieved September 25, 2012.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b> <cite>Graham, Nadine (January 6, 2011). <a href="https://hiphopdx.com/interviews/id.1641/title.kendrick-lamar-the-west-coast-got-somethin-to-say">"Kendrick Lamar: The West Coast Got Somethin' To Say"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/HipHopDX">HipHopDX</a></i>. Retrieved May 17, 2022.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-:0_3-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-:0_3-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-:0_3-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-:0_3-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-:0_3-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a> <cite>Ramirez, Erika (September 2, 2011). <a href="http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/467608/kendrick-lamar-talks-section80-new-album-and-upcoming-videos">"Kendrick Lamar Talks 'Section.80,' New Album and Upcoming Videos"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Billboard_(magazine)">Billboard</a></i>. Retrieved July 12, 2020.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-:1_4-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-:1_4-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-:1_4-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-:1_4-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <cite>Ahmed, Insanul; Michels, Eric (August 1, 2011). <a href="http://www.complex.com/music/2011/08/interview-kendrick-lamar">"Interview: Kendrick Lamar Talks "Section.80," Major Labels, &amp; Working With Dr. Dre"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Complex_(magazine)">Complex</a></i>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130107012753/http://www.complex.com/music/2011/08/interview-kendrick-lamar">Archived</a> from the original on January 7, 2013. Retrieved January 27, 2013.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-interview_5-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/kendrick-lamar-cover">"Kendrick Lamar"</a>. Interview Magazine. July 12, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2018.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b> <cite>kvosber (September 13, 2020). <a href="https://wknc.org/2020/09/13/classic-review-section80-by-kendrick-lamar/">"Classic Review: Section.80 by Kendrick Lamar"</a>. <a href="/wiki/WKNC-FM">WKNC-FM</a>. Retrieved May 17, 2022.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-rapfix.mtv.com_7-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://rapfix.mtv.com/2011/06/20/fans-react-tokendrick-lamar-single-ronald-reagan-era/">"Kendrick Lamar Releases 'Ronald Reagan Era', Fans Buzzing"</a>. MTV. June 20, 2011. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110918015123/http://rapfix.mtv.com/2011/06/20/fans-react-tokendrick-lamar-single-ronald-reagan-era/">Archived</a> from the original on September 18, 2011. Retrieved November 5, 2011.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.15795/title.kendrick-lamar-speaks-on-the-meaning-behind-hiiipower-working-with-j-cole">"Kendrick Lamar Speaks on the Meaning Behind "HiiiPoWeR," Working With J. Cole"</a>. July 1, 2010. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20111023002458/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.15795/title.kendrick-lamar-speaks-on-the-meaning-behind-hiiipower-working-with-j-cole">Archived</a> from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved November 5, 2011.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://music.apple.com/us/album/section-80/1475039105">"Section.80 – Album by Kendrick Lamar"</a>. <a href="/wiki/Apple_Music">Apple Music</a>. <a href="https://archive.ph/wPtpi">Archived</a> from the original on May 18, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2022.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-BS_10-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://www.ballerstatus.com/2011/07/07/album-charts-beyonce-earns-fourth-1-album-with-4-big-sean-debuts-at-3/">"Album Charts: Beyonce Earns Fourth #1 Album With '4', Big Sean Debuts At #3"</a>. July 7, 2011. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110711140936/http://www.ballerstatus.com/2011/07/07/album-charts-beyonce-earns-fourth-1-album-with-4-big-sean-debuts-at-3/">Archived</a> from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved July 7, 2011.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-HipHopDX_11-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110708164449/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.15846/title.hip-hop-album-sales-the-week-ending-7-3-2011/">"Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 7/3/2011"</a>. <i>HipHopDX</i>. Archived from <a href="http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.15846/title.hip-hop-album-sales-the-week-ending-7-3-2011">the original</a> on July 8, 2011. Retrieved July 6, 2011.</cite>
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<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-HipHopDX2_12-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110715003646/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.15944/title.hip-hop-album-sales-the-week-ending-7-10-2011">"Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 7/10/2011"</a>. <i>HipHopDX</i>. Archived from <a href="http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.15944/title.hip-hop-album-sales-the-week-ending-7-10-2011">the original</a> on July 15, 2011. Retrieved July 13, 2011.</cite>
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<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-feb14_13-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/5922946/top-dawg-entertainment-cover-story-kendrick-lamar-schoolboy-q-anthony-tiffith">"Top Dawg's Kendrick Lamar &amp; ScHoolboy Q Cover Story: Enter the House of Pain"</a>. <i>Billboard</i>. February 28, 2014. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160202085802/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/5922946/top-dawg-entertainment-cover-story-kendrick-lamar-schoolboy-q-anthony-tiffith">Archived</a> from the original on February 2, 2016. Retrieved February 2, 2016.</cite>
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<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-RIAA_14-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-RIAA_14-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <cite><a href="https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&amp;ar=Kendrick+Lamar&amp;ti=Section.80&amp;format=Album&amp;type=#search_section">"American album certifications – Kendrick Lamar – Section.80"</a>. <a href="/wiki/Recording_Industry_Association_of_America">Recording Industry Association of America</a>.</cite>
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<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-MC_15-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-MC_15-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <cite><a href="https://www.metacritic.com/music/section80/kendrick-lamar">"Reviews for Section.80 by Kendrick Lamar"</a>. <a href="/wiki/Metacritic">Metacritic</a>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160312191704/http://www.metacritic.com/music/section80">Archived</a> from the original on March 12, 2016. Retrieved May 18, 2015.</cite>
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<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-16">^</a></b> <cite>Kellman, Andy. <a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/section80-mw0002186545">"Section.80 – Kendrick Lemar"</a>. <a href="/wiki/AllMusic">AllMusic</a>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170723125205/http://www.allmusic.com/album/section80-mw0002186545">Archived</a> from the original on July 23, 2017. Retrieved May 12, 2017.</cite>
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<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-17">^</a></b> <cite>McMullen, Chase (July 12, 2011). <a href="http://beatsperminute.com/reviews/42910/">"Album Review: Kendrick Lamar – Section.80"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Beats_Per_Minute_(website)">Beats Per Minute</a></i>. <a href="https://archive.today/20120707082822/http://beatsperminute.com/reviews/album-review-kendrick-lamar-section80/">Archived</a> from the original on July 7, 2012. Retrieved July 12, 2012.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-18">^</a></b> <cite>Anderson, Kyle; Maerz, Melissa; Wood, Mikael; Wete, Brad (July 29, 2011). <a href="http://www.ew.com/article/2011/07/29/albums-aug-5-2011">"Albums: Aug. 5, 2011"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Entertainment_Weekly">Entertainment Weekly</a></i>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170214233128/http://ew.com/article/2011/07/29/albums-aug-5-2011/">Archived</a> from the original on February 14, 2017. Retrieved September 25, 2016.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-Vasquez_19-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Vasquez_19-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <cite>Tardio, Andres (July 6, 2011). <a href="https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.1709/title.kendrick-lamar-section-80">"Kendrick Lamar – Section.80"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/HipHopDX">HipHopDX</a></i>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160506013525/https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.1709/title.kendrick-lamar-section-80">Archived</a> from the original on May 6, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2019.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-Christgau_20-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="/wiki/Robert_Christgau">Christgau, Robert</a> (August 27, 2012). <a href="https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/ew2012-08.php">"Ab-Soul/Kendrick Lamar"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/MSN_Music">MSN Music</a></i>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150317154845/http://robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/ew2012-08.php">Archived</a> from the original on March 17, 2015. Retrieved August 29, 2012.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-pitchfork_21-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-pitchfork_21-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <cite>Breihan, Tom (July 21, 2011). <a href="http://www.pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/15653-section80/">"Kendrick Lamar: Section.80"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Pitchfork_(website)">Pitchfork</a></i>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120114032901/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/15653-section80/">Archived</a> from the original on January 14, 2012. Retrieved January 15, 2012.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-popmatters_22-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-popmatters_22-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <cite>Amidon, David (August 16, 2011). <a href="https://www.popmatters.com/review/145547-kendrick-lamar-section.80/">"Kendrick Lamar: Section.80"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/PopMatters">PopMatters</a></i>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20131109180128/http://www.popmatters.com/review/145547-kendrick-lamar-section.80/">Archived</a> from the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved August 17, 2011.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-23">^</a></b> <cite>Baber, Mike (July 19, 2011). <a href="http://rapreviews.com/archive/2011_07F_section80.html">"Kendrick Lamar :: Section.80"</a>. <i>RapReviews</i>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150518081927/http://rapreviews.com/archive/2011_07F_section80.html">Archived</a> from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved April 26, 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-Hull_24-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Hull_24-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <cite><a href="/wiki/Tom_Hull_(critic)">Hull, Tom</a> (September 6, 2011). <a href="http://www.tomhull.com/ocston/arch/rhap/rh1109-1.php">"Rhapsody Streamnotes"</a>. <i>Tom Hull – on the Web</i>. Retrieved July 13, 2020.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-XXL_25-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-XXL_25-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <cite>Fleischer, Adam (July 5, 2011). <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130820001428/http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/reviews/2011/07/kendrick-lamar-section-80">"Kendrick Lamar, Section.80"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/XXL_(magazine)">XXL</a></i>. Archived from <a href="http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/reviews/2011/07/kendrick-lamar-section-80">the original</a> on August 20, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2011.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-26">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/8727-the-top-50-albums-of-2011/">"Staff Lists: The Top 50 Albums of 2011"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Pitchfork_(website)">Pitchfork</a></i>. December 15, 2011. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120107223727/http://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/8727-the-top-50-albums-of-2011/">Archived</a> from the original on January 7, 2012. Retrieved January 8, 2012.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-27">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://www.complex.com/music/2011/12/the-25-best-albums-of-2011/20">"The 25 Best Albums of 2011"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Complex_(magazine)">Complex</a></i>. December 19, 2011. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160402105504/http://www.complex.com/music/2011/12/the-25-best-albums-of-2011/20">Archived</a> from the original on April 2, 2016.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-28">^</a></b> <cite>Payne, Ogden (July 2, 2016). <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/ogdenpayne/2016/07/02/how-kendrick-lamars-section-80-catapulted-him-into-hip-hop-royalty/">"How Kendrick Lamar's 'Section.80' Catapulted Him into Hip-Hop Royalty"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Forbes">Forbes</a></i>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160703114610/http://www.forbes.com/sites/ogdenpayne/2016/07/02/how-kendrick-lamars-section-80-catapulted-him-into-hip-hop-royalty/#692e8a3ca1ba">Archived</a> from the original on July 3, 2016. Retrieved September 25, 2016.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-29">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://www.nme.com/list/101-albums-to-hear-before-you-die-1259">"101 Albums To Hear Before You Die"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/NME">NME</a></i>. May 7, 2014. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170511104840/http://www.nme.com/list/101-albums-to-hear-before-you-die-1259">Archived</a> from the original on May 11, 2017. Retrieved June 21, 2017.</cite>
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<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-30">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://repertoire.bmi.com/StartPage.aspx">"BMI | Repertoire Search"</a>. <a href="/wiki/Broadcast_Music,_Inc.">BMI</a>. Select "TITLE", type "Song" in the search engine, and click "Search". Retrieved May 22, 2020.</cite>
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<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-31">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.ascap.com/repertory">"ACE Repertory"</a>. <a href="/wiki/American_Society_of_Composers,_Authors_and_Publishers">ASCAP</a>. Select "TITLE", type "Song" in the search engine, and click "Search". Retrieved May 22, 2020.</cite>
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<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-32">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://www.allmusic.com/album/section80-mw0002186545/credits">"Section.80 – Kendrick Lamar"</a>. AllMusic. Credits. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121019225617/http://www.allmusic.com/album/section80-mw0002186545/credits">Archived</a> from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved October 21, 2012.</cite>
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<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-ac_Billboard200_Kendrick_Lamar_33-0">^</a></b> <a href="https://www.billboard.com/artist/Kendrick-Lamar/chart-history/TLP">"Kendrick Lamar Chart History (<i>Billboard</i> 200)"</a>. <a href="/wiki/Billboard_(magazine)"><i>Billboard</i></a>. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-ac_BillboardRandBHipHop_Kendrick_Lamar_34-0">^</a></b> <a href="https://www.billboard.com/artist/Kendrick-Lamar/chart-history/BLP">"Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Top R&amp;B/Hip-Hop Albums)"</a>. <a href="/wiki/Billboard_(magazine)"><i>Billboard</i></a>. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-35">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2012/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums">"Top R&amp;B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2012"</a>. <i>Billboard</i>. Retrieved July 29, 2020.</cite>
</li>
</ol></div>
<h2>External links[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Section.80&amp;action=edit&amp;section=13">edit</a>]</h2>
<ul><li><cite><a href="https://archive.today/20130222155635/http://www.relevantmindset.net/2011/07/kendrick-lamar-section80-official.html">"Kendrick Lamar – Section.80 (official review)"</a>. Archived from <a href="http://www.relevantmindset.net/2011/07/kendrick-lamar-section80-official.html">the original</a> on February 22, 2013.</cite> – Relevant Mindset</li></ul>
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 * 1 Background
 * 2 Recording
 * 3 Music and lyrics
 * 4 Marketing and sales
 * 5 Critical reception
 * 6 Track listing
 * 7 Personnel
 * 8 Charts
 + 8.1 Weekly charts
 + 8.2 Year-end charts
 * 9 Certifications
 * 10 References
 * 11 External links
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 Section.80

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 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Not to be confused with Section 8 (album).

 Section.80 
  
 Studio album by Kendrick Lamar 
 Released July 2, 2011 
 Recorded 2011 
 Studio Top Dawg, Carson, California
 Genre Conscious hip hop 
 Length 59 : 44 
 Label TDE 
  * Dave Free 
  * J. Cole 
  * Sounwave 
  * Tae Beast 
 Producer * Terrace Martin 
  * THC 
  * Tommy Black 
  * Willie B 
  * Wyldfyer 
 Kendrick Lamar chronology 
 Overly Dedicated Section.80 Good Kid, M.A.A.D City
 (2010) (2011) (2012) 
  
  
 Singles from Section.80 
 1. " HiiiPoWeR " 
 Released: April 12, 2011 [1] 
  
 

 Section.80 is the debut studio album by American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It was released on July 2, 2011, by Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE). In the years leading up to its release, Lamar previously produced various mixtapes under the moniker K.Dot. In 2010, Lamar released Overly Dedicated, his fourth solo mixtape. Shortly after its release, he began working on Section.80.

 The production of Section.80 was mainly handled by TDE in-house producers from production group Digi+Phonics, as well as THC, Tommy Black, Wyldfyer, Terrace Martin and J. Cole. A concept album, it features lyrical themes delivered by Lamar such as the 1980s crack epidemic, racism and the medication tolerance of Generation Y. The album features guest appearances from GLC, Colin Munroe, Ashtrobot, BJ the Chicago Kid, Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul and vocals from late singer-songwriter Alori Joh.

 Section.80 received generally positive reviews from critics upon its release. The album debuted at number 113 on the US Billboard 200 and as of February 2014, it has sold 130,000 copies domestically. In April 2017, it was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

 Background [ edit ]

 Prior to the album's release, Kendrick Lamar released various mixtapes under the K.Dot moniker. The first of these mixtapes, titled Youngest Head Nigga in Charge, landed Lamar a recording contract with Top Dawg Entertainment.[2] Through Top Dawg Entertainment, Lamar would release four mixtapes, including Overly Dedicated. Lamar felt compelled to create the album after seeing a friend of his go to jail for twenty-five years and experiencing the pain of such an event.[3]

 Recording [ edit ]

 Lamar began working on the album sometime in January 2011.[4] The album was recorded at Top Dawg Studios in Carson, California. Most of the album was written in Lamar's mother's kitchen and his tour bus.[4][5] While recording the album, Lamar wished for it to be "as organic as possible,"[3] at times leaving songs unfinished for extended periods of time.[3]

 Music and lyrics [ edit ]

 Section.80 is a concept album that involves the lives of Tammy and Keisha as it explains the personal hardships in their lives.[6] "Tammy's Song (Her Evils)" revolves around two girls cheating on their boyfriends after discovering they were unfaithful, and eventually sleeping with each other because they can't trust men; "Keisha's Song (Her Pain)" is about a prostitute who seeks comfort and control, only to her demise.

 Lamar has stated that he created the album to discuss his generation.[3] Lamar dwells on a variety of subjects, such as the crack epidemic occurred in the 80s and Ronald Reagan.

 On "A.D.H.D", Lamar addresses "getting fucked up, going to parties, and just being carefree,"[3] while "Kush & Corinthians" notes that justice and morals are rarely cut and dried.[7] The album's lead single and final song, "HiiiPoWeR", explains the "HiiiPoWeR" movement promoted by Lamar and his Top Dawg Entertainment labelmates.[8] The song came from Lamar's interactions with fellow rapper J. Cole and TDE president Punch.[4]

 The song "Ronald Reagan Era" features uncredited vocal recordings by RZA, which Kendrick mentions in an Interview with Complex in 2011 were orchestrated by DJ Fricktion from London, who at the time was working with RZA on various records.[4]

 Marketing and sales [ edit ]

 Section.80 was released on July 2, 2011.[9] In its first week, the album sold 5,000 copies in the United States and debuted at number 113 on the US Billboard 200, with minimal mainstream media promotion and coverage. Within a two-week period, the album sold a total of 9,000 copies in the United States,[10][11][12] and as of February 2014, the album has sold 130,000 copies domestically.[13] On April 14, 2017, the album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), for combined sales and album-equivalent units of over 500,000 units.[14]

 Critical reception [ edit ]

 Professional ratings
 Aggregate scores 
 Source Rating 
 Metacritic 80/100[15]
 Review scores 
 Source Rating 
 AllMusic [16] 
 Beats Per Minute 90%[17] 
 Entertainment Weekly B[18] 
 HipHopDX 4.0/5[19] 
 MSN Music (Expert Witness) B+[20] 
 Pitchfork 8.0/10[21]
 PopMatters 8/10[22] 
 RapReviews 8/10[23] 
 Tom Hull – on the Web B+ ()[24] 
 XXL 4/5[25] 
 

 Section.80 was met with generally positive reviews. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an average score of 80, based on 11 reviews.[15]

 Andres Tardio of HipHopDX praised the album, writing that Lamar "may have been searching for answers, but that journey allowed him to find out of this year's most outstanding albums with Section.80."[19] Reviewing the album for Pitchfork, Tom Breihan believed that, "self-serious flaws and all, Section.80 still stands as a powerful document of a tremendously promising young guy figuring out his voice."[21] In the opinion of XXL journalist Adam Fleischer, the record reveals "its author's brain is neither lost nor useless, as he weaves together carefully constructed thoughts before spewing raps on each of the project's 16 tracks, ensuring nothing is disposable or without purpose."[25] David Amidon from PopMatters compared Lamar to an Ice Cube early in his career, as "he's only telling us what he sees, and while he might not offer solutions as often as [Ice Cube] did, he's certainly able to paint us vivid a picture."[22] Tom Hull said Lamar "runs a song about 'niggas and ho's' so far into the ground he can raise a flagpole in top of it, but also recalls the evils of the Reagan Era, which is pretty good for a guy who was just born as Iran-Contra piled up."[24]

 Pitchfork placed the album at number 45 on its list of the "Top 50 albums of 2011".[26] Complex named the album the 7th best album of 2011.[27] In honor of Section.80 ' s fifth anniversary, Forbes columnist Ogden Payne wrote an article explaining how the album had propelled Lamar into "hip-hop royalty," deeming it "the genesis to Kendrick Lamar successfully balancing social commentary with mass appeal, while simultaneously laying the foundation for his label as King Kendrick."[28] NME placed the album at number three on their list of "101 Albums To Hear Before You Die" in 2014.[29]

 Track listing [ edit ]

 Songwriting credits adapted from BMI and ASCAP.[30][31]

 Section.80 track listing
 No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
 1. "Fuck Your Ethnicity" * Kendrick Duckworth THC 3:44 
  * Axel Morgan 
 2. "Hol' Up" * Duckworth Sounwave 2:53 
  * Mark Spears 
  * Duckworth 
 3. "A.D.H.D" * Matthew Martin Sounwave 3:35 
  * Spears 
  * Duckworth 
 4. "No Make-Up (Her Vice)" (featuring Colin Munroe) * Spears Sounwave 3:55 
  * Colin Munroe 
  * Duckworth 
 5. "Tammy's Song (Her Evils)" * Ricci Riera THC 2:41 
  * Morgan 
 6. "Chapter Six" * Duckworth Tommy Black 2:41 
  * Fredrik Halldin 
 7. "Ronald Reagan Era (His Evils)" * Duckworth Tae Beast 3:36 
  * Donte Perkins 
  * Duckworth 
 8. "Poe Mans Dreams (His Vice)" (featuring GLC) * Greg Lawtie-Campbell Willie B 4:21 
  * William Brown 
  * Duckworth * Sounwave 
 9. "The Spiteful Chant" (featuring Schoolboy Q) * Quincy Hanley * Dave Free 5:20 
  * Spears 
  * Duckworth 
 10. "Chapter Ten" * Riera THC 1:15 
  * Morgan 
 11. "Keisha's Song (Her Pain)" (featuring Ashtrobot) * Duckworth Tae Beast 3:47 
  * Perkins 
 12. "Rigamortis" * Duckworth * Willie B 2:48 
  * Eric Reed * Sounwave[a] 
 13. "Kush & Corinthians (His Pain)" (featuring BJ the Chicago Kid) * Duckworth Wyldfyer 5:04 
  * Wyatt Coleman 
  * Duckworth 
 14. "Blow My High (Members Only)" * Melissa Elliott Tommy Black 3:35 
  * Timothy Mosley 
  * Duckworth 
 15. "Ab-Soul's Outro" (featuring Ab-Soul) * Herbert Stevens Martin 5:50 
  * Terrace Martin 
 16. "HiiiPoWeR" * Duckworth J. Cole 4:39 
  * Jermaine Cole 
 Total length: 59:44 
 

 Notes

 * ^[a] signifies a co-producer
 * "A.D.H.D" contains additional vocals from Ab-Soul
 * "HiiiPoWer" contains additional vocals from Alori Joh

 Personnel [ edit ]

 Credits are adapted from AllMusic.[32]

 * Kendrick Lamar – primary artist * Ab-Soul – featured artist 
 * Sounwave – producer * BJ the Chicago Kid – featured artist
 * Terrace Martin – producer * Colin Munroe – featured artist 
 * J. Cole – producer * Schoolboy Q – featured artist 
 * Wyldfyer – producer * Ashtrobot – featured artist 
 * Tommy Black – producer 
 * Dave Free – producer 
 * Derek "MixedByAli" Ali – mix engineer 
 

 Charts [ edit ]

 Weekly charts [ edit ] Year-end charts [ edit ] 
  
 Chart performance for Section.80 2012 year-end chart performance for Section.80 
 Chart (2011–2012) Peak Chart (2012) Position
  position US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[35] 94 
 US Billboard 200[33] 113 
 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[34] 21 
  
 

 Certifications [ edit ]

 Certifications for Section.80
 Region Certification Certified units/sales
 United States (RIAA)[14] Gold 500,000 
 Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
  
 

 References [ edit ]

 1. ^ "HiiiPoWer – Single by Kendrick Lamar". iTunes Store. April 12, 2011. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012 . Retrieved September 25, 2012 .
 2. ^ Graham, Nadine (January 6, 2011). "Kendrick Lamar: The West Coast Got Somethin' To Say". HipHopDX . Retrieved May 17, 2022 .
 3. ^ a b c d e Ramirez, Erika (September 2, 2011). "Kendrick Lamar Talks 'Section.80,' New Album and Upcoming Videos". Billboard . Retrieved July 12, 2020 .
 4. ^ a b c d Ahmed, Insanul; Michels, Eric (August 1, 2011). "Interview: Kendrick Lamar Talks "Section.80," Major Labels, & Working With Dr. Dre". Complex. Archived from the original on January 7, 2013 . Retrieved January 27, 2013 .
 5. ^ "Kendrick Lamar". Interview Magazine. July 12, 2017 . Retrieved January 5, 2018 .
 6. ^ kvosber (September 13, 2020). "Classic Review: Section.80 by Kendrick Lamar". WKNC-FM . Retrieved May 17, 2022 .
 7. ^ "Kendrick Lamar Releases 'Ronald Reagan Era', Fans Buzzing". MTV. June 20, 2011. Archived from the original on September 18, 2011 . Retrieved November 5, 2011 .
 8. ^ "Kendrick Lamar Speaks on the Meaning Behind "HiiiPoWeR," Working With J. Cole". July 1, 2010. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011 . Retrieved November 5, 2011 .
 9. ^ "Section.80 – Album by Kendrick Lamar". Apple Music. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022 . Retrieved May 18, 2022 .
 10. ^ "Album Charts: Beyonce Earns Fourth #1 Album With '4', Big Sean Debuts At #3". July 7, 2011. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011 . Retrieved July 7, 2011 .
 11. ^ "Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 7/3/2011". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011 . Retrieved July 6, 2011 .
 12. ^ "Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 7/10/2011". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011 . Retrieved July 13, 2011 .
 13. ^ "Top Dawg's Kendrick Lamar & ScHoolboy Q Cover Story: Enter the House of Pain". Billboard. February 28, 2014. Archived from the original on February 2, 2016 . Retrieved February 2, 2016 .
 14. ^ a b "American album certifications – Kendrick Lamar – Section.80". Recording Industry Association of America.
 15. ^ a b "Reviews for Section.80 by Kendrick Lamar". Metacritic. Archived from the original on March 12, 2016 . Retrieved May 18, 2015 .
 16. ^ Kellman, Andy. "Section.80 – Kendrick Lemar". AllMusic. Archived from the original on July 23, 2017 . Retrieved May 12, 2017 .
 17. ^ McMullen, Chase (July 12, 2011). "Album Review: Kendrick Lamar – Section.80". Beats Per Minute. Archived from the original on July 7, 2012 . Retrieved July 12, 2012 .
 18. ^ Anderson, Kyle; Maerz, Melissa; Wood, Mikael; Wete, Brad (July 29, 2011). "Albums: Aug. 5, 2011". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on February 14, 2017 . Retrieved September 25, 2016 .
 19. ^ a b Tardio, Andres (July 6, 2011). "Kendrick Lamar – Section.80". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on May 6, 2016 . Retrieved July 2, 2019 .
 20. ^ Christgau, Robert (August 27, 2012). "Ab-Soul/Kendrick Lamar". MSN Music. Archived from the original on March 17, 2015 . Retrieved August 29, 2012 .
 21. ^ a b Breihan, Tom (July 21, 2011). "Kendrick Lamar: Section.80". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on January 14, 2012 . Retrieved January 15, 2012 .
 22. ^ a b Amidon, David (August 16, 2011). "Kendrick Lamar: Section.80". PopMatters. Archived from the original on November 9, 2013 . Retrieved August 17, 2011 .
 23. ^ Baber, Mike (July 19, 2011). "Kendrick Lamar :: Section.80". RapReviews. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015 . Retrieved April 26, 2015 .
 24. ^ a b Hull, Tom (September 6, 2011). "Rhapsody Streamnotes". Tom Hull – on the Web . Retrieved July 13, 2020 .
 25. ^ a b Fleischer, Adam (July 5, 2011). "Kendrick Lamar, Section.80". XXL. Archived from the original on August 20, 2013 . Retrieved July 5, 2011 .
 26. ^ "Staff Lists: The Top 50 Albums of 2011". Pitchfork. December 15, 2011. Archived from the original on January 7, 2012 . Retrieved January 8, 2012 .
 27. ^ "The 25 Best Albums of 2011". Complex. December 19, 2011. Archived from the original on April 2, 2016.
 28. ^ Payne, Ogden (July 2, 2016). "How Kendrick Lamar's 'Section.80' Catapulted Him into Hip-Hop Royalty". Forbes. Archived from the original on July 3, 2016 . Retrieved September 25, 2016 .
 29. ^ "101 Albums To Hear Before You Die". NME. May 7, 2014. Archived from the original on May 11, 2017 . Retrieved June 21, 2017 .
 30. ^ "BMI | Repertoire Search". BMI. Select "TITLE", type "Song" in the search engine, and click "Search" . Retrieved May 22, 2020 .
 31. ^ "ACE Repertory". ASCAP. Select "TITLE", type "Song" in the search engine, and click "Search" . Retrieved May 22, 2020 .
 32. ^ "Section.80 – Kendrick Lamar". AllMusic. Credits. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012 . Retrieved October 21, 2012 .
 33. ^ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Billboard 200)" . Billboard . Retrieved January 17, 2017.
 34. ^ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)" . Billboard . Retrieved January 17, 2017.
 35. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2012". Billboard . Retrieved July 29, 2020 .

 External links [ edit ]

 * "Kendrick Lamar – Section.80 (official review)". Archived from the original on February 22, 2013. – Relevant Mindset
 * v 
 * t 
 * e 
 Kendrick Lamar 
 * Discography 
 * Songs 
 * Videography 
 * Awards and nominations
 * Section.80 (2011) 
 * Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012) 
 Studio albums * To Pimp a Butterfly (2015) 
 * Damn (2017) 
 * Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers (2022) 
 Compilations * Untitled Unmastered (2016) 
 Soundtracks * Black Panther: The Album (2018) 
 EPs * Kendrick Lamar (2009) 
 Mixtapes * C4 (2009) 
 * Overly Dedicated (2010) 
 * The Damn Tour 
 * The Championship Tour 
 Concerts and tours * Super Bowl LVI halftime show 
 * The Big Steppers Tour 
 * Kendrick Lamar Live: The Big Steppers Tour
 * PGLang 
 * Black Hippy 
 Related articles * Top Dawg Entertainment 
 * Dr. Dre 
 * Baby Keem 
 * Dave Free 
 
 Authority control * MusicBrainz 
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
	 
   Section.80          Studio album by   Kendrick Lamar      Released July 2, 2011   Recorded 2011   Studio Top Dawg, Carson, California     Genre   Conscious hip hop    Length 59:44    Label   TDE     Producer  
  Dave Free 
 J. Cole 
 Sounwave 
 Tae Beast 
 Terrace Martin 
THC
 Tommy Black 
 Willie B 
 Wyldfyer  
    Kendrick Lamar chronology   
 
  Overly Dedicated  (2010)
  Section.80  (2011)
  Good Kid, M.A.A.D City  (2012)
            Singles from  Section.80      
 "HiiiPoWeR"Released: April 12, 2011 [1]   
    
  Section.80  is the debut studio album by American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It was released on July 2, 2011, by Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE). In the years leading up to its release, Lamar previously produced various mixtapes under the moniker K.Dot. In 2010, Lamar released  Overly Dedicated , his fourth solo mixtape. Shortly after its release, he began working on Section.80.
 The production of Section.80 was mainly handled by TDE in-house producers from production group Digi+Phonics, as well as THC, Tommy Black, Wyldfyer, Terrace Martin and J. Cole. A concept album, it features lyrical themes delivered by Lamar such as the 1980s crack epidemic, racism and the medication tolerance of Generation Y. The album features guest appearances from GLC, Colin Munroe, Ashtrobot, BJ the Chicago Kid, Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul and vocals from late singer-songwriter Alori Joh.
  Section.80 received generally positive reviews from critics upon its release. The album debuted at number 113 on the US  Billboard 200 and as of February 2014, it has sold 130,000 copies domestically. In April 2017, it was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Background[edit]
Prior to the album's release, Kendrick Lamar released various mixtapes under the K.Dot moniker. The first of these mixtapes, titled Youngest Head Nigga in Charge, landed Lamar a recording contract with Top Dawg Entertainment. [2]  Through Top Dawg Entertainment, Lamar would release four mixtapes, including  Overly Dedicated . Lamar felt compelled to create the album after seeing a friend of his go to jail for twenty-five years and experiencing the pain of such an event. [3] 
Recording[edit]
Lamar began working on the album sometime in January 2011. [4]  The album was recorded at Top Dawg Studios in Carson, California. Most of the album was written in Lamar's mother's kitchen and his tour bus. [4]   [5]  While recording the album, Lamar wished for it to be "as organic as possible," [3]  at times leaving songs unfinished for extended periods of time. [3] 
Music and lyrics[edit]
 Section.80 is a concept album that involves the lives of Tammy and Keisha as it explains the personal hardships in their lives. [6]  "Tammy's Song (Her Evils)" revolves around two girls cheating on their boyfriends after discovering they were unfaithful, and eventually sleeping with each other because they can't trust men; "Keisha's Song (Her Pain)" is about a prostitute who seeks comfort and control, only to her demise.
 Lamar has stated that he created the album to discuss his generation. [3]  Lamar dwells on a variety of subjects, such as the crack epidemic occurred in the 80s and Ronald Reagan.
 On "A.D.H.D", Lamar addresses "getting fucked up, going to parties, and just being carefree," [3]  while "Kush &amp; Corinthians" notes that justice and morals are rarely cut and dried. [7]  The album's lead single and final song, "HiiiPoWeR", explains the "HiiiPoWeR" movement promoted by Lamar and his Top Dawg Entertainment labelmates. [8]  The song came from Lamar's interactions with fellow rapper J. Cole and TDE president Punch. [4] 
 The song "Ronald Reagan Era" features uncredited vocal recordings by RZA, which Kendrick mentions in an Interview with  Complex  in 2011 were orchestrated by DJ Fricktion from London, who at the time was working with RZA on various records. [4] 
Marketing and sales[edit]
 Section.80 was released on July 2, 2011. [9]  In its first week, the album sold 5,000 copies in the United States and debuted at number 113 on the US  Billboard 200, with minimal mainstream media promotion and coverage. Within a two-week period, the album sold a total of 9,000 copies in the United States, [10]   [11]   [12]  and as of February 2014, the album has sold 130,000 copies domestically. [13]  On April 14, 2017, the album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), for combined sales and album-equivalent units of over 500,000 units. [14] 
Critical reception[edit]
 Professional ratings   Aggregate scores   Source Rating    Metacritic  80/100 [15]     Review scores   Source Rating    AllMusic    [16]       Beats Per Minute   90% [17]       Entertainment Weekly   B [18]       HipHopDX   4.0/5 [19]       MSN Music  (Expert Witness) B+ [20]       Pitchfork   8.0/10 [21]       PopMatters   8/10 [22]      RapReviews  8/10 [23]       Tom Hull – on the Web   B+ (   ) [24]       XXL   4/5 [25]     
 Section.80 was met with generally positive reviews. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an average score of 80, based on 11 reviews. [15] 
 Andres Tardio of  HipHopDX  praised the album, writing that Lamar "may have been searching for answers, but that journey allowed him to find out of this year's most outstanding albums with Section.80." [19]  Reviewing the album for  Pitchfork , Tom Breihan believed that, "self-serious flaws and all, Section.80 still stands as a powerful document of a tremendously promising young guy figuring out his voice." [21]  In the opinion of  XXL  journalist Adam Fleischer, the record reveals "its author's brain is neither lost nor useless, as he weaves together carefully constructed thoughts before spewing raps on each of the project's 16 tracks, ensuring nothing is disposable or without purpose." [25]  David Amidon from  PopMatters  compared Lamar to an Ice Cube early in his career, as "he's only telling us what he sees, and while he might not offer solutions as often as [Ice Cube] did, he's certainly able to paint us vivid a picture." [22]  Tom Hull said Lamar "runs a song about 'niggas and ho's' so far into the ground he can raise a flagpole in top of it, but also recalls the evils of the Reagan Era, which is pretty good for a guy who was just born as Iran-Contra piled up." [24] 
  Pitchfork placed the album at number 45 on its list of the "Top 50 albums of 2011". [26]  Complex named the album the 7th best album of 2011. [27]  In honor of Section.80's fifth anniversary,  Forbes  columnist Ogden Payne wrote an article explaining how the album had propelled Lamar into "hip-hop royalty," deeming it "the genesis to Kendrick Lamar successfully balancing social commentary with mass appeal, while simultaneously laying the foundation for his label as King Kendrick." [28]   NME  placed the album at number three on their list of "101 Albums To Hear Before You Die" in 2014. [29] 
Track listing[edit]
Songwriting credits adapted from BMI and ASCAP. [30]   [31] 
 Notes
    ^[a]   signifies a co-producer
"A.D.H.D" contains additional vocals from Ab-Soul
"HiiiPoWer" contains additional vocals from Alori Joh 
Personnel[edit]
Credits are adapted from AllMusic. [32] 
 
 Kendrick Lamar – primary artist
Sounwave – producer
Terrace Martin – producer
J. Cole – producer
Wyldfyer – producer
Tommy Black – producer
Dave Free – producer
Derek "MixedByAli" Ali – mix engineer 
 Ab-Soul – featured artist
BJ the Chicago Kid – featured artist
Colin Munroe – featured artist
Schoolboy Q – featured artist
Ashtrobot – featured artist 
    
Charts[edit]
 
Weekly charts[edit]
Chart performance for Section.80
 
Chart (2011–2012)
Peak position
 
US  Billboard 200  [33] 
113
 
US Top R&amp;B/Hip-Hop Albums ( Billboard ) [34] 
21
   
Year-end charts[edit]
2012 year-end chart performance for Section.80
 
Chart (2012)
Position
 
US Top R&amp;B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [35] 
94
   
    
Certifications[edit]
References[edit]
  ^   "HiiiPoWer – Single by Kendrick Lamar". iTunes Store. April 12, 2011. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved September 25, 2012.
  ^  Graham, Nadine (January 6, 2011). "Kendrick Lamar: The West Coast Got Somethin' To Say".  HipHopDX . Retrieved May 17, 2022.
^    a       b       c       d       e    Ramirez, Erika (September 2, 2011). "Kendrick Lamar Talks 'Section.80,' New Album and Upcoming Videos".  Billboard . Retrieved July 12, 2020.
^    a       b       c       d    Ahmed, Insanul; Michels, Eric (August 1, 2011). "Interview: Kendrick Lamar Talks "Section.80," Major Labels, &amp; Working With Dr. Dre".  Complex . Archived from the original on January 7, 2013. Retrieved January 27, 2013.
  ^   "Kendrick Lamar". Interview Magazine. July 12, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2018.
  ^  kvosber (September 13, 2020). "Classic Review: Section.80 by Kendrick Lamar". WKNC-FM. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  ^   "Kendrick Lamar Releases 'Ronald Reagan Era', Fans Buzzing". MTV. June 20, 2011. Archived from the original on September 18, 2011. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
  ^   "Kendrick Lamar Speaks on the Meaning Behind "HiiiPoWeR," Working With J. Cole". July 1, 2010. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved November 5, 2011.
  ^   "Section.80 – Album by Kendrick Lamar". Apple Music. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  ^   "Album Charts: Beyonce Earns Fourth #1 Album With '4', Big Sean Debuts At #3". July 7, 2011. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved July 7, 2011.
  ^   "Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 7/3/2011". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
  ^   "Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 7/10/2011". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved July 13, 2011.
  ^   "Top Dawg's Kendrick Lamar &amp; ScHoolboy Q Cover Story: Enter the House of Pain". Billboard. February 28, 2014. Archived from the original on February 2, 2016. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
^    a       b     "American album certifications – Kendrick Lamar – Section.80". Recording Industry Association of America.
^    a       b     "Reviews for Section.80 by Kendrick Lamar". Metacritic. Archived from the original on March 12, 2016. Retrieved May 18, 2015.
  ^  Kellman, Andy. "Section.80 – Kendrick Lemar". AllMusic. Archived from the original on July 23, 2017. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  ^  McMullen, Chase (July 12, 2011). "Album Review: Kendrick Lamar – Section.80".  Beats Per Minute . Archived from the original on July 7, 2012. Retrieved July 12, 2012.
  ^  Anderson, Kyle; Maerz, Melissa; Wood, Mikael; Wete, Brad (July 29, 2011). "Albums: Aug. 5, 2011".  Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on February 14, 2017. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
^    a       b    Tardio, Andres (July 6, 2011). "Kendrick Lamar – Section.80".  HipHopDX . Archived from the original on May 6, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  ^   Christgau, Robert (August 27, 2012). "Ab-Soul/Kendrick Lamar".  MSN Music . Archived from the original on March 17, 2015. Retrieved August 29, 2012.
^    a       b    Breihan, Tom (July 21, 2011). "Kendrick Lamar: Section.80".  Pitchfork . Archived from the original on January 14, 2012. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
^    a       b    Amidon, David (August 16, 2011). "Kendrick Lamar: Section.80".  PopMatters . Archived from the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
  ^  Baber, Mike (July 19, 2011). "Kendrick Lamar :: Section.80". RapReviews. Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Retrieved April 26, 2015.
^    a       b     Hull, Tom (September 6, 2011). "Rhapsody Streamnotes". Tom Hull – on the Web. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
^    a       b    Fleischer, Adam (July 5, 2011). "Kendrick Lamar, Section.80".  XXL . Archived from the original on August 20, 2013. Retrieved July 5, 2011.
  ^   "Staff Lists: The Top 50 Albums of 2011".  Pitchfork . December 15, 2011. Archived from the original on January 7, 2012. Retrieved January 8, 2012.
  ^   "The 25 Best Albums of 2011".  Complex . December 19, 2011. Archived from the original on April 2, 2016.
  ^  Payne, Ogden (July 2, 2016). "How Kendrick Lamar's 'Section.80' Catapulted Him into Hip-Hop Royalty".  Forbes . Archived from the original on July 3, 2016. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
  ^   "101 Albums To Hear Before You Die".  NME . May 7, 2014. Archived from the original on May 11, 2017. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  ^   "BMI | Repertoire Search". BMI. Select "TITLE", type "Song" in the search engine, and click "Search". Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  ^   "ACE Repertory". ASCAP. Select "TITLE", type "Song" in the search engine, and click "Search". Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  ^   "Section.80 – Kendrick Lamar". AllMusic. Credits. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved October 21, 2012.
  ^  "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Billboard 200)".  Billboard . Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  ^  "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Top R&amp;B/Hip-Hop Albums)".  Billboard . Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  ^   "Top R&amp;B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2012". Billboard. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
 
External links[edit]
   "Kendrick Lamar – Section.80 (official review)". Archived from the original on February 22, 2013. – Relevant Mindset
Section.80 - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section.80
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Pimp_a_Butterfly
To Pimp a Butterfly - Wikipedia
2015-03-07
Authority control MusicBrainz release group
<div><div>
<table><tbody><tr><th>To Pimp a Butterfly</th></tr><tr><td><a href="/wiki/File:Kendrick_Lamar_-_To_Pimp_a_Butterfly.png"></a></td></tr><tr><th><a href="/wiki/Album">Studio album</a> by <div><p><a href="/wiki/Kendrick_Lamar">Kendrick Lamar</a></p></div></th></tr><tr><th>Released</th><td>March 15, 2015</td></tr><tr><th>Studio</th><td><div>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Chalice_Recording_Studios">Chalice</a> (Hollywood)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Downtown_(company)">Downtown</a> (New York)</li>
<li>House (Washington, D.C.)</li>
<li>Notifi (St. Louis)</li>
<li>No Excuses (<a href="/wiki/Santa_Monica,_California">Santa Monica</a>)</li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th><a href="/wiki/Music_genre">Genre</a></th><td>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Experimental_hip_hop">Experimental hip hop</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Progressive_rap">progressive rap</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Conscious_hip_hop">conscious hip hop</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Jazz_rap">jazz rap</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/G-funk">G-funk</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Neo_soul">neo soul</a></li></ul>
</td></tr><tr><th>Length</th><td>78:51</td></tr><tr><th><a href="/wiki/Record_label">Label</a></th><td>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Top_Dawg_Entertainment">TDE</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Aftermath_Entertainment">Aftermath</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Interscope_Records">Interscope</a></li></ul>
</td></tr><tr><th><a href="/wiki/Record_producer">Producer</a></th><td>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Boi-1da">Boi-1da</a></li>
<li>Flippa</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Flying_Lotus">Flying Lotus</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Knxwledge">Knxwledge</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Stephen_Kozmeniuk">KOZ</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/1500_or_Nothin%27">Larrance Dopson</a></li>
<li>LoveDragon</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Pharrell_Williams">Pharrell Williams</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Rahki">Rahki</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Sounwave">Sounwave</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Tae_Beast">Tae Beast</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Sa-Ra">Taz Arnold</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Terrace_Martin">Terrace Martin</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Thundercat_(musician)">Thundercat</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Tommy_Black_(producer)">Tommy Black</a></li>
<li>Whoarei</li></ul>
</td></tr><tr><th><a href="/wiki/Kendrick_Lamar">Kendrick Lamar</a> chronology</th></tr><tr><td>
<table>
<tbody><tr>
<td><i><a href="/wiki/Good_Kid,_M.A.A.D_City">Good Kid, M.A.A.D City</a></i><br />(2012)
</td>
<td><i><b>To Pimp a Butterfly</b></i><br />(2015)
</td>
<td><i><a href="/wiki/Untitled_Unmastered">Untitled Unmastered</a></i><br />(2016)
</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr><tr><th><a href="/wiki/Single_(music)">Singles</a> from <i> To Pimp a Butterfly </i></th></tr><tr><td><div>
<ol><li>"<a href="/wiki/I_(Kendrick_Lamar_song)">I</a>"<br />Released: September 16, 2014</li>
<li>"<a href="/wiki/The_Blacker_the_Berry_(song)">The Blacker the Berry</a>"<br />Released: February 9, 2015</li>
<li>"<a href="/wiki/King_Kunta">King Kunta</a>"<br />Released: March 24, 2015</li>
<li>"<a href="/wiki/Alright_(Kendrick_Lamar_song)">Alright</a>"<br />Released: June 30, 2015</li>
<li>"<a href="/wiki/These_Walls_(Kendrick_Lamar_song)">These Walls</a>"<br />Released: October 13, 2015</li></ol>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p><i><b>To Pimp a Butterfly</b></i> is the third studio album by American rapper <a href="/wiki/Kendrick_Lamar">Kendrick Lamar</a>. It was released on March 15, 2015, by <a href="/wiki/Top_Dawg_Entertainment">Top Dawg Entertainment</a>, <a href="/wiki/Aftermath_Entertainment">Aftermath Entertainment</a> and <a href="/wiki/Interscope_Records">Interscope Records</a>. The album was recorded in studios throughout the United States, with production from <a href="/wiki/Sounwave">Sounwave</a>, <a href="/wiki/Terrace_Martin">Terrace Martin</a>, <a href="/wiki/Sa-Ra">Taz "Tisa" Arnold</a>, <a href="/wiki/Thundercat_(musician)">Thundercat</a>, <a href="/wiki/Rahki">Rahki</a>, LoveDragon, <a href="/wiki/Flying_Lotus">Flying Lotus</a>, <a href="/wiki/Pharrell_Williams">Pharrell Williams</a>, <a href="/wiki/Boi-1da">Boi-1da</a>, <a href="/wiki/Knxwledge">Knxwledge</a>, and several other high-profile <a href="/wiki/Hip_hop_production">hip hop producers</a>, as well as executive production from <a href="/wiki/Dr._Dre">Dr. Dre</a> and Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith. Guest appearances include Thundercat, <a href="/wiki/George_Clinton_(funk_musician)">George Clinton</a>, <a href="/wiki/Bilal_(American_singer)">Bilal</a>, <a href="/wiki/Anna_Wise">Anna Wise</a>, <a href="/wiki/Snoop_Dogg">Snoop Dogg</a>, <a href="/wiki/James_Fauntleroy">James Fauntleroy</a>, <a href="/wiki/Ronald_Isley">Ronald Isley</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Rapsody">Rapsody</a>.
</p><p>Primarily a <a href="/wiki/Hip_hop_music">hip hop</a> album, <i>To Pimp a Butterfly</i> incorporates numerous other musical styles spanning the history of <a href="/wiki/African-American_music">African-American music</a>, most prominently <a href="/wiki/Jazz">jazz</a>, <a href="/wiki/Funk">funk</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Soul_music">soul</a>. Lyrically, it features <a href="/wiki/Political_criticism">political commentary</a> and personal themes concerning <a href="/wiki/African-American_culture">African-American culture</a>, <a href="/wiki/Racial_inequality">racial inequality</a>, <a href="/wiki/Major_depressive_disorder">depression</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Discrimination">institutional discrimination</a>. This thematic direction was inspired by Lamar's tour of historic sites during his visit to South Africa, such as <a href="/wiki/Nelson_Mandela">Nelson Mandela</a>'s jail cell on <a href="/wiki/Robben_Island">Robben Island</a>.
</p><p><i>To Pimp a Butterfly</i> sold 324,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release, earning a chart debut at number one on the US <a href="/wiki/Billboard_200"><i>Billboard</i> 200</a>, while also becoming Lamar's first number-one album in the UK. It was eventually certified <a href="/wiki/RIAA_certification">platinum</a> by the <a href="/wiki/Recording_Industry_Association_of_America">Recording Industry Association of America</a> (RIAA) and sold one million copies in the United States by 2017. Five singles were released in promotion of the album, including the <a href="/wiki/Top_40">top 40</a> hit "<a href="/wiki/I_(Kendrick_Lamar_song)">I</a>". Lamar also supported the album with the Kunta's Groove Sessions Tour from late 2015 to early 2016.
</p><p>The album has received widespread acclaim from critics, who praised its musical scope and the social relevance of Lamar's lyrics. It earned Lamar seven nominations at the <a href="/wiki/58th_Annual_Grammy_Awards">2016 Grammy Awards</a>, including a win for <a href="/wiki/Grammy_Award_for_Best_Rap_Album">Best Rap Album</a> and an <a href="/wiki/Grammy_Award_for_Album_of_the_Year">Album of the Year</a> nomination. He received four additional nominations for other collaborations from that year, receiving a total of 11 Grammy nominations, which was the most nominations for any rapper in a single night. The most critically acclaimed album of 2015 as well as one of the most critically acclaimed of its entire decade, it topped <i><a href="/wiki/The_Village_Voice">The Village Voice</a></i>'s annual <a href="/wiki/Pazz_%26_Jop">Pazz &amp; Jop</a> poll of American critics nationwide, and was also ranked as the best album of 2015 by many other publications. In the years following its release, several publications named <i>To Pimp a Butterfly</i> one of the best albums of the 2010s; in 2020, the album was ranked 19th on <i><a href="/wiki/Rolling_Stone">Rolling Stone</a></i>'s updated list of the <a href="/wiki/Rolling_Stone%27s_500_Greatest_Albums_of_All_Time">500 Greatest Albums of All Time</a>.
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<h2>Background[<a href="/w/index.php?title=To_Pimp_a_Butterfly&amp;action=edit&amp;section=1">edit</a>]</h2>
<p>On February 28, 2014, <a href="/wiki/Kendrick_Lamar">Kendrick Lamar</a> first revealed the plans to release a follow-up to his second studio album, <i><a href="/wiki/Good_Kid,_M.A.A.D_City">Good Kid, M.A.A.D City</a></i> (2012), during an interview with <i><a href="/wiki/Billboard_(magazine)">Billboard</a></i>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-Billboard-1">[1]</a></sup> Between the releases of <i>Good Kid, M.A.A.D City</i> and <i>To Pimp a Butterfly</i>, Lamar traveled to South Africa. Touring the country  and visiting historic sites such as <a href="/wiki/Nelson_Mandela">Nelson Mandela</a>'s jail cell on <a href="/wiki/Robben_Island">Robben Island</a> heavily influenced the direction of the record<sup><a href="#cite_note-oral_history-2">[2]</a></sup> and led to Lamar scrapping "two or three albums worth of material".<sup><a href="#cite_note-3">[3]</a></sup> 
</p><p>Co-producer <a href="/wiki/Sounwave">Sounwave</a> spoke on Lamar's visit, saying, "I remember he [Lamar] took a trip to [South] Africa and something in his mind just clicked. For me, that's when this album really started."<sup><a href="#cite_note-:0-4">[4]</a></sup> Regarding his visit to South Africa, Lamar said, "I felt like I belonged in Africa. I saw all the things that I wasn't taught. Probably one of the hardest things to do is put [together] a concept on how beautiful a place can be, and tell a person this while they're still in the ghettos of Compton. I wanted to put that experience in the music."<sup><a href="#cite_note-:0-4">[4]</a></sup> In addition, Lamar said, "The idea was to make a record that reflected all complexions of <a href="/wiki/Black_women">black women</a>. There's a separation between the light and the dark skin because it's just in our nature to do so, but we're all black. This concept came from South Africa and I saw all these different colors speaking a beautiful language."<sup><a href="#cite_note-:0-4">[4]</a></sup>
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<h2>Recording and production[<a href="/w/index.php?title=To_Pimp_a_Butterfly&amp;action=edit&amp;section=2">edit</a>]</h2>
<div><p><a href="/wiki/File:72_channel_SSL_desk_at_Chalice_Studios_Hollywood_(5521074580).jpg"></a></p></div>
<p><i>To Pimp a Butterfly</i> was recorded at a variety of studios; including <a href="/wiki/Chalice_Recording_Studios">Chalice Recording Studios</a>, <a href="/wiki/Downtown_(company)">Downtown Studios</a>, House Studios, Notifi Studios and No Excuses Studios. Lamar wrote the lyrics to the song "Mortal Man" while on <a href="/wiki/Kanye_West">Kanye West</a>'s <a href="/wiki/The_Yeezus_Tour">Yeezus Tour</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-5">[5]</a></sup> During the whole tour, producer <a href="/wiki/Flying_Lotus">Flying Lotus</a> played Lamar a selection of tracks that was intended for <a href="/wiki/Flying_Lotus">Captain Murphy</a>'s album (Flying Lotus's alter ego). Lamar kept all the tracks, but only opener "Wesley's Theory", which also features <a href="/wiki/Thundercat_(musician)">Thundercat</a> and <a href="/wiki/George_Clinton_(funk_musician)">George Clinton</a>, made the final cut onto the album.<sup><a href="#cite_note-6">[6]</a></sup> Lotus had produced a version of "For Sale? (Interlude)" that was ultimately discarded, with Lamar using Taz Arnold's version of the song on the album instead. Lotus stated that it is unlikely his version of the song will see a release.<sup><a href="#cite_note-7">[7]</a></sup> American rapper <a href="/wiki/Rapsody">Rapsody</a> appeared on the album, contributing a verse to the song "Complexion (A Zulu Love)". Lamar had requested that <a href="/wiki/9th_Wonder">9th Wonder</a> contact Rapsody and request her appearance. Rapsody and Lamar discussed the song but there was little instruction from Lamar regarding her contribution. Speaking about the song, she stated that Lamar had already decided on the concept of the song and stated that the only instructions he gave were the song's title and the idea that "...we are beautiful no matter our race but he really wanted to speak to our people and address this light versus dark complex".<sup><a href="#cite_note-8">[8]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-9">[9]</a></sup> Lamar also contacted <a href="/wiki/Madlib">Madlib</a> to seek his collaboration on the record but was unable to reach him.<sup><a href="#cite_note-10">[10]</a></sup>
</p><p>In 2014, <a href="/wiki/Pharrell_Williams">Pharrell Williams</a>, who previously worked with Lamar, along with producer Sounwave, played the track "<a href="/wiki/Alright_(Kendrick_Lamar_song)">Alright</a>" at the Holy Ship Festival.<sup><a href="#cite_note-TER-11">[11]</a></sup> The track features the same unidentified sample that Williams used on <a href="/wiki/Rick_Ross">Rick Ross</a>' track "Presidential" from his album <i><a href="/wiki/God_Forgives,_I_Don%27t">God Forgives, I Don't</a></i> (2012). Reportedly, at one time it featured a <a href="/wiki/Guest_appearance">guest appearance</a> from American rapper <a href="/wiki/Fabolous">Fabolous</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-TER-11">[11]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-12">[12]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-13">[13]</a></sup> The album went through three different phases before the production team could move forward with the idea. Afterwards, producer Thundercat was brought into the process, after Flying Lotus brought him along to see Lamar's performance on The Yeezus Tour.<sup><a href="#cite_note-14">[14]</a></sup> The album's lead single, titled "<a href="/wiki/I_(Kendrick_Lamar_song)">I</a>", was produced by <a href="/wiki/Rahki">Rahki</a>, who also produced a song for the album entitled "Institutionalized". Although the version of "I" appearing on the album is drastically different from that on the single release, both versions contained a sample of the song "<a href="/wiki/That_Lady_(song)">That Lady</a>" performed by <a href="/wiki/The_Isley_Brothers">The Isley Brothers</a>. Lamar personally visited The Isley Brothers, to receive permission from lead vocalist <a href="/wiki/Ronald_Isley">Ronald Isley</a> to sample the song.<sup><a href="#cite_note-NME-15">[15]</a></sup>
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<div><div><div><p><a href="/wiki/File:Thundercat_(musician)_2015.jpg"></a></p></div><div><p><a href="/wiki/File:Bilal_2008_(cropped).jpg"></a></p></div></div><div><p>Bass player <a href="/wiki/Thundercat_(musician)">Thundercat</a> (left) and singer <a href="/wiki/Bilal_(American_singer)">Bilal</a> are among the musicians who contributed to the album.</p></div></div>
<p>Lamar began traveling to <a href="/wiki/St._Louis">St. Louis</a> and began working with Isley at the studio. Isley also performed on the song "How Much a Dollar Cost" alongside the singer-songwriter <a href="/wiki/James_Fauntleroy">James Fauntleroy</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-NME-15">[15]</a></sup> Producer and rapper <a href="/wiki/Pete_Rock">Pete Rock</a> provided some backing vocals and <a href="/wiki/Scratching">scratches</a> to the song "Complexion (A Zulu Love)", and as he stated, the contribution was unusual, as he was not the producer for the track.<sup><a href="#cite_note-16">[16]</a></sup> Singer <a href="/wiki/Bilal_(American_singer)">Bilal</a> features on the songs "Institutionalized" and "<a href="/wiki/These_Walls_(Kendrick_Lamar_song)">These Walls</a>", and has provided un-credited backing vocals on the songs "U", "For Sale? (Interlude)", "Momma" and "Hood Politics".<sup><a href="#cite_note-albumnotes-17">[17]</a></sup> Bilal stated that he and Lamar were initially unsure of how many songs he would be featured on, stating he worked on various tracks, but did not yet know the outcome. "For a lot of the material, Kendrick had an idea of what he wanted. He would sing out the melody and some of the words, and I would interpret what he was telling me." On the songs where Bilal added backing vocals, he stated that "...some of it was freestyle; just adding color to make it a fuller sound."<sup><a href="#cite_note-18">[18]</a></sup> Lamar also reportedly worked with American musician <a href="/wiki/Prince_(musician)">Prince</a>; however, the duo were too pressed for time during the recording session and therefore were unable to complete any work for inclusion on the album.<sup><a href="#cite_note-19">[19]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-20">[20]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-21">[21]</a></sup> Lamar professed to having listened often to <a href="/wiki/Miles_Davis">Miles Davis</a> and <a href="/wiki/Parliament-Funkadelic">Parliament-Funkadelic</a> during the album's recording.<sup><a href="#cite_note-rapup-22">[22]</a></sup>
</p><p>In 2016, Lamar released <i><a href="/wiki/Untitled_Unmastered">Untitled Unmastered</a></i>, a compilation album, which contains previously unreleased demos that originated during the recording of <i>To Pimp a Butterfly</i>. According to producer Thundercat, it "completes the sentence" of Lamar's third studio album.<sup><a href="#cite_note-23">[23]</a></sup>
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<h2>Musical style[<a href="/w/index.php?title=To_Pimp_a_Butterfly&amp;action=edit&amp;section=3">edit</a>]</h2>
<p>According to musicologist Will Fulton, <i>To Pimp a Butterfly</i> engages in and celebrates the black music tradition. Much like the singer <a href="/wiki/D%27Angelo">D'Angelo</a> on his 2014 album <i><a href="/wiki/Black_Messiah_(album)">Black Messiah</a></i>, Lamar "consciously indexes African American musical styles of the past in a dynamic relationship of nostalgic revivalism and vanguardism."<sup><a href="#cite_note-24">[24]</a></sup> Kyle Anderson of <i><a href="/wiki/Entertainment_Weekly">Entertainment Weekly</a></i> described the album as "embracing the entire history of black American music."<sup><a href="#cite_note-Anderson-25">[25]</a></sup> Lamar's co-engineer/mixer MixedByAli praised Lamar, saying, "[Lamar is] a sponge. He incorporated everything that was going on [in Africa] and in his life to complete a million-piece puzzle."<sup><a href="#cite_note-:0-4">[4]</a></sup> Lamar described the album as an "honest, fearful and unapologetic" work that draws on <a href="/wiki/Funk">funk</a>, <a href="/wiki/Hard_bop">hard bop</a>, <a href="/wiki/Spoken_word">spoken word</a> and <a href="/wiki/Soul_music">soul</a><sup><a href="#cite_note-oral_history-2">[2]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-rapup-22">[22]</a></sup> while critics also noted elements of <a href="/wiki/West_Coast_hip_hop">West Coast hip hop</a><sup><a href="#cite_note-26">[26]</a></sup> and <a href="/wiki/Avant-garde">avant-garde</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-ctreview-27">[27]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-complex-28">[28]</a></sup> Allison Stewart from <i><a href="/wiki/The_Washington_Post">The Washington Post</a></i> says the album is "threaded" with <a href="/wiki/G-funk">G-funk</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-29">[29]</a></sup> Speaking on the album's styles, co-producer <a href="/wiki/Terrace_Martin">Terrace Martin</a> said, "If you dig deeper you hear the lineage of <a href="/wiki/James_Brown">James Brown</a>, <a href="/wiki/Jackie_Wilson">Jackie Wilson</a>, <a href="/wiki/Mahalia_Jackson">Mahalia Jackson</a>, the sounds of Africa, and our people when they started over here. I hear something different every time. I heard Cuban elements in it the other day."<sup><a href="#cite_note-:0-4">[4]</a></sup>
</p><p>The album features contributions from the collective of musicians called the <a href="/wiki/West_Coast_Get_Down">West Coast Get Down</a>, who experiment with jazz and <a href="/wiki/Progressive_rap">progressive hip hop</a> sounds, and feature Lamar, Flying Lotus, Martin, and saxophonist <a href="/wiki/Kamasi_Washington">Kamasi Washington</a>, among others. Consequently, the music is "jazz-like in spirit if not always in sound", according to <a href="/wiki/Ben_Ratliff">Ben Ratliff</a>,<sup><a href="#cite_note-30">[30]</a></sup> while Mosi Reeves from <i><a href="/wiki/Deadspin">Deadspin</a></i> observes a virtuosic quality to its "prog-rap cornucopia".<sup><a href="#cite_note-31">[31]</a></sup> <i><a href="/wiki/Stereogum">Stereogum</a></i> described <i>To Pimp a Butterfly</i> as an "ambitious avant-jazz-rap statement,"<sup><a href="#cite_note-32">[32]</a></sup> and <i><a href="/wiki/The_Source">The Source</a></i> categorized the album as an <a href="/wiki/Experimental_hip_hop">experimental hip hop</a> release.<sup><a href="#cite_note-Source-33">[33]</a></sup> Dan Weiss of <i><a href="/wiki/Spin_(magazine)">Spin</a></i> noted "shades of Miles Davis' <i><a href="/wiki/On_the_Corner">On the Corner</a></i> and <a href="/wiki/Free_jazz">free jazz</a> all over [...], as well as <a href="/wiki/Sly_Stone">Sly Stone</a>'s <i><a href="/wiki/There%27s_a_Riot_Goin%27_On">There's a Riot Goin' On</a></i> and <a href="/wiki/Funkadelic">Funkadelic</a> and <a href="/wiki/Erykah_Badu">Erykah Badu</a>'s similarly wah-crazy but comparatively lo-fi <i><a href="/wiki/New_Amerykah_Part_One_(4th_World_War)">New Amerykah (4th World War)</a></i>," but stated nonetheless that "the sense of this album is vividly contemporary."<sup><a href="#cite_note-spin-34">[34]</a></sup> Other critics regard it as "throwback" to <a href="/wiki/Neo_soul">neo soul</a> music of the 1990s.<sup><a href="#cite_note-35">[35]</a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Greg_Kot">Greg Kot</a> of <i><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Tribune">Chicago Tribune</a></i> noted the album's affinities with previous black music, but argued that "Lamar takes familiar musical tropes into new territory."<sup><a href="#cite_note-ctreview-27">[27]</a></sup> <i><a href="/wiki/The_Atlantic">The Atlantic</a></i> noted the influence of collaborator Flying Lotus, writing that "his signature sound—jazz instrumentation and hip-hop layered into chaotic collages—is all over the album."<sup><a href="#cite_note-atlantic-36">[36]</a></sup> Steve Mallon of <i><a href="/wiki/The_Quietus">The Quietus</a></i> noted an "eerily warped <a href="/wiki/Psychedelia">psychedelia</a> bursting out of its idiosyncratic arrangements."<sup><a href="#cite_note-TQ-37">[37]</a></sup>
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<h2>Lyrics and themes[<a href="/w/index.php?title=To_Pimp_a_Butterfly&amp;action=edit&amp;section=4">edit</a>]</h2>
<div><p></p></div>
<p>Categorized by <i>Billboard</i> as a "politically-charged" <a href="/wiki/Conscious_hip_hop">conscious rap</a> album,<sup><a href="#cite_note-38">[38]</a></sup> <i>To Pimp a Butterfly</i> explores a variety of political and personal themes related to race, culture, and discrimination. Critic Neil Kulkarni said it appraises "the broken promises and bloody pathways in and out of America's heartland malaise".<sup><a href="#cite_note-39">[39]</a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Jay_Caspian_Kang">Jay Caspian Kang</a> observed elements of <a href="/wiki/Critical_race_theory">critical race theory</a>, <a href="/wiki/Respectability_politics">respectability politics</a>, <a href="/wiki/Theology">theology</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Meta-analysis">meta-analysis</a> examining Lamar's success and revered status in the hip hop community.<sup><a href="#cite_note-40">[40]</a></sup> It was compared by <a href="/wiki/California_State_University,_Fullerton">California State University, Fullerton</a> professor Natalie Graham to the 1977 television miniseries <i><a href="/wiki/Roots_(1977_miniseries)">Roots</a></i>. While "<i>Roots</i> compresses and simplifies" black history, Graham said <i>To Pimp a Butterfly</i> "radically disrupt[s] meanings of black respectability, heroic morality, trauma, and memory".<sup><a href="#cite_note-41">[41]</a></sup> 
</p><p>In the <i><a href="/wiki/Toronto_Journal_of_Theology">Toronto Journal of Theology</a></i>, James D. McLeod Jr. drew parallels between Lamar's examination of death's domineering significance in the African-American experience and the works of <a href="/wiki/Christian_theology">Christian theologian</a> <a href="/wiki/Paul_Tillich">Paul Tillich</a>, with McLeod calling <i>To Pimp a Butterfly</i> an original example of "<a href="/wiki/Existentialism">existentialist</a> hip hop."<sup><a href="#cite_note-42">[42]</a></sup> Meanwhile, Adam Blum discerned connections between <i>To Pimp a Butterfly</i> and the writings of <a href="/wiki/Psychoanalysis">psychoanalysts</a> such as <a href="/wiki/Wilfred_Bion">Wilfred Bion</a>, <a href="/wiki/Nicolas_Abraham">Nicolas Abraham</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Sigmund_Freud">Sigmund Freud</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-43">[43]</a></sup> In an essay published in <i><a href="/wiki/The_Lancet">The Lancet</a> Psychiatry</i>, <a href="/wiki/University_of_Cambridge">University of Cambridge</a> professors Akeem Sule and Becky Inkster described Lamar as the "street poet of <a href="/wiki/Mental_health">mental health</a>," noting how <i>To Pimp a Butterfly</i> (as well as its predecessor, <i>Good Kid, M.A.A.D City</i>) explore topics such as addiction, <a href="/wiki/Anxiety">anxiety</a>, <a href="/wiki/Major_depressive_disorder">depression</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Psychological_resilience">resilience</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-44">[44]</a></sup>
</p><p>The album continues a nuanced dialogue about weighty topics that affect the African-American community. Releasing his album in a time of renewed black activism, Lamar's song "Alright" has become a rallying cry for the <a href="/wiki/Black_Lives_Matter">Black Lives Matter</a> movement.<sup><a href="#cite_note-Slate-45">[45]</a></sup> With lyrics like "and we hate po-po / Wanna kill us dead in the street fo sho, nigga" he makes it clear that he is supportive of the movement and the families of black men and women like <a href="/wiki/Shooting_of_Michael_Brown">Michael Brown</a>, <a href="/wiki/Death_of_Sandra_Bland">Sandra Bland</a>, <a href="/wiki/Shooting_of_Tamir_Rice">Tamir Rice</a>, and others who have fallen victim to <a href="/wiki/Extrajudicial_killing">police brutality</a> in the United States. Lamar takes his opinions further to lend his position on black crime in the song "<a href="/wiki/The_Blacker_the_Berry_(song)">The Blacker the Berry</a>". He criticizes himself and his community by rapping, "So why did I weep when <a href="/wiki/Trayvon_Martin">Trayvon Martin</a> was in the street? / When gang bangin' make me kill a nigga blacker than me?". Some critics claim that his attitude facilitates the rhetoric that silences the Black Lives Matter movement. Stereo Williams of <i><a href="/wiki/The_Daily_Beast">The Daily Beast</a></i> wrote in response to his lyrics that "it's dangerous to use that violence as a silencing tactic when the public is angry about the systematic subjugation of black people."<sup><a href="#cite_note-46">[46]</a></sup>
</p><p>Lamar has offered explanations of the meanings behind songs such as "Wesley's Theory" and "<a href="/wiki/King_Kunta">King Kunta</a>".<sup><a href="#cite_note-bb-47">[47]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-mtv-48">[48]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-hnhh-49">[49]</a></sup> The album's 1970s funk-inspired<sup><a href="#cite_note-:1-50">[50]</a></sup> opening track "Wesley's Theory" is a reference to <a href="/wiki/Wesley_Snipes">Wesley Snipes</a> and how the actor was jailed for <a href="/wiki/Tax_evasion">tax evasion</a>; according to Lamar, "no one teaches poor black males how to manage money or celebrity, so if they do achieve success, the powers that be can take it from right under them".<sup><a href="#cite_note-bb-47">[47]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-mtv-48">[48]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-hnhh-49">[49]</a></sup> "<a href="/wiki/For_Free%3F_(Interlude)">For Free? (Interlude)</a>" sees Lamar rapping in a dense, spoken word-esque manner with musical accompaniment by jazz pianist <a href="/wiki/Robert_Glasper">Robert Glasper</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-:1-50">[50]</a></sup>
</p><p>"King Kunta" is concerned with the "history of negative stereotypes all African-Americans have to reconcile".<sup><a href="#cite_note-bb-47">[47]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-mtv-48">[48]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-hnhh-49">[49]</a></sup> Lamar also explained his criticism of rappers who use <a href="/wiki/Ghostwriter">ghostwriters</a> on "King Kunta", revealing that he came to prominence as a ghostwriter, and has respect for writers, but says that "as a new artist, you have to stand behind your work."<sup><a href="#cite_note-bb-47">[47]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-mtv-48">[48]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-hnhh-49">[49]</a></sup>
</p><p>"These Walls" has been described by <i>Billboard</i> as "pondering sex and existence in equal measure; it's a <a href="/wiki/Yoni">yoni</a> metaphor about the power of peace, with sugar walls being escape and real walls being obstacles."<sup><a href="#cite_note-auto-51">[51]</a></sup> Lamar revealed that "U" was inspired by his own experience of depression and <a href="/wiki/Suicide_crisis">suicidal</a> thoughts.<sup><a href="#cite_note-52">[52]</a></sup> He also mentioned feelings of <a href="/wiki/Survivor_guilt">survivor's guilt</a> as inspirations for the album.<sup><a href="#cite_note-53">[53]</a></sup> "Alright" begins as a spoken-word treatise before exploding into a shapeshifting portrait of America that brings in jazz horns, skittering drum beats and Lamar's mellifluous rapping as he struggles with troubles and temptations. Yet at the end of each verse, he reassures himself that "We gon' be alright"—a simple rallying cry for a nation reeling from gun violence and police brutality.<sup><a href="#cite_note-54">[54]</a></sup> For critics a "celebration of being alive",<sup><a href="#cite_note-rs_best_albums-55">[55]</a></sup> Lamar described "Alright" as a message of hope.<sup><a href="#cite_note-huffington-56">[56]</a></sup> "The Blacker the Berry" features a "<a href="/wiki/Boom_bap">boom bap</a> beat" and lyrics that celebrate Lamar's African-American heritage and "tackle hatred, racism, and hypocrisy head on."<sup><a href="#cite_note-RapUp-57">[57]</a></sup> The song's <a href="/wiki/Hook_(music)">hook</a> is performed by Jamaican <a href="/wiki/Dancehall">dancehall</a> artist <a href="/wiki/Assassin_(deejay)">Assassin</a>, notable for performing on Kanye West's 2013 LP <i><a href="/wiki/Yeezus">Yeezus</a></i>, whose lyrics similarly address racial inequality, specifically against African Americans.<sup><a href="#cite_note-58">[58]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-59">[59]</a></sup>
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<h2>Title and packaging[<a href="/w/index.php?title=To_Pimp_a_Butterfly&amp;action=edit&amp;section=5">edit</a>]</h2>
<p>The album was originally going to be titled <i>Tu Pimp a Caterpillar</i>, a <a href="/wiki/Backronym">backronym</a> for Tu.P.A.C., itself an allusion to the rapper <a href="/wiki/Tupac_Shakur">Tupac</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-mtv-48">[48]</a></sup> Lamar decided to replace "caterpillar" in the original title to "butterfly", which he explained in an interview for <a href="/wiki/MTV">MTV</a>, "I just really wanted to show the brightness of life and the word 'pimp' has so much aggression and that represents several things. For me, it represents using my celebrity for good. Another reason is, not being pimped by the industry through my celebrity ... It gets even deeper than that for me. I could be talking all day about it."<sup><a href="#cite_note-mtv-48">[48]</a></sup> Lamar later also told <i><a href="/wiki/Rolling_Stone">Rolling Stone</a></i>, "Just putting the word 'pimp' next to 'butterfly'... It's a trip. That's something that will be a phrase forever. It'll be taught in college courses—I truly believe that."<sup><a href="#cite_note-Rolling_Stone-60">[60]</a></sup>
</p><p>The album's CD release included a booklet produced with <a href="/wiki/Braille">braille</a> letterings; according to Lamar, these characters when translated reveal the "actual full title of the album."<sup><a href="#cite_note-Braille-61">[61]</a></sup> <i><a href="/wiki/Complex_(magazine)">Complex</a></i> commissioned a braille translator, who found that it translated to <i>A Kendrick by Letter Blank Lamar</i> which <i>Complex</i> noted was most likely supposed to read as <i>A Blank Letter by Kendrick Lamar</i>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-Braille-61">[61]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-62">[62]</a></sup>
</p>
<h2>Marketing and sales[<a href="/w/index.php?title=To_Pimp_a_Butterfly&amp;action=edit&amp;section=6">edit</a>]</h2>
<p>The album's release was preceded by the release of two singles, "I", on September 23, 2014,<sup><a href="#cite_note-63">[63]</a></sup> and "The Blacker the Berry" in February 2015.<sup><a href="#cite_note-64">[64]</a></sup> The former became Lamar's sixth top-40 single on the US <a href="/wiki/Billboard_Hot_100"><i>Billboard</i> Hot 100</a> and was performed on <i><a href="/wiki/Saturday_Night_Live">Saturday Night Live</a></i>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-65">[65]</a></sup> "King Kunta" was released as the third single in March 2015,<sup><a href="#cite_note-66">[66]</a></sup> and "Alright" was released to radio stations on June 30.<sup><a href="#cite_note-67">[67]</a></sup> With the latter's release, several contemporary progressive news outlets, including <a href="/wiki/BET">BET</a>, raised the idea of "Alright" being the modern <a href="/wiki/Lift_Every_Voice_and_Sing">Black National Anthem</a>,<sup><a href="#cite_note-Slate-45">[45]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-68">[68]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-69">[69]</a></sup> while the media reported youth-lead protests against police brutality across the country chanted the chorus of the song.<sup><a href="#cite_note-70">[70]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-71">[71]</a></sup> Primarily for the latter, Lamar was featured on <i><a href="/wiki/Ebony_(magazine)">Ebony</a></i> magazine's Power 100, an annual list that recognizes many leaders of the African-American community.<sup><a href="#cite_note-72">[72]</a></sup> "These Walls" was released as the album's fifth single on October 13.<sup><a href="#cite_note-73">[73]</a></sup> Aside from the singles' accompanying music videos, the song "For Free? (Interlude)" also featured visuals,<sup><a href="#cite_note-74">[74]</a></sup> as did "U" with "For Sale? (Interlude)" as part of the short film <i>God Is Gangsta</i>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-75">[75]</a></sup> In support of the album, Lamar embarked on the Kunta's Groove Sessions Tour, which included eight shows in eight cities during October and November.<sup><a href="#cite_note-76">[76]</a></sup>
</p><p><i>To Pimp a Butterfly</i> was first released to the <a href="/wiki/ITunes_Store">iTunes Store</a> and <a href="/wiki/Spotify">Spotify</a> on March 15, 2015, eight days ahead of its scheduled release date.<sup><a href="#cite_note-77">[77]</a></sup> According to Anthony Tiffith, CEO of <a href="/wiki/Top_Dawg_Entertainment">Top Dawg Entertainment</a>, the album's early release was unintentional, apparently caused by an error on the part of <a href="/wiki/Interscope_Records">Interscope Records</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-78">[78]</a></sup> The following day, it was made unavailable on iTunes, and the release was rescheduled for March 23, although it was still available for <a href="/wiki/Streaming_media">streaming</a> on Spotify.<sup><a href="#cite_note-Billboard2-79">[79]</a></sup> In its first week of release, <i>To Pimp a Butterfly</i> debuted at number one on <a href="/wiki/Record_chart">record charts</a> in the United Kingdom, Australia,<sup><a href="#cite_note-80">[80]</a></sup> and the United States, where it recorded first-week sales of 324,000 copies.<sup><a href="#cite_note-81">[81]</a></sup> The album was streamed 9.6 million times in its first day on Spotify, setting the service's global first-day streaming record.<sup><a href="#cite_note-82">[82]</a></sup> By the end of 2015, <i>To Pimp a Butterfly</i> was ranked the sixteenth most popular album on the <a href="/wiki/Billboard_200"><i>Billboard</i> 200</a> that year<sup><a href="#cite_note-Billboard_2015-83">[83]</a></sup> and reached sales of one million copies worldwide.<sup><a href="#cite_note-wwsales-84">[84]</a></sup> By March 2016, it had sold 850,000 copies in the US,<sup><a href="#cite_note-85">[85]</a></sup> where it was certified <a href="/wiki/RIAA_certification">platinum</a> by the <a href="/wiki/Recording_Industry_Association_of_America">Recording Industry Association of America</a> (RIAA).<sup><a href="#cite_note-RIAA-86">[86]</a></sup> In June 2017, it reached one million copies sold in the US.<sup><a href="#cite_note-Sales-87">[87]</a></sup>
</p>
<h2>Critical reception[<a href="/w/index.php?title=To_Pimp_a_Butterfly&amp;action=edit&amp;section=7">edit</a>]</h2>
<table><caption>Professional ratings</caption><tbody><tr><th>Aggregate scores</th></tr><tr><th>Source</th><th>Rating</th></tr><tr><td><a href="/wiki/AnyDecentMusic%3F">AnyDecentMusic?</a></td><td>9.8/10<sup><a href="#cite_note-ADM-88">[88]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/wiki/Metacritic">Metacritic</a></td><td>96/100<sup><a href="#cite_note-MC-89">[89]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><th>Review scores</th></tr><tr><th>Source</th><th>Rating</th></tr><tr><td><a href="/wiki/AllMusic">AllMusic</a></td><td><sup><a href="#cite_note-AllMusic-90">[90]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/wiki/The_Daily_Telegraph">The Daily Telegraph</a></i></td><td><sup><a href="#cite_note-Telegraph-91">[91]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/wiki/Entertainment_Weekly">Entertainment Weekly</a></i></td><td>A<sup><a href="#cite_note-Anderson-25">[25]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/wiki/The_Guardian">The Guardian</a></i></td><td><sup><a href="#cite_note-Petridis-92">[92]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/wiki/The_Irish_Times">The Irish Times</a></i></td><td><sup><a href="#cite_note-Carroll-93">[93]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/wiki/NME">NME</a></i></td><td>8/10<sup><a href="#cite_note-94">[94]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/wiki/Pitchfork_(website)">Pitchfork</a></i></td><td>9.3/10<sup><a href="#cite_note-auto2-95">[95]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/wiki/Rolling_Stone">Rolling Stone</a></i></td><td><sup><a href="#cite_note-auto3-96">[96]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/wiki/Spin_(magazine)">Spin</a></i></td><td>10/10<sup><a href="#cite_note-spin-34">[34]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/wiki/USA_Today">USA Today</a></i></td><td><sup><a href="#cite_note-97">[97]</a></sup></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p><i>To Pimp a Butterfly</i> was met with widespread critical acclaim. At <a href="/wiki/Metacritic">Metacritic</a>, which assigns a <a href="/wiki/Standard_score">normalized</a> rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an <a href="/wiki/Weighted_arithmetic_mean">average</a> score of 96, based on 44 reviews.<sup><a href="#cite_note-MC-89">[89]</a></sup> Aggregator <a href="/wiki/AnyDecentMusic%3F">AnyDecentMusic?</a> gave it 9.3 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.<sup><a href="#cite_note-ADM-88">[88]</a></sup> According to <i><a href="/wiki/Gigwise">Gigwise</a></i> writer Will Butler, it was universally hailed by critics as an "instant classic".<sup><a href="#cite_note-gigwise-98">[98]</a></sup>
</p><p><i>Spin</i> magazine's Dan Weiss regarded <i>To Pimp a Butterfly</i> as the "Great American Hip-Hop Album" and an essential listen,<sup><a href="#cite_note-spin-34">[34]</a></sup> while <a href="/wiki/Neil_McCormick">Neil McCormick</a> from <i><a href="/wiki/The_Daily_Telegraph">The Daily Telegraph</a></i> called it a dense but dazzling masterpiece that positions Lamar ahead of the prog-rap resurgence led by Kanye West and <a href="/wiki/Drake_(musician)">Drake</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-Telegraph-91">[91]</a></sup> Writing for <i>Entertainment Weekly</i>, Kyle Anderson found the record twice as substantial as Lamar's <a href="/wiki/Good_Kid,_M.A.A.D_City">debut major label album</a> and more comprehensive of <a href="/wiki/African-American_music">African-American music</a> styles, with supremely "cinematic" production qualities but "the freedom of a mixtape".<sup><a href="#cite_note-Anderson-25">[25]</a></sup> <i><a href="/wiki/The_Irish_Times">Irish Times</a></i> journalist <a href="/wiki/Jim_Carroll_(journalist)">Jim Carroll</a> deemed it "a record for the times we're in", in which Lamar transitioned from his past narratives about Compton to fierce but precise reflections on "black America".<sup><a href="#cite_note-Carroll-93">[93]</a></sup> In <i>Rolling Stone</i>, <a href="/wiki/Greg_Tate">Greg Tate</a> deemed <i>To Pimp a Butterfly</i> "a masterpiece of fiery outrage, deep jazz and ruthless self-critique" that along with D'Angelo's third album <i>Black Messiah</i>, made 2015 "the year radical Black politics and for-real Black music resurged in tandem to converge on the nation's pop mainstream."<sup><a href="#cite_note-auto3-96">[96]</a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Robert_Christgau">Robert Christgau</a> wrote in his review on <i><a href="/wiki/Cuepoint">Cuepoint</a></i> that not many artists were as passionate and understanding as Lamar, who offered "a strong, brave effective bid to reinstate hip hop as black America's CNN" during an era of <a href="/wiki/Social_media">social media</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-Christgau-99">[99]</a></sup>
</p><p>While the album's reception was almost universally positive, there were still a few reviews at release that offered minor critiques. For instance, <i><a href="/wiki/The_New_York_Times">New York Times</a></i> critic <a href="/wiki/Jon_Caramanica">Jon Caramanica</a> was less enthusiastic than others, feeling Lamar still struggled in reconciling his density as a lyricist with the music he rapped over: "He hasn't outrun his tendency towards clutter [and] still runs the risk of suffocation."<sup><a href="#cite_note-100">[100]</a></sup> In <i><a href="/wiki/The_Guardian">The Guardian</a></i>, <a href="/wiki/Alexis_Petridis">Alexis Petridis</a> found the music somewhat erratic and lamented "moments of self-indulgence" such as the twelve-minute "Mortal Man" and Lamar's reflections on fame. However, Petridis still ultimately awarded the album four stars out of five.<sup><a href="#cite_note-Petridis-92">[92]</a></sup>
</p>
<h3>Accolades[<a href="/w/index.php?title=To_Pimp_a_Butterfly&amp;action=edit&amp;section=8">edit</a>]</h3>
<p>At the end of 2015, <i>To Pimp a Butterfly</i> was the most frequently ranked record in top ten lists of the year's best albums. According to Metacritic, it appeared 101 times in the top ten of lists published by critics, magazines, websites, and music stores. The record topped 51 lists, including those by <i>Rolling Stone</i>, <i>Billboard</i>, <i><a href="/wiki/Pitchfork_(website)">Pitchfork</a></i>, <i><a href="/wiki/Slant_Magazine">Slant Magazine</a></i>, <i>Spin</i>, <i>The Guardian</i>, <i>Complex</i>, <i><a href="/wiki/Consequence_(publication)">Consequence</a></i>, <i><a href="/wiki/The_Irish_Times">The Irish Times</a></i>, and <i><a href="/wiki/Vice_(magazine)">Vice</a></i>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-101">[101]</a></sup> <i><a href="/wiki/NME">NME</a></i> ranked it second on their list, while <i><a href="/wiki/Time_(magazine)">Time</a></i> named it the year's third best album.<sup><a href="#cite_note-102">[102]</a></sup> It was voted the best album of 2015 in the <a href="/wiki/Pazz_%26_Jop">Pazz &amp; Jop</a>, an annual poll of American critics nationwide, published by <i><a href="/wiki/The_Village_Voice">The Village Voice</a></i>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-103">[103]</a></sup> Christgau, the Pazz &amp; Jop's creator, ranked it fourth in his ballot for the poll.<sup><a href="#cite_note-104">[104]</a></sup> The album placed ninth in British magazine <i><a href="/wiki/The_Wire_(magazine)">The Wire</a></i>'s annual critics' poll.<sup><a href="#cite_note-105">[105]</a></sup> Based on such rankings, the aggregate website <a href="/wiki/Acclaimed_Music">Acclaimed Music</a> lists <i>To Pimp a Butterfly</i> as the most critically acclaimed album of 2015.<sup><a href="#cite_note-106">[106]</a></sup>
</p><p>On their lists of best albums of the decade, <i><a href="/wiki/The_Independent">The Independent</a></i> placed it first,<sup><a href="#cite_note-107">[107]</a></sup> <i>Consequence</i> second,<sup><a href="#cite_note-108">[108]</a></sup> <i>Rolling Stone</i> third,<sup><a href="#cite_note-109">[109]</a></sup> and <i>Pitchfork</i> fourth.<sup><a href="#cite_note-110">[110]</a></sup> In <i>The Guardian</i>'s 2019 poll of 45 music journalists, <i>To Pimp a Butterfly</i> was voted the fourth best album of the 21st century, and contributing writer Ben Beaumont-Thomas said in an accompanying that, "as a celebration of the richness of black artistry, the whole album was a riposte to bigotry."<sup><a href="#cite_note-111">[111]</a></sup> Similarly, in his March 2015 review of the album for <i><a href="/wiki/The_Verge">The Verge</a></i>, editor and journalist Micah Singleton had hailed it as "the best album of the 21st century, the best hip-hop album since <a href="/wiki/The_Notorious_B.I.G.">The Notorious B.I.G.</a>'s <i><a href="/wiki/Ready_to_Die">Ready to Die</a></i> and <a href="/wiki/Nas">Nas</a>' <i><a href="/wiki/Illmatic">Illmatic</a></i> in 1994, and it cements Kendrick Lamar's spot as an all-time great."<sup><a href="#cite_note-112">[112]</a></sup> In September 2020, <i>Rolling Stone</i> released an updated version of their <a href="/wiki/Rolling_Stone%27s_500_Greatest_Albums_of_All_Time">500 Greatest Albums of All Time</a> list, based on the opinions of over 300 artists, music journalists, and industry insiders, which ranked <i>To Pimp a Butterfly</i> as the 19th-best album of all time.<sup><a href="#cite_note-500BAoAT-113">[113]</a></sup> <i><a href="/wiki/Tampa_Bay_Times">Tampa Bay Times</a></i>, placed the album as the second on their list of "The 10 Best Albums of the 2010s".<sup><a href="#cite_note-114">[114]</a></sup>
</p><p><i>To Pimp a Butterfly</i> also earned Lamar seven nominations at the <a href="/wiki/58th_Annual_Grammy_Awards">2016 Grammy Awards</a>. It was nominated in the categories of <a href="/wiki/Grammy_Award_for_Album_of_the_Year">Album of the Year</a> and <a href="/wiki/Grammy_Award_for_Best_Rap_Album">Best Rap Album</a>, winning the latter but losing the former to <a href="/wiki/Taylor_Swift">Taylor Swift</a>'s <i><a href="/wiki/1989_(Taylor_Swift_album)">1989</a></i>. "Alright" won for <a href="/wiki/Grammy_Award_for_Best_Rap_Performance">Best Rap Performance</a> and <a href="/wiki/Grammy_Award_for_Best_Rap_Song">Best Rap Song</a> while also being nominated for <a href="/wiki/Grammy_Award_for_Song_of_the_Year">Song of the Year</a> and <a href="/wiki/Grammy_Award_for_Best_Music_Video">Best Music Video</a>. "These Walls" won for <a href="/wiki/Grammy_Award_for_Best_Melodic_Rap_Performance">Best Rap/Sung Performance</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-115">[115]</a></sup> He would also receive four additional nominations for other musical collaborations from that year, making it a total of eleven Grammy nominations for Lamar. This earned Lamar the most Grammy nominations for a rapper in a single night and the second most by any artist in a single night. <a href="/wiki/Michael_Jackson">Michael Jackson</a> and <a href="/wiki/Babyface_(musician)">Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds</a> are tied for the artists with the most Grammy nominations in a single night with twelve; Jackson in <a href="/wiki/26th_Annual_Grammy_Awards">1984</a> and Babyface in <a href="/wiki/39th_Annual_Grammy_Awards">1997</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-116">[116]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-117">[117]</a></sup> At <a href="/wiki/57th_Annual_Grammy_Awards">the previous year's ceremony</a>, "i" had won Grammy Awards for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance.<sup><a href="#cite_note-auto4-118">[118]</a></sup> <i>To Pimp a Butterfly</i> also received a nomination for <a href="/wiki/Billboard_Music_Award_for_Top_Rap_Album">Top Rap Album</a> at the <a href="/wiki/2016_Billboard_Music_Awards">2016 <i>Billboard</i> Music Awards</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-119">[119]</a></sup>
</p>
<h2>Impact[<a href="/w/index.php?title=To_Pimp_a_Butterfly&amp;action=edit&amp;section=9">edit</a>]</h2>
<p>The album's immediate influence was felt as "a pantheon for racial empowerment", according to Butler, who also argued that the record helped create a respected space for conscious hip hop and "will be revered not just at the top of some list at the end of the year, but in the subconscious of music fans for decades to come".<sup><a href="#cite_note-gigwise-98">[98]</a></sup> Writing for <i><a href="/wiki/Highsnobiety">Highsnobiety</a></i>, Robert Blair said, "[<i>To Pimp a Butterfly</i>] is the crystallized moment in time where Kendrick became a generation's most potent artistic voice."<sup><a href="#cite_note-:0-4">[4]</a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Uproxx">Uproxx</a> journalist Aaron Williams said the album "proved that left-field, experimental rap can function in both the critical and commercial realms".<sup><a href="#cite_note-120">[120]</a></sup> Jazz saxophonist <a href="/wiki/Kamasi_Washington">Kamasi Washington</a> said that the album "changed music, and we're still seeing the effects of it [...] [the album] meant that intellectually stimulating music doesn't have to be underground. It just didn't change the music. It changed the audience."<sup><a href="#cite_note-:0-4">[4]</a></sup> <i>To Pimp a Butterfly</i> was an influence on <a href="/wiki/David_Bowie">David Bowie</a>'s 2016 album <i><a href="/wiki/Blackstar_(album)">Blackstar</a></i>. As its producer <a href="/wiki/Tony_Visconti">Tony Visconti</a> recalled, he and Bowie were "listening to a lot of Kendrick Lamar [...] we loved the fact Kendrick was so open-minded and he didn't do a straight-up hip-hop record. He threw everything on there, and that's exactly what we wanted to do."<sup><a href="#cite_note-121">[121]</a></sup>
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<h2>Track listing[<a href="/w/index.php?title=To_Pimp_a_Butterfly&amp;action=edit&amp;section=10">edit</a>]</h2>
<ul><li><sup><b><a href="#ref_a">^[a]</a></b> </sup> signifies an additional producer</li>
<li>"U" and "I" are stylized in lowercase letters</li></ul>
<h3>Sample credits[<a href="/w/index.php?title=To_Pimp_a_Butterfly&amp;action=edit&amp;section=11">edit</a>]</h3>
<ul><li>"Wesley's Theory" contains elements of "Every Nigger is a Star", written and performed by <a href="/wiki/Boris_Gardiner">Boris Gardiner</a>.</li>
<li>"King Kunta" contains interpolations of "Get Nekkid", written by Johnny Burns; resung lyrics from "<a href="/wiki/Smooth_Criminal">Smooth Criminal</a>", written by <a href="/wiki/Michael_Jackson">Michael Jackson</a>; elements from "<a href="/wiki/The_Payback_(song)">The Payback</a>", written by <a href="/wiki/James_Brown">James Brown</a>, <a href="/wiki/Fred_Wesley">Fred Wesley</a> and <a href="/wiki/John_%22Jabo%22_Starks">John Starks</a>; and samples from "We Want the Funk", written by <a href="/wiki/Ahmad_(rapper)">Ahmad Lewis</a>.</li>
<li>"Momma" contains elements of "Wishful Thinking" written by Sylvester Stewart and performed by <a href="/wiki/Sly_and_the_Family_Stone">Sly and the Family Stone</a>; and elements of "On Your Own", written by <a href="/wiki/Lalah_Hathaway">Lalah Hathaway</a>, <a href="/wiki/Rahsaan_Patterson">Rahsaan Patterson</a> and Rex Rideout; and samples from "On Your Own", performed by Lalah Hathaway.</li>
<li>"Hood Politics" contains a sample of "All for Myself", written and performed by <a href="/wiki/Sufjan_Stevens">Sufjan Stevens</a>.</li>
<li>"I" contains portions of "<a href="/wiki/That_Lady_(song)">That Lady</a>", written by <a href="/wiki/Ronald_Isley">Ronald Isley</a>, <a href="/wiki/Chris_Jasper">Christopher Jasper</a>, <a href="/wiki/O%27Kelly_Isley,_Jr.">O'Kelly Isley, Jr.</a>, <a href="/wiki/Ernie_Isley">Ernie Isley</a>, <a href="/wiki/Marvin_Isley">Marvin Isley</a> and <a href="/wiki/Rudolph_Isley">Rudolph Isley</a>.</li>
<li>"Mortal Man" contains excerpts from "I No Get Eye for Back", written by <a href="/wiki/Fela_Kuti">Fela Anikulapo Kuti</a> and performed by Houston Person; and featuring parts from the music journalist Mats Nileskar's November 1994 interview with <a href="/wiki/Tupac_Shakur">Tupac Shakur</a> for P3 Soul Broadcasting Corporation.</li></ul>
<h2>Personnel[<a href="/w/index.php?title=To_Pimp_a_Butterfly&amp;action=edit&amp;section=12">edit</a>]</h2>
<p>Credits for <i>To Pimp a Butterfly</i> adapted from <a href="/wiki/AllMusic">AllMusic</a> and the album's digital booklet.<sup><a href="#cite_note-booklet-122">[122]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-albumnotes-17">[17]</a></sup>
</p>
<div>
<ul><li>Kendrick Lamar – vocals; art direction</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/George_Clinton_(funk_musician)">George Clinton</a> – vocals (track 1)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Thundercat_(musician)">Thundercat</a> – vocals (tracks 1, 5); background vocals (tracks 7, 12, 14); bass (tracks 3, 13, 15, 16); additional bass (track 5); producer (tracks 10, 12); additional production (track 1)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Anna_Wise">Anna Wise</a> – vocals (tracks 4, 5); backing vocals (tracks 1, 2, 10)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Bilal_(American_singer)">Bilal</a> – vocals (tracks 4, 5); backing vocals (6, 8–10)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Snoop_Dogg">Snoop Dogg</a> – vocals (track 4)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/James_Fauntleroy">James Fauntleroy</a> – vocals (track 11); background vocals (track 16)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Ronald_Isley">Ronald Isley</a> – vocals (track 11); additional vocals (track 15)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Rapsody">Rapsody</a> – vocals (track 12)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Flying_Lotus">Flying Lotus</a> – producer (track 1)</li>
<li>Ronald "Flippa" Colson – producer (track 1)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Sounwave">Sounwave</a> – producer (tracks 3, 7, 10, 12, 16); additional production (tracks 1, 5, 6, 8, 10); keyboards (track 14); string arrangements</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Terrace_Martin">Terrace Martin</a> – alto saxophone (tracks 1, 2, 6–9, 11, 13, 14, 16); horns (track 1); keyboards (tracks 5, 6, 8–12); producer (tracks 2, 5); additional production (tracks 3, 8, 12, 13); vocoder (tracks 9, 14); string arrangements</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Rahki">Rahki</a> – producer (tracks 4, 15); percussion (track 15)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Tommy_Black_(producer)">Fredrik "Tommy Black" Halldin</a> – producer (track 4)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/1500_or_Nothin%27">Larrance Dopson</a> – percussion (tracks 5, 11–14); keyboards, producer (track 5)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Sa-Ra">Taz Arnold</a> aka Tisa – background vocals (tracks 4, 8, 9, 15); producer (tracks 6, 8)</li>
<li>Whoarei – producer (track 6)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Pharrell_Williams">Pharrell Williams</a> – producer, vocals (track 7)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Knxwledge">Knxwledge</a> – producer (track 9)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Tae_Beast">Tae Beast</a> – producer (track 10)</li>
<li>Lovedragon – producer (tracks 11, 14)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Boi-1da">Boi-1da</a> – producer (track 13)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Stephen_Kozmeniuk">KOZ</a> – producer (track 13)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Dr._Dre">Dr. Dre</a> – executive producer; background vocals (track 1)</li>
<li>James Hunt – engineer (tracks 1–7, 13–16); mix assistant</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Derek_Ali">Derek "MixedByAli" Ali</a> – engineer (tracks 1–6, 8–16), mixer</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Katalyst_(DJ)">Katalyst</a> – additional drum programming, additional engineering (track 13)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Mike_Bozzi">Mike Bozzi</a> – mastering engineer</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Ash_Riser">Ash Riser</a> – background vocals (track 1)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Josef_Leimberg">Josef Leimberg</a> – trumpet (tracks 1, 5, 8, 11, 12, 14, 16), vocals (track 1)</li>
<li>Whitney Alford – background vocals (tracks 1, 3)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Robert_Searight">Robert "Sput" Searight</a> – drums (track 2); keyboards (track 10)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Robert_Glasper">Robert Glasper</a> – piano (track 2); keyboards (tracks 5, 12, 13, 16)</li>
<li>Brandon Owens – bass (tracks 2, 16)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Craig_Brockman">Craig Brockman</a> – organ (track 2)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Marlon_Williams_(guitarist)">Marlon Williams</a> – guitar (tracks 2, 5, 6, 11, 14, 16); additional guitar (track 3)</li>
<li>Darlene Tibbs – background vocals (track 2)</li>
<li>Matt Schaeffer – additional guitar (track 3); engineer (tracks 3, 6, 11–16)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Sam_Barsh">Sam Barsh</a> – keyboards (tracks 4, 15)</li>
<li>Pedro Castro – clarinet (track 4)</li>
<li>Gabriel Noel – cello (track 4), upright bass (track 11)</li>
<li>Paul Cartwright – violin (tracks 4, 11, 16)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Greg_Moore_(guitarist)">Gregory Moore</a> – guitar (track 5)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Kamasi_Washington">Kamasi Washington</a> – tenor saxophone (track 6); string arrangements</li>
<li>Adam Turchan – baritone saxophone (track 6)</li>
<li>Jessica Vielmas – background vocals (track 6)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/SZA_(singer)">SZA</a> – background vocals (tracks 6, 8)</li>
<li>Candace Wakefield – background vocals (tracks 7, 15)</li>
<li>Preston Harris – background vocals (tracks 8, 10, 14)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Lalah_Hathaway">Lalah Hathaway</a> – background vocals (tracks 9, 12, 13)</li>
<li>Dion Friley – background vocals (tracks 10, 15)</li>
<li>Talkbox Monte – background vocals (track 12)</li>
<li>JaVonté – background vocals (tracks 12, 14, 16)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Pete_Rock">Pete Rock</a> – background vocals/scratches (track 12)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Ronald_Bruner_Jr.">Ronald Bruner Jr.</a> – drums (track 13)</li>
<li>Wyann Vaughn – background vocals (track 14)</li>
<li>Keith Askey – guitar (track 15)</li>
<li>Kendall Lewis – drums (track 15)</li>
<li>Chris Smith – bass (track 15)</li>
<li>William Sweat – background vocals (track 15)</li>
<li>Devon Downing – background vocals (track 15)</li>
<li>Edwin Orellana – background vocals (track 15)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Dave_Free">Dave Free</a> – background vocals (track 15)</li>
<li>Junius Bervine – keyboards (track 16)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Ambrose_Akinmusire">Ambrose Akinmusire</a> – trumpet (track 16)</li></ul>
</div>
<h2>Charts[<a href="/w/index.php?title=To_Pimp_a_Butterfly&amp;action=edit&amp;section=13">edit</a>]</h2>
<h2>Certifications[<a href="/w/index.php?title=To_Pimp_a_Butterfly&amp;action=edit&amp;section=16">edit</a>]</h2>
<h2>See also[<a href="/w/index.php?title=To_Pimp_a_Butterfly&amp;action=edit&amp;section=17">edit</a>]</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/2015_in_hip_hop_music">2015 in hip hop music</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/List_of_number-one_albums_of_2015_(Australia)">List of number-one albums of 2015 (Australia)</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/List_of_number-one_albums_of_2015_(Canada)">List of number-one albums of 2015 (Canada)</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/List_of_number-one_albums_from_the_2010s_(New_Zealand)">List of number-one albums from the 2010s (New Zealand)</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/List_of_UK_Albums_Chart_number_ones_of_the_2010s">List of UK Albums Chart number ones of the 2010s</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/List_of_UK_R%26B_Albums_Chart_number_ones_of_2015">List of UK R&amp;B Albums Chart number ones of 2015</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Billboard_200_number-one_albums_of_2015">List of <i>Billboard</i> 200 number-one albums of 2015</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Billboard_number-one_R%26B/hip-hop_albums_of_2015">List of <i>Billboard</i> number-one R&amp;B/hip-hop albums of 2015</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Billboard_number-one_R%26B/hip-hop_albums_of_2016">List of <i>Billboard</i> number-one R&amp;B/hip-hop albums of 2016</a></li></ul>
<h2>References[<a href="/w/index.php?title=To_Pimp_a_Butterfly&amp;action=edit&amp;section=18">edit</a>]</h2>
<div>
<ol>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-Billboard_1-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/5922946/top-dawg-entertainment-cover-story-kendrick-lamar-schoolboy-q-anthony-tiffith?page=0%2C0">"Top Dawg's Kendrick Lamar &amp; ScHoolboy Q Cover Story: Enter the House of Pain"</a>. <i>Billboard</i>. February 28, 2014. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140304031459/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/5922946/top-dawg-entertainment-cover-story-kendrick-lamar-schoolboy-q-anthony-tiffith?page=0,0">Archived</a> from the original on March 4, 2014. Retrieved April 22, 2014.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-oral_history_2-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-oral_history_2-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <cite>Andres Hale (February 9, 2016). <a href="http://www.grammy.com/news/the-oral-history-of-kendrick-lamars-to-pimp-a-butterfly">"The Oral History Of Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A Butterfly"</a>. The Recording Academy. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160211020705/http://www.grammy.com/news/the-oral-history-of-kendrick-lamars-to-pimp-a-butterfly">Archived</a> from the original on February 11, 2016. Retrieved February 11, 2016.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/pimp-butterfly-kendrick-lamar-shares-history">"6 key players discuss Lamar's 'To Pimp A Butterfly"</a>. Grammy.com. May 15, 2017. Retrieved May 26, 2020.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-:0_4-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-:0_4-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-:0_4-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-:0_4-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-:0_4-4"><sup><i><b>e</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-:0_4-5"><sup><i><b>f</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-:0_4-6"><sup><i><b>g</b></i></sup></a> <cite><a href="https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/kendrick-lamar-to-pimp-a-butterfly-analysis/">"'To Pimp a Butterfly:' How Kendrick's Masterpiece Changed Culture"</a>. <i>Highsnobiety</i>. March 24, 2020. <a href="https://archive.today/20200526131957/https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/kendrick-lamar-to-pimp-a-butterfly-analysis/">Archived</a> from the original on May 26, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2020.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b> <cite>Zach Frydenlund. <a href="http://www.complex.com/music/2015/03/kendrick-lamar-hot-97-2015-interview">"Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole Still Want to Release That Joint Album"</a>. <i>Complex</i>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403075825/http://www.complex.com/music/2015/03/kendrick-lamar-hot-97-2015-interview">Archived</a> from the original on April 3, 2015. Retrieved September 16, 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://www.factmag.com/2015/03/16/flying-lotus-folder-kendrick-lamar-collaborations-wont-be-released/">"Flying Lotus details involvement on Kendrick Lamar's new album"</a>. <i>Fact</i>. March 16, 2015. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150924053137/http://www.factmag.com/2015/03/16/flying-lotus-folder-kendrick-lamar-collaborations-wont-be-released/">Archived</a> from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved September 16, 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150504060314/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.32974/title.flying-lotus-details-his-to-pimp-a-butterfly-involvement">"Flying Lotus Details His 'To Pimp A Butterfly' Involvement"</a>. <i>HipHopDX</i>. March 16, 2015. Archived from <a href="http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.32974/title.flying-lotus-details-his-to-pimp-a-butterfly-involvement">the original</a> on May 4, 2015. Retrieved September 16, 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b> <cite>Eric Diep. <a href="http://www.complex.com/music/2015/03/rapsody-to-pimp-a-butterfly-album-interview">"Interview: Rapsody Details Her Feature On Kendrick Lamar's 'To Pimp A Butterfly' Album"</a>. <i>Complex</i>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20171201233025/http://www.complex.com/music/2015/03/rapsody-to-pimp-a-butterfly-album-interview">Archived</a> from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved September 16, 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.spin.com/2015/03/rapsody-kendrick-lamar-interview-to-pimp-a-butterfly/">"Q&amp;: Rapsody Talks Secretly Working on Kendrick Lamar's 'To Pimp a Butterfly'"</a>. <i>Spin</i>. March 16, 2015. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403062940/http://www.spin.com/2015/03/rapsody-kendrick-lamar-interview-to-pimp-a-butterfly/">Archived</a> from the original on April 3, 2015. Retrieved March 16, 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-10">^</a></b> <cite>Hutchinson, Kate (January 30, 2021). <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/jan/30/madlib-rap-right-now-should-be-like-public-enemy-but-its-just-not-there">"Madlib: 'Rap right now should be like Public Enemy – but it's just not there'"</a>. <i>The Guardian</i>. Retrieved January 31, 2021.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-TER_11-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-TER_11-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <cite><a href="http://theearlyregistration.com/2015/03/16/3158/">"Was Kendrick Lamar's Pharrell Produced "Alright" Track was Originally for Fabolous?"</a>. <i>The Early Registration</i>. March 16, 2015. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150320030350/http://theearlyregistration.com/2015/03/16/3158/">Archived</a> from the original on March 20, 2015. Retrieved March 16, 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-12">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://theneptunes.org/2015/03/kendrick-lamar-alright-feat-pharrell-thundercat-pharrell-williams-sounwave-15/">"Kendrick Lamar—Alright feat. Pharrell &amp; Thundercat (Pharrell Williams, Sounwave) (15')"</a>. March 2015. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150626111634/http://theneptunes.org/2015/03/kendrick-lamar-alright-feat-pharrell-thundercat-pharrell-williams-sounwave-15/">Archived</a> from the original on June 26, 2015. Retrieved September 16, 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-13">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150626112518/http://watchloud.com/pharrell-alright-fools-gold/">"Pharrell Shared A Version Of "Alright" From To Pimp A Butterfly With Fabolous Last Year [VIDEO]"</a>. Archived from <a href="http://watchloud.com/pharrell-alright-fools-gold/">the original</a> on June 26, 2015. Retrieved September 16, 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-14">^</a></b> <cite>Dan Rys (March 18, 2015). <a href="http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2015/03/sounwave-kendrick-lamar-pimp-butterfly-interview/">"Sounwave Says Kendrick Lamar's 'To Pimp a Butterfly' Went Through Three Phases"</a>. <i>XXL</i>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150919211440/http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2015/03/sounwave-kendrick-lamar-pimp-butterfly-interview/">Archived</a> from the original on September 19, 2015. Retrieved September 16, 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-NME_15-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-NME_15-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <cite><a href="https://www.nme.com/news/kendrick-lamar/79966">"NME News Kendrick Lamar says he visited Ronald Isley to ask to use 'That Lady' on new track 'I'"</a>. <i>NME</i>. September 24, 2014. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150626132044/http://www.nme.com/news/kendrick-lamar/79966">Archived</a> from the original on June 26, 2015. Retrieved September 16, 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-16">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://www.mtv.com/news/2110213/kendrick-lamar-pete-rock-to-pimp-a-butterfly/">"This Iconic Producer Just Called Kendrick's To Pimp A Butterfly 'The Best Album Out'"</a>. MTV News. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150627012947/http://www.mtv.com/news/2110213/kendrick-lamar-pete-rock-to-pimp-a-butterfly/">Archived</a> from the original on June 27, 2015. Retrieved September 16, 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-albumnotes_17-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-albumnotes_17-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <cite><a href="https://www.scribd.com/document/259619383/Digital-Booklet-To-Pimp-a-Butterfly"><i>Digital Booklet – To Pimp a Butterfly</i></a> (Media notes). Kendrick Lamar. <a href="/wiki/Top_Dawg_Entertainment">Top Dawg Entertainment</a>. 2015. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170302001519/https://www.scribd.com/document/259619383/Digital-Booklet-To-Pimp-a-Butterfly">Archived</a> from the original on March 2, 2017. Retrieved July 26, 2017.</cite><code>{{<a href="/wiki/Template:Cite_AV_media_notes">cite AV media notes</a>}}</code>: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (<a href="/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_others_in_cite_AV_media_(notes)">link</a>)
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-18">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/6502408/kendrick-lamar-bilal-to-pimp-a-butterfly-interview">"Kendrick Lamar"</a>. <i>Billboard</i>. March 17, 2015. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150916231931/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/6502408/kendrick-lamar-bilal-to-pimp-a-butterfly-interview">Archived</a> from the original on September 16, 2015. Retrieved September 16, 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-19">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://consequenceofsound.net/2015/04/kendrick-lamar-and-prince-hit-the-studio-together/">"Kendrick Lamar and Prince hit the studio together"</a>. April 2, 2015. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150505070759/http://consequenceofsound.net/2015/04/kendrick-lamar-and-prince-hit-the-studio-together/">Archived</a> from the original on May 5, 2015. Retrieved April 23, 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-20">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/kendrick-lamar-recorded-with-prince-for-to-pimp-a-butterfly-20150401">"Kendrick Lamar Recorded With Prince for 'To Pimp a Butterfly'"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Rolling_Stone">Rolling Stone</a></i>. April 1, 2015. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150420020347/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/kendrick-lamar-recorded-with-prince-for-to-pimp-a-butterfly-20150401">Archived</a> from the original on April 20, 2015. Retrieved April 23, 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-21">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.nme.com/news/kendrick-lamar/84152">"Kendrick Lamar reveals he and Prince hit the studio together"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/NME">NME</a></i>. April 2, 2015. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150408123459/http://www.nme.com/news/kendrick-lamar/84152">Archived</a> from the original on April 8, 2015. Retrieved April 23, 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-rapup_22-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-rapup_22-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <cite><a href="http://www.rap-up.com/2015/03/12/kendrick-lamar-to-pimp-a-butterfly-tracklisting/">"Tracklisting: Kendrick Lamar—'To Pimp a Butterfly'"</a>. <i>Rap-Up</i>. March 13, 2015. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150906185438/http://www.rap-up.com/2015/03/12/kendrick-lamar-to-pimp-a-butterfly-tracklisting/">Archived</a> from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved March 17, 2015.</cite>
</li>
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<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-149">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://www.aria.com.au/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-albums-2015.htm">"ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 100 Albums 2015"</a>. <a href="/wiki/Australian_Recording_Industry_Association">Australian Recording Industry Association</a>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160112063600/http://www.aria.com.au/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-albums-2015.htm">Archived</a> from the original on January 12, 2016. Retrieved January 6, 2016.</cite>
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<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-150">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2015&amp;cat=a">"Jaaroverzichten 2015"</a> (in Dutch). Ultratop. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160310120835/http://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2015&amp;cat=a">Archived</a> from the original on March 10, 2016. Retrieved July 4, 2016.</cite>
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<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-151">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2015&amp;cat=a">"Rapports Annuels 2015"</a> (in French). Ultratop. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160301155918/http://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2015&amp;cat=a">Archived</a> from the original on March 1, 2016. Retrieved July 4, 2016.</cite>
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<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-152">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2015/top-canadian-albums">"<i>Billboard</i> Top Canadian Albums – Year-end Chart"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Billboard_(magazine)">Billboard</a></i>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200618195305/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2015/top-canadian-albums">Archived</a> from the original on June 18, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2015.</cite>
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<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-153">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://www.hitlisten.nu/top2015.asp">"Album Top-100 2015"</a> (in Danish). <a href="/wiki/Hitlisten">Hitlisten</a>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160101183025/http://hitlisten.nu/top2015.asp">Archived</a> from the original on January 1, 2016. Retrieved July 4, 2016.</cite>
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<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-154">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://www.dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2015&amp;cat=a">"Jaaroverzichten – Album 2015"</a>. <i>MegaCharts</i>. Hung Medien. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160313231618/http://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=2015&amp;cat=a">Archived</a> from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved July 4, 2016.</cite>
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<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-155">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://nztop40.co.nz/chart/albums?chart=4200">"The Official NZ Music Charts – End of Year Charts 2015"</a>. <a href="/wiki/Recorded_Music_NZ">Recorded Music NZ</a>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160319214629/http://nztop40.co.nz/chart/albums?chart=4200">Archived</a> from the original on March 19, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2017.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-156">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-artist-albums-chart/20150104/37502/">"End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2015"</a>. Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 14, 2021.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-157">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2015/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums">"<i>Billboard</i> Top R&amp;B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-end Chart"</a>. <i>Billboard</i>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180620055718/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2015/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums">Archived</a> from the original on June 20, 2018. Retrieved December 9, 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-158">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-albums-2016.htm">"ARIA Top 100 Albums 2016"</a>. Australian Recording Industry Association. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170106173445/http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-albums-2016.htm">Archived</a> from the original on January 6, 2017. Retrieved January 6, 2017.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-Billboard_200_159-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2016/top-billboard-200-albums">"Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2016"</a>. <i>Billboard</i>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20161208120131/http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2016/top-billboard-200-albums">Archived</a> from the original on December 8, 2016. Retrieved December 9, 2016.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-160">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2016/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums">"<i>Billboard</i> Top R&amp;B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-end Chart"</a>. <i>Billboard</i>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20191013160405/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2016/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums">Archived</a> from the original on October 13, 2019. Retrieved December 15, 2016.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-161">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://cdn.aria.com.au/pdfs/22A6F584F50CDAC9C37C26D54D4365131F4F5143B5E235AF9E08651AAA2622AD/ARIA%20Top%20100%20Urban%20Albums%20Chart%20-%202017.pdf?seq=13">"ARIA Top 100 Urban Albums Chart"</a> (PDF). ARIA Charts. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180815091253/http://cdn.aria.com.au/pdfs/22A6F584F50CDAC9C37C26D54D4365131F4F5143B5E235AF9E08651AAA2622AD/ARIA%20Top%20100%20Urban%20Albums%20Chart%20-%202017.pdf?seq=13">Archived</a> (PDF) from the original on August 15, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-162">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2017/top-billboard-200-albums">"Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2017"</a>. <i>Billboard</i>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20171212120131/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2017/top-billboard-200-albums">Archived</a> from the original on December 12, 2017. Retrieved January 31, 2018.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-AustraliaalbumCertRef_163-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/sh/k9o2q7p7o4awhqx/AAB9XoKS5eunPKk6wwRzaGnpa/2015%20Accreds.pdf">"ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2015 Albums"</a> (PDF). <a href="/wiki/Australian_Recording_Industry_Association">Australian Recording Industry Association</a>.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-CanadaKendrick_LamarTo_Pimp_a_ButterflyalbumCertRef_164-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://musiccanada.com/gold-platinum/?_gp_search=To+Pimp+a+Butterfly%20Kendrick+Lamar">"Canadian album certifications – Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly"</a>. <a href="/wiki/Music_Canada">Music Canada</a>. Retrieved April 13, 2021.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-DenmarkKendrick_LamarTo_Pimp_a_ButterflyalbumCertRef_165-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://ifpi.dk/node/8884">"Danish album certifications – Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly"</a>. <a href="/wiki/IFPI_Danmark">IFPI Danmark</a>. Retrieved January 23, 2020.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-166">^</a></b> <cite>Jones, Alan (April 21, 2017). <a href="http://www.musicweek.com/analysis/read/official-charts-analysis-ed-sheeran-s-makes-it-seven-weeks-at-no-1/068225">"Official Charts Analysis: Ed Sheeran's ÷ makes it seven weeks at No.1"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Music_Week">Music Week</a></i>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170422131058/http://www.musicweek.com/analysis/read/official-charts-analysis-ed-sheeran-s-makes-it-seven-weeks-at-no-1/068225">Archived</a> from the original on April 22, 2017. Retrieved April 21, 2017.</cite> (subscription required)
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-United_KingdomKendrick_LamarTo_Pimp_a_ButterflyalbumCertRef_167-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/13282-3292-2">"British album certifications – Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly"</a>. <a href="/wiki/British_Phonographic_Industry">British Phonographic Industry</a>. Retrieved December 18, 2015.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-us_sales_168-0">^</a></b> <cite>Caulfield, Keith (April 6, 2018). <a href="https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8295475/kendrick-lamar-damn-sells-million-copies">"Kendrick Lamar Scores Third Million-Selling Album in U.S. With 'DAMN.'"</a>. <i>Billboard</i>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180407042334/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8295475/kendrick-lamar-damn-sells-million-copies">Archived</a> from the original on April 7, 2018. Retrieved September 2, 2020.</cite>
</li>
</ol></div>
<h2>Further reading[<a href="/w/index.php?title=To_Pimp_a_Butterfly&amp;action=edit&amp;section=19">edit</a>]</h2>
<ul><li><cite><a href="/wiki/Philip_Ewell">Ewell, Philip A.</a> (March 1, 2019). <a href="https://mtosmt.org/issues/mto.19.25.1/mto.19.25.1.ewell.html">"Introduction to the Symposium on Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Music_Theory_Online">Music Theory Online</a></i>. <b>25</b> (1). <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)">doi</a>:<a href="https://doi.org/10.30535%2Fmto.25.1.7">10.30535/mto.25.1.7</a>.</cite></li>
<li><cite>Futlon, Will (Spring 2015). <a href="http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/web/academics/centers/hitchcock/publications/amr/v44-2/fulton.php">"The Performer as Historian: Black Messiah, To Pimp a Butterfly, and the Matter of Albums"</a>. <i>American Music Review</i>. <b>XLIV</b> (2).</cite></li>
<li><cite>Pizzo, Mike "DJ" (2015). <a href="https://medium.com/@djpizzo/how-kendrick-lamar-j-cole-rebooted-conscious-rap-c13237c27399#.ki86zl9w7">"How Kendrick Lamar &amp; J. Cole Rebooted Conscious Rap"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Cuepoint">Cuepoint</a></i>.</cite></li></ul>
<h2>External links[<a href="/w/index.php?title=To_Pimp_a_Butterfly&amp;action=edit&amp;section=20">edit</a>]</h2>
<ul><li><i><a href="https://www.discogs.com/master/810214">To Pimp a Butterfly</a></i> at <a href="/wiki/Discogs">Discogs</a> (list of releases)</li></ul>
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 * (Top)
 * 1 Background
 * 2 Recording and production
 * 3 Musical style
 * 4 Lyrics and themes
 * 5 Title and packaging
 * 6 Marketing and sales
 * 7 Critical reception
 + 7.1 Accolades
 * 8 Impact
 * 9 Track listing
 + 9.1 Sample credits
 * 10 Personnel
 * 11 Charts
 + 11.1 Weekly charts
 + 11.2 Year-end charts
 * 12 Certifications
 * 13 See also
 * 14 References
 * 15 Further reading
 * 16 External links
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 To Pimp a Butterfly

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 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 To Pimp a Butterfly 
  
 Studio album by Kendrick Lamar 
 Released March 15, 2015 
  * Chalice (Hollywood) 
  * Downtown (New York) 
 Studio * House (Washington, D.C.) 
  * Notifi (St. Louis) 
  * No Excuses (Santa Monica)
  * Experimental hip hop 
  * progressive rap 
 Genre * conscious hip hop 
  * jazz rap 
  * G-funk 
  * neo soul 
 Length 78 : 51 
  * TDE 
 Label * Aftermath 
  * Interscope 
  * Boi-1da 
  * Flippa 
  * Flying Lotus 
  * Knxwledge 
  * KOZ 
  * Larrance Dopson 
  * LoveDragon 
 Producer * Pharrell Williams 
  * Rahki 
  * Sounwave 
  * Tae Beast 
  * Taz Arnold 
  * Terrace Martin 
  * Thundercat 
  * Tommy Black 
  * Whoarei 
 Kendrick Lamar chronology 
 Good Kid, M.A.A.D City To Pimp a Butterfly Untitled Unmastered
 (2012) (2015) (2016) 
  
  
 Singles from To Pimp a Butterfly 
 1. " I " 
 Released: September 16, 2014 
 2. " The Blacker the Berry " 
 Released: February 9, 2015 
 3. " King Kunta " 
 Released: March 24, 2015 
 4. " Alright " 
 Released: June 30, 2015 
 5. " These Walls " 
 Released: October 13, 2015 
  
 

 To Pimp a Butterfly is the third studio album by American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It was released on March 15, 2015, by Top Dawg Entertainment, Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. The album was recorded in studios throughout the United States, with production from Sounwave, Terrace Martin, Taz "Tisa" Arnold, Thundercat, Rahki, LoveDragon, Flying Lotus, Pharrell Williams, Boi-1da, Knxwledge, and several other high-profile hip hop producers, as well as executive production from Dr. Dre and Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith. Guest appearances include Thundercat, George Clinton, Bilal, Anna Wise, Snoop Dogg, James Fauntleroy, Ronald Isley, and Rapsody.

 Primarily a hip hop album, To Pimp a Butterfly incorporates numerous other musical styles spanning the history of African-American music, most prominently jazz, funk, and soul. Lyrically, it features political commentary and personal themes concerning African-American culture, racial inequality, depression, and institutional discrimination. This thematic direction was inspired by Lamar's tour of historic sites during his visit to South Africa, such as Nelson Mandela's jail cell on Robben Island.

 To Pimp a Butterfly sold 324,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release, earning a chart debut at number one on the US Billboard 200, while also becoming Lamar's first number-one album in the UK. It was eventually certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and sold one million copies in the United States by 2017. Five singles were released in promotion of the album, including the top 40 hit "I". Lamar also supported the album with the Kunta's Groove Sessions Tour from late 2015 to early 2016.

 The album has received widespread acclaim from critics, who praised its musical scope and the social relevance of Lamar's lyrics. It earned Lamar seven nominations at the 2016 Grammy Awards, including a win for Best Rap Album and an Album of the Year nomination. He received four additional nominations for other collaborations from that year, receiving a total of 11 Grammy nominations, which was the most nominations for any rapper in a single night. The most critically acclaimed album of 2015 as well as one of the most critically acclaimed of its entire decade, it topped The Village Voice ' s annual Pazz & Jop poll of American critics nationwide, and was also ranked as the best album of 2015 by many other publications. In the years following its release, several publications named To Pimp a Butterfly one of the best albums of the 2010s; in 2020, the album was ranked 19th on Rolling Stone ' s updated list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

 Background [ edit ]

 On February 28, 2014, Kendrick Lamar first revealed the plans to release a follow-up to his second studio album, Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012), during an interview with Billboard.[1] Between the releases of Good Kid, M.A.A.D City and To Pimp a Butterfly, Lamar traveled to South Africa. Touring the country and visiting historic sites such as Nelson Mandela's jail cell on Robben Island heavily influenced the direction of the record[2] and led to Lamar scrapping "two or three albums worth of material".[3]

 Co-producer Sounwave spoke on Lamar's visit, saying, "I remember he [Lamar] took a trip to [South] Africa and something in his mind just clicked. For me, that's when this album really started."[4] Regarding his visit to South Africa, Lamar said, "I felt like I belonged in Africa. I saw all the things that I wasn't taught. Probably one of the hardest things to do is put [together] a concept on how beautiful a place can be, and tell a person this while they're still in the ghettos of Compton. I wanted to put that experience in the music."[4] In addition, Lamar said, "The idea was to make a record that reflected all complexions of black women. There's a separation between the light and the dark skin because it's just in our nature to do so, but we're all black. This concept came from South Africa and I saw all these different colors speaking a beautiful language."[4]

 Recording and production [ edit ]

 The mixing desk at Chalice Recording Studios in Hollywood

 To Pimp a Butterfly was recorded at a variety of studios; including Chalice Recording Studios, Downtown Studios, House Studios, Notifi Studios and No Excuses Studios. Lamar wrote the lyrics to the song "Mortal Man" while on Kanye West's Yeezus Tour.[5] During the whole tour, producer Flying Lotus played Lamar a selection of tracks that was intended for Captain Murphy's album (Flying Lotus's alter ego). Lamar kept all the tracks, but only opener "Wesley's Theory", which also features Thundercat and George Clinton, made the final cut onto the album.[6] Lotus had produced a version of "For Sale? (Interlude)" that was ultimately discarded, with Lamar using Taz Arnold's version of the song on the album instead. Lotus stated that it is unlikely his version of the song will see a release.[7] American rapper Rapsody appeared on the album, contributing a verse to the song "Complexion (A Zulu Love)". Lamar had requested that 9th Wonder contact Rapsody and request her appearance. Rapsody and Lamar discussed the song but there was little instruction from Lamar regarding her contribution. Speaking about the song, she stated that Lamar had already decided on the concept of the song and stated that the only instructions he gave were the song's title and the idea that "...we are beautiful no matter our race but he really wanted to speak to our people and address this light versus dark complex".[8][9] Lamar also contacted Madlib to seek his collaboration on the record but was unable to reach him.[10]

 In 2014, Pharrell Williams, who previously worked with Lamar, along with producer Sounwave, played the track "Alright" at the Holy Ship Festival.[11] The track features the same unidentified sample that Williams used on Rick Ross' track "Presidential" from his album God Forgives, I Don't (2012). Reportedly, at one time it featured a guest appearance from American rapper Fabolous.[11][12][13] The album went through three different phases before the production team could move forward with the idea. Afterwards, producer Thundercat was brought into the process, after Flying Lotus brought him along to see Lamar's performance on The Yeezus Tour.[14] The album's lead single, titled "I", was produced by Rahki, who also produced a song for the album entitled "Institutionalized". Although the version of "I" appearing on the album is drastically different from that on the single release, both versions contained a sample of the song "That Lady" performed by The Isley Brothers. Lamar personally visited The Isley Brothers, to receive permission from lead vocalist Ronald Isley to sample the song.[15]

 Bass player Thundercat (left) and singer Bilal are among the musicians who contributed to the album.

 Lamar began traveling to St. Louis and began working with Isley at the studio. Isley also performed on the song "How Much a Dollar Cost" alongside the singer-songwriter James Fauntleroy.[15] Producer and rapper Pete Rock provided some backing vocals and scratches to the song "Complexion (A Zulu Love)", and as he stated, the contribution was unusual, as he was not the producer for the track.[16] Singer Bilal features on the songs "Institutionalized" and "These Walls", and has provided un-credited backing vocals on the songs "U", "For Sale? (Interlude)", "Momma" and "Hood Politics".[17] Bilal stated that he and Lamar were initially unsure of how many songs he would be featured on, stating he worked on various tracks, but did not yet know the outcome. "For a lot of the material, Kendrick had an idea of what he wanted. He would sing out the melody and some of the words, and I would interpret what he was telling me." On the songs where Bilal added backing vocals, he stated that "...some of it was freestyle; just adding color to make it a fuller sound."[18] Lamar also reportedly worked with American musician Prince; however, the duo were too pressed for time during the recording session and therefore were unable to complete any work for inclusion on the album.[19][20][21] Lamar professed to having listened often to Miles Davis and Parliament-Funkadelic during the album's recording.[22]

 In 2016, Lamar released Untitled Unmastered, a compilation album, which contains previously unreleased demos that originated during the recording of To Pimp a Butterfly. According to producer Thundercat, it "completes the sentence" of Lamar's third studio album.[23]

 Musical style [ edit ]

 According to musicologist Will Fulton, To Pimp a Butterfly engages in and celebrates the black music tradition. Much like the singer D'Angelo on his 2014 album Black Messiah, Lamar "consciously indexes African American musical styles of the past in a dynamic relationship of nostalgic revivalism and vanguardism."[24] Kyle Anderson of Entertainment Weekly described the album as "embracing the entire history of black American music."[25] Lamar's co-engineer/mixer MixedByAli praised Lamar, saying, "[Lamar is] a sponge. He incorporated everything that was going on [in Africa] and in his life to complete a million-piece puzzle."[4] Lamar described the album as an "honest, fearful and unapologetic" work that draws on funk, hard bop, spoken word and soul[2][22] while critics also noted elements of West Coast hip hop[26] and avant-garde.[27][28] Allison Stewart from The Washington Post says the album is "threaded" with G-funk.[29] Speaking on the album's styles, co-producer Terrace Martin said, "If you dig deeper you hear the lineage of James Brown, Jackie Wilson, Mahalia Jackson, the sounds of Africa, and our people when they started over here. I hear something different every time. I heard Cuban elements in it the other day."[4]

 The album features contributions from the collective of musicians called the West Coast Get Down, who experiment with jazz and progressive hip hop sounds, and feature Lamar, Flying Lotus, Martin, and saxophonist Kamasi Washington, among others. Consequently, the music is "jazz-like in spirit if not always in sound", according to Ben Ratliff,[30] while Mosi Reeves from Deadspin observes a virtuosic quality to its "prog-rap cornucopia".[31] Stereogum described To Pimp a Butterfly as an "ambitious avant-jazz-rap statement,"[32] and The Source categorized the album as an experimental hip hop release.[33] Dan Weiss of Spin noted "shades of Miles Davis' On the Corner and free jazz all over [...], as well as Sly Stone's There's a Riot Goin' On and Funkadelic and Erykah Badu's similarly wah-crazy but comparatively lo-fi New Amerykah (4th World War)," but stated nonetheless that "the sense of this album is vividly contemporary."[34] Other critics regard it as "throwback" to neo soul music of the 1990s.[35] Greg Kot of Chicago Tribune noted the album's affinities with previous black music, but argued that "Lamar takes familiar musical tropes into new territory."[27] The Atlantic noted the influence of collaborator Flying Lotus, writing that "his signature sound—jazz instrumentation and hip-hop layered into chaotic collages—is all over the album."[36] Steve Mallon of The Quietus noted an "eerily warped psychedelia bursting out of its idiosyncratic arrangements."[37]

 Lyrics and themes [ edit ]

 "Institutionalized"
 Lamar's lyrics explore the results of institutional racism.
 Problems playing this file? See media help.

 Categorized by Billboard as a "politically-charged" conscious rap album,[38] To Pimp a Butterfly explores a variety of political and personal themes related to race, culture, and discrimination. Critic Neil Kulkarni said it appraises "the broken promises and bloody pathways in and out of America's heartland malaise".[39] Jay Caspian Kang observed elements of critical race theory, respectability politics, theology, and meta-analysis examining Lamar's success and revered status in the hip hop community.[40] It was compared by California State University, Fullerton professor Natalie Graham to the 1977 television miniseries Roots. While "Roots compresses and simplifies" black history, Graham said To Pimp a Butterfly "radically disrupt[s] meanings of black respectability, heroic morality, trauma, and memory".[41]

 In the Toronto Journal of Theology, James D. McLeod Jr. drew parallels between Lamar's examination of death's domineering significance in the African-American experience and the works of Christian theologian Paul Tillich, with McLeod calling To Pimp a Butterfly an original example of "existentialist hip hop."[42] Meanwhile, Adam Blum discerned connections between To Pimp a Butterfly and the writings of psychoanalysts such as Wilfred Bion, Nicolas Abraham, and Sigmund Freud.[43] In an essay published in The Lancet Psychiatry, University of Cambridge professors Akeem Sule and Becky Inkster described Lamar as the "street poet of mental health," noting how To Pimp a Butterfly (as well as its predecessor, Good Kid, M.A.A.D City) explore topics such as addiction, anxiety, depression, and resilience.[44]

 The album continues a nuanced dialogue about weighty topics that affect the African-American community. Releasing his album in a time of renewed black activism, Lamar's song "Alright" has become a rallying cry for the Black Lives Matter movement.[45] With lyrics like "and we hate po-po / Wanna kill us dead in the street fo sho, nigga" he makes it clear that he is supportive of the movement and the families of black men and women like Michael Brown, Sandra Bland, Tamir Rice, and others who have fallen victim to police brutality in the United States. Lamar takes his opinions further to lend his position on black crime in the song "The Blacker the Berry". He criticizes himself and his community by rapping, "So why did I weep when Trayvon Martin was in the street? / When gang bangin' make me kill a nigga blacker than me?". Some critics claim that his attitude facilitates the rhetoric that silences the Black Lives Matter movement. Stereo Williams of The Daily Beast wrote in response to his lyrics that "it's dangerous to use that violence as a silencing tactic when the public is angry about the systematic subjugation of black people."[46]

 Lamar has offered explanations of the meanings behind songs such as "Wesley's Theory" and "King Kunta".[47][48][49] The album's 1970s funk-inspired[50] opening track "Wesley's Theory" is a reference to Wesley Snipes and how the actor was jailed for tax evasion; according to Lamar, "no one teaches poor black males how to manage money or celebrity, so if they do achieve success, the powers that be can take it from right under them".[47][48][49] "For Free? (Interlude)" sees Lamar rapping in a dense, spoken word-esque manner with musical accompaniment by jazz pianist Robert Glasper.[50]

 "King Kunta" is concerned with the "history of negative stereotypes all African-Americans have to reconcile".[47][48][49] Lamar also explained his criticism of rappers who use ghostwriters on "King Kunta", revealing that he came to prominence as a ghostwriter, and has respect for writers, but says that "as a new artist, you have to stand behind your work."[47][48][49]

 "These Walls" has been described by Billboard as "pondering sex and existence in equal measure; it's a yoni metaphor about the power of peace, with sugar walls being escape and real walls being obstacles."[51] Lamar revealed that "U" was inspired by his own experience of depression and suicidal thoughts.[52] He also mentioned feelings of survivor's guilt as inspirations for the album.[53] "Alright" begins as a spoken-word treatise before exploding into a shapeshifting portrait of America that brings in jazz horns, skittering drum beats and Lamar's mellifluous rapping as he struggles with troubles and temptations. Yet at the end of each verse, he reassures himself that "We gon' be alright"—a simple rallying cry for a nation reeling from gun violence and police brutality.[54] For critics a "celebration of being alive",[55] Lamar described "Alright" as a message of hope.[56] "The Blacker the Berry" features a "boom bap beat" and lyrics that celebrate Lamar's African-American heritage and "tackle hatred, racism, and hypocrisy head on."[57] The song's hook is performed by Jamaican dancehall artist Assassin, notable for performing on Kanye West's 2013 LP Yeezus, whose lyrics similarly address racial inequality, specifically against African Americans.[58][59]

 Title and packaging [ edit ]

 The album was originally going to be titled Tu Pimp a Caterpillar, a backronym for Tu.P.A.C., itself an allusion to the rapper Tupac.[48] Lamar decided to replace "caterpillar" in the original title to "butterfly", which he explained in an interview for MTV, "I just really wanted to show the brightness of life and the word 'pimp' has so much aggression and that represents several things. For me, it represents using my celebrity for good. Another reason is, not being pimped by the industry through my celebrity ... It gets even deeper than that for me. I could be talking all day about it."[48] Lamar later also told Rolling Stone, "Just putting the word 'pimp' next to 'butterfly'... It's a trip. That's something that will be a phrase forever. It'll be taught in college courses—I truly believe that."[60]

 The album's CD release included a booklet produced with braille letterings; according to Lamar, these characters when translated reveal the "actual full title of the album."[61] Complex commissioned a braille translator, who found that it translated to A Kendrick by Letter Blank Lamar which Complex noted was most likely supposed to read as A Blank Letter by Kendrick Lamar.[61][62]

 Marketing and sales [ edit ]

 The album's release was preceded by the release of two singles, "I", on September 23, 2014,[63] and "The Blacker the Berry" in February 2015.[64] The former became Lamar's sixth top-40 single on the US Billboard Hot 100 and was performed on Saturday Night Live.[65] "King Kunta" was released as the third single in March 2015,[66] and "Alright" was released to radio stations on June 30.[67] With the latter's release, several contemporary progressive news outlets, including BET, raised the idea of "Alright" being the modern Black National Anthem,[45][68][69] while the media reported youth-lead protests against police brutality across the country chanted the chorus of the song.[70][71] Primarily for the latter, Lamar was featured on Ebony magazine's Power 100, an annual list that recognizes many leaders of the African-American community.[72] "These Walls" was released as the album's fifth single on October 13.[73] Aside from the singles' accompanying music videos, the song "For Free? (Interlude)" also featured visuals,[74] as did "U" with "For Sale? (Interlude)" as part of the short film God Is Gangsta.[75] In support of the album, Lamar embarked on the Kunta's Groove Sessions Tour, which included eight shows in eight cities during October and November.[76]

 To Pimp a Butterfly was first released to the iTunes Store and Spotify on March 15, 2015, eight days ahead of its scheduled release date.[77] According to Anthony Tiffith, CEO of Top Dawg Entertainment, the album's early release was unintentional, apparently caused by an error on the part of Interscope Records.[78] The following day, it was made unavailable on iTunes, and the release was rescheduled for March 23, although it was still available for streaming on Spotify.[79] In its first week of release, To Pimp a Butterfly debuted at number one on record charts in the United Kingdom, Australia,[80] and the United States, where it recorded first-week sales of 324,000 copies.[81] The album was streamed 9.6 million times in its first day on Spotify, setting the service's global first-day streaming record.[82] By the end of 2015, To Pimp a Butterfly was ranked the sixteenth most popular album on the Billboard 200 that year[83] and reached sales of one million copies worldwide.[84] By March 2016, it had sold 850,000 copies in the US,[85] where it was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[86] In June 2017, it reached one million copies sold in the US.[87]

 Critical reception [ edit ]

 Professional ratings
 Aggregate scores 
 Source Rating 
 AnyDecentMusic? 9.8/10[88]
 Metacritic 96/100[89]
 Review scores 
 Source Rating 
 AllMusic [90] 
 The Daily Telegraph [91] 
 Entertainment Weekly A[25] 
 The Guardian [92] 
 The Irish Times [93] 
 NME 8/10[94] 
 Pitchfork 9.3/10[95]
 Rolling Stone [96] 
 Spin 10/10[34] 
 USA Today [97] 
 

 To Pimp a Butterfly was met with widespread critical acclaim. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an average score of 96, based on 44 reviews.[89] Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 9.3 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.[88] According to Gigwise writer Will Butler, it was universally hailed by critics as an "instant classic".[98]

 Spin magazine's Dan Weiss regarded To Pimp a Butterfly as the "Great American Hip-Hop Album" and an essential listen,[34] while Neil McCormick from The Daily Telegraph called it a dense but dazzling masterpiece that positions Lamar ahead of the prog-rap resurgence led by Kanye West and Drake.[91] Writing for Entertainment Weekly, Kyle Anderson found the record twice as substantial as Lamar's debut major label album and more comprehensive of African-American music styles, with supremely "cinematic" production qualities but "the freedom of a mixtape".[25] Irish Times journalist Jim Carroll deemed it "a record for the times we're in", in which Lamar transitioned from his past narratives about Compton to fierce but precise reflections on "black America".[93] In Rolling Stone, Greg Tate deemed To Pimp a Butterfly "a masterpiece of fiery outrage, deep jazz and ruthless self-critique" that along with D'Angelo's third album Black Messiah, made 2015 "the year radical Black politics and for-real Black music resurged in tandem to converge on the nation's pop mainstream."[96] Robert Christgau wrote in his review on Cuepoint that not many artists were as passionate and understanding as Lamar, who offered "a strong, brave effective bid to reinstate hip hop as black America's CNN" during an era of social media.[99]

 While the album's reception was almost universally positive, there were still a few reviews at release that offered minor critiques. For instance, New York Times critic Jon Caramanica was less enthusiastic than others, feeling Lamar still struggled in reconciling his density as a lyricist with the music he rapped over: "He hasn't outrun his tendency towards clutter [and] still runs the risk of suffocation."[100] In The Guardian, Alexis Petridis found the music somewhat erratic and lamented "moments of self-indulgence" such as the twelve-minute "Mortal Man" and Lamar's reflections on fame. However, Petridis still ultimately awarded the album four stars out of five.[92]

 Accolades [ edit ]

 At the end of 2015, To Pimp a Butterfly was the most frequently ranked record in top ten lists of the year's best albums. According to Metacritic, it appeared 101 times in the top ten of lists published by critics, magazines, websites, and music stores. The record topped 51 lists, including those by Rolling Stone, Billboard, Pitchfork, Slant Magazine, Spin, The Guardian, Complex, Consequence, The Irish Times, and Vice.[101] NME ranked it second on their list, while Time named it the year's third best album.[102] It was voted the best album of 2015 in the Pazz & Jop, an annual poll of American critics nationwide, published by The Village Voice.[103] Christgau, the Pazz & Jop's creator, ranked it fourth in his ballot for the poll.[104] The album placed ninth in British magazine The Wire ' s annual critics' poll.[105] Based on such rankings, the aggregate website Acclaimed Music lists To Pimp a Butterfly as the most critically acclaimed album of 2015.[106]

 On their lists of best albums of the decade, The Independent placed it first,[107] Consequence second,[108] Rolling Stone third,[109] and Pitchfork fourth.[110] In The Guardian ' s 2019 poll of 45 music journalists, To Pimp a Butterfly was voted the fourth best album of the 21st century, and contributing writer Ben Beaumont-Thomas said in an accompanying that, "as a celebration of the richness of black artistry, the whole album was a riposte to bigotry."[111] Similarly, in his March 2015 review of the album for The Verge, editor and journalist Micah Singleton had hailed it as "the best album of the 21st century, the best hip-hop album since The Notorious B.I.G.'s Ready to Die and Nas' Illmatic in 1994, and it cements Kendrick Lamar's spot as an all-time great."[112] In September 2020, Rolling Stone released an updated version of their 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list, based on the opinions of over 300 artists, music journalists, and industry insiders, which ranked To Pimp a Butterfly as the 19th-best album of all time.[113] Tampa Bay Times, placed the album as the second on their list of "The 10 Best Albums of the 2010s".[114]

 To Pimp a Butterfly also earned Lamar seven nominations at the 2016 Grammy Awards. It was nominated in the categories of Album of the Year and Best Rap Album, winning the latter but losing the former to Taylor Swift's 1989. "Alright" won for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song while also being nominated for Song of the Year and Best Music Video. "These Walls" won for Best Rap/Sung Performance.[115] He would also receive four additional nominations for other musical collaborations from that year, making it a total of eleven Grammy nominations for Lamar. This earned Lamar the most Grammy nominations for a rapper in a single night and the second most by any artist in a single night. Michael Jackson and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds are tied for the artists with the most Grammy nominations in a single night with twelve; Jackson in 1984 and Babyface in 1997.[116][117] At the previous year's ceremony, "i" had won Grammy Awards for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance.[118] To Pimp a Butterfly also received a nomination for Top Rap Album at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards.[119]

 Impact [ edit ]

 The album's immediate influence was felt as "a pantheon for racial empowerment", according to Butler, who also argued that the record helped create a respected space for conscious hip hop and "will be revered not just at the top of some list at the end of the year, but in the subconscious of music fans for decades to come".[98] Writing for Highsnobiety, Robert Blair said, "[To Pimp a Butterfly] is the crystallized moment in time where Kendrick became a generation's most potent artistic voice."[4] Uproxx journalist Aaron Williams said the album "proved that left-field, experimental rap can function in both the critical and commercial realms".[120] Jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington said that the album "changed music, and we're still seeing the effects of it [...] [the album] meant that intellectually stimulating music doesn't have to be underground. It just didn't change the music. It changed the audience."[4] To Pimp a Butterfly was an influence on David Bowie's 2016 album Blackstar. As its producer Tony Visconti recalled, he and Bowie were "listening to a lot of Kendrick Lamar [...] we loved the fact Kendrick was so open-minded and he didn't do a straight-up hip-hop record. He threw everything on there, and that's exactly what we wanted to do."[121]

 Track listing [ edit ]

 To Pimp a Butterfly track listing
 No. Title  Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
  * Kendrick Duckworth 
  * George Clinton * Flying Lotus 
 1. "Wesley's Theory" (featuring George Clinton and Thundercat) * Steven Ellison * Flippa 4:47 
  * Ronald Colson * Sounwave[a] 
  * Stephen Bruner * Thundercat[a] 
  * Boris Gardiner 
  * Duckworth 
 2. "For Free? (Interlude)" * Terrace Martin Martin 2:10 
  * Rose McKinney 
  * Duckworth 
  * Mark Spears 
 3. "King Kunta" * Johnny Burns * Sounwave 3:54 
  * Michael Jackson * Martin[a] 
  * Ahmad Lewis 
  * Stefan Gordy 
  * Duckworth 
 4. "Institutionalized" (featuring Bilal, Anna Wise and Snoop Dogg) * Columbus Smith * Rahki 4:31 
  * Fredrik Halldin * Tommy Black 
  * Sam Barsh 
  * Duckworth 
  * Martin * Martin 
 5. "These Walls" (featuring Bilal, Anna Wise and Thundercat) * Larrance Dopson * Dopson 5:00 
  * James Fauntleroy * Sounwave[a] 
  * McKinney 
  * Duckworth * Arnold 
 6. "U"  * Taz Arnold * Whoarei 4:28 
  * Michael Brown * Sounwave[a] 
  * Duckworth * Williams 
 7. "Alright"  * Pharrell Williams * Sounwave 3:39 
  * Spears 
  * Duckworth * Arnold 
 8. "For Sale? (Interlude)" * Arnold * Sounwave[a] 4:51 
   * Martin[a] 
  * Duckworth 
  * Glen Boothe 
  * Arnold * Knxwledge 
 9. "Momma"  * Sylvester Stewart * Arnold 4:43 
  * Lalah Hathaway 
  * Rahsaan Patterson 
  * Rex Rideout 
  * Duckworth 
  * Donte Perkins * Tae Beast 
 10. "Hood Politics" * Spears * Sounwave 4:52 
  * Bruner * Thundercat 
  * Sufjan Stevens 
  * Duckworth 
  * Martin 
 11. "How Much a Dollar Cost" (featuring James Fauntleroy and Ronald Isley) * Josef Leimberg LoveDragon 4:21 
  * McKinney 
  * Fauntleroy 
  * Ronald Isley 
  * Duckworth * Thundercat 
 12. "Complexion (A Zulu Love)" (featuring Rapsody) * Bruner * Sounwave 4:23 
  * Spears * Martin[a] 
  * Marlanna Evans * The Antydote[a] 
  * Duckworth 
  * Matthew Samuels 
  * Stephen Kozmeniuk * Boi-1da 
 13. "The Blacker the Berry" * Ken Lewis * KOZ 5:28 
  * Brent Kolatalo * Martin[a] 
  * Jefferey Campbell 
  * Alexander Izquierdo 
  * Zale Epstein 
  * Duckworth 
  * Martin 
 14. "You Ain't Gotta Lie (Momma Said)" * McKinney LoveDragon 4:01 
  * Leimberg 
  * Spears 
  * Duckworth 
  * Smith 
  * Ro. Isley 
 15. "I"  * O'Kelly Isley, Jr. Rahki 5:36 
  * Ernie Isley 
  * Marvin Isley 
  * Rudolph Isley 
  * Christopher Jasper 
  * Duckworth 
 16. "Mortal Man" * Spears Sounwave 12:07 
  * Bruner 
  * Fela Anikulapo Kuti 
 Total length: 78:51  
 
 * ^[a] signifies an additional producer
 * "U" and "I" are stylized in lowercase letters

 Sample credits [ edit ]

 * "Wesley's Theory" contains elements of "Every Nigger is a Star", written and performed by Boris Gardiner.
 * "King Kunta" contains interpolations of "Get Nekkid", written by Johnny Burns; resung lyrics from "Smooth Criminal", written by Michael Jackson; elements from "The Payback", written by James Brown, Fred Wesley and John Starks; and samples from "We Want the Funk", written by Ahmad Lewis.
 * "Momma" contains elements of "Wishful Thinking" written by Sylvester Stewart and performed by Sly and the Family Stone; and elements of "On Your Own", written by Lalah Hathaway, Rahsaan Patterson and Rex Rideout; and samples from "On Your Own", performed by Lalah Hathaway.
 * "Hood Politics" contains a sample of "All for Myself", written and performed by Sufjan Stevens.
 * "I" contains portions of "That Lady", written by Ronald Isley, Christopher Jasper, O'Kelly Isley, Jr., Ernie Isley, Marvin Isley and Rudolph Isley.
 * "Mortal Man" contains excerpts from "I No Get Eye for Back", written by Fela Anikulapo Kuti and performed by Houston Person; and featuring parts from the music journalist Mats Nileskar's November 1994 interview with Tupac Shakur for P3 Soul Broadcasting Corporation.

 Personnel [ edit ]

 Credits for To Pimp a Butterfly adapted from AllMusic and the album's digital booklet.[122][17]

 * Kendrick Lamar – vocals; art direction
 * George Clinton – vocals (track 1)
 * Thundercat – vocals (tracks 1, 5); background vocals (tracks 7, 12, 14); bass (tracks 3, 13, 15, 16); additional bass (track 5); producer (tracks 10, 12); additional production (track 1)
 * Anna Wise – vocals (tracks 4, 5); backing vocals (tracks 1, 2, 10)
 * Bilal – vocals (tracks 4, 5); backing vocals (6, 8–10)
 * Snoop Dogg – vocals (track 4)
 * James Fauntleroy – vocals (track 11); background vocals (track 16)
 * Ronald Isley – vocals (track 11); additional vocals (track 15)
 * Rapsody – vocals (track 12)
 * Flying Lotus – producer (track 1)
 * Ronald "Flippa" Colson – producer (track 1)
 * Sounwave – producer (tracks 3, 7, 10, 12, 16); additional production (tracks 1, 5, 6, 8, 10); keyboards (track 14); string arrangements
 * Terrace Martin – alto saxophone (tracks 1, 2, 6–9, 11, 13, 14, 16); horns (track 1); keyboards (tracks 5, 6, 8–12); producer (tracks 2, 5); additional production (tracks 3, 8, 12, 13); vocoder (tracks 9, 14); string arrangements
 * Rahki – producer (tracks 4, 15); percussion (track 15)
 * Fredrik "Tommy Black" Halldin – producer (track 4)
 * Larrance Dopson – percussion (tracks 5, 11–14); keyboards, producer (track 5)
 * Taz Arnold aka Tisa – background vocals (tracks 4, 8, 9, 15); producer (tracks 6, 8)
 * Whoarei – producer (track 6)
 * Pharrell Williams – producer, vocals (track 7)
 * Knxwledge – producer (track 9)
 * Tae Beast – producer (track 10)
 * Lovedragon – producer (tracks 11, 14)
 * Boi-1da – producer (track 13)
 * KOZ – producer (track 13)
 * Dr. Dre – executive producer; background vocals (track 1)
 * James Hunt – engineer (tracks 1–7, 13–16); mix assistant
 * Derek "MixedByAli" Ali – engineer (tracks 1–6, 8–16), mixer
 * Katalyst – additional drum programming, additional engineering (track 13)
 * Mike Bozzi – mastering engineer
 * Ash Riser – background vocals (track 1)
 * Josef Leimberg – trumpet (tracks 1, 5, 8, 11, 12, 14, 16), vocals (track 1)
 * Whitney Alford – background vocals (tracks 1, 3)
 * Robert "Sput" Searight – drums (track 2); keyboards (track 10)
 * Robert Glasper – piano (track 2); keyboards (tracks 5, 12, 13, 16)
 * Brandon Owens – bass (tracks 2, 16)
 * Craig Brockman – organ (track 2)
 * Marlon Williams – guitar (tracks 2, 5, 6, 11, 14, 16); additional guitar (track 3)
 * Darlene Tibbs – background vocals (track 2)
 * Matt Schaeffer – additional guitar (track 3); engineer (tracks 3, 6, 11–16)
 * Sam Barsh – keyboards (tracks 4, 15)
 * Pedro Castro – clarinet (track 4)
 * Gabriel Noel – cello (track 4), upright bass (track 11)
 * Paul Cartwright – violin (tracks 4, 11, 16)
 * Gregory Moore – guitar (track 5)
 * Kamasi Washington – tenor saxophone (track 6); string arrangements
 * Adam Turchan – baritone saxophone (track 6)
 * Jessica Vielmas – background vocals (track 6)
 * SZA – background vocals (tracks 6, 8)
 * Candace Wakefield – background vocals (tracks 7, 15)
 * Preston Harris – background vocals (tracks 8, 10, 14)
 * Lalah Hathaway – background vocals (tracks 9, 12, 13)
 * Dion Friley – background vocals (tracks 10, 15)
 * Talkbox Monte – background vocals (track 12)
 * JaVonté – background vocals (tracks 12, 14, 16)
 * Pete Rock – background vocals/scratches (track 12)
 * Ronald Bruner Jr. – drums (track 13)
 * Wyann Vaughn – background vocals (track 14)
 * Keith Askey – guitar (track 15)
 * Kendall Lewis – drums (track 15)
 * Chris Smith – bass (track 15)
 * William Sweat – background vocals (track 15)
 * Devon Downing – background vocals (track 15)
 * Edwin Orellana – background vocals (track 15)
 * Dave Free – background vocals (track 15)
 * Junius Bervine – keyboards (track 16)
 * Ambrose Akinmusire – trumpet (track 16)

 Charts [ edit ]

 Weekly charts [ edit ] Year-end charts [ edit ] 
   
 Chart performance for To Pimp a Butterfly 2015 year-end chart performance for To Pimp a Butterfly
 Chart (2015–2016) Peak Chart (2015) Position 
  position Australian Albums (ARIA)[149] 23 
 Australian Albums (ARIA)[123] 1 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[150] 40 
 Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[124] 15 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[151] 173 
 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[125] 4 Canadian Albums (Billboard)[152] 23 
 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[126] 16 Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[153] 52 
 Canadian Albums (Billboard)[127] 1 Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[154] 84 
 Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[128] 3 New Zealand Album (RMNZ)[155] 32 
 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[129] 9 UK Albums (OCC)[156] 55 
 Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[130] 14 US Billboard 200[83] 16 
 French Albums (SNEP)[131] 17 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[157] 3 
 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[132] 7 
 Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[133] 34 2016 year-end chart performance for To Pimp a Butterfly
 Irish Albums (IRMA)[134] 6 Chart (2016) Position 
 Italian Albums (FIMI)[135] 32 Australian Albums (ARIA)[158] 65 
 Japanese Albums (Oricon)[136] 37 US Billboard 200[159] 61 
 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[137] 1 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[160] 13 
 Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[138] 2 
 Portuguese Albums (AFP)[139] 21 2017 year-end chart performance for To Pimp a Butterfly
 Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[140] 91 Chart (2017) Position 
 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[141] 10 Australian Urban Albums (ARIA)[161] 29 
 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[142] 3 US Billboard 200[162] 181 
 Scottish Albums (OCC)[143] 3 
 Taiwanese Albums (Five Music)[144] 11 
 UK Albums (OCC)[145] 1 
 UK R&B Albums (OCC)[146] 1 
 US Billboard 200[147] 1 
 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[148] 1 
   
 

 Certifications [ edit ]

 Certifications for To Pimp a Butterfly
 Region Certification Certified units/sales
 Australia (ARIA)[163] Gold 35,000^ 
 Canada (Music Canada)[164] 2× Platinum 160,000 
 Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[165] Platinum 20,000 
 United Kingdom (BPI)[167] Gold 170,000[166] 
 United States (RIAA)[86] Platinum 1,050,000[168] 
 ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. 
 Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
  
 

 See also [ edit ]

 * 2015 in hip hop music
 * List of number-one albums of 2015 (Australia)
 * List of number-one albums of 2015 (Canada)
 * List of number-one albums from the 2010s (New Zealand)
 * List of UK Albums Chart number ones of the 2010s
 * List of UK R&B Albums Chart number ones of 2015
 * List of Billboard 200 number-one albums of 2015
 * List of Billboard number-one R&B/hip-hop albums of 2015
 * List of Billboard number-one R&B/hip-hop albums of 2016

 References [ edit ]

 1. ^ "Top Dawg's Kendrick Lamar & ScHoolboy Q Cover Story: Enter the House of Pain". Billboard. February 28, 2014. Archived from the original on March 4, 2014 . Retrieved April 22, 2014 .
 2. ^ a b Andres Hale (February 9, 2016). "The Oral History Of Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp A Butterfly". The Recording Academy. Archived from the original on February 11, 2016 . Retrieved February 11, 2016 .
 3. ^ "6 key players discuss Lamar's 'To Pimp A Butterfly". Grammy.com. May 15, 2017 . Retrieved May 26, 2020 .
 4. ^ a b c d e f g "'To Pimp a Butterfly:' How Kendrick's Masterpiece Changed Culture". Highsnobiety. March 24, 2020. Archived from the original on May 26, 2020 . Retrieved May 26, 2020 .
 5. ^ Zach Frydenlund. "Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole Still Want to Release That Joint Album". Complex. Archived from the original on April 3, 2015 . Retrieved September 16, 2015 .
 6. ^ "Flying Lotus details involvement on Kendrick Lamar's new album". Fact. March 16, 2015. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015 . Retrieved September 16, 2015 .
 7. ^ "Flying Lotus Details His 'To Pimp A Butterfly' Involvement". HipHopDX. March 16, 2015. Archived from the original on May 4, 2015 . Retrieved September 16, 2015 .
 8. ^ Eric Diep. "Interview: Rapsody Details Her Feature On Kendrick Lamar's 'To Pimp A Butterfly' Album". Complex. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017 . Retrieved September 16, 2015 .
 9. ^ "Q&: Rapsody Talks Secretly Working on Kendrick Lamar's 'To Pimp a Butterfly'". Spin. March 16, 2015. Archived from the original on April 3, 2015 . Retrieved March 16, 2015 .
 10. ^ Hutchinson, Kate (January 30, 2021). "Madlib: 'Rap right now should be like Public Enemy – but it's just not there'". The Guardian . Retrieved January 31, 2021 .
 11. ^ a b "Was Kendrick Lamar's Pharrell Produced "Alright" Track was Originally for Fabolous?". The Early Registration. March 16, 2015. Archived from the original on March 20, 2015 . Retrieved March 16, 2015 .
 12. ^ "Kendrick Lamar—Alright feat. Pharrell & Thundercat (Pharrell Williams, Sounwave) (15')". March 2015. Archived from the original on June 26, 2015 . Retrieved September 16, 2015 .
 13. ^ "Pharrell Shared A Version Of "Alright" From To Pimp A Butterfly With Fabolous Last Year [VIDEO]". Archived from the original on June 26, 2015 . Retrieved September 16, 2015 .
 14. ^ Dan Rys (March 18, 2015). "Sounwave Says Kendrick Lamar's 'To Pimp a Butterfly' Went Through Three Phases". XXL. Archived from the original on September 19, 2015 . Retrieved September 16, 2015 .
 15. ^ a b "NME News Kendrick Lamar says he visited Ronald Isley to ask to use 'That Lady' on new track 'I'". NME. September 24, 2014. Archived from the original on June 26, 2015 . Retrieved September 16, 2015 .
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 Further reading [ edit ]

 * Ewell, Philip A. (March 1, 2019). "Introduction to the Symposium on Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly". Music Theory Online. 25 (1). doi:10.30535/mto.25.1.7.
 * Futlon, Will (Spring 2015). "The Performer as Historian: Black Messiah, To Pimp a Butterfly, and the Matter of Albums". American Music Review. XLIV (2).
 * Pizzo, Mike "DJ" (2015). "How Kendrick Lamar & J. Cole Rebooted Conscious Rap". Cuepoint.

 External links [ edit ]

 * To Pimp a Butterfly at Discogs (list of releases)
 * v 
 * t 
 * e 
 Kendrick Lamar 
 * Discography 
 * Songs 
 * Videography 
 * Awards and nominations
 * Section.80 (2011) 
 * Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012) 
 Studio albums * To Pimp a Butterfly (2015) 
 * Damn (2017) 
 * Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers (2022) 
 Compilations * Untitled Unmastered (2016) 
 Soundtracks * Black Panther: The Album (2018) 
 EPs * Kendrick Lamar (2009) 
 Mixtapes * C4 (2009) 
 * Overly Dedicated (2010) 
 * The Damn Tour 
 * The Championship Tour 
 Concerts and tours * Super Bowl LVI halftime show 
 * The Big Steppers Tour 
 * Kendrick Lamar Live: The Big Steppers Tour
 * PGLang 
 * Black Hippy 
 Related articles * Top Dawg Entertainment 
 * Dr. Dre 
 * Baby Keem 
 * Dave Free 
 
 * v 
 * t 
 * e 
 Grammy Award for Best Rap Album
  * Poverty's Paradise – Naughty by Nature (1996) 
 1990s * The Score – Fugees (1997) 
  * No Way Out – Puff Daddy and the Family (1998) 
  * Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life – Jay-Z (1999) 
  * The Slim Shady LP – Eminem (2000) 
  * The Marshall Mathers LP – Eminem (2001) 
  * Stankonia – Outkast (2002) 
  * The Eminem Show – Eminem (2003) 
 2000s * Speakerboxxx/The Love Below – Outkast (2004) 
  * The College Dropout – Kanye West (2005) 
  * Late Registration – Kanye West (2006) 
  * Release Therapy – Ludacris (2007) 
  * Graduation – Kanye West (2008) 
  * Tha Carter III – Lil Wayne (2009) 
  * Relapse – Eminem (2010) 
  * Recovery – Eminem (2011) 
  * My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy – Kanye West (2012)
  * Take Care – Drake (2013) 
 2010s * The Heist – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (2014) 
  * The Marshall Mathers LP 2 – Eminem (2015) 
  * To Pimp a Butterfly – Kendrick Lamar (2016) 
  * Coloring Book – Chance the Rapper (2017) 
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To Pimp a Butterfly          Studio album by   Kendrick Lamar      Released March 15, 2015   Studio  
  Chalice (Hollywood)
 Downtown (New York)
House (Washington, D.C.)
Notifi (St. Louis)
No Excuses (Santa Monica) 
     Genre  
  Experimental hip hop 
 progressive rap 
 conscious hip hop 
 jazz rap 
 G-funk 
 neo soul  
   Length 78:51    Label  
  TDE 
 Aftermath 
 Interscope  
    Producer  
  Boi-1da 
Flippa
 Flying Lotus 
 Knxwledge 
 KOZ 
 Larrance Dopson 
LoveDragon
 Pharrell Williams 
 Rahki 
 Sounwave 
 Tae Beast 
 Taz Arnold 
 Terrace Martin 
 Thundercat 
 Tommy Black 
Whoarei 
    Kendrick Lamar chronology   
 
  Good Kid, M.A.A.D City  (2012)
  To Pimp a Butterfly  (2015)
  Untitled Unmastered  (2016)
            Singles from  To Pimp a Butterfly      
 "I"Released: September 16, 2014
"The Blacker the Berry"Released: February 9, 2015
"King Kunta"Released: March 24, 2015
"Alright"Released: June 30, 2015
"These Walls"Released: October 13, 2015 
    
  To Pimp a Butterfly  is the third studio album by American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It was released on March 15, 2015, by Top Dawg Entertainment, Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. The album was recorded in studios throughout the United States, with production from Sounwave, Terrace Martin, Taz "Tisa" Arnold, Thundercat, Rahki, LoveDragon, Flying Lotus, Pharrell Williams, Boi-1da, Knxwledge, and several other high-profile hip hop producers, as well as executive production from Dr. Dre and Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith. Guest appearances include Thundercat, George Clinton, Bilal, Anna Wise, Snoop Dogg, James Fauntleroy, Ronald Isley, and Rapsody.
 Primarily a hip hop album, To Pimp a Butterfly incorporates numerous other musical styles spanning the history of African-American music, most prominently jazz, funk, and soul. Lyrically, it features political commentary and personal themes concerning African-American culture, racial inequality, depression, and institutional discrimination. This thematic direction was inspired by Lamar's tour of historic sites during his visit to South Africa, such as Nelson Mandela's jail cell on Robben Island.
  To Pimp a Butterfly sold 324,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release, earning a chart debut at number one on the US  Billboard 200, while also becoming Lamar's first number-one album in the UK. It was eventually certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and sold one million copies in the United States by 2017. Five singles were released in promotion of the album, including the top 40 hit "I". Lamar also supported the album with the Kunta's Groove Sessions Tour from late 2015 to early 2016.
 The album has received widespread acclaim from critics, who praised its musical scope and the social relevance of Lamar's lyrics. It earned Lamar seven nominations at the 2016 Grammy Awards, including a win for Best Rap Album and an Album of the Year nomination. He received four additional nominations for other collaborations from that year, receiving a total of 11 Grammy nominations, which was the most nominations for any rapper in a single night. The most critically acclaimed album of 2015 as well as one of the most critically acclaimed of its entire decade, it topped  The Village Voice 's annual Pazz &amp; Jop poll of American critics nationwide, and was also ranked as the best album of 2015 by many other publications. In the years following its release, several publications named To Pimp a Butterfly one of the best albums of the 2010s; in 2020, the album was ranked 19th on  Rolling Stone 's updated list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
Background[edit]
On February 28, 2014, Kendrick Lamar first revealed the plans to release a follow-up to his second studio album,  Good Kid, M.A.A.D City  (2012), during an interview with  Billboard . [1]  Between the releases of Good Kid, M.A.A.D City and To Pimp a Butterfly, Lamar traveled to South Africa. Touring the country  and visiting historic sites such as Nelson Mandela's jail cell on Robben Island heavily influenced the direction of the record [2]  and led to Lamar scrapping "two or three albums worth of material". [3]  
 Co-producer Sounwave spoke on Lamar's visit, saying, "I remember he [Lamar] took a trip to [South] Africa and something in his mind just clicked. For me, that's when this album really started." [4]  Regarding his visit to South Africa, Lamar said, "I felt like I belonged in Africa. I saw all the things that I wasn't taught. Probably one of the hardest things to do is put [together] a concept on how beautiful a place can be, and tell a person this while they're still in the ghettos of Compton. I wanted to put that experience in the music." [4]  In addition, Lamar said, "The idea was to make a record that reflected all complexions of black women. There's a separation between the light and the dark skin because it's just in our nature to do so, but we're all black. This concept came from South Africa and I saw all these different colors speaking a beautiful language." [4] 
Recording and production[edit]
     
 To Pimp a Butterfly was recorded at a variety of studios; including Chalice Recording Studios, Downtown Studios, House Studios, Notifi Studios and No Excuses Studios. Lamar wrote the lyrics to the song "Mortal Man" while on Kanye West's Yeezus Tour. [5]  During the whole tour, producer Flying Lotus played Lamar a selection of tracks that was intended for Captain Murphy's album (Flying Lotus's alter ego). Lamar kept all the tracks, but only opener "Wesley's Theory", which also features Thundercat and George Clinton, made the final cut onto the album. [6]  Lotus had produced a version of "For Sale? (Interlude)" that was ultimately discarded, with Lamar using Taz Arnold's version of the song on the album instead. Lotus stated that it is unlikely his version of the song will see a release. [7]  American rapper Rapsody appeared on the album, contributing a verse to the song "Complexion (A Zulu Love)". Lamar had requested that 9th Wonder contact Rapsody and request her appearance. Rapsody and Lamar discussed the song but there was little instruction from Lamar regarding her contribution. Speaking about the song, she stated that Lamar had already decided on the concept of the song and stated that the only instructions he gave were the song's title and the idea that "...we are beautiful no matter our race but he really wanted to speak to our people and address this light versus dark complex". [8]   [9]  Lamar also contacted Madlib to seek his collaboration on the record but was unable to reach him. [10] 
 In 2014, Pharrell Williams, who previously worked with Lamar, along with producer Sounwave, played the track "Alright" at the Holy Ship Festival. [11]  The track features the same unidentified sample that Williams used on Rick Ross' track "Presidential" from his album  God Forgives, I Don't  (2012). Reportedly, at one time it featured a guest appearance from American rapper Fabolous. [11]   [12]   [13]  The album went through three different phases before the production team could move forward with the idea. Afterwards, producer Thundercat was brought into the process, after Flying Lotus brought him along to see Lamar's performance on The Yeezus Tour. [14]  The album's lead single, titled "I", was produced by Rahki, who also produced a song for the album entitled "Institutionalized". Although the version of "I" appearing on the album is drastically different from that on the single release, both versions contained a sample of the song "That Lady" performed by The Isley Brothers. Lamar personally visited The Isley Brothers, to receive permission from lead vocalist Ronald Isley to sample the song. [15] 
                Bass player Thundercat (left) and singer Bilal are among the musicians who contributed to the album.  
Lamar began traveling to St. Louis and began working with Isley at the studio. Isley also performed on the song "How Much a Dollar Cost" alongside the singer-songwriter James Fauntleroy. [15]  Producer and rapper Pete Rock provided some backing vocals and scratches to the song "Complexion (A Zulu Love)", and as he stated, the contribution was unusual, as he was not the producer for the track. [16]  Singer Bilal features on the songs "Institutionalized" and "These Walls", and has provided un-credited backing vocals on the songs "U", "For Sale? (Interlude)", "Momma" and "Hood Politics". [17]  Bilal stated that he and Lamar were initially unsure of how many songs he would be featured on, stating he worked on various tracks, but did not yet know the outcome. "For a lot of the material, Kendrick had an idea of what he wanted. He would sing out the melody and some of the words, and I would interpret what he was telling me." On the songs where Bilal added backing vocals, he stated that "...some of it was freestyle; just adding color to make it a fuller sound." [18]  Lamar also reportedly worked with American musician Prince; however, the duo were too pressed for time during the recording session and therefore were unable to complete any work for inclusion on the album. [19]   [20]   [21]  Lamar professed to having listened often to Miles Davis and Parliament-Funkadelic during the album's recording. [22] 
 In 2016, Lamar released  Untitled Unmastered , a compilation album, which contains previously unreleased demos that originated during the recording of To Pimp a Butterfly. According to producer Thundercat, it "completes the sentence" of Lamar's third studio album. [23] 
Musical style[edit]
According to musicologist Will Fulton, To Pimp a Butterfly engages in and celebrates the black music tradition. Much like the singer D'Angelo on his 2014 album  Black Messiah , Lamar "consciously indexes African American musical styles of the past in a dynamic relationship of nostalgic revivalism and vanguardism." [24]  Kyle Anderson of  Entertainment Weekly  described the album as "embracing the entire history of black American music." [25]  Lamar's co-engineer/mixer MixedByAli praised Lamar, saying, "[Lamar is] a sponge. He incorporated everything that was going on [in Africa] and in his life to complete a million-piece puzzle." [4]  Lamar described the album as an "honest, fearful and unapologetic" work that draws on funk, hard bop, spoken word and soul  [2]   [22]  while critics also noted elements of West Coast hip hop  [26]  and avant-garde. [27]   [28]  Allison Stewart from  The Washington Post  says the album is "threaded" with G-funk. [29]  Speaking on the album's styles, co-producer Terrace Martin said, "If you dig deeper you hear the lineage of James Brown, Jackie Wilson, Mahalia Jackson, the sounds of Africa, and our people when they started over here. I hear something different every time. I heard Cuban elements in it the other day." [4] 
 The album features contributions from the collective of musicians called the West Coast Get Down, who experiment with jazz and progressive hip hop sounds, and feature Lamar, Flying Lotus, Martin, and saxophonist Kamasi Washington, among others. Consequently, the music is "jazz-like in spirit if not always in sound", according to Ben Ratliff, [30]  while Mosi Reeves from  Deadspin  observes a virtuosic quality to its "prog-rap cornucopia". [31]   Stereogum  described To Pimp a Butterfly as an "ambitious avant-jazz-rap statement," [32]  and  The Source  categorized the album as an experimental hip hop release. [33]  Dan Weiss of  Spin  noted "shades of Miles Davis'  On the Corner  and free jazz all over [...], as well as Sly Stone's  There's a Riot Goin' On  and Funkadelic and Erykah Badu's similarly wah-crazy but comparatively lo-fi  New Amerykah (4th World War) ," but stated nonetheless that "the sense of this album is vividly contemporary." [34]  Other critics regard it as "throwback" to neo soul music of the 1990s. [35]  Greg Kot of  Chicago Tribune  noted the album's affinities with previous black music, but argued that "Lamar takes familiar musical tropes into new territory." [27]   The Atlantic  noted the influence of collaborator Flying Lotus, writing that "his signature sound—jazz instrumentation and hip-hop layered into chaotic collages—is all over the album." [36]  Steve Mallon of  The Quietus  noted an "eerily warped psychedelia bursting out of its idiosyncratic arrangements." [37] 
Lyrics and themes[edit]
   
Categorized by Billboard as a "politically-charged" conscious rap album, [38]  To Pimp a Butterfly explores a variety of political and personal themes related to race, culture, and discrimination. Critic Neil Kulkarni said it appraises "the broken promises and bloody pathways in and out of America's heartland malaise". [39]  Jay Caspian Kang observed elements of critical race theory, respectability politics, theology, and meta-analysis examining Lamar's success and revered status in the hip hop community. [40]  It was compared by California State University, Fullerton professor Natalie Graham to the 1977 television miniseries  Roots . While "Roots compresses and simplifies" black history, Graham said To Pimp a Butterfly "radically disrupt[s] meanings of black respectability, heroic morality, trauma, and memory". [41]  
 In the  Toronto Journal of Theology , James D. McLeod Jr. drew parallels between Lamar's examination of death's domineering significance in the African-American experience and the works of Christian theologian Paul Tillich, with McLeod calling To Pimp a Butterfly an original example of "existentialist hip hop." [42]  Meanwhile, Adam Blum discerned connections between To Pimp a Butterfly and the writings of psychoanalysts such as Wilfred Bion, Nicolas Abraham, and Sigmund Freud. [43]  In an essay published in  The Lancet Psychiatry, University of Cambridge professors Akeem Sule and Becky Inkster described Lamar as the "street poet of mental health," noting how To Pimp a Butterfly (as well as its predecessor, Good Kid, M.A.A.D City) explore topics such as addiction, anxiety, depression, and resilience. [44] 
 The album continues a nuanced dialogue about weighty topics that affect the African-American community. Releasing his album in a time of renewed black activism, Lamar's song "Alright" has become a rallying cry for the Black Lives Matter movement. [45]  With lyrics like "and we hate po-po / Wanna kill us dead in the street fo sho, nigga" he makes it clear that he is supportive of the movement and the families of black men and women like Michael Brown, Sandra Bland, Tamir Rice, and others who have fallen victim to police brutality in the United States. Lamar takes his opinions further to lend his position on black crime in the song "The Blacker the Berry". He criticizes himself and his community by rapping, "So why did I weep when Trayvon Martin was in the street? / When gang bangin' make me kill a nigga blacker than me?". Some critics claim that his attitude facilitates the rhetoric that silences the Black Lives Matter movement. Stereo Williams of  The Daily Beast  wrote in response to his lyrics that "it's dangerous to use that violence as a silencing tactic when the public is angry about the systematic subjugation of black people." [46] 
 Lamar has offered explanations of the meanings behind songs such as "Wesley's Theory" and "King Kunta". [47]   [48]   [49]  The album's 1970s funk-inspired [50]  opening track "Wesley's Theory" is a reference to Wesley Snipes and how the actor was jailed for tax evasion; according to Lamar, "no one teaches poor black males how to manage money or celebrity, so if they do achieve success, the powers that be can take it from right under them". [47]   [48]   [49]  "For Free? (Interlude)" sees Lamar rapping in a dense, spoken word-esque manner with musical accompaniment by jazz pianist Robert Glasper. [50] 
 "King Kunta" is concerned with the "history of negative stereotypes all African-Americans have to reconcile". [47]   [48]   [49]  Lamar also explained his criticism of rappers who use ghostwriters on "King Kunta", revealing that he came to prominence as a ghostwriter, and has respect for writers, but says that "as a new artist, you have to stand behind your work." [47]   [48]   [49] 
 "These Walls" has been described by Billboard as "pondering sex and existence in equal measure; it's a yoni metaphor about the power of peace, with sugar walls being escape and real walls being obstacles." [51]  Lamar revealed that "U" was inspired by his own experience of depression and suicidal thoughts. [52]  He also mentioned feelings of survivor's guilt as inspirations for the album. [53]  "Alright" begins as a spoken-word treatise before exploding into a shapeshifting portrait of America that brings in jazz horns, skittering drum beats and Lamar's mellifluous rapping as he struggles with troubles and temptations. Yet at the end of each verse, he reassures himself that "We gon' be alright"—a simple rallying cry for a nation reeling from gun violence and police brutality. [54]  For critics a "celebration of being alive", [55]  Lamar described "Alright" as a message of hope. [56]  "The Blacker the Berry" features a "boom bap beat" and lyrics that celebrate Lamar's African-American heritage and "tackle hatred, racism, and hypocrisy head on." [57]  The song's hook is performed by Jamaican dancehall artist Assassin, notable for performing on Kanye West's 2013 LP  Yeezus , whose lyrics similarly address racial inequality, specifically against African Americans. [58]   [59] 
Title and packaging[edit]
The album was originally going to be titled Tu Pimp a Caterpillar, a backronym for Tu.P.A.C., itself an allusion to the rapper Tupac. [48]  Lamar decided to replace "caterpillar" in the original title to "butterfly", which he explained in an interview for MTV, "I just really wanted to show the brightness of life and the word 'pimp' has so much aggression and that represents several things. For me, it represents using my celebrity for good. Another reason is, not being pimped by the industry through my celebrity ... It gets even deeper than that for me. I could be talking all day about it." [48]  Lamar later also told  Rolling Stone , "Just putting the word 'pimp' next to 'butterfly'... It's a trip. That's something that will be a phrase forever. It'll be taught in college courses—I truly believe that." [60] 
 The album's CD release included a booklet produced with braille letterings; according to Lamar, these characters when translated reveal the "actual full title of the album." [61]   Complex  commissioned a braille translator, who found that it translated to A Kendrick by Letter Blank Lamar which Complex noted was most likely supposed to read as A Blank Letter by Kendrick Lamar. [61]   [62] 
Marketing and sales[edit]
The album's release was preceded by the release of two singles, "I", on September 23, 2014, [63]  and "The Blacker the Berry" in February 2015. [64]  The former became Lamar's sixth top-40 single on the US  Billboard Hot 100 and was performed on  Saturday Night Live . [65]  "King Kunta" was released as the third single in March 2015, [66]  and "Alright" was released to radio stations on June 30. [67]  With the latter's release, several contemporary progressive news outlets, including BET, raised the idea of "Alright" being the modern Black National Anthem, [45]   [68]   [69]  while the media reported youth-lead protests against police brutality across the country chanted the chorus of the song. [70]   [71]  Primarily for the latter, Lamar was featured on  Ebony  magazine's Power 100, an annual list that recognizes many leaders of the African-American community. [72]  "These Walls" was released as the album's fifth single on October 13. [73]  Aside from the singles' accompanying music videos, the song "For Free? (Interlude)" also featured visuals, [74]  as did "U" with "For Sale? (Interlude)" as part of the short film God Is Gangsta. [75]  In support of the album, Lamar embarked on the Kunta's Groove Sessions Tour, which included eight shows in eight cities during October and November. [76] 
  To Pimp a Butterfly was first released to the iTunes Store and Spotify on March 15, 2015, eight days ahead of its scheduled release date. [77]  According to Anthony Tiffith, CEO of Top Dawg Entertainment, the album's early release was unintentional, apparently caused by an error on the part of Interscope Records. [78]  The following day, it was made unavailable on iTunes, and the release was rescheduled for March 23, although it was still available for streaming on Spotify. [79]  In its first week of release, To Pimp a Butterfly debuted at number one on record charts in the United Kingdom, Australia, [80]  and the United States, where it recorded first-week sales of 324,000 copies. [81]  The album was streamed 9.6 million times in its first day on Spotify, setting the service's global first-day streaming record. [82]  By the end of 2015, To Pimp a Butterfly was ranked the sixteenth most popular album on the  Billboard 200 that year [83]  and reached sales of one million copies worldwide. [84]  By March 2016, it had sold 850,000 copies in the US, [85]  where it was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). [86]  In June 2017, it reached one million copies sold in the US. [87] 
Critical reception[edit]
 Professional ratings   Aggregate scores   Source Rating    AnyDecentMusic?  9.8/10 [88]      Metacritic  96/100 [89]     Review scores   Source Rating    AllMusic    [90]       The Daily Telegraph     [91]       Entertainment Weekly   A [25]       The Guardian     [92]       The Irish Times     [93]       NME   8/10 [94]       Pitchfork   9.3/10 [95]       Rolling Stone     [96]       Spin   10/10 [34]       USA Today     [97]     
 To Pimp a Butterfly was met with widespread critical acclaim. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an average score of 96, based on 44 reviews. [89]  Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 9.3 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus. [88]  According to  Gigwise  writer Will Butler, it was universally hailed by critics as an "instant classic". [98] 
  Spin magazine's Dan Weiss regarded To Pimp a Butterfly as the "Great American Hip-Hop Album" and an essential listen, [34]  while Neil McCormick from  The Daily Telegraph  called it a dense but dazzling masterpiece that positions Lamar ahead of the prog-rap resurgence led by Kanye West and Drake. [91]  Writing for Entertainment Weekly, Kyle Anderson found the record twice as substantial as Lamar's debut major label album and more comprehensive of African-American music styles, with supremely "cinematic" production qualities but "the freedom of a mixtape". [25]   Irish Times  journalist Jim Carroll deemed it "a record for the times we're in", in which Lamar transitioned from his past narratives about Compton to fierce but precise reflections on "black America". [93]  In Rolling Stone, Greg Tate deemed To Pimp a Butterfly "a masterpiece of fiery outrage, deep jazz and ruthless self-critique" that along with D'Angelo's third album Black Messiah, made 2015 "the year radical Black politics and for-real Black music resurged in tandem to converge on the nation's pop mainstream." [96]  Robert Christgau wrote in his review on  Cuepoint  that not many artists were as passionate and understanding as Lamar, who offered "a strong, brave effective bid to reinstate hip hop as black America's CNN" during an era of social media. [99] 
 While the album's reception was almost universally positive, there were still a few reviews at release that offered minor critiques. For instance,  New York Times  critic Jon Caramanica was less enthusiastic than others, feeling Lamar still struggled in reconciling his density as a lyricist with the music he rapped over: "He hasn't outrun his tendency towards clutter [and] still runs the risk of suffocation." [100]  In  The Guardian , Alexis Petridis found the music somewhat erratic and lamented "moments of self-indulgence" such as the twelve-minute "Mortal Man" and Lamar's reflections on fame. However, Petridis still ultimately awarded the album four stars out of five. [92] 
Accolades[edit]
At the end of 2015, To Pimp a Butterfly was the most frequently ranked record in top ten lists of the year's best albums. According to Metacritic, it appeared 101 times in the top ten of lists published by critics, magazines, websites, and music stores. The record topped 51 lists, including those by Rolling Stone, Billboard,  Pitchfork ,  Slant Magazine , Spin, The Guardian, Complex,  Consequence ,  The Irish Times , and  Vice . [101]   NME  ranked it second on their list, while  Time  named it the year's third best album. [102]  It was voted the best album of 2015 in the Pazz &amp; Jop, an annual poll of American critics nationwide, published by  The Village Voice . [103]  Christgau, the Pazz &amp; Jop's creator, ranked it fourth in his ballot for the poll. [104]  The album placed ninth in British magazine  The Wire 's annual critics' poll. [105]  Based on such rankings, the aggregate website Acclaimed Music lists To Pimp a Butterfly as the most critically acclaimed album of 2015. [106] 
 On their lists of best albums of the decade,  The Independent  placed it first, [107]  Consequence second, [108]  Rolling Stone third, [109]  and Pitchfork fourth. [110]  In The Guardian's 2019 poll of 45 music journalists, To Pimp a Butterfly was voted the fourth best album of the 21st century, and contributing writer Ben Beaumont-Thomas said in an accompanying that, "as a celebration of the richness of black artistry, the whole album was a riposte to bigotry." [111]  Similarly, in his March 2015 review of the album for  The Verge , editor and journalist Micah Singleton had hailed it as "the best album of the 21st century, the best hip-hop album since The Notorious B.I.G.'s  Ready to Die  and Nas'  Illmatic  in 1994, and it cements Kendrick Lamar's spot as an all-time great." [112]  In September 2020, Rolling Stone released an updated version of their 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list, based on the opinions of over 300 artists, music journalists, and industry insiders, which ranked To Pimp a Butterfly as the 19th-best album of all time. [113]   Tampa Bay Times , placed the album as the second on their list of "The 10 Best Albums of the 2010s". [114] 
  To Pimp a Butterfly also earned Lamar seven nominations at the 2016 Grammy Awards. It was nominated in the categories of Album of the Year and Best Rap Album, winning the latter but losing the former to Taylor Swift's  1989 . "Alright" won for Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song while also being nominated for Song of the Year and Best Music Video. "These Walls" won for Best Rap/Sung Performance. [115]  He would also receive four additional nominations for other musical collaborations from that year, making it a total of eleven Grammy nominations for Lamar. This earned Lamar the most Grammy nominations for a rapper in a single night and the second most by any artist in a single night. Michael Jackson and Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds are tied for the artists with the most Grammy nominations in a single night with twelve; Jackson in 1984 and Babyface in 1997. [116]   [117]  At the previous year's ceremony, "i" had won Grammy Awards for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance. [118]  To Pimp a Butterfly also received a nomination for Top Rap Album at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards. [119] 
Impact[edit]
The album's immediate influence was felt as "a pantheon for racial empowerment", according to Butler, who also argued that the record helped create a respected space for conscious hip hop and "will be revered not just at the top of some list at the end of the year, but in the subconscious of music fans for decades to come". [98]  Writing for  Highsnobiety , Robert Blair said, "[To Pimp a Butterfly] is the crystallized moment in time where Kendrick became a generation's most potent artistic voice." [4]  Uproxx journalist Aaron Williams said the album "proved that left-field, experimental rap can function in both the critical and commercial realms". [120]  Jazz saxophonist Kamasi Washington said that the album "changed music, and we're still seeing the effects of it [...] [the album] meant that intellectually stimulating music doesn't have to be underground. It just didn't change the music. It changed the audience." [4]  To Pimp a Butterfly was an influence on David Bowie's 2016 album  Blackstar . As its producer Tony Visconti recalled, he and Bowie were "listening to a lot of Kendrick Lamar [...] we loved the fact Kendrick was so open-minded and he didn't do a straight-up hip-hop record. He threw everything on there, and that's exactly what we wanted to do." [121] 
Track listing[edit]
    ^[a]   signifies an additional producer
"U" and "I" are stylized in lowercase letters 
Sample credits[edit]
 "Wesley's Theory" contains elements of "Every Nigger is a Star", written and performed by Boris Gardiner.
"King Kunta" contains interpolations of "Get Nekkid", written by Johnny Burns; resung lyrics from "Smooth Criminal", written by Michael Jackson; elements from "The Payback", written by James Brown, Fred Wesley and John Starks; and samples from "We Want the Funk", written by Ahmad Lewis.
"Momma" contains elements of "Wishful Thinking" written by Sylvester Stewart and performed by Sly and the Family Stone; and elements of "On Your Own", written by Lalah Hathaway, Rahsaan Patterson and Rex Rideout; and samples from "On Your Own", performed by Lalah Hathaway.
"Hood Politics" contains a sample of "All for Myself", written and performed by Sufjan Stevens.
"I" contains portions of "That Lady", written by Ronald Isley, Christopher Jasper, O'Kelly Isley, Jr., Ernie Isley, Marvin Isley and Rudolph Isley.
"Mortal Man" contains excerpts from "I No Get Eye for Back", written by Fela Anikulapo Kuti and performed by Houston Person; and featuring parts from the music journalist Mats Nileskar's November 1994 interview with Tupac Shakur for P3 Soul Broadcasting Corporation. 
Personnel[edit]
Credits for To Pimp a Butterfly adapted from AllMusic and the album's digital booklet. [122]   [17] 
 Kendrick Lamar – vocals; art direction
 George Clinton – vocals (track 1)
 Thundercat – vocals (tracks 1, 5); background vocals (tracks 7, 12, 14); bass (tracks 3, 13, 15, 16); additional bass (track 5); producer (tracks 10, 12); additional production (track 1)
 Anna Wise – vocals (tracks 4, 5); backing vocals (tracks 1, 2, 10)
 Bilal – vocals (tracks 4, 5); backing vocals (6, 8–10)
 Snoop Dogg – vocals (track 4)
 James Fauntleroy – vocals (track 11); background vocals (track 16)
 Ronald Isley – vocals (track 11); additional vocals (track 15)
 Rapsody – vocals (track 12)
 Flying Lotus – producer (track 1)
Ronald "Flippa" Colson – producer (track 1)
 Sounwave – producer (tracks 3, 7, 10, 12, 16); additional production (tracks 1, 5, 6, 8, 10); keyboards (track 14); string arrangements
 Terrace Martin – alto saxophone (tracks 1, 2, 6–9, 11, 13, 14, 16); horns (track 1); keyboards (tracks 5, 6, 8–12); producer (tracks 2, 5); additional production (tracks 3, 8, 12, 13); vocoder (tracks 9, 14); string arrangements
 Rahki – producer (tracks 4, 15); percussion (track 15)
 Fredrik "Tommy Black" Halldin – producer (track 4)
 Larrance Dopson – percussion (tracks 5, 11–14); keyboards, producer (track 5)
 Taz Arnold aka Tisa – background vocals (tracks 4, 8, 9, 15); producer (tracks 6, 8)
Whoarei – producer (track 6)
 Pharrell Williams – producer, vocals (track 7)
 Knxwledge – producer (track 9)
 Tae Beast – producer (track 10)
Lovedragon – producer (tracks 11, 14)
 Boi-1da – producer (track 13)
 KOZ – producer (track 13)
 Dr. Dre – executive producer; background vocals (track 1)
James Hunt – engineer (tracks 1–7, 13–16); mix assistant
 Derek "MixedByAli" Ali – engineer (tracks 1–6, 8–16), mixer
 Katalyst – additional drum programming, additional engineering (track 13)
 Mike Bozzi – mastering engineer
 Ash Riser – background vocals (track 1)
 Josef Leimberg – trumpet (tracks 1, 5, 8, 11, 12, 14, 16), vocals (track 1)
Whitney Alford – background vocals (tracks 1, 3)
 Robert "Sput" Searight – drums (track 2); keyboards (track 10)
 Robert Glasper – piano (track 2); keyboards (tracks 5, 12, 13, 16)
Brandon Owens – bass (tracks 2, 16)
 Craig Brockman – organ (track 2)
 Marlon Williams – guitar (tracks 2, 5, 6, 11, 14, 16); additional guitar (track 3)
Darlene Tibbs – background vocals (track 2)
Matt Schaeffer – additional guitar (track 3); engineer (tracks 3, 6, 11–16)
 Sam Barsh – keyboards (tracks 4, 15)
Pedro Castro – clarinet (track 4)
Gabriel Noel – cello (track 4), upright bass (track 11)
Paul Cartwright – violin (tracks 4, 11, 16)
 Gregory Moore – guitar (track 5)
 Kamasi Washington – tenor saxophone (track 6); string arrangements
Adam Turchan – baritone saxophone (track 6)
Jessica Vielmas – background vocals (track 6)
 SZA – background vocals (tracks 6, 8)
Candace Wakefield – background vocals (tracks 7, 15)
Preston Harris – background vocals (tracks 8, 10, 14)
 Lalah Hathaway – background vocals (tracks 9, 12, 13)
Dion Friley – background vocals (tracks 10, 15)
Talkbox Monte – background vocals (track 12)
JaVonté – background vocals (tracks 12, 14, 16)
 Pete Rock – background vocals/scratches (track 12)
 Ronald Bruner Jr. – drums (track 13)
Wyann Vaughn – background vocals (track 14)
Keith Askey – guitar (track 15)
Kendall Lewis – drums (track 15)
Chris Smith – bass (track 15)
William Sweat – background vocals (track 15)
Devon Downing – background vocals (track 15)
Edwin Orellana – background vocals (track 15)
 Dave Free – background vocals (track 15)
Junius Bervine – keyboards (track 16)
 Ambrose Akinmusire – trumpet (track 16) 
Charts[edit]
Certifications[edit]
See also[edit]
  2015 in hip hop music 
 List of number-one albums of 2015 (Australia) 
 List of number-one albums of 2015 (Canada) 
 List of number-one albums from the 2010s (New Zealand) 
 List of UK Albums Chart number ones of the 2010s 
 List of UK R&amp;B Albums Chart number ones of 2015 
 List of Billboard 200 number-one albums of 2015 
 List of Billboard number-one R&amp;B/hip-hop albums of 2015 
 List of Billboard number-one R&amp;B/hip-hop albums of 2016  
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  ^   "New David Bowie album, inspired by Kendrick Lamar, features LCD's James Murphy". The Guardian. November 24, 2015. Archived from the original on September 14, 2016. Retrieved February 17, 2016.
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  ^   "British album certifications – Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
  ^  Caulfield, Keith (April 6, 2018). "Kendrick Lamar Scores Third Million-Selling Album in U.S. With 'DAMN.'". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 7, 2018. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
 
Further reading[edit]
   Ewell, Philip A. (March 1, 2019). "Introduction to the Symposium on Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly".  Music Theory Online . 25 (1). doi:10.30535/mto.25.1.7. 
 Futlon, Will (Spring 2015). "The Performer as Historian: Black Messiah, To Pimp a Butterfly, and the Matter of Albums". American Music Review. XLIV (2). 
 Pizzo, Mike "DJ" (2015). "How Kendrick Lamar &amp; J. Cole Rebooted Conscious Rap".  Cuepoint .  
External links[edit]
   To Pimp a Butterfly  at Discogs (list of releases)
To Pimp a Butterfly - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Pimp_a_Butterfly
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damn_(Kendrick_Lamar_album)
Damn (Kendrick Lamar album) - Wikipedia
2017-04-07
Authority control MusicBrainz release group
<div><div>
	<p>From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</p>
	</div><div>
<table><tbody><tr><th>Damn</th></tr><tr><td><a href="/wiki/File:Kendrick_Lamar_-_Damn.png"></a></td></tr><tr><th><a href="/wiki/Album">Studio album</a> by <div><p><a href="/wiki/Kendrick_Lamar">Kendrick Lamar</a></p></div></th></tr><tr><th>Released</th><td>April 14, 2017</td></tr><tr><th>Recorded</th><td>Late 2016 – 2017</td></tr><tr><th>Studio</th><td><div>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Henson_Recording_Studios">Henson</a> (Hollywood)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Jungle_City_Studios">Jungle City</a> (New York City)</li>
<li>No Excuses</li>
<li>Windmark (<a href="/wiki/Santa_Monica,_California">Santa Monica</a>)</li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th><a href="/wiki/Music_genre">Genre</a></th><td><a href="/wiki/Conscious_hip_hop">Conscious hip hop</a></td></tr><tr><th>Length</th><td>54:54</td></tr><tr><th><a href="/wiki/Record_label">Label</a></th><td>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Top_Dawg_Entertainment">TDE</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Aftermath_Entertainment">Aftermath</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Interscope_Records">Interscope</a></li></ul>
</td></tr><tr><th><a href="/wiki/Record_producer">Producer</a></th><td>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/9th_Wonder">9th Wonder</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/The_Alchemist_(musician)">The Alchemist</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/BadBadNotGood">BadBadNotGood</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Bekon">Bekon</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Cardo_(record_producer)">Cardo</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/DJ_Dahi">DJ Dahi</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Greg_Kurstin">Greg Kurstin</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/James_Blake_(musician)">James Blake</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Mike_Will_Made_It">Mike Will Made It</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Ricci_Riera">Ricci Riera</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Sounwave">Sounwave</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Steve_Lacy_(guitarist)">Steve Lacy</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Terrace_Martin">Terrace Martin</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Teddy_Walton">Teddy Walton</a></li>
<li>Top Dawg</li></ul>
</td></tr><tr><th><a href="/wiki/Kendrick_Lamar">Kendrick Lamar</a> chronology</th></tr><tr><td>
<table>
<tbody><tr>
<td><i><a href="/wiki/Untitled_Unmastered">Untitled Unmastered</a></i><br />(2016)
</td>
<td><i><b>Damn</b></i><br />(2017)
</td>
<td><i><a href="/wiki/Black_Panther_(soundtrack)">Black Panther: The Album</a></i><br />(2018)
</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr><tr><th>Collectors Edition cover</th></tr><tr><td></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/wiki/File:Damn_Collectors_Edition_cover.png"></a></td></tr><tr><th><a href="/wiki/Single_(music)">Singles</a> from <i> Damn </i></th></tr><tr><td><div>
<ol><li>"<a href="/wiki/Humble_(song)">Humble</a>"<br />Released: March 30, 2017</li>
<li>"<a href="/wiki/Loyalty_(Kendrick_Lamar_song)">Loyalty</a>"<br />Released: June 20, 2017</li>
<li>"<a href="/wiki/Love_(Kendrick_Lamar_song)">Love</a>"<br />Released: October 2, 2017</li></ol>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p><i><b>Damn</b></i> (stylized as <i><b>DAMN.</b></i>) is the fourth studio album by American rapper <a href="/wiki/Kendrick_Lamar">Kendrick Lamar</a>. It was released on April 14, 2017, through <a href="/wiki/Top_Dawg_Entertainment">Top Dawg Entertainment</a>, <a href="/wiki/Aftermath_Entertainment">Aftermath Entertainment</a> and <a href="/wiki/Interscope_Records">Interscope Records</a>. Lamar assembled numerous artists and producers to produce the album, including executive producer and Top Dawg Entertainment label-head Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith, <a href="/wiki/Sounwave">Sounwave</a>, <a href="/wiki/DJ_Dahi">DJ Dahi</a>, <a href="/wiki/Mike_Will_Made_It">Mike Will Made It</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Ricci_Riera">Ricci Riera</a>, as well as further production contributions from <a href="/wiki/James_Blake_(musician)">James Blake</a>, <a href="/wiki/Steve_Lacy_(guitarist)">Steve Lacy</a>, <a href="/wiki/BadBadNotGood">BadBadNotGood</a>, <a href="/wiki/Greg_Kurstin">Greg Kurstin</a>, <a href="/wiki/The_Alchemist_(musician)">The Alchemist</a>, and <a href="/wiki/9th_Wonder">9th Wonder</a>, among others. The album features guest vocals from singer <a href="/wiki/Rihanna">Rihanna</a> and Top Dawg singer <a href="/wiki/Zacari">Zacari</a>, along with Irish rock band <a href="/wiki/U2">U2</a>.
</p><p>The album has been categorized as <a href="/wiki/Conscious_hip_hop">conscious hip hop</a>, a genre Lamar incorporated on his previous studio album, <i><a href="/wiki/To_Pimp_a_Butterfly">To Pimp a Butterfly</a></i>. The album also incorporates elements of <a href="/wiki/Trap_music">trap</a>, <a href="/wiki/Contemporary_R%26B">contemporary R&amp;B</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Pop_music">pop</a>. Prior to the album's release, Lamar released a promotional single, "<a href="/wiki/The_Heart_Part_4">The Heart Part 4</a>". In the months that followed, Lamar released three singles from the album; "<a href="/wiki/Humble_(song)">Humble</a>" was released in March 2017, "<a href="/wiki/Loyalty_(Kendrick_Lamar_song)">Loyalty</a>" in June 2017, and "<a href="/wiki/Love_(Kendrick_Lamar_song)">Love</a>" in October 2017, the first of which became Lamar's first number-one single on the US <a href="/wiki/Billboard_Hot_100"><i>Billboard</i> Hot 100</a> as a lead artist.
</p><p><i>Damn</i> received widespread critical acclaim, with many naming the album one of the best albums of 2017 and the decade. The album became the first non-jazz or classical work to earn a <a href="/wiki/Pulitzer_Prize_for_Music">Pulitzer Prize for Music</a> and won <a href="/wiki/Grammy_Award_for_Best_Rap_Album">Best Rap Album</a> at the <a href="/wiki/60th_Annual_Grammy_Awards">2018 Grammy Awards</a>, as well receiving a nomination for <a href="/wiki/Grammy_Award_for_Album_of_the_Year">Album of the Year</a> at the ceremony. The album topped the US <a href="/wiki/Billboard_200"><i>Billboard</i> 200</a> with 603,000 <a href="/wiki/Album-equivalent_unit">album-equivalent units</a> earned in its first week and topped the chart of Canada while reaching number two in Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. It has since been certified <a href="/wiki/RIAA_certification">triple platinum</a> by the <a href="/wiki/Recording_Industry_Association_of_America">Recording Industry Association of America</a> (RIAA) in May 2018 and was the <a href="/wiki/List_of_Billboard_Year-End_number-one_singles_and_albums"><i>Billboard</i> Year-End number one album</a> of 2017. In 2020, the album was ranked 175th on <i><a href="/wiki/Rolling_Stone">Rolling Stone</a></i>'s updated list of the <a href="/wiki/Rolling_Stone%27s_500_Greatest_Albums_of_All_Time">500 Greatest Albums of All Time</a>.
</p>
<h2>Recording and production[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Damn_(Kendrick_Lamar_album)&amp;action=edit&amp;section=1">edit</a>]</h2>
<p>The beat for "<a href="/wiki/Humble_(song)">Humble</a>" was developed by <a href="/wiki/Mike_Will_Made_It">Mike Will</a> with the intention of recording with <a href="/wiki/Gucci_Mane">Gucci Mane</a>, but later showed it to <a href="/wiki/Kendrick_Lamar">Kendrick Lamar</a>. After recording, it was initially agreed upon that it would be released on Mike Will's debut album <i><a href="/wiki/Ransom_2">Ransom 2</a></i>, but others convinced Lamar to keep it for his own next album.<sup><a href="#cite_note-npr-mwmi-1">[1]</a></sup>
</p><p>"<a href="/wiki/DNA_(Kendrick_Lamar_song)">DNA</a>" was the second song from the album to be recorded by Lamar and Mike Will, after "Humble". After the first verse of "DNA" was recorded with the beat that Mike Will had already prepared, Lamar started rapping the second verse <a href="/wiki/A_cappella">a cappella</a>, requesting that Mike Will build the beat around the rap. Lamar proposed that it sound like "chaos", and Mike Will put together the second half of the song with the intention to make it "sound like he's battling the beat".<sup><a href="#cite_note-npr-mwmi-1">[1]</a></sup>
</p><p>Lamar has said in interviews that the ability to play the album in reverse tracklist order was "premeditated ... in the studio": "It plays as a full story and even a better rhythm. It's one of my favorite rhythms and tempos within the album".<sup><a href="#cite_note-2">[2]</a></sup>
</p>
<h2>Musical style[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Damn_(Kendrick_Lamar_album)&amp;action=edit&amp;section=2">edit</a>]</h2>
<p><i>Damn</i> has been characterized as <a href="/wiki/Conscious_rap">conscious rap</a><sup><a href="#cite_note-3">[3]</a></sup> with elements of <a href="/wiki/Trap_music">trap</a>,<sup><a href="#cite_note-4">[4]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-5">[5]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-spin2-6">[6]</a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Contemporary_R%26B">R&amp;B</a><sup><a href="#cite_note-spin2-6">[6]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-7">[7]</a></sup> and <a href="/wiki/Pop_music">pop</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-spin2-6">[6]</a></sup>
</p>
<h2>Artwork and title[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Damn_(Kendrick_Lamar_album)&amp;action=edit&amp;section=3">edit</a>]</h2>
<p>On April 11, 2017, Lamar revealed the cover artwork for <i>Damn</i>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-auto-8">[8]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-auto1-9">[9]</a></sup> The album cover was designed by Vlad Sepetov, who created the album covers for Lamar's last two projects – <i><a href="/wiki/To_Pimp_a_Butterfly">To Pimp a Butterfly</a></i> and <i><a href="/wiki/Untitled_Unmastered">Untitled Unmastered</a></i>. Sepetov described <i>Damn</i>'s cover as "loud and abrasive" and "not uber political like <i>To Pimp a Butterfly</i> but it has energy".<sup><a href="#cite_note-Genius-10">[10]</a></sup> Sepetov goes on to say the decision to put the <a href="/wiki/Parental_Advisory">Parental Advisory</a> sticker in its unconventional position was so it could be a part of the design instead of an "afterthought".<sup><a href="#cite_note-Genius-10">[10]</a></sup> <i><a href="/wiki/Billboard_(magazine)">Billboard</a></i> listed the cover as one of the best of 2017, dubbing it "both <a href="/wiki/Internet_meme">meme</a>-able and memorable".<sup><a href="#cite_note-11">[11]</a></sup>
</p><p>In a radio interview on June 29, 2017, Lamar revealed the original title for the album was going to be <i>What Happens on Earth Stays on Earth</i>, but eventually settled on <i>Damn</i>. He stated the working title "didn't read right".<sup><a href="#cite_note-pitchfork-12">[12]</a></sup> Lamar went on to say about its final title, "There was so many different ways you could put it in my head. Damned if I do, damned if I don't. The loudness of the record. When I think about "DNA", when I think of "Humble", when I think these records, it just felt like that."<sup><a href="#cite_note-pitchfork-12">[12]</a></sup>
</p>
<h2>Release and promotion[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Damn_(Kendrick_Lamar_album)&amp;action=edit&amp;section=4">edit</a>]</h2>
<div><p><a href="/wiki/File:Kendrick_Lamar-_The_DAMN._Tour_@_TD_Garden_(Boston,_MA)_(36059988466).jpg"></a></p></div>
<p>On March 23, 2017, Lamar released a promotional single, "<a href="/wiki/The_Heart_Part_4">The Heart Part 4</a>", which contained lyrics hinting at a possible April 7 release date for his fourth studio album.<sup><a href="#cite_note-13">[13]</a></sup> On April 7, 2017, the album was made available for pre-order and confirmed to be released on April 14.<sup><a href="#cite_note-vlad4th-14">[14]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-LATimes-Apr7-15">[15]</a></sup> On April 11, Lamar revealed the track listing for <i>Damn</i>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-auto-8">[8]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-auto1-9">[9]</a></sup>
</p><p>On December 8, 2017, Lamar released the <i>Collectors Edition</i> of the album. The album is the same musically, but has a reversed track order and new artwork.<sup><a href="#cite_note-16">[16]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-17">[17]</a></sup>
</p>
<h3>Singles[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Damn_(Kendrick_Lamar_album)&amp;action=edit&amp;section=5">edit</a>]</h3>
<p>On March 30, 2017, Lamar released the album's lead single, "Humble", accompanied by a music video.<sup><a href="#cite_note-18">[18]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-prod-19">[19]</a></sup> It reached number one on the US <a href="/wiki/Billboard_Hot_100"><i>Billboard</i> Hot 100</a> and number two on the <a href="/wiki/Canadian_Hot_100">Canadian Hot 100</a> chart.<sup><a href="#cite_note-20">[20]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-21">[21]</a></sup> "<a href="/wiki/Loyalty_(Kendrick_Lamar_song)">Loyalty</a>" featuring <a href="/wiki/Rihanna">Rihanna</a>, was released as the album's second single on June 20, 2017, to <a href="/wiki/Rhythmic_contemporary">rhythmic</a> and <a href="/wiki/Urban_contemporary">urban contemporary</a> radio.<sup><a href="#cite_note-Rhythmic_Radio_Adds_2-22">[22]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-Urban_Radio_Adds-23">[23]</a></sup> The song peaked at number 14 on the <i>Billboard</i> Hot 100.<sup><a href="#cite_note-Hot_100-24">[24]</a></sup> "<a href="/wiki/Love_(Kendrick_Lamar_song)">Love</a>" featuring <a href="/wiki/Zacari">Zacari</a>, was released as the album's third single on October 2, 2017, to rhythmic contemporary radio.<sup><a href="#cite_note-25">[25]</a></sup> It was released to <a href="/wiki/Contemporary_hit_radio">contemporary hit radio</a> on November 21, 2017.<sup><a href="#cite_note-26">[26]</a></sup> The song peaked at number 11 on the <i>Billboard</i> Hot 100.<sup><a href="#cite_note-Hot_100-24">[24]</a></sup>
</p>
<h3>Other songs[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Damn_(Kendrick_Lamar_album)&amp;action=edit&amp;section=6">edit</a>]</h3>
<p>The music video for the song, "DNA", was released on April 18, 2017.<sup><a href="#cite_note-27">[27]</a></sup> The song entered at number four on the <i>Billboard</i> Hot 100, becoming Lamar's second highest-charting song as a solo artist after "Humble".<sup><a href="#cite_note-Hot_100-24">[24]</a></sup>
</p><p>The music video for the song, "<a href="/wiki/Element_(song)">Element</a>", was released on June 27, 2017.<sup><a href="#cite_note-28">[28]</a></sup> The song peaked at number 16 on the <i>Billboard</i> Hot 100.<sup><a href="#cite_note-Hot_100-24">[24]</a></sup>
</p>
<h2>Critical reception[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Damn_(Kendrick_Lamar_album)&amp;action=edit&amp;section=7">edit</a>]</h2>
<table><caption>Professional ratings</caption><tbody><tr><th>Aggregate scores</th></tr><tr><th>Source</th><th>Rating</th></tr><tr><td><a href="/wiki/AnyDecentMusic%3F">AnyDecentMusic?</a></td><td>9.1/10<sup><a href="#cite_note-ADM-29">[29]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/wiki/Metacritic">Metacritic</a></td><td>95/100<sup><a href="#cite_note-mc-30">[30]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><th>Review scores</th></tr><tr><th>Source</th><th>Rating</th></tr><tr><td><a href="/wiki/AllMusic">AllMusic</a></td><td><sup><a href="#cite_note-AllMusic-31">[31]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/wiki/The_A.V._Club">The A.V. Club</a></i></td><td>A<sup><a href="#cite_note-TAVC-32">[32]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Tribune">Chicago Tribune</a></i></td><td><sup><a href="#cite_note-CT-33">[33]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/wiki/The_Daily_Telegraph">The Daily Telegraph</a></i></td><td><sup><a href="#cite_note-Telegraph-34">[34]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/wiki/Entertainment_Weekly">Entertainment Weekly</a></i></td><td>A<sup><a href="#cite_note-EW-35">[35]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/wiki/The_Guardian">The Guardian</a></i></td><td><sup><a href="#cite_note-Guardian-36">[36]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/wiki/NME">NME</a></i></td><td><sup><a href="#cite_note-NME-37">[37]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/wiki/Pitchfork_(website)">Pitchfork</a></i></td><td>9.2/10<sup><a href="#cite_note-pitchforkrv-38">[38]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/wiki/Rolling_Stone">Rolling Stone</a></i></td><td><sup><a href="#cite_note-rollingstone-39">[39]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/wiki/Vice_(magazine)">Vice</a></i> (<a href="/wiki/Robert_Christgau#Consumer_Guide">Expert Witness</a>)</td><td>A−<sup><a href="#cite_note-Vice-40">[40]</a></sup></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p><i>Damn</i> was met with widespread critical acclaim. At <a href="/wiki/Metacritic">Metacritic</a>, which assigns a <a href="/wiki/Standard_score">normalized</a> rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an <a href="/wiki/Weighted_arithmetic_mean">average</a> score of 95, based on 39 reviews.<sup><a href="#cite_note-mc-30">[30]</a></sup> Aggregator <a href="/wiki/AnyDecentMusic%3F">AnyDecentMusic?</a> gave it 9.1 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.<sup><a href="#cite_note-ADM-29">[29]</a></sup>
</p><p>Andy Kellman of <a href="/wiki/AllMusic">AllMusic</a> stated that "it contains some of Lamar's best writing and performances, revealing his evolving complexity and versatility as a soul-baring lyricist and dynamic rapper".<sup><a href="#cite_note-AllMusic-31">[31]</a></sup> Christopher R. Weingarten, an author for <i><a href="/wiki/Rolling_Stone">Rolling Stone</a></i>, said, "Much like <a href="/wiki/We_Got_It_from_Here..._Thank_You_4_Your_Service">the recent A Tribe Called Quest record</a>, <i>Damn</i>. is a brilliant combination of the timeless and the modern, the old school and the next-level. The most gifted rapper of a generation stomps into the Nineties and continues to blaze a trail forward".<sup><a href="#cite_note-rollingstone-39">[39]</a></sup> In his review, <a href="/wiki/Greg_Kot">Greg Kot</a> of the <i><a href="/wiki/Chicago_Tribune">Chicago Tribune</a></i> states, "<i>Damn.</i> strips down the rhythms to their essence, flavored with the occasional cameo (notably Rihanna and <a href="/wiki/U2">U2</a>). Lamar's voice does most of the heavy lifting, playing multiple roles and characters. His supple singing complements a variety of rap tones and textures".<sup><a href="#cite_note-CT-33">[33]</a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Jon_Caramanica">Jon Caramanica</a> of <i><a href="/wiki/The_New_York_Times">The New York Times</a></i> gave a positive review, stating "Tart and punchy. ... Sometimes boisterous, sometimes swampy, rarely fanciful album—it's Mr. Lamar's version of the creeping paranoia that has become de rigueur for midcareer <a href="/wiki/Drake_(musician)">Drake</a>. And yet this is likely Mr. Lamar's most jubilant album, the one in which his rhymes are the least tangled".<sup><a href="#cite_note-41">[41]</a></sup> Eric Renner Brown of <i><a href="/wiki/Entertainment_Weekly">Entertainment Weekly</a></i> said, "After delving into the personal on 2012's <i><a href="/wiki/Good_Kid,_M.A.A.D_City">Good Kid, M.A.A.D City</a></i> and going broader on <i><a href="/wiki/To_Pimp_a_Butterfly">Butterfly</a></i>, Lamar has found a middle ground on <i>Damn.</i> that yields some of his most emotionally resonant music yet".<sup><a href="#cite_note-EW-35">[35]</a></sup>
</p><p><a href="/wiki/Alexis_Petridis">Alexis Petridis</a> of <i><a href="/wiki/The_Guardian">The Guardian</a></i> wrote: "If it seems a more straightforward listen than <i>To Pimp a Butterfly</i>, there's a cheering sense that this doesn't equate to a lessening of musical ambition. There's none of that album's wilfully jarring quality – its sudden, anxious musical lurches and abrupt, short-circuiting leaps between genres – but the tracks on <i>Damn</i> still feel episodic and expansive. Whether <i>Damn</i> will have the same epochal impact as <i>To Pimp a Butterfly</i> remains to be seen, but either way it sounds like the work of a supremely confident artist at the top of his game."<sup><a href="#cite_note-Guardian-36">[36]</a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Neil_McCormick">Neil McCormick</a> of <i><a href="/wiki/The_Daily_Telegraph">The Daily Telegraph</a></i> stating that <i>Damn</i> "is the work of a future all-time great in full command of his powers".<sup><a href="#cite_note-Telegraph-34">[34]</a></sup> Leonie Cooper of <i><a href="/wiki/NME">NME</a></i> said, "<i>Damn.</i> is by far his shortest release to date – but the ideas, thoughts and feelings it contains are massive, weighty things, from sexual tension to deep, dark depression".<sup><a href="#cite_note-NME-37">[37]</a></sup> In <i><a href="/wiki/Pitchfork_(website)">Pitchfork</a></i>'s review of <i>Damn</i>, Matthew Trammell writes <i>Damn</i> "is a widescreen masterpiece of rap, full of expensive beats, furious rhymes, and peerless storytelling about Kendrick's destiny in America".<sup><a href="#cite_note-pitchforkrv-38">[38]</a></sup> Writing for <i><a href="/wiki/The_A.V._Club">The A.V. Club</a></i>, Evan Rytlewski concluded, "Lamar trusts every idea to stand on its own. When you're making art this substantial, vital, and virtuosic, there's no need to wrap a tidy bow around it".<sup><a href="#cite_note-TAVC-32">[32]</a></sup> In a mixed review, A. Harmony of <i><a href="/wiki/Exclaim!">Exclaim!</a></i> wrote that <i>Damn</i> "is the first time in Lamar's career that he hasn't broken new ground, explored old themes in new ways or exhibited sonic growth".<sup><a href="#cite_note-Ex-42">[42]</a></sup>
</p>
<h3>Rankings[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Damn_(Kendrick_Lamar_album)&amp;action=edit&amp;section=8">edit</a>]</h3>
<h3>Industry awards[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Damn_(Kendrick_Lamar_album)&amp;action=edit&amp;section=9">edit</a>]</h3>
<h2>Commercial performance[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Damn_(Kendrick_Lamar_album)&amp;action=edit&amp;section=10">edit</a>]</h2>
<p>In the United States, <i>Damn</i> debuted at number one on the <a href="/wiki/Billboard_200"><i>Billboard</i> 200</a> with 603,000 <a href="/wiki/Album-equivalent_unit">album-equivalent units</a> in its first week of release, becoming his third consecutive album after <i>To Pimp a Butterfly</i> (2015) and <i>Untitled Unmastered</i> (2016) to reach the nation's summit. It sold 353,000 copies in its first week and accumulated over 340 million streams.<sup><a href="#cite_note-Damn_Billboard-70">[70]</a></sup> In its second week, the album remained at the top of the US charts with 238,000 album-equivalent units of which 87,000 were traditional album sales, bringing the sales to a total of 841,000 units.<sup><a href="#cite_note-71">[71]</a></sup> In its third week, the album continued to top the charts with 173,000 album-equivalent units of which 57,000 were traditional album sales, bringing the sales to a total of 1.014 million units.<sup><a href="#cite_note-72">[72]</a></sup> As of April 2018, <i>Damn</i> had sold 1,002,000 copies and earned 3,137,000 album-equivalent units in the US.<sup><a href="#cite_note-USsales-73">[73]</a></sup>
</p><p>On May 10, 2018, the album was certified <a href="/wiki/RIAA_certification">triple platinum</a> by the <a href="/wiki/Recording_Industry_Association_of_America">Recording Industry Association of America</a> (RIAA) for combined sales, streaming and track-sales equivalent of three million units.<sup><a href="#cite_note-RIAA-74">[74]</a></sup> The album also opened atop the <a href="/wiki/Canadian_Albums_Chart">Canadian Albums Chart</a> with 35,000 consumption units and 25.4 million streams, becoming the rapper's third consecutive album to arrive at number one.<sup><a href="#cite_note-75">[75]</a></sup> In the United Kingdom, <i>Damn</i> sold 30,000 units in its first week and entered at number two on the <a href="/wiki/UK_Albums_Chart">UK Albums Chart</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-76">[76]</a></sup>
</p><p>According to <a href="/wiki/International_Federation_of_the_Phonographic_Industry">IFPI</a>, it was the seventh best selling album of 2017, with 1.3 million copies shipped globally.<sup><a href="#cite_note-77">[77]</a></sup> <i>Damn</i> was ranked as the number one album of the year on the <i>Billboard</i> 200 in 2017.<sup><a href="#cite_note-Billboard_Year-End-78">[78]</a></sup> In 2018, <i>Damn</i> was ranked as the thirteenth most popular album of the year on the <i>Billboard</i> 200.<sup><a href="#cite_note-Billboard_200_albums-79">[79]</a></sup>
</p>
<h2>Track listing[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Damn_(Kendrick_Lamar_album)&amp;action=edit&amp;section=11">edit</a>]</h2>
<p><b>Notes</b>
</p>
<ul><li><sup><b><a href="#ref_a">^[a]</a></b> </sup> signifies an <a href="/wiki/Record_producer">additional producer</a></li>
<li><sup><b><a href="#ref_b">^[b]</a></b> </sup> signifies an uncredited co-producer<sup><a href="#cite_note-80">[80]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-Billboard-81">[81]</a></sup></li>
<li><sup><b><a href="#ref_c">^[c]</a></b> </sup> signifies a vocal producer</li>
<li>Every song is stylized in all capital letters, with a period at the end of their titles, including featured artist credits. For example, "Loyalty" is stylized as "LOYALTY. FEAT. RIHANNA."</li>
<li>Some CD pressings of the album have slight differences: "Pride" runs for 4 minutes and 31 seconds (4:31), "Love" runs for 3 minutes and 31 seconds (3:31), and "Fear" runs for 6 minutes and 54 seconds (6:54), bringing the total album length to 54 minutes and 2 seconds (54:02). This version of the album also features slightly different mixing.<sup><a href="#cite_note-82">[82]</a></sup></li></ul>
<p><b>Sample credits</b>
</p>
<ul><li>"Blood" and "DNA" contain elements of <a href="/wiki/Fox_News">Fox News</a> commentators <a href="/wiki/Eric_Bolling">Eric Bolling</a>, <a href="/wiki/Kimberly_Guilfoyle">Kimberly Guilfoyle</a> and <a href="/wiki/Geraldo_Rivera">Geraldo Rivera</a> criticizing Lamar's <a href="/wiki/BET_Awards_2015">2015 BET Awards</a> performance.<sup><a href="#cite_note-83">[83]</a></sup></li>
<li>"Feel" contains a sample of "Stormy", written and performed by <a href="/wiki/O._C._Smith">O. C. Smith</a>; and an interpolation from "Don't Let Me Down", written and performed by Fleurie.<sup><a href="#cite_note-everysample-84">[84]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-everysample2-85">[85]</a></sup></li>
<li>"Loyalty" contains samples of "<a href="/wiki/24K_Magic_(song)">24K Magic</a>", written by <a href="/wiki/Bruno_Mars">Bruno Mars</a>, <a href="/wiki/Brody_Brown">Christopher Brody Brown</a> and <a href="/wiki/Philip_Lawrence_(songwriter)">Philip Lawrence</a>, as performed by Bruno Mars;<sup><a href="#cite_note-86">[86]</a></sup> "<a href="/wiki/Shimmy_Shimmy_Ya">Shimmy Shimmy Ya</a>", written by <a href="/wiki/Ol%27_Dirty_Bastard">Russell Jones</a> and <a href="/wiki/RZA">Robert Diggs</a>, as performed by <a href="/wiki/Ol%27_Dirty_Bastard">Ol' Dirty Bastard</a>; and "Get Your Mind Right Mami", written by <a href="/wiki/Jay_Z">Shawn Carter</a>, <a href="/wiki/Snoop_Dogg">Cordozar Calvin Broadus, Jr.</a>, <a href="/wiki/Memphis_Bleek">Malik Cox</a> and <a href="/wiki/Rick_Rock">Ricardo Thomas</a>, as performed by <a href="/wiki/Jay-Z">Jay-Z</a> featuring <a href="/wiki/Snoop_Dogg">Snoop Dogg</a> and <a href="/wiki/Memphis_Bleek">Memphis Bleek</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-everysample-84">[84]</a></sup></li>
<li>"Fear" contains a sample of "Poverty's Paradise", written by <a href="/wiki/Dale_Warren">Dale Warren</a> and performed by <a href="/wiki/24-Carat_Black">24-Carat Black</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-everysample-84">[84]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-everysample2-85">[85]</a></sup></li>
<li>"God" contains a sample of "End of the World", written and performed by <a href="/wiki/Illmind">Illmind</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-Billboard-81">[81]</a></sup></li>
<li>"Duckworth" contains samples of "Atari", written by Nai Palm and performed by <a href="/wiki/Hiatus_Kaiyote">Hiatus Kaiyote</a>; "Be Ever Wonderful", written by <a href="/wiki/Don_Robey">Don Robey</a> and <a href="/wiki/Joe_Scott_(musician)">Joe Scott</a>, as performed by <a href="/wiki/Ted_Taylor_(singer)">Ted Taylor</a>; "Ostavi Trag", written by <a href="/wiki/September_(band)">September</a>; and "Let the Drums Speak", written by Bill Curtis and performed by the <a href="/wiki/Fatback_Band">Fatback Band</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-everysample-84">[84]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-everysample2-85">[85]</a></sup></li></ul>
<h2>Personnel[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Damn_(Kendrick_Lamar_album)&amp;action=edit&amp;section=12">edit</a>]</h2>
<p>Adapted from the album liner notes and <a href="/wiki/AllMusic">AllMusic</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-booklet-87">[87]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-88">[88]</a></sup>
</p>
<div>
<p><b>Production and music</b>
</p>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/9th_Wonder">9th Wonder</a> – production ("Duckworth")</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Anna_Wise">Anna Wise</a> – additional vocals ("Pride")</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/The_Alchemist_(musician)">Alan "The Alchemist" Maman</a> – producer ("Fear")</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Bekon">Bekon</a> – additional vocals ("Blood", "Yah", "Pride", "XXX", "Fear", "God", "Duckworth")</li>
<li>Carl Duckworth – additional vocals ("Fear")</li>
<li>Charles Edward Sydney Isom Jr. – additional vocals ("Fear")</li>
<li>Chelsea Blythe – additional vocals ("Feel")</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/DJ_Dahi">DJ Dahi</a> – additional vocals ("Loyalty")</li>
<li>Dave Free – associate producer</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Dr._Dre">Dr. Dre</a> – executive producer</li>
<li>Kam Sangha – production</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Kamasi_Washington">Kamasi Washington</a> – strings ("Lust")</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Kaytranada">Kaytranada</a> – additional vocals ("Lust")</li>
<li>Kendrick Lamar – vocals; additional keys ("XXX")</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Kid_Capri">Kid Capri</a> – additional vocals ("Element", "Love", "XXX", "Duckworth")</li>
<li>Kuk Harrell – vocal production for Rihanna</li>
<li>Matt Schaeffer – guitar ("Humble"); additional guitar ("DNA", "Feel")</li>
<li>Mike Hector – additional drums ("God")</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Rat_Boy_(musician)">Rat Boy</a> – additional vocals ("Lust")</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Steve_Lacy_(guitarist)">Steve Lacy</a> – background vocals, production ("Pride")</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Thundercat_(musician)">Thundercat</a> – bass ("Feel")</li></ul>
<p><b>Technical</b>
</p>
<ul><li>Blake Harden – recording ("Lust", "Duckworth") at Windmark Studios</li>
<li>Brendan Silas Perry – additional recording ("Element", "Love", "Duckworth")</li>
<li>Cyrus Taghipour – mix assistant</li>
<li>Derek "MixedByAli" Ali – mixing</li>
<li>James Hunt – engineer, mixing ("Element")</li>
<li>Marcos Tovar – vocal recording for Rihanna (at Windmark Studios)</li>
<li>Matt Schaeffer – engineer ("Humble"); mixing ("Element")</li>
<li>Mike Bozzi – mastering at Bernie Grundman in Hollywood, California</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Sounwave">Sounwave</a> – mixing ("Feel")</li>
<li>Tyler Page – mix assistant</li>
<li>Zeke Mishanec – additional recording ("Element", "Love", "Duckworth")</li></ul>
<p><b>Art</b>
</p>
<ul><li>Dave Free – creative direction, photography</li>
<li>Kendrick Lamar – creative direction</li>
<li>Roberto Reyes – photography</li>
<li>Vladimir Sepetov – creative direction</li></ul>
</div>
<h2>Charts[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Damn_(Kendrick_Lamar_album)&amp;action=edit&amp;section=13">edit</a>]</h2>
<div>
<table>
<tbody><tr>
<td>
<h3>Weekly charts[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Damn_(Kendrick_Lamar_album)&amp;action=edit&amp;section=14">edit</a>]</h3>
<table>
<caption>Chart performance for <i>Damn</i>
</caption>
<tbody><tr>
<th>Chart (2017)
</th>
<th>Peak<br /> position
</th></tr>
<tr>
<th>Australian Albums (<a href="/wiki/ARIA_Charts">ARIA</a>)<sup><a href="#cite_note-ac_Australia_Kendrick_Lamar-89">[89]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>2
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>Australian Urban Albums (<a href="/wiki/ARIA_Charts">ARIA</a>)<sup><a href="#cite_note-90">[90]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>1
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>Austrian Albums (<a href="/wiki/%C3%963_Austria_Top_40">Ö3 Austria</a>)<sup><a href="#cite_note-ac_Austria_Kendrick_Lamar-91">[91]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>6
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>Belgian Albums (<a href="/wiki/Ultratop">Ultratop</a> Flanders)<sup><a href="#cite_note-ac_Flanders_Kendrick_Lamar-92">[92]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>2
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>Belgian Albums (<a href="/wiki/Ultratop">Ultratop</a> Wallonia)<sup><a href="#cite_note-ac_Wallonia_Kendrick_Lamar-93">[93]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>16
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th><a href="/wiki/Canadian_Albums_Chart">Canadian Albums</a> (<a href="/wiki/Billboard_(magazine)"><i>Billboard</i></a>)<sup><a href="#cite_note-ac_BillboardCanada_Kendrick_Lamar-94">[94]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>1
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>Czech Albums (<a href="/wiki/International_Federation_of_the_Phonographic_Industry">ČNS IFPI</a>)<sup><a href="#cite_note-ac_Czech_-95">[95]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>3
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>Danish Albums (<a href="/wiki/Hitlisten">Hitlisten</a>)<sup><a href="#cite_note-ac_Denmark_Kendrick_Lamar-96">[96]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>2
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>Dutch Albums (<a href="/wiki/Dutch_Album_Top_100">Album Top 100</a>)<sup><a href="#cite_note-ac_Netherlands_Kendrick_Lamar-97">[97]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>2
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>Finnish Albums (<a href="/wiki/The_Official_Finnish_Charts">Suomen virallinen lista</a>)<sup><a href="#cite_note-ac_Finland_Kendrick_Lamar-98">[98]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>3
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>French Albums (<a href="/wiki/Syndicat_National_de_l%27%C3%89dition_Phonographique">SNEP</a>)<sup><a href="#cite_note-ac_France_Kendrick_Lamar-99">[99]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>3
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>German Albums (<a href="/wiki/GfK_Entertainment_charts">Offizielle Top 100</a>)<sup><a href="#cite_note-ac_Germany4_Kendrick_Lamar-100">[100]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>6
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>Hungarian Albums (<a href="/wiki/Association_of_Hungarian_Record_Companies">MAHASZ</a>)<sup><a href="#cite_note-ac_Hungary_Kendrick_Lamar-101">[101]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>33
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>Irish Albums (<a href="/wiki/Official_Charts_Company">OCC</a>)<sup><a href="#cite_note-ac_Ireland3_-102">[102]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>2
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>Italian Albums (<a href="/wiki/Federazione_Industria_Musicale_Italiana">FIMI</a>)<sup><a href="#cite_note-ac_Italy_Kendrick_Lamar-103">[103]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>15
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>Japanese Albums (<a href="/wiki/Oricon">Oricon</a>)<sup><a href="#cite_note-104">[104]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>55
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>New Zealand Albums (<a href="/wiki/Official_New_Zealand_Music_Chart">RMNZ</a>)<sup><a href="#cite_note-ac_New_Zealand_Kendrick_Lamar-105">[105]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>2
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>Norwegian Albums (<a href="/wiki/VG-lista">VG-lista</a>)<sup><a href="#cite_note-ac_Norway_Kendrick_Lamar-106">[106]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>2
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>Polish Albums (<a href="/wiki/Polish_Society_of_the_Phonographic_Industry">ZPAV</a>)<sup><a href="#cite_note-ac_Poland_-107">[107]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>24
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>Portuguese Albums (<a href="/wiki/Associa%C3%A7%C3%A3o_Fonogr%C3%A1fica_Portuguesa">AFP</a>)<sup><a href="#cite_note-ac_Portugal_Kendrick_Lamar-108">[108]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>5
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th><a href="/wiki/Scottish_Singles_and_Albums_Charts">Scottish Albums</a> (<a href="/wiki/Official_Charts_Company">OCC</a>)<sup><a href="#cite_note-ac_Scotland_-109">[109]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>3
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>South Korean Albums International (<a href="/wiki/Gaon_Album_Chart">Gaon</a>)<sup><a href="#cite_note-110">[110]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>3
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>Spanish Albums (<a href="/wiki/Productores_de_M%C3%BAsica_de_Espa%C3%B1a">PROMUSICAE</a>)<sup><a href="#cite_note-ac_Spain_Kendrick_Lamar-111">[111]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>15
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>Swedish Albums (<a href="/wiki/Sverigetopplistan">Sverigetopplistan</a>)<sup><a href="#cite_note-ac_Sweden_Kendrick_Lamar-112">[112]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>2
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>Swiss Albums (<a href="/wiki/Swiss_Hitparade">Schweizer Hitparade</a>)<sup><a href="#cite_note-ac_Switzerland_Kendrick_Lamar-113">[113]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>3
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th><a href="/wiki/UK_Albums_Chart">UK Albums</a> (<a href="/wiki/Official_Charts_Company">OCC</a>)<sup><a href="#cite_note-ac_UK2_-114">[114]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>2
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th><a href="/wiki/UK_R%26B_Chart">UK R&amp;B Albums</a> (<a href="/wiki/Official_Charts_Company">OCC</a>)<sup><a href="#cite_note-ac_UKR&amp;B_-115">[115]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>1
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>US <a href="/wiki/Billboard_200"><i>Billboard</i> 200</a><sup><a href="#cite_note-ac_Billboard200_Kendrick_Lamar-116">[116]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>1
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>US <a href="/wiki/Top_R%26B/Hip-Hop_Albums">Top R&amp;B/Hip-Hop Albums</a> (<a href="/wiki/Billboard_(magazine)"><i>Billboard</i></a>)<sup><a href="#cite_note-ac_BillboardRandBHipHop_Kendrick_Lamar-117">[117]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>1
</td></tr></tbody></table>
</td>
<td>
<h3>Year-end charts[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Damn_(Kendrick_Lamar_album)&amp;action=edit&amp;section=15">edit</a>]</h3>
<table>
<caption>2017 year-end chart performance for <i>Damn</i>
</caption>
<tbody><tr>
<th>Chart (2017)
</th>
<th>Position
</th></tr>
<tr>
<th>Australian Albums (ARIA)<sup><a href="#cite_note-118">[118]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>10
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)<sup><a href="#cite_note-119">[119]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>25
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)<sup><a href="#cite_note-120">[120]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>136
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>Canadian Albums (<i>Billboard</i>)<sup><a href="#cite_note-121">[121]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>5
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>Danish Albums (Hitlisten)<sup><a href="#cite_note-122">[122]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>13
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)<sup><a href="#cite_note-123">[123]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>17
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>French Albums (SNEP)<sup><a href="#cite_note-124">[124]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>69
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)<sup><a href="#cite_note-125">[125]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>87
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>Icelandic Albums (Plötutíóindi)<sup><a href="#cite_note-126">[126]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>15
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>Italian Albums (FIMI)<sup><a href="#cite_note-127">[127]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>68
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)<sup><a href="#cite_note-128">[128]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>8
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)<sup><a href="#cite_note-129">[129]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>11
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)<sup><a href="#cite_note-130">[130]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>89
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>UK Albums (OCC)<sup><a href="#cite_note-131">[131]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>27
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>US <i>Billboard</i> 200<sup><a href="#cite_note-Billboard_Year-End-78">[78]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>1
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>US Top R&amp;B/Hip-Hop Albums (<i>Billboard</i>)<sup><a href="#cite_note-132">[132]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>1
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table>
<caption>2018 year-end chart performance for <i>Damn</i>
</caption>
<tbody><tr>
<th>Chart (2018)
</th>
<th>Position
</th></tr>
<tr>
<th>Australian Albums (ARIA)<sup><a href="#cite_note-133">[133]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>37
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>Canadian Albums (<i>Billboard</i>)<sup><a href="#cite_note-134">[134]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>20
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>Danish Albums (Hitlisten)<sup><a href="#cite_note-135">[135]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>44
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>French Albums (SNEP)<sup><a href="#cite_note-136">[136]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>168
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>Icelandic Albums (Plötutíóindi)<sup><a href="#cite_note-137">[137]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>50
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)<sup><a href="#cite_note-138">[138]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>23
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>South Korean International Albums (Gaon)<sup><a href="#cite_note-139">[139]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>34
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)<sup><a href="#cite_note-140">[140]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>55
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>UK Albums (OCC)<sup><a href="#cite_note-141">[141]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>76
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>US <i>Billboard</i> 200<sup><a href="#cite_note-Billboard_200_albums-79">[79]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>13
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>US Top R&amp;B/Hip-Hop Albums (<i>Billboard</i>)<sup><a href="#cite_note-142">[142]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>9
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table>
<caption>2019 year-end chart performance for <i>Damn</i>
</caption>
<tbody><tr>
<th>Chart (2019)
</th>
<th>Position
</th></tr>
<tr>
<th>Australian Albums (ARIA)<sup><a href="#cite_note-143">[143]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>91
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)<sup><a href="#cite_note-144">[144]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>167
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>US <i>Billboard</i> 200<sup><a href="#cite_note-145">[145]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>55
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>US Top R&amp;B/Hip-Hop Albums (<i>Billboard</i>)<sup><a href="#cite_note-146">[146]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>24
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table>
<caption>2020 year-end chart performance for <i>Damn</i>
</caption>
<tbody><tr>
<th>Chart (2020)
</th>
<th>Position
</th></tr>
<tr>
<th>Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)<sup><a href="#cite_note-147">[147]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>171
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>US <i>Billboard</i> 200<sup><a href="#cite_note-148">[148]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>84
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>US Top R&amp;B/Hip-Hop Albums (<i>Billboard</i>)<sup><a href="#cite_note-149">[149]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>72
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table>
<caption>2021 year-end chart performance for <i>Damn</i>
</caption>
<tbody><tr>
<th>Chart (2021)
</th>
<th>Position
</th></tr>
<tr>
<th>US <i>Billboard</i> 200<sup><a href="#cite_note-150">[150]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>82
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>US Top R&amp;B/Hip-Hop Albums (<i>Billboard</i>)<sup><a href="#cite_note-151">[151]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>59
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table>
<caption>2022 year-end chart performance for <i>Damn</i>
</caption>
<tbody><tr>
<th>Chart (2022)
</th>
<th>Position
</th></tr>
<tr>
<th>Australian Albums (ARIA)<sup><a href="#cite_note-152">[152]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>72
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)<sup><a href="#cite_note-153">[153]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>129
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>US <i>Billboard</i> 200<sup><a href="#cite_note-154">[154]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>52
</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>US Top R&amp;B/Hip-Hop Albums (<i>Billboard</i>)<sup><a href="#cite_note-155">[155]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>24
</td></tr></tbody></table>
<h3>Decade-end charts[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Damn_(Kendrick_Lamar_album)&amp;action=edit&amp;section=16">edit</a>]</h3>
<table>
<caption>Decade-end chart performance for <i>Damn</i>
</caption>
<tbody><tr>
<th>Chart (2010–2019)
</th>
<th>Position
</th></tr>
<tr>
<th>US <i>Billboard</i> 200<sup><a href="#cite_note-156">[156]</a></sup>
</th>
<td>10
</td></tr></tbody></table>
</td></tr></tbody></table></div>
<h2>Certifications[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Damn_(Kendrick_Lamar_album)&amp;action=edit&amp;section=17">edit</a>]</h2>
<h2>Release history[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Damn_(Kendrick_Lamar_album)&amp;action=edit&amp;section=18">edit</a>]</h2>
<h2>See also[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Damn_(Kendrick_Lamar_album)&amp;action=edit&amp;section=19">edit</a>]</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Billboard_200_number-one_albums_of_2017">List of <i>Billboard</i> 200 number-one albums of 2017</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/List_of_number-one_albums_of_2017_(Canada)">List of number-one albums of 2017 (Canada)</a></li></ul>
<h2>References[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Damn_(Kendrick_Lamar_album)&amp;action=edit&amp;section=20">edit</a>]</h2>
<div><ol>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-npr-mwmi_1-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-npr-mwmi_1-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <cite>Carmichael, Rodney (April 25, 2017). <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2017/04/25/525450544/how-mike-will-made-it-and-kendrick-lamar-created-the-years-most-urgent-music-yet">"How Mike WiLL Made-It And Kendrick Lamar Created The Year's Most Urgent Music"</a>. NPR Music. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170426011534/http://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2017/04/25/525450544/how-mike-will-made-it-and-kendrick-lamar-created-the-years-most-urgent-music-yet">Archived</a> from the original on April 26, 2017. Retrieved April 26, 2017.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b> <cite>Randall Colburn (December 7, 2017). <a href="https://consequenceofsound.net/2017/12/kendrick-lamar-is-releasing-a-damn-collectors-edition-with-reversed-tracklist/">"Kendrick Lamar releases DAMN. collector's edition with reversed tracklist"</a>. <i>Consequence</i>. Retrieved June 15, 2018.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://www.urbanandstylish.com/culture/2017/04/is-kendrick-lamars-album-damn-the-conscious-rap-album-weve-been-waiting-for/">"Is Kendrick Lamar's Album "DAMN." The Conscious Rap Album We've Been Waiting For?"</a>. Urban and Stylish. April 24, 2017. Retrieved May 7, 2017.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b> <cite>Kennedy, John (April 14, 2017). <a href="http://www.complex.com/music/2017/04/damn-makes-kendrick-lamar-one-of-the-greatest-rappers-ever">"'Damn' Cements Kendrick's Status as One of Rap's Greatest MCs"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Complex_(magazine)">Complex</a></i>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170416144945/http://www.complex.com/music/2017/04/damn-makes-kendrick-lamar-one-of-the-greatest-rappers-ever">Archived</a> from the original on April 16, 2017. Retrieved May 7, 2017.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b> <cite>Empire, Kitty (April 22, 2017). <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/apr/22/kendrick-lamar-damn-review-another-dial-shifting-release">"Kendrick Lamar: Damn review – another dial-shifting release"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/The_Guardian">The Guardian</a></i>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170506162628/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/apr/22/kendrick-lamar-damn-review-another-dial-shifting-release">Archived</a> from the original on May 6, 2017. Retrieved May 7, 2017.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-spin2_6-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-spin2_6-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-spin2_6-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <cite><a href="http://www.spin.com/2017/04/kendrick-damn-influences/">"10 Songs That Influenced Kendrick Lamar's DAMN"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Spin_(magazine)">Spin</a></i>. April 18, 2017. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170425025815/http://www.spin.com/2017/04/kendrick-damn-influences/">Archived</a> from the original on April 25, 2017. Retrieved May 7, 2017.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://www.rap-up.com/2017/04/20/14-times-kendrick-lamar-made-us-say-damn-on-his-album">"14 Times Kendrick Lamar Made Us Say 'DAMN.' on His Album"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Rap-Up">Rap-Up</a></i>. April 20, 2017. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170519043842/http://www.rap-up.com/2017/04/20/14-times-kendrick-lamar-made-us-say-damn-on-his-album/">Archived</a> from the original on May 19, 2017. Retrieved May 19, 2017.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-auto_8-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-auto_8-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <cite>DeVille, Chris (April 11, 2017). <a href="https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/7759501/kendrick-lamar-cover-art-tracklist-new-album-damn">"Kendrick Lamar Shares Cover Art &amp; Tracklist For New Album 'DAMN.'"</a>. <i>Billboard</i>. Retrieved March 2, 2018.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-auto1_9-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-auto1_9-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <cite>Hooton, Christopher (April 11, 2017). <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/kendrick-lamar-reveals-new-album-title-artwork-tracklist-features-a7677986.html">"Kendrick Lamar reveals new album title DAMN., artwork, tracklist and features on Twitter"</a>. <i>The Independent</i>. Retrieved March 2, 2018.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-Genius_10-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Genius_10-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <cite><a href="https://genius.com/a/the-artist-behind-kendrick-lamar-s-damn-cover-art-explains-its-minimalist-design">"The Artist Behind Kendrick Lamar's 'Damn' Cover Art Explains Its Minimalist Design"</a>. Genius. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170413022540/https://genius.com/a/the-artist-behind-kendrick-lamar-s-damn-cover-art-explains-its-minimalist-design">Archived</a> from the original on April 13, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2017.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-11">^</a></b> <cite>Cirisano, Tatiana (December 27, 2017). <a href="https://www.billboard.com/photos/best-worst-album-covers-of-2017-top-25/">"25 Best &amp; Worst Album Covers of 2017"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Billboard_(magazine)">Billboard</a></i>. Retrieved May 22, 2022.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-pitchfork_12-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-pitchfork_12-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <cite>Yoo, Noah (June 29, 2017). <a href="https://pitchfork.com/news/kendrick-lamar-reveals-damns-much-longer-original-title/">"Kendrick Lamar Reveals DAMN.'s Much Longer Original Title"</a>. <i>Pitchfork</i>. Retrieved June 29, 2017.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-13">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2017/03/kendrick-lamar-heart-part-4/">"Kendrick Lamar Drops New Single 'The Heart Part 4' – XXL"</a>. <i>XXL</i>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170324181807/http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2017/03/kendrick-lamar-heart-part-4/">Archived</a> from the original on March 24, 2017. Retrieved March 26, 2017.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-vlad4th_14-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://www.vladtv.com/article/226651/kendrick-lamar-to-release-new-album-on-april-14th">"Kendrick Lamar to Release New Album on April 14th"</a>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170408083449/http://www.vladtv.com/article/226651/kendrick-lamar-to-release-new-album-on-april-14th">Archived</a> from the original on April 8, 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2017.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-LATimes-Apr7_15-0">^</a></b> <cite>Kennedy, Gerrick D. (April 7, 2017). <a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-kendrick-lamar-new-album-april-14-story.html">"Kendrick Lamar's new album arrives April 14"</a>. <i>Los Angeles Times</i>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170408043559/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-kendrick-lamar-new-album-april-14-story.html">Archived</a> from the original on April 8, 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2017.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-16">^</a></b> <cite>Holmes, Charles (December 5, 2017). <a href="http://www.mtv.com/news/3050894/kendrick-lamar-damn-reverse-collectors-edition/">"Kendrick Lamar Might Be Releasing A DAMN. Collector's Edition in Reverse"</a>. MTV News. Retrieved December 7, 2017.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-17">^</a></b> <cite>India, Lindsey (December 8, 2017). <a href="http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/new-music/2017/12/kendrick-lamar-surprises-fans-damn-collectors-edition/">"Kendrick Lamar Surprises Fans With 'Damn.' Collectors Edition"</a>. <i>XXL</i>. Retrieved December 11, 2017.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-18">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://pitchfork.com/news/72462-kendrick-lamar-shares-video-for-new-song-humble-watch/">"Kendrick Lamar Shares Video for New Song "HUMBLE.": Watch"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Pitchfork_(website)">Pitchfork</a></i>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170331085327/http://pitchfork.com/news/72462-kendrick-lamar-shares-video-for-new-song-humble-watch/">Archived</a> from the original on March 31, 2017. Retrieved March 31, 2017.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-prod_19-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/kendrick-lamar-humble-prod-by-mike-will-made-it-new-song.1973495.html">"Kendrick Lamar – HUMBLE. (Prod. By Mike Will Made It) [New Song]"</a>. <i>HotNewHipHop</i>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170331035052/http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/kendrick-lamar-humble-prod-by-mike-will-made-it-new-song.1973495.html">Archived</a> from the original on March 31, 2017. Retrieved March 30, 2017.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-20">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7752683/hot-100-ed-sheeran-shape-of-you-kendrick-lamar-humble-debut-sam-hunt">"Ed Sheeran Holds Atop Hot 100 as Kendrick Lamar Debuts at No. 2"</a>. <i>Billboard</i>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170411072156/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7752683/hot-100-ed-sheeran-shape-of-you-kendrick-lamar-humble-debut-sam-hunt">Archived</a> from the original on April 11, 2017. Retrieved April 12, 2017.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-21">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.billboard.com/artist/kendrick-lamar/chart-history/can/">"Kendrick Lamar Chart History: Canadian Hot 100"</a>. <i>Billboard</i>. Retrieved April 23, 2018.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-Rhythmic_Radio_Adds_2_22-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170613194735/https://www.allaccess.com/top40-rhythmic/future-releases">"Top 40 Rhythmic Future Releases"</a>. All Access. Archived from <a href="https://www.allaccess.com/top40-rhythmic/future-releases">the original</a> on June 13, 2017. Retrieved June 13, 2017.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-Urban_Radio_Adds_23-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170613194754/https://www.allaccess.com/urban/future-releases">"Urban/UAC Future Releases"</a>. All Access. Archived from <a href="https://www.allaccess.com/urban/future-releases">the original</a> on June 13, 2017. Retrieved June 13, 2017.</cite>
</li>
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<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-Billboard_81-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Billboard_81-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <cite><a href="https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/7775123/producer-illmind-drum-kit-kendrick-lamar-damn-god-beat">"Producer !llmind Reveals How His Sound Kit Made It to Kendrick Lamar's 'GOD.' Beat"</a>. <i>Billboard</i>. Retrieved January 24, 2018.</cite>
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<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-82">^</a></b> <cite>Kellman, Andy. <a href="https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/damn-mr0004703748">"DAMN. (CD – Aftermath #5761175) | Kendrick Lamar | Release Info"</a>. AllMusic. Retrieved December 5, 2017.</cite>
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<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-83">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2017/04/fox-news-clip-kendrick-lamar-sampled-damn/">"watch the fox news clip kendrick lamar sampled on Damn"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/XXL_(magazine)">XXL</a></i>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170416024621/http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2017/04/fox-news-clip-kendrick-lamar-sampled-damn/">Archived</a> from the original on April 16, 2017. Retrieved April 16, 2017.</cite>
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<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-everysample_84-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-everysample_84-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-everysample_84-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-everysample_84-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <cite><a href="https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/7760393/kendrick-lamar-damn-samples">"Listen to the Samples From Kendrick Lamar's New Album 'DAMN.'"</a>. <i>Billboard</i>. April 14, 2017. Retrieved January 22, 2018.</cite>
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<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-everysample2_85-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-everysample2_85-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-everysample2_85-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <cite><a href="https://genius.com/a/here-are-all-the-samples-on-kendrick-lamar-s-damn">"Here Are All The Samples On Kendrick Lamar's 'DAMN.'"</a>. Genius. April 17, 2017. Retrieved January 22, 2018.</cite>
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<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-86">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://mic.com/articles/174236/kendrick-lamar-s-loyalty-lyrics-every-verse-to-the-damn-track-featuring-rihanna#.mI0IpOyPE">"Kendrick Lamar's "Loyalty" Lyrics: Every verse to the 'Damn.' track featuring Rihanna"</a>. <a href="/wiki/Mic_(media_company)">Mic</a>. Retrieved April 15, 2017.</cite>
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<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-booklet_87-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.docdroid.net/rYHzAok/digital-booklet-damn-copy.pdf.html">"DAMN. digital booklet"</a>. <i>DocDroid</i>. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170414162205/https://www.docdroid.net/rYHzAok/digital-booklet-damn-copy.pdf.html">Archived</a> from the original on April 14, 2017. Retrieved April 14, 2017.</cite>
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<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-ac_Australia_Kendrick_Lamar_89-0">^</a></b> <a href="https://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Kendrick+Lamar&amp;titel=Damn.&amp;cat=a">"Australiancharts.com – Kendrick Lamar – Damn."</a>. Hung Medien. Retrieved April 22, 2017.
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<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-90">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://www.ariacharts.com.au/charts/urban-albums-chart">"ARIA Australian Top 40 Urban Albums"</a>. <a href="/wiki/Australian_Recording_Industry_Association">Australian Recording Industry Association</a>. April 24, 2017. Retrieved April 22, 2017.</cite>
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<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-ac_Flanders_Kendrick_Lamar_92-0">^</a></b> <a href="https://www.ultratop.be/nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Kendrick+Lamar&amp;titel=Damn.&amp;cat=a">"Ultratop.be – Kendrick Lamar – Damn."</a> (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
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<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-ac_BillboardCanada_Kendrick_Lamar_94-0">^</a></b> <a href="https://www.billboard.com/artist/Kendrick-Lamar/chart-history/CNA">"Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Canadian Albums)"</a>. <a href="/wiki/Billboard_(magazine)"><i>Billboard</i></a>. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
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<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-ac_Denmark_Kendrick_Lamar_96-0">^</a></b> <a href="https://danishcharts.dk/showitem.asp?interpret=Kendrick+Lamar&amp;titel=Damn.&amp;cat=a">"Danishcharts.dk – Kendrick Lamar – Damn."</a>. Hung Medien. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
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<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-ac_Netherlands_Kendrick_Lamar_97-0">^</a></b> <a href="https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Kendrick+Lamar&amp;titel=Damn.&amp;cat=a">"Dutchcharts.nl – Kendrick Lamar – Damn."</a> (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
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<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-ac_Finland_Kendrick_Lamar_98-0">^</a></b> "<a href="https://www.ifpi.fi/lista/artistit/Kendrick+Lamar/Damn.">Kendrick Lamar: Damn."</a> (in Finnish). <a href="/wiki/Musiikkituottajat_%E2%80%93_IFPI_Finland">Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland</a>. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
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<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-151">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums">"Top R&amp;B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2021"</a>. <i>Billboard</i>. Retrieved December 3, 2021.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-152">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.aria.com.au/charts/2022/albums-chart">"ARIA Top 100 Albums Chart for 2022"</a>. <a href="/wiki/Australian_Recording_Industry_Association">Australian Recording Industry Association</a>. Retrieved January 4, 2023.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-153">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2022&amp;cat=a">"Jaaroverzichten 2022"</a> (in Dutch). <a href="/wiki/Ultratop">Ultratop</a>. Retrieved January 14, 2023.</cite>
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<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-154">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2022/top-billboard-200-albums/">"Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2022"</a>. <i>Billboard</i>. Retrieved December 2, 2022.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-155">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2022/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums/">"Top R&amp;B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2022"</a>. <i>Billboard</i>. Retrieved December 2, 2022.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-156">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.billboard.com/charts/decade-end/billboard-200">"Decade-End Charts: Billboard 200"</a>. <i>Billboard</i>. Retrieved November 15, 2019.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-ARIA_157-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/sh/k9o2q7p7o4awhqx/AACYpASOFmdjCugztW02I_kpa/Accreditations%202021.pdf">"ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Albums"</a> (PDF). <a href="/wiki/Australian_Recording_Industry_Association">Australian Recording Industry Association</a>. Retrieved February 6, 2022.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-AustriaKendrick_LamarDamn.albumCertRef_158-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://ifpi.at/auszeichnungen/?fwp_per_page=100&amp;fwp_interpret=Kendrick+Lamar&amp;fwp_titel=Damn.&amp;fwp_format=album&amp;">"Austrian album certifications – Kendrick Lamar – Damn"</a> (in German). <a href="/wiki/International_Federation_of_the_Phonographic_Industry">IFPI</a> Austria. Retrieved January 24, 2018.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-BelgiumKendrick_LamarDamnalbumCertRef_159-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.ultratop.be/nl/goud-platina/2022/albums">"Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 2022"</a>. <a href="/wiki/Ultratop">Ultratop</a>. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 1, 2022.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-CanadaKendrick_LamarDamn.albumCertRef_160-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://musiccanada.com/gold-platinum/?_gp_search=Damn.%20Kendrick+Lamar">"Canadian album certifications – Kendrick Lamar – Damn"</a>. <a href="/wiki/Music_Canada">Music Canada</a>. Retrieved March 18, 2021.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-DenmarkKendrick_LamarDamnalbumCertRef_161-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://ifpi.dk/node/9078">"Danish album certifications – Kendrick Lamar – Damn"</a>. <a href="/wiki/IFPI_Danmark">IFPI Danmark</a>. Retrieved April 1, 2020.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-FranceKendrick_LamarDamn.albumCertRef_162-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://snepmusique.com/les-certifications/?categorie=Albums&amp;interprete=Kendrick+Lamar&amp;titre=Damn.">"French album certifications – Kendrick Lamar – Damn"</a> (in French). <a href="/wiki/Syndicat_National_de_l%27%C3%89dition_Phonographique">Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique</a>. Retrieved July 3, 2018.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-ItalyKendrick_LamarDAMNalbumCertRef_163-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.fimi.it/top-of-the-music/certificazioni/certificazioni.kl#/certifications">"Italian album certifications – Kendrick Lamar – DAMN"</a> (in Italian). <a href="/wiki/Federazione_Industria_Musicale_Italiana">Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana</a>. Retrieved June 20, 2022.</cite> Select "2022" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "DAMN" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Album e Compilation" under "Sezione".
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-MexicoKendrick_LamarDAMNalbumCertRef_164-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://amprofon.com.mx/es/pages/certificaciones.php">"Certificaciones"</a> (in Spanish). <a href="/wiki/Asociaci%C3%B3n_Mexicana_de_Productores_de_Fonogramas_y_Videogramas">Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas</a>. Retrieved September 3, 2019.</cite> <i>Type </i>Kendrick Lamar<i> in the box under the </i>ARTISTA<i> column heading and </i>DAMN<i> in the box under the </i>TÍTULO<i> column heading</i>.
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-NetherlandsKendrick_LamarDamn.albumCertRef_165-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://nvpi.nl/nvpi-audio/marktinformatie/goud-platina/">"Dutch album certifications – Kendrick Lamar – Damn"</a> (in Dutch). <a href="/wiki/NVPI">Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers</a>. Retrieved August 6, 2018.</cite> <i>Enter </i>Damn. <i> in the "Artiest of titel" box.</i> <i>Select</i> 2018 <i>in the drop-down menu saying "Alle statussen"</i>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-New_ZealandKendrick_LamarDamn.albumCertRef_166-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/albums?chart=5463">"New Zealand album certifications – Kendrick Lamar – Damn"</a>. <a href="/wiki/Recorded_Music_NZ">Recorded Music NZ</a>. Retrieved December 18, 2022.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-NorwayKendrick_LamarDamn.albumCertRef_167-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://ifpi.no/trofe/trofeoversikt/?searchterm=Kendrick+Lamar">"Norwegian album certifications – Kendrick Lamar – Damn"</a> (in Norwegian). <a href="/wiki/International_Federation_of_the_Phonographic_Industry">IFPI</a> Norway. Retrieved January 13, 2018.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-PolandKendrick_LamarDamn.albumCertRef_168-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://bestsellery.zpav.pl/wyroznienia/zloteplyty/cd/archiwum.php?year=2022">"Wyróżnienia – Złote płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2022 roku"</a> (in Polish). <a href="/wiki/Polish_Society_of_the_Phonographic_Industry">Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry</a>. Retrieved September 7, 2022.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-SingaporeKendrick_LamarDamnalbumCertRef_169-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.rias.org.sg/rias-accreditations/">"Singapore album certifications – Kendrick Lamar – Damn"</a>. <a href="/wiki/Recording_Industry_Association_Singapore">Recording Industry Association Singapore</a>. Retrieved December 23, 2020.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-SwedenKendrick_LamarDamn.albumCertRef_170-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/search?query=Kendrick+Lamar">"Sverigetopplistan – Kendrick Lamar"</a> (in Swedish). <a href="/wiki/Sverigetopplistan">Sverigetopplistan</a>. Retrieved November 9, 2021.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-United_KingdomKendrick_LamarDamn.albumCertRef_171-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/14285-3292-2">"British album certifications – Kendrick Lamar – Damn"</a>. <a href="/wiki/British_Phonographic_Industry">British Phonographic Industry</a>. Retrieved October 6, 2020.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-iTunes_172-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/damn/id1223592280">"Damn by Kendrick Lamar on Apple Music"</a>. iTunes. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170412143952/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/damn/id1223592280">Archived</a> from the original on April 12, 2017. Retrieved April 11, 2017.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-173">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/DAMN-Kendrick-Lamar/dp/B06Y4DGVZC">"DAMN. by Kendrick Lamar: Amazon.co.uk: Music"</a>.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-174">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.universal-music.co.jp/kendrick-lamar/products/uics-1325/">"ダム [CD] – ケンドリック・ラマー"</a> (in Japanese). Universal Music Japan. Retrieved August 3, 2020.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-175">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.amazon.com/DAMN-2-LP-Kendrick-Lamar/dp/B0716SPKYW">"DAMN. by Kendrick Lamar: Amazon.com: Music"</a>.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-Collectors_Edition_176-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/damn-collectors-edition/1319488087">"DAMN. COLLECTORS EDITION. by Kendrick Lamar on Apple Music"</a>. iTunes. Retrieved December 8, 2017.</cite><br />– <cite><a href="https://www.amazon.com/DAMN-COLLECTORS-Kendrick-Lamar/dp/B077F5H68Q">"Kendrick Lamar – DAMN. COLLECTORS EDITION. – Amazon.com Music"</a>. Amazon. Retrieved July 16, 2019.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-177">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.universal-music.co.jp/kendrick-lamar/products/uics-1342/">"ダム (コレクターズ・エディション) [CD] – ケンドリック・ラマー"</a> (in Japanese). Universal Music Japan. Retrieved August 3, 2020.</cite>
</li>
</ol></div>
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 * (Top)
 * 1 Recording and production
 * 2 Musical style
 * 3 Artwork and title
 * 4 Release and promotion
 + 4.1 Singles
 + 4.2 Other songs
 * 5 Critical reception
 + 5.1 Rankings
 + 5.2 Industry awards
 * 6 Commercial performance
 * 7 Track listing
 * 8 Personnel
 * 9 Charts
 + 9.1 Weekly charts
 + 9.2 Year-end charts
 + 9.3 Decade-end charts
 * 10 Certifications
 * 11 Release history
 * 12 See also
 * 13 References
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 Damn (Kendrick Lamar album)

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 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 "DAMN." redirects here. For other uses, see Damn (disambiguation).

 Damn 
  
 Studio album by Kendrick Lamar 
 Released April 14, 2017 
 Recorded Late 2016 – 2017 
  * Henson (Hollywood) 
 Studio * Jungle City (New York City)
  * No Excuses 
  * Windmark (Santa Monica) 
 Genre Conscious hip hop 
 Length 54 : 54 
  * TDE 
 Label * Aftermath 
  * Interscope 
  * 9th Wonder 
  * The Alchemist 
  * BadBadNotGood 
  * Bekon 
  * Cardo 
  * DJ Dahi 
  * Greg Kurstin 
 Producer * James Blake 
  * Mike Will Made It 
  * Ricci Riera 
  * Sounwave 
  * Steve Lacy 
  * Terrace Martin 
  * Teddy Walton 
  * Top Dawg 
 Kendrick Lamar chronology 
 Untitled Unmastered Damn Black Panther: The Album
 (2016) (2017) (2018) 
  
  
 Collectors Edition cover 
  
  
  
 Singles from Damn 
 1. " Humble " 
 Released: March 30, 2017 
 2. " Loyalty " 
 Released: June 20, 2017 
 3. " Love " 
 Released: October 2, 2017 
  
 

 Damn (stylized as DAMN.) is the fourth studio album by American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It was released on April 14, 2017, through Top Dawg Entertainment, Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. Lamar assembled numerous artists and producers to produce the album, including executive producer and Top Dawg Entertainment label-head Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith, Sounwave, DJ Dahi, Mike Will Made It, and Ricci Riera, as well as further production contributions from James Blake, Steve Lacy, BadBadNotGood, Greg Kurstin, The Alchemist, and 9th Wonder, among others. The album features guest vocals from singer Rihanna and Top Dawg singer Zacari, along with Irish rock band U2.

 The album has been categorized as conscious hip hop, a genre Lamar incorporated on his previous studio album, To Pimp a Butterfly. The album also incorporates elements of trap, contemporary R&B, and pop. Prior to the album's release, Lamar released a promotional single, "The Heart Part 4". In the months that followed, Lamar released three singles from the album; "Humble" was released in March 2017, "Loyalty" in June 2017, and "Love" in October 2017, the first of which became Lamar's first number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 as a lead artist.

 Damn received widespread critical acclaim, with many naming the album one of the best albums of 2017 and the decade. The album became the first non-jazz or classical work to earn a Pulitzer Prize for Music and won Best Rap Album at the 2018 Grammy Awards, as well receiving a nomination for Album of the Year at the ceremony. The album topped the US Billboard 200 with 603,000 album-equivalent units earned in its first week and topped the chart of Canada while reaching number two in Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. It has since been certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in May 2018 and was the Billboard Year-End number one album of 2017. In 2020, the album was ranked 175th on Rolling Stone ' s updated list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.

 Recording and production [ edit ]

 The beat for "Humble" was developed by Mike Will with the intention of recording with Gucci Mane, but later showed it to Kendrick Lamar. After recording, it was initially agreed upon that it would be released on Mike Will's debut album Ransom 2, but others convinced Lamar to keep it for his own next album.[1]

 "DNA" was the second song from the album to be recorded by Lamar and Mike Will, after "Humble". After the first verse of "DNA" was recorded with the beat that Mike Will had already prepared, Lamar started rapping the second verse a cappella, requesting that Mike Will build the beat around the rap. Lamar proposed that it sound like "chaos", and Mike Will put together the second half of the song with the intention to make it "sound like he's battling the beat".[1]

 Lamar has said in interviews that the ability to play the album in reverse tracklist order was "premeditated ... in the studio": "It plays as a full story and even a better rhythm. It's one of my favorite rhythms and tempos within the album".[2]

 Musical style [ edit ]

 Damn has been characterized as conscious rap[3] with elements of trap,[4][5][6] R&B[6][7] and pop.[6]

 Artwork and title [ edit ]

 On April 11, 2017, Lamar revealed the cover artwork for Damn.[8][9] The album cover was designed by Vlad Sepetov, who created the album covers for Lamar's last two projects – To Pimp a Butterfly and Untitled Unmastered. Sepetov described Damn ' s cover as "loud and abrasive" and "not uber political like To Pimp a Butterfly but it has energy".[10] Sepetov goes on to say the decision to put the Parental Advisory sticker in its unconventional position was so it could be a part of the design instead of an "afterthought".[10] Billboard listed the cover as one of the best of 2017, dubbing it "both meme-able and memorable".[11]

 In a radio interview on June 29, 2017, Lamar revealed the original title for the album was going to be What Happens on Earth Stays on Earth, but eventually settled on Damn. He stated the working title "didn't read right".[12] Lamar went on to say about its final title, "There was so many different ways you could put it in my head. Damned if I do, damned if I don't. The loudness of the record. When I think about "DNA", when I think of "Humble", when I think these records, it just felt like that."[12]

 Release and promotion [ edit ]

 See also: The Damn Tour
 Lamar on The Damn Tour in 2017

 On March 23, 2017, Lamar released a promotional single, "The Heart Part 4", which contained lyrics hinting at a possible April 7 release date for his fourth studio album.[13] On April 7, 2017, the album was made available for pre-order and confirmed to be released on April 14.[14][15] On April 11, Lamar revealed the track listing for Damn.[8][9]

 On December 8, 2017, Lamar released the Collectors Edition of the album. The album is the same musically, but has a reversed track order and new artwork.[16][17]

 Singles [ edit ]

 On March 30, 2017, Lamar released the album's lead single, "Humble", accompanied by a music video.[18][19] It reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the Canadian Hot 100 chart.[20][21] "Loyalty" featuring Rihanna, was released as the album's second single on June 20, 2017, to rhythmic and urban contemporary radio.[22][23] The song peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100.[24] "Love" featuring Zacari, was released as the album's third single on October 2, 2017, to rhythmic contemporary radio.[25] It was released to contemporary hit radio on November 21, 2017.[26] The song peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100.[24]

 Other songs [ edit ]

 The music video for the song, "DNA", was released on April 18, 2017.[27] The song entered at number four on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Lamar's second highest-charting song as a solo artist after "Humble".[24]

 The music video for the song, "Element", was released on June 27, 2017.[28] The song peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100.[24]

 Critical reception [ edit ]

 Professional ratings
 Aggregate scores 
 Source Rating 
 AnyDecentMusic? 9.1/10[29]
 Metacritic 95/100[30]
 Review scores 
 Source Rating 
 AllMusic [31] 
 The A.V. Club A[32] 
 Chicago Tribune [33] 
 The Daily Telegraph [34] 
 Entertainment Weekly A[35] 
 The Guardian [36] 
 NME [37] 
 Pitchfork 9.2/10[38]
 Rolling Stone [39] 
 Vice (Expert Witness) A−[40] 
 

 Damn was met with widespread critical acclaim. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an average score of 95, based on 39 reviews.[30] Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 9.1 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.[29]

 Andy Kellman of AllMusic stated that "it contains some of Lamar's best writing and performances, revealing his evolving complexity and versatility as a soul-baring lyricist and dynamic rapper".[31] Christopher R. Weingarten, an author for Rolling Stone, said, "Much like the recent A Tribe Called Quest record, Damn. is a brilliant combination of the timeless and the modern, the old school and the next-level. The most gifted rapper of a generation stomps into the Nineties and continues to blaze a trail forward".[39] In his review, Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune states, "Damn. strips down the rhythms to their essence, flavored with the occasional cameo (notably Rihanna and U2). Lamar's voice does most of the heavy lifting, playing multiple roles and characters. His supple singing complements a variety of rap tones and textures".[33] Jon Caramanica of The New York Times gave a positive review, stating "Tart and punchy. ... Sometimes boisterous, sometimes swampy, rarely fanciful album—it's Mr. Lamar's version of the creeping paranoia that has become de rigueur for midcareer Drake. And yet this is likely Mr. Lamar's most jubilant album, the one in which his rhymes are the least tangled".[41] Eric Renner Brown of Entertainment Weekly said, "After delving into the personal on 2012's Good Kid, M.A.A.D City and going broader on Butterfly, Lamar has found a middle ground on Damn. that yields some of his most emotionally resonant music yet".[35]

 Alexis Petridis of The Guardian wrote: "If it seems a more straightforward listen than To Pimp a Butterfly, there's a cheering sense that this doesn't equate to a lessening of musical ambition. There's none of that album's wilfully jarring quality – its sudden, anxious musical lurches and abrupt, short-circuiting leaps between genres – but the tracks on Damn still feel episodic and expansive. Whether Damn will have the same epochal impact as To Pimp a Butterfly remains to be seen, but either way it sounds like the work of a supremely confident artist at the top of his game."[36] Neil McCormick of The Daily Telegraph stating that Damn "is the work of a future all-time great in full command of his powers".[34] Leonie Cooper of NME said, "Damn. is by far his shortest release to date – but the ideas, thoughts and feelings it contains are massive, weighty things, from sexual tension to deep, dark depression".[37] In Pitchfork ' s review of Damn, Matthew Trammell writes Damn "is a widescreen masterpiece of rap, full of expensive beats, furious rhymes, and peerless storytelling about Kendrick's destiny in America".[38] Writing for The A.V. Club, Evan Rytlewski concluded, "Lamar trusts every idea to stand on its own. When you're making art this substantial, vital, and virtuosic, there's no need to wrap a tidy bow around it".[32] In a mixed review, A. Harmony of Exclaim! wrote that Damn "is the first time in Lamar's career that he hasn't broken new ground, explored old themes in new ways or exhibited sonic growth".[42]

 Rankings [ edit ]

 Select rankings of Damn
 Publication List Rank Ref. 
 The A.V. Club The A.V. Club ' s 20 Best Albums of 2017 1 [43]
 50 Favorite Albums of the 2010s 11 [44]
 Billboard Billboard ' s 50 Best Albums of 2017: Critics' Picks 1 [45]
 The 100 Greatest Albums of the 2010s 48 [46]
 Complex The Best Albums of 2017 1 [47]
 The Irish Times Ticket Awards 2017: The Best Music of the Year 1 [48]
 Paste The 50 Best Albums of 2017 2 [49]
 The 100 Best Albums of the 2010s 12 [50]
 Pitchfork The 50 Best Albums of 2017 1 [51]
 The 200 Best Albums of the 2010s 57 [52]
 Rolling Stone 50 Best Albums of 2017 1 [53]
 500 Greatest Albums of All Time 175 [54]
 The 200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time 60 [55]
 Stereogum The 50 Best Albums of 2017 2 [56]
 The 100 Best Albums of the 2010s 11 [57]
 The Village Voice Pazz & Jop Music Critics' Poll 1 [58]
 The Wire Releases of the Year 1–50 41 [59]
 

 Industry awards [ edit ]

 Awards and nominations for Damn
 Year Ceremony Category Result Ref.
 2017 American Music Awards Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Album Won [60]
 BET Hip Hop Awards Album of the Year Won [61] 
 Danish Music Awards International Album of the Year Won [62] 
 Q Awards Best Album Nominated [63] 
 2018 Fonogram Awards Best Foreign Rap or Hip-Hop Album of the Year Won [64]
 Grammy Awards Album of the Year Nominated [65] 
 Best Rap Album Won 
 iHeartRadio Music Awards Hip-Hop Album of the Year Won [66] 
 Juno Awards International Album of the Year Won [67] 
 NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Album Won [68] 
 Pulitzer Prizes Pulitzer Prize for Music Won [69] 
 

 Commercial performance [ edit ]

 In the United States, Damn debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with 603,000 album-equivalent units in its first week of release, becoming his third consecutive album after To Pimp a Butterfly (2015) and Untitled Unmastered (2016) to reach the nation's summit. It sold 353,000 copies in its first week and accumulated over 340 million streams.[70] In its second week, the album remained at the top of the US charts with 238,000 album-equivalent units of which 87,000 were traditional album sales, bringing the sales to a total of 841,000 units.[71] In its third week, the album continued to top the charts with 173,000 album-equivalent units of which 57,000 were traditional album sales, bringing the sales to a total of 1.014 million units.[72] As of April 2018, Damn had sold 1,002,000 copies and earned 3,137,000 album-equivalent units in the US.[73]

 On May 10, 2018, the album was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales, streaming and track-sales equivalent of three million units.[74] The album also opened atop the Canadian Albums Chart with 35,000 consumption units and 25.4 million streams, becoming the rapper's third consecutive album to arrive at number one.[75] In the United Kingdom, Damn sold 30,000 units in its first week and entered at number two on the UK Albums Chart.[76]

 According to IFPI, it was the seventh best selling album of 2017, with 1.3 million copies shipped globally.[77] Damn was ranked as the number one album of the year on the Billboard 200 in 2017.[78] In 2018, Damn was ranked as the thirteenth most popular album of the year on the Billboard 200.[79]

 Track listing [ edit ]

 Damn track listing
 No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
  * Kendrick Duckworth * Bekon 
 1. "Blood" * Daniel Tannenbaum * Top Dawg 1:58 
  * Anthony Tiffith 
 2. "DNA" * Duckworth Mike Will Made It 3:05 
  * Michael Williams II 
  * Duckworth * Sounwave 
 3. "Yah" * Mark Spears * DJ Dahi 2:40 
  * Dacoury Natche * Top Dawg 
  * Tiffith * Bekon[a] 
  * Duckworth * Sounwave 
  * Spears * Blake 
 4. "Element" * James Blake * Riera 3:28 
  * Ricci Riera * Tae Beast[a] 
  * Bekon[a] 
 5. "Feel" * Duckworth Sounwave 3:34 
  * Spears 
  * Duckworth 
  * Natche 
  * Spears 
  * Robyn Fenty 
  * Terrace Martin 
  * Tiffith * DJ Dahi 
  * Bruno Mars * Sounwave 
 6. "Loyalty" (featuring Rihanna) * Philip Lawrence * Martin 3:47 
  * Christopher Brody Brown * Top Dawg 
  * Russell Jones * Kuk Harrell[c] 
  * Robert Diggs 
  * Shawn Carter 
  * Malik Cox 
  * Calvin Broadus 
  * Ricardo Thomas 
  * Duckworth * Lacy 
 7. "Pride" * Steve Lacy * Top Dawg 4:35 
  * Anna Wise * Bekon[a] 
  * Tiffith 
  * Duckworth * Mike Will Made It 
 8. "Humble" * Williams II * Pluss[b] 2:57 
  * Asheton Hogan 
  * Duckworth 
  * Natche 
  * Spears * DJ Dahi 
 9. "Lust" * Chester Hansen * Sounwave 5:07 
  * Alexander Sowinski * BadBadNotGood 
  * Matthew Tavares 
  * Leland Whitty 
  * Duckworth 
  * Zacari Pacaldo * Teddy Walton 
 10. "Love" (featuring Zacari) * Travis Walton * Sounwave 3:33 
  * Spears * Kurstin 
  * Greg Kurstin * Top Dawg 
  * Tiffith 
  * Duckworth 
  * Williams II 
  * Natche * Mike Will Made It 
  * Spears * DJ Dahi 
 11. "XXX" (featuring U2) * Tiffith * Sounwave 4:14 
  * Paul Hewson * Top Dawg 
  * David Evans * Bekon[a] 
  * Adam Clayton 
  * Larry Mullen Jr. 
  * Duckworth * The Alchemist 
 12. "Fear" * Daniel Maman * Bekon[a] 7:40 
  * Dale Warren 
  * Duckworth 
  * Riera * Riera 
  * Spears * Sounwave 
  * Natche * DJ Dahi 
  * Tannenbaum * Bekon 
 13. "God" * Ronald LaTour * Cardo 4:08 
  * Tiffith * Top Dawg 
  * Daveon Jackson * Yung Exclusive[b] 
  * Mike Hector * Hector[b] 
  * Walton * Walton[b] 
  * Brock Korsan 
 14. "Duckworth" * Duckworth * 9th Wonder 4:08 
  * Patrick Douthit * Bekon[a] 
 Total length: 54:54 
 

 Notes

 * ^[a] signifies an additional producer
 * ^[b] signifies an uncredited co-producer[80][81]
 * ^[c] signifies a vocal producer
 * Every song is stylized in all capital letters, with a period at the end of their titles, including featured artist credits. For example, "Loyalty" is stylized as "LOYALTY. FEAT. RIHANNA."
 * Some CD pressings of the album have slight differences: "Pride" runs for 4 minutes and 31 seconds (4:31), "Love" runs for 3 minutes and 31 seconds (3:31), and "Fear" runs for 6 minutes and 54 seconds (6:54), bringing the total album length to 54 minutes and 2 seconds (54:02). This version of the album also features slightly different mixing.[82]

 Sample credits

 * "Blood" and "DNA" contain elements of Fox News commentators Eric Bolling, Kimberly Guilfoyle and Geraldo Rivera criticizing Lamar's 2015 BET Awards performance.[83]
 * "Feel" contains a sample of "Stormy", written and performed by O. C. Smith; and an interpolation from "Don't Let Me Down", written and performed by Fleurie.[84][85]
 * "Loyalty" contains samples of "24K Magic", written by Bruno Mars, Christopher Brody Brown and Philip Lawrence, as performed by Bruno Mars;[86] "Shimmy Shimmy Ya", written by Russell Jones and Robert Diggs, as performed by Ol' Dirty Bastard; and "Get Your Mind Right Mami", written by Shawn Carter, Cordozar Calvin Broadus, Jr., Malik Cox and Ricardo Thomas, as performed by Jay-Z featuring Snoop Dogg and Memphis Bleek.[84]
 * "Fear" contains a sample of "Poverty's Paradise", written by Dale Warren and performed by 24-Carat Black.[84][85]
 * "God" contains a sample of "End of the World", written and performed by Illmind.[81]
 * "Duckworth" contains samples of "Atari", written by Nai Palm and performed by Hiatus Kaiyote; "Be Ever Wonderful", written by Don Robey and Joe Scott, as performed by Ted Taylor; "Ostavi Trag", written by September; and "Let the Drums Speak", written by Bill Curtis and performed by the Fatback Band.[84][85]

 Personnel [ edit ]

 Adapted from the album liner notes and AllMusic.[87][88]

 Production and music

 * 9th Wonder – production ("Duckworth")
 * Anna Wise – additional vocals ("Pride")
 * Alan "The Alchemist" Maman – producer ("Fear")
 * Bekon – additional vocals ("Blood", "Yah", "Pride", "XXX", "Fear", "God", "Duckworth")
 * Carl Duckworth – additional vocals ("Fear")
 * Charles Edward Sydney Isom Jr. – additional vocals ("Fear")
 * Chelsea Blythe – additional vocals ("Feel")
 * DJ Dahi – additional vocals ("Loyalty")
 * Dave Free – associate producer
 * Dr. Dre – executive producer
 * Kam Sangha – production
 * Kamasi Washington – strings ("Lust")
 * Kaytranada – additional vocals ("Lust")
 * Kendrick Lamar – vocals; additional keys ("XXX")
 * Kid Capri – additional vocals ("Element", "Love", "XXX", "Duckworth")
 * Kuk Harrell – vocal production for Rihanna
 * Matt Schaeffer – guitar ("Humble"); additional guitar ("DNA", "Feel")
 * Mike Hector – additional drums ("God")
 * Rat Boy – additional vocals ("Lust")
 * Steve Lacy – background vocals, production ("Pride")
 * Thundercat – bass ("Feel")

 Technical

 * Blake Harden – recording ("Lust", "Duckworth") at Windmark Studios
 * Brendan Silas Perry – additional recording ("Element", "Love", "Duckworth")
 * Cyrus Taghipour – mix assistant
 * Derek "MixedByAli" Ali – mixing
 * James Hunt – engineer, mixing ("Element")
 * Marcos Tovar – vocal recording for Rihanna (at Windmark Studios)
 * Matt Schaeffer – engineer ("Humble"); mixing ("Element")
 * Mike Bozzi – mastering at Bernie Grundman in Hollywood, California
 * Sounwave – mixing ("Feel")
 * Tyler Page – mix assistant
 * Zeke Mishanec – additional recording ("Element", "Love", "Duckworth")

 Art

 * Dave Free – creative direction, photography
 * Kendrick Lamar – creative direction
 * Roberto Reyes – photography
 * Vladimir Sepetov – creative direction

 Charts [ edit ]

 Weekly charts [ edit ] Year-end charts [ edit ] 
   
 Chart performance for Damn 2017 year-end chart performance for Damn 
 Chart (2017) Peak Chart (2017) Position 
  position Australian Albums (ARIA)[118] 10 
 Australian Albums (ARIA)[89] 2 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[119] 25 
 Australian Urban Albums (ARIA)[90] 1 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[120] 136 
 Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[91] 6 Canadian Albums (Billboard)[121] 5 
 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[92] 2 Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[122] 13 
 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[93] 16 Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[123] 17 
 Canadian Albums (Billboard)[94] 1 French Albums (SNEP)[124] 69 
 Czech Albums (ČNS IFPI)[95] 3 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[125] 87 
 Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[96] 2 Icelandic Albums (Plötutíóindi)[126] 15 
 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[97] 2 Italian Albums (FIMI)[127] 68 
 Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[98] 3 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[128] 8 
 French Albums (SNEP)[99] 3 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[129] 11 
 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[100] 6 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[130] 89 
 Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[101] 33 UK Albums (OCC)[131] 27 
 Irish Albums (OCC)[102] 2 US Billboard 200[78] 1 
 Italian Albums (FIMI)[103] 15 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[132] 1 
 Japanese Albums (Oricon)[104] 55 
 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[105] 2 2018 year-end chart performance for Damn 
 Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[106] 2 Chart (2018) Position
 Polish Albums (ZPAV)[107] 24 Australian Albums (ARIA)[133] 37 
 Portuguese Albums (AFP)[108] 5 Canadian Albums (Billboard)[134] 20 
 Scottish Albums (OCC)[109] 3 Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[135] 44 
 South Korean Albums International (Gaon)[110] 3 French Albums (SNEP)[136] 168 
 Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[111] 15 Icelandic Albums (Plötutíóindi)[137] 50 
 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[112] 2 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[138] 23 
 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[113] 3 South Korean International Albums (Gaon)[139] 34 
 UK Albums (OCC)[114] 2 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[140] 55 
 UK R&B Albums (OCC)[115] 1 UK Albums (OCC)[141] 76 
 US Billboard 200[116] 1 US Billboard 200[79] 13 
 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[117] 1 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[142] 9 
   
  2019 year-end chart performance for Damn 
  Chart (2019) Position 
  Australian Albums (ARIA)[143] 91 
  Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[144] 167 
  US Billboard 200[145] 55 
  US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[146] 24 
   
  2020 year-end chart performance for Damn 
  Chart (2020) Position 
  Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[147] 171 
  US Billboard 200[148] 84 
  US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[149] 72 
   
  2021 year-end chart performance for Damn 
  Chart (2021) Position 
  US Billboard 200[150] 82 
  US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[151] 59 
   
  2022 year-end chart performance for Damn 
  Chart (2022) Position 
  Australian Albums (ARIA)[152] 72 
  Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[153] 129 
  US Billboard 200[154] 52 
  US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[155] 24 
   
   
  Decade-end charts [ edit ] 
   
  Decade-end chart performance for Damn 
  Chart (2010–2019) Position 
  US Billboard 200[156] 10 
   
   
 

 Certifications [ edit ]

 Certifications and sales for Damn
 Region Certification Certified units/sales
 Australia (ARIA)[157] 2× Platinum 140,000 
 Austria (IFPI Austria)[158] Gold 7,500 
 Belgium (BEA)[159] 2× Platinum 60,000 
 Canada (Music Canada)[160] 4× Platinum 320,000 
 Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[161] 2× Platinum 40,000 
 France (SNEP)[162] Platinum 100,000 
 Italy (FIMI)[163] Platinum 50,000 
 Mexico (AMPROFON)[164] Gold 30,000 
 Netherlands (NVPI)[165] Gold 20,000 
 New Zealand (RMNZ)[166] 5× Platinum 75,000 
 Norway (IFPI Norway)[167] Platinum 30,000* 
 Poland (ZPAV)[168] Gold 10,000 
 Singapore (RIAS)[169] Gold 5,000* 
 Sweden (GLF)[170] Gold 20,000 
 United Kingdom (BPI)[171] Platinum 300,000 
 United States (RIAA)[74] 3× Platinum 3,000,000 
 * Sales figures based on certification alone. 
 Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
  
 

 Release history [ edit ]

 Release dates and formats for Damn
 Region Date Label(s) Format(s) Edition Ref. 
  * TDE * Digital download 
 Various April 14, 2017 * Aftermath * streaming Standard [172]
  * Interscope 
 April 21, 2017 CD [173] 
 Japan May 24, 2017 Universal Music Japan CD [174] 
  * TDE 
 Various July 14, 2017 * Aftermath Vinyl LP [175] 
  * Interscope 
 * Digital download 
 December 8, 2017 * streaming Collectors Edition [176] 
 * CD 
 Japan July 18, 2018 Universal Music Japan CD [177] 
 

 See also [ edit ]

 * List of Billboard 200 number-one albums of 2017
 * List of number-one albums of 2017 (Canada)

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 163. ^ "Italian album certifications – Kendrick Lamar – DAMN" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana . Retrieved June 20, 2022 . Select "2022" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "DAMN" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Album e Compilation" under "Sezione".
 164. ^ "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas . Retrieved September 3, 2019 . Type Kendrick Lamar in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and DAMN in the box under the TÍTULO column heading .
 165. ^ "Dutch album certifications – Kendrick Lamar – Damn" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers . Retrieved August 6, 2018 . Enter Damn. in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 2018 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle statussen"
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 167. ^ "Norwegian album certifications – Kendrick Lamar – Damn" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway . Retrieved January 13, 2018 .
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 176. ^ "DAMN. COLLECTORS EDITION. by Kendrick Lamar on Apple Music". iTunes . Retrieved December 8, 2017 .
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 177. ^ "ダム (コレクターズ・エディション) [CD] – ケンドリック・ラマー" (in Japanese). Universal Music Japan . Retrieved August 3, 2020 .
 * v 
 * t 
 * e 
 Kendrick Lamar 
 * Discography 
 * Songs 
 * Videography 
 * Awards and nominations
  * Section.80 (2011) 
  * Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012) 
 Studio albums * To Pimp a Butterfly (2015) 
  * Damn (2017) 
  * Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers (2022) 
 Compilations * Untitled Unmastered (2016) 
 Soundtracks * Black Panther: The Album (2018) 
 EPs * Kendrick Lamar (2009) 
 Mixtapes * C4 (2009) 
  * Overly Dedicated (2010) 
  * The Damn Tour 
  * The Championship Tour 
 Concerts and tours * Super Bowl LVI halftime show 
  * The Big Steppers Tour 
  * Kendrick Lamar Live: The Big Steppers Tour
  * PGLang 
  * Black Hippy 
 Related articles * Top Dawg Entertainment 
  * Dr. Dre 
  * Baby Keem 
  * Dave Free 
 
 Awards for Damn  
 * v  
 * t  
 * e  
 BET Award for Album of the Year  
 * Lemonade – Beyoncé (2017)  
 * DAMN. – Kendrick Lamar (2018)  
 * Invasion of Privacy – Cardi B (2019)  
 * Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial – Roddy Ricch (2020) 
 * Heaux Tales – Jazmine Sullivan (2021)  
 * An Evening with Silk Sonic – Silk Sonic (2022)  
   
 * v  
 * t  
 * e  
 BET Hip Hop Award for Album of the Year  
 * King (2006)  
 * T.I. vs. T.I.P. / Finding Forever (2007)  
 * Tha Carter III (2008)  
 * Paper Trail (2009)  
 * The Blueprint 3 (2010)  
 * My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2011)  
 * Watch the Throne (2012)  
 * good kid, m.A.A.d city (2013)  
 * Nothing Was the Same (2014)  
 * 2014 Forest Hills Drive (2015)  
 * Views (2016)  
 * DAMN. (2017)  
 * Everything Is Love (2018)  
 * Astroworld (2019)  
 * Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial (2020)  
 * Call Me If You Get Lost (2021)  
 * Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers (2022)  
   
 * v  
 * t  
 * e  
 Grammy Award for Best Rap Album  
  * Poverty's Paradise – Naughty by Nature (1996) 
 1990s * The Score – Fugees (1997) 
  * No Way Out – Puff Daddy and the Family (1998) 
  * Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life – Jay-Z (1999) 
  * The Slim Shady LP – Eminem (2000) 
  * The Marshall Mathers LP – Eminem (2001) 
  * Stankonia – Outkast (2002) 
  * The Eminem Show – Eminem (2003) 
 2000s * Speakerboxxx/The Love Below – Outkast (2004) 
  * The College Dropout – Kanye West (2005) 
  * Late Registration – Kanye West (2006) 
  * Release Therapy – Ludacris (2007) 
  * Graduation – Kanye West (2008) 
  * Tha Carter III – Lil Wayne (2009) 
  * Relapse – Eminem (2010) 
  * Recovery – Eminem (2011) 
  * My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy – Kanye West (2012) 
  * Take Care – Drake (2013) 
 2010s * The Heist – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (2014) 
  * The Marshall Mathers LP 2 – Eminem (2015) 
  * To Pimp a Butterfly – Kendrick Lamar (2016) 
  * Coloring Book – Chance the Rapper (2017) 
  * Damn – Kendrick Lamar (2018) 
  * Invasion of Privacy – Cardi B (2019) 
  * Igor – Tyler, the Creator (2020) 
 2020s * King's Disease – Nas (2021) 
  * Call Me If You Get Lost – Tyler, the Creator (2022) 
  * Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers – Kendrick Lamar (2023) 
   
 * v  
 * t  
 * e  
 Juno Award for International Album of the Year  
  * 1975: Paul McCartney and Wings – Band on the Run 
  * 1976: Elton John – Greatest Hits 
 1970s * 1977: Peter Frampton – Frampton Comes Alive! 
  * 1978: Fleetwood Mac – Rumours 
  * 1979: Bee Gees – Saturday Night Fever 
  * 1980: Supertramp – Breakfast in America 
  * 1981: Pink Floyd – The Wall 
  * 1982: John Lennon & Yoko Ono – Double Fantasy 
  * 1983: Men at Work – Business as Usual 
 1980s * 1984: The Police – Synchronicity 
  * 1985: Bruce Springsteen – Born in the U.S.A. 
  * 1986: Dire Straits – Brothers in Arms 
  * 1987: Madonna – True Blue 
  * 1988: no award ceremony held 
  * 1989: Various Artists – Dirty Dancing 
  * 1990: Milli Vanilli – Girl You Know It's True (Disqualified) 
  * 1991: MC Hammer – Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em 
  * 1992: Vanilla Ice – To the Extreme 
  * 1993: Bryan Adams – Waking Up the Neighbours 
 1990s * 1994: Whitney Houston – The Bodyguard 
  * 1995: Celine Dion – The Colour of My Love 
  * 1996: The Cranberries – No Need to Argue 
  * 1997: Celine Dion – Falling into You 
  * 1998: Spice Girls – Spice 
  * 1999: Celine Dion – Let's Talk About Love 
  * 2000: Backstreet Boys – Millennium 
  * 2001: Eminem – The Marshall Mathers LP 
  * 2002: Shaggy – Hot Shot 
  * 2003: Eminem – The Eminem Show 
 2000s * 2004: 50 Cent – Get Rich or Die Tryin' 
  * 2005: Green Day – American Idiot 
  * 2006: Black Eyed Peas – Monkey Business / Coldplay – X&Y 
  * 2007: Dixie Chicks – Taking the Long Way 
  * 2008: Rihanna – Good Girl Gone Bad 
  * 2009: Coldplay – Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends 
  * 2010: Kings of Leon – Only by the Night 
  * 2011: Katy Perry – Teenage Dream 
  * 2012: Adele – 21 
  * 2013: Mumford & Sons – Babel 
 2010s * 2014: Bruno Mars – Unorthodox Jukebox 
  * 2015: Sam Smith – In the Lonely Hour 
  * 2016: Adele – 25 
  * 2017: Coldplay – A Head Full of Dreams 
  * 2018: Kendrick Lamar – Damn 
  * 2019: Post Malone – Beerbongs & Bentleys 
  * 2020: Billie Eilish – When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?
 2020s * 2021: Harry Styles – Fine Line 
  * 2022: Olivia Rodrigo – Sour 
   
 * v  
 * t  
 * e  
 Pulitzer Prize for Music (2011–2020)  
 * Zhou Long ('11): Madame White Snake  
 * Kevin Puts ('12): Silent Night  
 * Caroline Shaw ('13): Partita for 8 Voices  
 * John Luther Adams ('14): Become Ocean  
 * Julia Wolfe ('15): Anthracite Fields  
 * Henry Threadgill ('16): In for a Penny, In for a Pound 
 * Du Yun ('17): Angel's Bone  
 * Kendrick Lamar ('18): DAMN.  
 * Ellen Reid ('19): Prism  
 * Anthony Davis ('20): The Central Park Five  
 * Complete list  
 * (1943–1950)  
 * (1951–1960)  
 * (1961–1970)  
 * (1971–1980)  
 * (1981–1990)  
 * (1991–2000)  
 * (2001–2010)  
 * (2011–2020)  
 * (Citations)  
   
 
 * v 
 * t 
 * e 
 Billboard Year-End number one albums
  * 1956: Calypso – Harry Belafonte 
  * 1957: Music from My Fair Lady – Original Cast 
  * 1958: Music from My Fair Lady – Original Cast 
  * 1959: The Music from Peter Gunn – Henry Mancini 
  * 1960: Music from The Sound of Music – Original Cast 
  * 1961: Camelot – Original Cast 
  * 1962: West Side Story – Soundtrack 
  * 1963: West Side Story – Soundtrack 
  * 1964: Music from Hello, Dolly! – Original Cast 
 1956–1975 * 1965: Mary Poppins: Original Cast Soundtrack – Soundtrack 
  * 1966: Whipped Cream & Other Delights – Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass
  * 1967: More of the Monkees – The Monkees 
  * 1968: Are You Experienced – The Jimi Hendrix Experience 
  * 1969: In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida – Iron Butterfly 
  * 1970: Bridge over Troubled Water – Simon & Garfunkel 
  * 1971: Jesus Christ Superstar – Soundtrack 
  * 1972: Harvest – Neil Young 
  * 1973: The World Is a Ghetto – War 
  * 1974: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road – Elton John 
  * 1975: Greatest Hits – Elton John 
  * 1976: Frampton Comes Alive! – Peter Frampton 
  * 1977: Rumours – Fleetwood Mac 
  * 1978: Saturday Night Fever – Soundtrack 
  * 1979: 52nd Street – Billy Joel 
  * 1980: The Wall – Pink Floyd 
  * 1981: Hi Infidelity – REO Speedwagon 
  * 1982: Asia – Asia 
  * 1983: Thriller – Michael Jackson 
  * 1984: Thriller – Michael Jackson 
  * 1985: Born in the U.S.A. – Bruce Springsteen 
  * 1986: Whitney Houston – Whitney Houston 
  * 1987: Slippery When Wet – Bon Jovi 
 1976–2000 * 1988: Faith – George Michael 
  * 1989: Don't Be Cruel – Bobby Brown 
  * 1990: Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 – Janet Jackson 
  * 1991: Mariah Carey – Mariah Carey 
  * 1992: Ropin' the Wind – Garth Brooks 
  * 1993: The Bodyguard – Soundtrack 
  * 1994: The Sign – Ace of Base 
  * 1995: Cracked Rear View – Hootie & the Blowfish 
  * 1996: Jagged Little Pill – Alanis Morissette 
  * 1997: Spice – Spice Girls 
  * 1998: Titanic: Music from the Motion Picture – James Horner 
  * 1999: Millennium – Backstreet Boys 
  * 2000: No Strings Attached – NSYNC 
  * 2001: 1 – The Beatles 
  * 2002: The Eminem Show – Eminem 
  * 2003: Get Rich or Die Tryin' – 50 Cent 
  * 2004: Confessions – Usher 
  * 2005: The Massacre – 50 Cent 
  * 2006: Some Hearts – Carrie Underwood 
  * 2007: Daughtry – Daughtry 
  * 2008: As I Am – Alicia Keys 
  * 2009: Fearless – Taylor Swift 
  * 2010: I Dreamed a Dream – Susan Boyle 
 2001–present * 2011: 21 – Adele 
  * 2012: 21 – Adele 
  * 2013: The 20/20 Experience – Justin Timberlake 
  * 2014: Frozen – Soundtrack 
  * 2015: 1989 – Taylor Swift 
  * 2016: 25 – Adele 
  * 2017: Damn – Kendrick Lamar 
  * 2018: Reputation – Taylor Swift 
  * 2019: When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? – Billie Eilish 
  * 2020: Hollywood's Bleeding – Post Malone 
  * 2021: Dangerous: The Double Album – Morgan Wallen 
  * 2022: Un Verano Sin Ti – Bad Bunny 
 
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
	 
   Damn          Studio album by   Kendrick Lamar      Released April 14, 2017   Recorded Late 2016 – 2017   Studio  
  Henson (Hollywood)
 Jungle City (New York City)
No Excuses
Windmark (Santa Monica) 
     Genre   Conscious hip hop    Length 54:54    Label  
  TDE 
 Aftermath 
 Interscope  
    Producer  
  9th Wonder 
 The Alchemist 
 BadBadNotGood 
 Bekon 
 Cardo 
 DJ Dahi 
 Greg Kurstin 
 James Blake 
 Mike Will Made It 
 Ricci Riera 
 Sounwave 
 Steve Lacy 
 Terrace Martin 
 Teddy Walton 
Top Dawg 
    Kendrick Lamar chronology   
 
  Untitled Unmastered  (2016)
  Damn  (2017)
  Black Panther: The Album  (2018)
           Collectors Edition cover              Singles from  Damn      
 "Humble"Released: March 30, 2017
"Loyalty"Released: June 20, 2017
"Love"Released: October 2, 2017 
    
  Damn  (stylized as  DAMN. ) is the fourth studio album by American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It was released on April 14, 2017, through Top Dawg Entertainment, Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. Lamar assembled numerous artists and producers to produce the album, including executive producer and Top Dawg Entertainment label-head Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith, Sounwave, DJ Dahi, Mike Will Made It, and Ricci Riera, as well as further production contributions from James Blake, Steve Lacy, BadBadNotGood, Greg Kurstin, The Alchemist, and 9th Wonder, among others. The album features guest vocals from singer Rihanna and Top Dawg singer Zacari, along with Irish rock band U2.
 The album has been categorized as conscious hip hop, a genre Lamar incorporated on his previous studio album,  To Pimp a Butterfly . The album also incorporates elements of trap, contemporary R&amp;B, and pop. Prior to the album's release, Lamar released a promotional single, "The Heart Part 4". In the months that followed, Lamar released three singles from the album; "Humble" was released in March 2017, "Loyalty" in June 2017, and "Love" in October 2017, the first of which became Lamar's first number-one single on the US  Billboard Hot 100 as a lead artist.
  Damn received widespread critical acclaim, with many naming the album one of the best albums of 2017 and the decade. The album became the first non-jazz or classical work to earn a Pulitzer Prize for Music and won Best Rap Album at the 2018 Grammy Awards, as well receiving a nomination for Album of the Year at the ceremony. The album topped the US  Billboard 200 with 603,000 album-equivalent units earned in its first week and topped the chart of Canada while reaching number two in Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. It has since been certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in May 2018 and was the  Billboard Year-End number one album of 2017. In 2020, the album was ranked 175th on  Rolling Stone 's updated list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time.
Recording and production[edit]
The beat for "Humble" was developed by Mike Will with the intention of recording with Gucci Mane, but later showed it to Kendrick Lamar. After recording, it was initially agreed upon that it would be released on Mike Will's debut album  Ransom 2 , but others convinced Lamar to keep it for his own next album. [1] 
 "DNA" was the second song from the album to be recorded by Lamar and Mike Will, after "Humble". After the first verse of "DNA" was recorded with the beat that Mike Will had already prepared, Lamar started rapping the second verse a cappella, requesting that Mike Will build the beat around the rap. Lamar proposed that it sound like "chaos", and Mike Will put together the second half of the song with the intention to make it "sound like he's battling the beat". [1] 
 Lamar has said in interviews that the ability to play the album in reverse tracklist order was "premeditated ... in the studio": "It plays as a full story and even a better rhythm. It's one of my favorite rhythms and tempos within the album". [2] 
Musical style[edit]
 Damn has been characterized as conscious rap  [3]  with elements of trap, [4]   [5]   [6]  R&amp;B  [6]   [7]  and pop. [6] 
Artwork and title[edit]
On April 11, 2017, Lamar revealed the cover artwork for Damn. [8]   [9]  The album cover was designed by Vlad Sepetov, who created the album covers for Lamar's last two projects –  To Pimp a Butterfly  and  Untitled Unmastered . Sepetov described Damn's cover as "loud and abrasive" and "not uber political like To Pimp a Butterfly but it has energy". [10]  Sepetov goes on to say the decision to put the Parental Advisory sticker in its unconventional position was so it could be a part of the design instead of an "afterthought". [10]   Billboard  listed the cover as one of the best of 2017, dubbing it "both meme-able and memorable". [11] 
 In a radio interview on June 29, 2017, Lamar revealed the original title for the album was going to be What Happens on Earth Stays on Earth, but eventually settled on Damn. He stated the working title "didn't read right". [12]  Lamar went on to say about its final title, "There was so many different ways you could put it in my head. Damned if I do, damned if I don't. The loudness of the record. When I think about "DNA", when I think of "Humble", when I think these records, it just felt like that." [12] 
Release and promotion[edit]
     
On March 23, 2017, Lamar released a promotional single, "The Heart Part 4", which contained lyrics hinting at a possible April 7 release date for his fourth studio album. [13]  On April 7, 2017, the album was made available for pre-order and confirmed to be released on April 14. [14]   [15]  On April 11, Lamar revealed the track listing for Damn. [8]   [9] 
 On December 8, 2017, Lamar released the Collectors Edition of the album. The album is the same musically, but has a reversed track order and new artwork. [16]   [17] 
Singles[edit]
On March 30, 2017, Lamar released the album's lead single, "Humble", accompanied by a music video. [18]   [19]  It reached number one on the US  Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the Canadian Hot 100 chart. [20]   [21]  "Loyalty" featuring Rihanna, was released as the album's second single on June 20, 2017, to rhythmic and urban contemporary radio. [22]   [23]  The song peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100. [24]  "Love" featuring Zacari, was released as the album's third single on October 2, 2017, to rhythmic contemporary radio. [25]  It was released to contemporary hit radio on November 21, 2017. [26]  The song peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. [24] 
Other songs[edit]
The music video for the song, "DNA", was released on April 18, 2017. [27]  The song entered at number four on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Lamar's second highest-charting song as a solo artist after "Humble". [24] 
 The music video for the song, "Element", was released on June 27, 2017. [28]  The song peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100. [24] 
Critical reception[edit]
 Professional ratings   Aggregate scores   Source Rating    AnyDecentMusic?  9.1/10 [29]      Metacritic  95/100 [30]     Review scores   Source Rating    AllMusic    [31]       The A.V. Club   A [32]       Chicago Tribune     [33]       The Daily Telegraph     [34]       Entertainment Weekly   A [35]       The Guardian     [36]       NME     [37]       Pitchfork   9.2/10 [38]       Rolling Stone     [39]       Vice  (Expert Witness) A− [40]     
 Damn was met with widespread critical acclaim. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an average score of 95, based on 39 reviews. [30]  Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 9.1 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus. [29] 
 Andy Kellman of AllMusic stated that "it contains some of Lamar's best writing and performances, revealing his evolving complexity and versatility as a soul-baring lyricist and dynamic rapper". [31]  Christopher R. Weingarten, an author for  Rolling Stone , said, "Much like the recent A Tribe Called Quest record, Damn. is a brilliant combination of the timeless and the modern, the old school and the next-level. The most gifted rapper of a generation stomps into the Nineties and continues to blaze a trail forward". [39]  In his review, Greg Kot of the  Chicago Tribune  states, "Damn. strips down the rhythms to their essence, flavored with the occasional cameo (notably Rihanna and U2). Lamar's voice does most of the heavy lifting, playing multiple roles and characters. His supple singing complements a variety of rap tones and textures". [33]  Jon Caramanica of  The New York Times  gave a positive review, stating "Tart and punchy. ... Sometimes boisterous, sometimes swampy, rarely fanciful album—it's Mr. Lamar's version of the creeping paranoia that has become de rigueur for midcareer Drake. And yet this is likely Mr. Lamar's most jubilant album, the one in which his rhymes are the least tangled". [41]  Eric Renner Brown of  Entertainment Weekly  said, "After delving into the personal on 2012's  Good Kid, M.A.A.D City  and going broader on  Butterfly , Lamar has found a middle ground on Damn. that yields some of his most emotionally resonant music yet". [35] 
  Alexis Petridis of  The Guardian  wrote: "If it seems a more straightforward listen than To Pimp a Butterfly, there's a cheering sense that this doesn't equate to a lessening of musical ambition. There's none of that album's wilfully jarring quality – its sudden, anxious musical lurches and abrupt, short-circuiting leaps between genres – but the tracks on Damn still feel episodic and expansive. Whether Damn will have the same epochal impact as To Pimp a Butterfly remains to be seen, but either way it sounds like the work of a supremely confident artist at the top of his game." [36]  Neil McCormick of  The Daily Telegraph  stating that Damn "is the work of a future all-time great in full command of his powers". [34]  Leonie Cooper of  NME  said, "Damn. is by far his shortest release to date – but the ideas, thoughts and feelings it contains are massive, weighty things, from sexual tension to deep, dark depression". [37]  In  Pitchfork 's review of Damn, Matthew Trammell writes Damn "is a widescreen masterpiece of rap, full of expensive beats, furious rhymes, and peerless storytelling about Kendrick's destiny in America". [38]  Writing for  The A.V. Club , Evan Rytlewski concluded, "Lamar trusts every idea to stand on its own. When you're making art this substantial, vital, and virtuosic, there's no need to wrap a tidy bow around it". [32]  In a mixed review, A. Harmony of  Exclaim!  wrote that Damn "is the first time in Lamar's career that he hasn't broken new ground, explored old themes in new ways or exhibited sonic growth". [42] 
Rankings[edit]
Industry awards[edit]
Commercial performance[edit]
In the United States, Damn debuted at number one on the  Billboard 200 with 603,000 album-equivalent units in its first week of release, becoming his third consecutive album after To Pimp a Butterfly (2015) and Untitled Unmastered (2016) to reach the nation's summit. It sold 353,000 copies in its first week and accumulated over 340 million streams. [70]  In its second week, the album remained at the top of the US charts with 238,000 album-equivalent units of which 87,000 were traditional album sales, bringing the sales to a total of 841,000 units. [71]  In its third week, the album continued to top the charts with 173,000 album-equivalent units of which 57,000 were traditional album sales, bringing the sales to a total of 1.014 million units. [72]  As of April 2018, Damn had sold 1,002,000 copies and earned 3,137,000 album-equivalent units in the US. [73] 
 On May 10, 2018, the album was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales, streaming and track-sales equivalent of three million units. [74]  The album also opened atop the Canadian Albums Chart with 35,000 consumption units and 25.4 million streams, becoming the rapper's third consecutive album to arrive at number one. [75]  In the United Kingdom, Damn sold 30,000 units in its first week and entered at number two on the UK Albums Chart. [76] 
 According to IFPI, it was the seventh best selling album of 2017, with 1.3 million copies shipped globally. [77]  Damn was ranked as the number one album of the year on the Billboard 200 in 2017. [78]  In 2018, Damn was ranked as the thirteenth most popular album of the year on the Billboard 200. [79] 
Track listing[edit]
 Notes
    ^[a]   signifies an additional producer 
   ^[b]   signifies an uncredited co-producer [80]   [81]  
   ^[c]   signifies a vocal producer
Every song is stylized in all capital letters, with a period at the end of their titles, including featured artist credits. For example, "Loyalty" is stylized as "LOYALTY. FEAT. RIHANNA."
Some CD pressings of the album have slight differences: "Pride" runs for 4 minutes and 31 seconds (4:31), "Love" runs for 3 minutes and 31 seconds (3:31), and "Fear" runs for 6 minutes and 54 seconds (6:54), bringing the total album length to 54 minutes and 2 seconds (54:02). This version of the album also features slightly different mixing. [82]   
 Sample credits
 "Blood" and "DNA" contain elements of Fox News commentators Eric Bolling, Kimberly Guilfoyle and Geraldo Rivera criticizing Lamar's 2015 BET Awards performance. [83]  
"Feel" contains a sample of "Stormy", written and performed by O. C. Smith; and an interpolation from "Don't Let Me Down", written and performed by Fleurie. [84]   [85]  
"Loyalty" contains samples of "24K Magic", written by Bruno Mars, Christopher Brody Brown and Philip Lawrence, as performed by Bruno Mars; [86]  "Shimmy Shimmy Ya", written by Russell Jones and Robert Diggs, as performed by Ol' Dirty Bastard; and "Get Your Mind Right Mami", written by Shawn Carter, Cordozar Calvin Broadus, Jr., Malik Cox and Ricardo Thomas, as performed by Jay-Z featuring Snoop Dogg and Memphis Bleek. [84]  
"Fear" contains a sample of "Poverty's Paradise", written by Dale Warren and performed by 24-Carat Black. [84]   [85]  
"God" contains a sample of "End of the World", written and performed by Illmind. [81]  
"Duckworth" contains samples of "Atari", written by Nai Palm and performed by Hiatus Kaiyote; "Be Ever Wonderful", written by Don Robey and Joe Scott, as performed by Ted Taylor; "Ostavi Trag", written by September; and "Let the Drums Speak", written by Bill Curtis and performed by the Fatback Band. [84]   [85]   
Personnel[edit]
Adapted from the album liner notes and AllMusic. [87]   [88] 
 Production and music
  9th Wonder – production ("Duckworth")
 Anna Wise – additional vocals ("Pride")
 Alan "The Alchemist" Maman – producer ("Fear")
 Bekon – additional vocals ("Blood", "Yah", "Pride", "XXX", "Fear", "God", "Duckworth")
Carl Duckworth – additional vocals ("Fear")
Charles Edward Sydney Isom Jr. – additional vocals ("Fear")
Chelsea Blythe – additional vocals ("Feel")
 DJ Dahi – additional vocals ("Loyalty")
Dave Free – associate producer
 Dr. Dre – executive producer
Kam Sangha – production
 Kamasi Washington – strings ("Lust")
 Kaytranada – additional vocals ("Lust")
Kendrick Lamar – vocals; additional keys ("XXX")
 Kid Capri – additional vocals ("Element", "Love", "XXX", "Duckworth")
Kuk Harrell – vocal production for Rihanna
Matt Schaeffer – guitar ("Humble"); additional guitar ("DNA", "Feel")
Mike Hector – additional drums ("God")
 Rat Boy – additional vocals ("Lust")
 Steve Lacy – background vocals, production ("Pride")
 Thundercat – bass ("Feel") 
 Technical
 Blake Harden – recording ("Lust", "Duckworth") at Windmark Studios
Brendan Silas Perry – additional recording ("Element", "Love", "Duckworth")
Cyrus Taghipour – mix assistant
Derek "MixedByAli" Ali – mixing
James Hunt – engineer, mixing ("Element")
Marcos Tovar – vocal recording for Rihanna (at Windmark Studios)
Matt Schaeffer – engineer ("Humble"); mixing ("Element")
Mike Bozzi – mastering at Bernie Grundman in Hollywood, California
 Sounwave – mixing ("Feel")
Tyler Page – mix assistant
Zeke Mishanec – additional recording ("Element", "Love", "Duckworth") 
 Art
 Dave Free – creative direction, photography
Kendrick Lamar – creative direction
Roberto Reyes – photography
Vladimir Sepetov – creative direction 
Charts[edit]
 
Weekly charts[edit]
Chart performance for Damn
 
Chart (2017)
Peak position
 
Australian Albums (ARIA) [89] 
2
 
Australian Urban Albums (ARIA) [90] 
1
 
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [91] 
6
 
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [92] 
2
 
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [93] 
16
 
 Canadian Albums ( Billboard ) [94] 
1
 
Czech Albums (ČNS IFPI) [95] 
3
 
Danish Albums (Hitlisten) [96] 
2
 
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [97] 
2
 
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) [98] 
3
 
French Albums (SNEP) [99] 
3
 
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [100] 
6
 
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ) [101] 
33
 
Irish Albums (OCC) [102] 
2
 
Italian Albums (FIMI) [103] 
15
 
Japanese Albums (Oricon) [104] 
55
 
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [105] 
2
 
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista) [106] 
2
 
Polish Albums (ZPAV) [107] 
24
 
Portuguese Albums (AFP) [108] 
5
 
 Scottish Albums (OCC) [109] 
3
 
South Korean Albums International (Gaon) [110] 
3
 
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) [111] 
15
 
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [112] 
2
 
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [113] 
3
 
 UK Albums (OCC) [114] 
2
 
 UK R&amp;B Albums (OCC) [115] 
1
 
US  Billboard 200  [116] 
1
 
US Top R&amp;B/Hip-Hop Albums ( Billboard ) [117] 
1
   
Year-end charts[edit]
2017 year-end chart performance for Damn
 
Chart (2017)
Position
 
Australian Albums (ARIA) [118] 
10
 
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [119] 
25
 
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [120] 
136
 
Canadian Albums (Billboard) [121] 
5
 
Danish Albums (Hitlisten) [122] 
13
 
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts) [123] 
17
 
French Albums (SNEP) [124] 
69
 
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [125] 
87
 
Icelandic Albums (Plötutíóindi) [126] 
15
 
Italian Albums (FIMI) [127] 
68
 
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [128] 
8
 
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [129] 
11
 
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [130] 
89
 
UK Albums (OCC) [131] 
27
 
US Billboard 200 [78] 
1
 
US Top R&amp;B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [132] 
1
   
2018 year-end chart performance for Damn
 
Chart (2018)
Position
 
Australian Albums (ARIA) [133] 
37
 
Canadian Albums (Billboard) [134] 
20
 
Danish Albums (Hitlisten) [135] 
44
 
French Albums (SNEP) [136] 
168
 
Icelandic Albums (Plötutíóindi) [137] 
50
 
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [138] 
23
 
South Korean International Albums (Gaon) [139] 
34
 
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [140] 
55
 
UK Albums (OCC) [141] 
76
 
US Billboard 200 [79] 
13
 
US Top R&amp;B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [142] 
9
   
2019 year-end chart performance for Damn
 
Chart (2019)
Position
 
Australian Albums (ARIA) [143] 
91
 
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [144] 
167
 
US Billboard 200 [145] 
55
 
US Top R&amp;B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [146] 
24
   
2020 year-end chart performance for Damn
 
Chart (2020)
Position
 
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [147] 
171
 
US Billboard 200 [148] 
84
 
US Top R&amp;B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [149] 
72
   
2021 year-end chart performance for Damn
 
Chart (2021)
Position
 
US Billboard 200 [150] 
82
 
US Top R&amp;B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [151] 
59
   
2022 year-end chart performance for Damn
 
Chart (2022)
Position
 
Australian Albums (ARIA) [152] 
72
 
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [153] 
129
 
US Billboard 200 [154] 
52
 
US Top R&amp;B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [155] 
24
   
Decade-end charts[edit]
Decade-end chart performance for Damn
 
Chart (2010–2019)
Position
 
US Billboard 200 [156] 
10
   
    
Certifications[edit]
Release history[edit]
See also[edit]
  List of Billboard 200 number-one albums of 2017 
 List of number-one albums of 2017 (Canada)  
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  ^   "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  ^   "Austrian album certifications – Kendrick Lamar – Damn" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved January 24, 2018.
  ^   "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – albums 2022". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
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  ^   "Danish album certifications – Kendrick Lamar – Damn". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  ^   "French album certifications – Kendrick Lamar – Damn" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  ^   "Italian album certifications – Kendrick Lamar – DAMN" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved June 20, 2022. Select "2022" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "DAMN" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Album e Compilation" under "Sezione".
  ^   "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved September 3, 2019. Type Kendrick Lamar in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and DAMN in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.
  ^   "Dutch album certifications – Kendrick Lamar – Damn" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved August 6, 2018. Enter Damn.  in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 2018 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle statussen"
  ^   "New Zealand album certifications – Kendrick Lamar – Damn". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 18, 2022.
  ^   "Norwegian album certifications – Kendrick Lamar – Damn" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  ^   "Wyróżnienia – Złote płyty CD - Archiwum - Przyznane w 2022 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
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  ^   "Sverigetopplistan – Kendrick Lamar" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  ^   "British album certifications – Kendrick Lamar – Damn". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 6, 2020.
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  ^   "ダム [CD] – ケンドリック・ラマー" (in Japanese). Universal Music Japan. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
  ^   "DAMN. by Kendrick Lamar: Amazon.com: Music".
  ^   "DAMN. COLLECTORS EDITION. by Kendrick Lamar on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved December 8, 2017. –  "Kendrick Lamar – DAMN. COLLECTORS EDITION. – Amazon.com Music". Amazon. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  ^   "ダム (コレクターズ・エディション) [CD] – ケンドリック・ラマー" (in Japanese). Universal Music Japan. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
Damn (Kendrick Lamar album) - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damn_(Kendrick_Lamar_album)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Morale_%26_the_Big_Steppers
Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers - Wikipedia
2021-01-04
Authority control MusicBrainz release group
<div><div>
	<p>From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</p>
	</div><div>
<table><tbody><tr><th>Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers</th></tr><tr><td><a href="/wiki/File:Kendrick_Lamar_-_Mr._Morale_%26_the_Big_Steppers.png"></a></td></tr><tr><th><a href="/wiki/Album">Studio album</a> by <div><p><a href="/wiki/Kendrick_Lamar">Kendrick Lamar</a></p></div></th></tr><tr><th>Released</th><td>May 13, 2022</td></tr><tr><th>Recorded</th><td>Early 2019–May 2021</td></tr><tr><th>Studio</th><td><div>
<ul><li>Ameraycan (<a href="/wiki/North_Hollywood,_Los_Angeles">North Hollywood</a>)</li>
<li>Circle House (Miami)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/EastWest_Studios">EastWest</a> (Los Angeles)</li>
<li>IGA (<a href="/wiki/Santa_Monica,_California">Santa Monica</a>)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Larrabee_Sound_Studios">Larrabee Sound</a> (North Hollywood)</li>
<li>LVRN (Atlanta)</li>
<li>No Excuses (Santa Monica)</li>
<li>No Name (<a href="/wiki/Tarzana,_Los_Angeles">Tarzana</a>)</li>
<li>Other Islands (<a href="/wiki/Miami_Beach,_Florida">Miami Beach</a>)</li>
<li>Stellar House (Los Angeles)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Shangri-La_(recording_studio)">Shangri-La</a> (<a href="/wiki/Malibu,_California">Malibu</a>)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/United_Recording_Studios">United</a> (Los Angeles)</li>
<li>Windmark (Santa Monica)</li></ul>
</div></td></tr><tr><th><a href="/wiki/Music_genre">Genre</a></th><td><a href="/wiki/Conscious_hip_hop">Conscious hip hop</a></td></tr><tr><th>Length</th><td>78:37</td></tr><tr><th><a href="/wiki/Record_label">Label</a></th><td>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/PGLang">PGLang</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Top_Dawg_Entertainment">TDE</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Aftermath_Entertainment">Aftermath</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Interscope_Records">Interscope</a></li></ul>
</td></tr><tr><th><a href="/wiki/Record_producer">Producer</a></th><td>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/The_Alchemist_(musician)">The Alchemist</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Baby_Keem">Baby Keem</a></li>
<li>Beach Noise</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Bekon">Bekon</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Boi-1da">Boi-1da</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Cardo_(record_producer)">Cardo</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Best_Kept_Secret_(production_team)">Craig Balmoris</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/DJ_Dahi">DJ Dahi</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/DJ_Khalil">DJ Khalil</a></li>
<li>The Donuts</li>
<li>Duval Timothy</li>
<li>Frano</li>
<li>Grandmaster Vic</li>
<li>Jahaan Sweet</li>
<li>J. Lbs</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Kendrick_Lamar">Oklama</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Pharrell_Williams">Pharrell Williams</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Sounwave">Sounwave</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Tae_Beast">Tae Beast</a></li></ul>
</td></tr><tr><th><a href="/wiki/Kendrick_Lamar">Kendrick Lamar</a> chronology</th></tr><tr><td>
<table>
<tbody><tr>
<td><i><a href="/wiki/Black_Panther_(soundtrack)">Black Panther: The Album</a></i><br />(2018)
</td>
<td><i><b>Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers</b></i><br />(2022)
</td>
<td>
</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr><tr><td></td></tr><tr><th><a href="/wiki/Single_(music)">Singles</a> from <i> Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers </i></th></tr><tr><td><div>
<ol><li>"<a href="/wiki/N95_(song)">N95</a>"<br />Released: May 20, 2022</li>
<li>"<a href="/wiki/Silent_Hill_(song)">Silent Hill</a>"<br />Released: May 31, 2022</li>
<li>"<a href="/wiki/Die_Hard_(song)">Die Hard</a>"<br />Released: August 9, 2022</li></ol>
</div></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p><i><b>Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers</b></i> is the fifth studio album by American rapper <a href="/wiki/Kendrick_Lamar">Kendrick Lamar</a>, released on May 13, 2022, by <a href="/wiki/PGLang">PGLang</a>, <a href="/wiki/Top_Dawg_Entertainment">Top Dawg Entertainment</a> (TDE), <a href="/wiki/Aftermath_Entertainment">Aftermath Entertainment</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Interscope_Records">Interscope Records</a>. The <a href="/wiki/Double_album">double album</a> is Lamar's first studio album release since <i><a href="/wiki/Damn_(Kendrick_Lamar_album)">Damn</a></i> (2017), his first album release under his creative collective PGLang, and his final project with TDE (under which he previously released four albums and was one of their flagship artists).
</p><p>Regarded as Lamar's most confessional body of work, <i>Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers</i> is a <a href="/wiki/Concept_album">concept album</a> that analyzes and reflects on his life experiences during his <a href="/wiki/Psychotherapy">therapy</a> journey. Its lyrics touches on a variety of personal themes, including <a href="/wiki/Childhood_trauma">childhood</a> and <a href="/wiki/Transgenerational_trauma">generational trauma</a>, <a href="/wiki/Infidelity">infidelity</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Celebrity_worship_syndrome">celebrity worship</a>. Primarily a <a href="/wiki/Conscious_hip_hop">conscious hip hop</a> record, the album experiments with <a href="/wiki/Minimal_music">minimalist</a> production while incorporating elements of <a href="/wiki/Jazz">jazz</a>, <a href="/wiki/Contemporary_R%26B">R&amp;B</a>, <a href="/wiki/Trap_music">trap</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Soul_music">soul</a>. It features narration by Whitney Alford and <a href="/wiki/Eckhart_Tolle">Eckhart Tolle</a>, and guest appearances from <a href="/wiki/Blxst">Blxst</a>, <a href="/wiki/Cover_Drive">Amanda Reifer</a>, <a href="/wiki/Sampha">Sampha</a>, <a href="/wiki/Taylour_Paige">Taylour Paige</a>, <a href="/wiki/Summer_Walker">Summer Walker</a>, <a href="/wiki/Ghostface_Killah">Ghostface Killah</a>, <a href="/wiki/Baby_Keem">Baby Keem</a>, <a href="/wiki/Kodak_Black">Kodak Black</a>, <a href="/wiki/Sam_Dew">Sam Dew</a>, <a href="/wiki/Tanna_Leone">Tanna Leone</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Beth_Gibbons">Beth Gibbons</a> of <a href="/wiki/Portishead_(band)">Portishead</a>. Lamar, who executive produced the album under the <a href="/wiki/Pseudonym">pseudonym</a> Oklama, reunited with frequent collaborators <a href="/wiki/Sounwave">Sounwave</a>, J. Lbs, <a href="/wiki/DJ_Dahi">DJ Dahi</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Bekon">Bekon</a> for the majority of the album's production. 
</p><p>Upon release, <i>Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers</i> was met with widespread acclaim from critics, who praised Lamar's lyricism and the album's scope, although a few found it inconsistent. The album was supported by three <a href="/wiki/Single_(music)">singles</a>: "<a href="/wiki/N95_(song)">N95</a>", which was a top-five hit on the US <a href="/wiki/Billboard_Hot_100"><i>Billboard</i> Hot 100</a>, "<a href="/wiki/Silent_Hill_(song)">Silent Hill</a>", and "<a href="/wiki/Die_Hard_(song)">Die Hard</a>". Other promotional initiatives included headlining performances at <a href="/wiki/Glastonbury_Festival">Glastonbury Festival</a> and <a href="/wiki/Rolling_Loud">Rolling Loud</a>, and a musical guest appearance on the <a href="/wiki/Saturday_Night_Live_(season_48)">season 48 premiere</a> of <i><a href="/wiki/Saturday_Night_Live">Saturday Night Live</a></i>. <i>Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers</i> debuted atop the <a href="/wiki/Billboard_200"><i>Billboard</i> 200</a>, marking Lamar's fourth number-one album in the United States. The album won <a href="/wiki/Grammy_Award_for_Best_Rap_Album">Best Rap Album</a> at the <a href="/wiki/65th_Annual_Grammy_Awards">65th Annual Grammy Awards</a> and received eight nominations, including a historic fourth nomination for <a href="/wiki/Grammy_Award_for_Album_of_the_Year">Album of the Year</a>. To further promote the album, Lamar is embarking on his fifth solo headlining tour, titled <a href="/wiki/The_Big_Steppers_Tour">the Big Steppers Tour</a>, which is visiting Europe, North America and Oceania.
</p>
<h2>Background[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Mr._Morale_%26_the_Big_Steppers&amp;action=edit&amp;section=1">edit</a>]</h2>
<p>Following the release of his fourth studio album <i><a href="/wiki/Damn_(Kendrick_Lamar_album)">Damn</a></i> (2017), <a href="/wiki/Kendrick_Lamar">Kendrick Lamar</a> took a five-year musical hiatus.<sup><a href="#cite_note-1">[1]</a></sup> During this time, he executive produced the <a href="/wiki/Black_Panther_(soundtrack)">soundtrack album</a> for the superhero film <i><a href="/wiki/Black_Panther_(film)">Black Panther</a></i> (2018),<sup><a href="#cite_note-2">[2]</a></sup> became a father of two children with his longtime romantic partner Whitney Alford,<sup><a href="#cite_note-3">[3]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-4">[4]</a></sup> and founded the entertainment company <a href="/wiki/PGLang">PGLang</a> with his creative partner <a href="/wiki/Dave_Free">Dave Free</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-5">[5]</a></sup> Lamar cites a two-year stretch of <a href="/wiki/Writer%27s_block">writer's block</a> as one of the reasons behind his long absence.<sup><a href="#cite_note-6">[6]</a></sup>
</p><p>In December 2020, the <a href="/wiki/Roskilde_Festival">Roskilde Festival</a> announced that Lamar would be headlining the festival's 50th anniversary event in 2021, noting that "new material [was] on the way".<sup><a href="#cite_note-7">[7]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-8">[8]</a></sup> However, the festival was cancelled in May 2021 due to <a href="/wiki/COVID-19_lockdowns">COVID-19 restrictions</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-9">[9]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-10">[10]</a></sup> In an August blog post, Lamar announced that he was in the process of producing his final album under <a href="/wiki/Top_Dawg_Entertainment">Top Dawg Entertainment</a>, writing:
</p>
<blockquote><p>I spend most of my days with fleeting thoughts. Writing. Listening. And collecting old Beach cruisers. The morning rides keep me on a hill of silence. I go months without a phone. Love, loss, and grief have disturbed my comfort zone, but the glimmers of God speak through my music and family. While the world around me evolves, I reflect on what matters the most. The life in which my words will land next. As I produce my final TDE album, I feel joy to have been a part of such a cultural imprint after 17 years. The Struggles. The Success. And most importantly, the Brotherhood. May the Most High continue to use Top Dawg as a vessel for candid creators. As I continue to pursue my life's calling. There's beauty in completion. And always faith in the unknown. Thank you for keeping me in your thoughts. I've prayed for you all. See you soon enough.<sup><a href="#cite_note-announcement-letter-nu-thoughts-11">[11]</a></sup></p></blockquote>
<h2>Recording[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Mr._Morale_%26_the_Big_Steppers&amp;action=edit&amp;section=2">edit</a>]</h2>
<blockquote><p>Rap has truly helped my expansion of self. Beyond the perception of who I believed to be. [...] Music is air to a young nigga at this point. Mr. Morale, the catalyst of my self-expression.</p><p>— <cite>Kendrick Lamar on <i>Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers</i><sup><a href="#cite_note-12">[12]</a></sup></cite></p></blockquote>
<p>Lamar described <i>Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers</i>' songwriting as material he's written in the past that's "just now seeing daylight" due to his own personal insecurities. He and his longtime producer, <a href="/wiki/Sounwave">Sounwave</a>, began recording the album in early 2019 during a week-long brainstorming session in London; the only song from the session that made it onto the album was "Father Time". Both Lamar and Sounwave described making the album as "one of the toughest creative processes imaginable" due to Lamar's privacy, the <a href="/wiki/COVID-19_pandemic">COVID-19 pandemic</a>, and the deaths of <a href="/wiki/Nipsey_Hussle">Nipsey Hussle</a> and <a href="/wiki/Kobe_Bryant">Kobe Bryant</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-W-13">[13]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-Sounwave_GQ-14">[14]</a></sup>
</p><p>During recording sessions, Lamar shielded the album away from most of his family members because he didn't want their influence or feelings to override his own; had he told them about it, then "them shits would've never came out." Sounwave admitted that there were times during the album's creation where "I was almost ready to give up music. Not going to lie to you. I was that lost and that down 'cause there was nobody dropping music and nothing coming out to inspire you." In an attempt to "stay alive and keep my hope alive in music," he took on an <a href="/wiki/Artists_and_repertoire">A&amp;R</a> position for both <i>Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers</i> and <a href="/wiki/Baby_Keem">Baby Keem</a>'s <i><a href="/wiki/The_Melodic_Blue">The Melodic Blue</a></i> (2021).<sup><a href="#cite_note-W-13">[13]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-Sounwave_GQ-14">[14]</a></sup>
</p><p>Lamar credits becoming a father as what made him "question everything the most." When <i>Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers</i> was nearing completion in May 2021, he contemplated scrapping the project because of how personal it was. He ultimately released the album because of how beneficial it would be for his children in the future.<sup><a href="#cite_note-W-13">[13]</a></sup>
</p>
<h2>Music and lyrical themes[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Mr._Morale_%26_the_Big_Steppers&amp;action=edit&amp;section=3">edit</a>]</h2>
<p>The standard edition of <i>Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers</i> is a <a href="/wiki/Double_album">double album</a> consisting of 18 songs split into two sections, titled <i>Big Steppers</i> and <i>Mr. Morale</i>, of nine tracks.<sup><a href="#cite_note-NYTimes-15">[15]</a></sup> The digital version found on streaming services contains "<a href="/wiki/The_Heart_Part_5">The Heart Part 5</a>", originally released as a stand-alone <a href="/wiki/Promotional_recording">promotional single</a>, as a bonus track.<sup><a href="#cite_note-NPR-16">[16]</a></sup> With a playing time of over 78 minutes, it is Lamar's second-longest recorded studio album behind <i><a href="/wiki/To_Pimp_a_Butterfly">To Pimp a Butterfly</a></i> (2015).<sup><a href="#cite_note-17">[17]</a></sup>
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<h3>Composition[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Mr._Morale_%26_the_Big_Steppers&amp;action=edit&amp;section=4">edit</a>]</h3>
<p><i>Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers</i> is a <a href="/wiki/Conscious_hip_hop">conscious hip hop</a> record primarily rooted in <a href="/wiki/Minimal_music">minimalist</a> production.<sup><a href="#cite_note-auto-18">[18]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-19">[19]</a></sup> It also incorporates elements of <a href="/wiki/Free_jazz">free jazz</a>, <a href="/wiki/Funk">funk</a>,<sup><a href="#cite_note-20">[20]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-pitchforkrv-21">[21]</a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Acid_jazz">psychedelic jazz</a>,<sup><a href="#cite_note-Hodgkinson-22">[22]</a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Blues">blues</a>, <a href="/wiki/Quiet_storm">quiet storm</a>,<sup><a href="#cite_note-rollingstonerv-23">[23]</a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Contemporary_R%26B">R&amp;B</a>,<sup><a href="#cite_note-Vulture-24">[24]</a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Soul_music">soul</a>,<sup><a href="#cite_note-pitchforkrv-21">[21]</a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Trap_music">trap</a>,<sup><a href="#cite_note-Moura-25">[25]</a></sup> and <a href="/wiki/West_Coast_hip_hop">West Coast hip hop</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-auto-18">[18]</a></sup> Much of the album was produced by Lamar's frequent collaborators Sounwave, J. Lbs, <a href="/wiki/DJ_Dahi">DJ Dahi</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Bekon">Bekon</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-NPR-16">[16]</a></sup> Other production contributions came from <a href="/wiki/Boi-1da">Boi-1da</a>, Baby Keem, Jahann Sweet, The Donuts, <a href="/wiki/Tae_Beast">Tae Beast</a>, <a href="/wiki/The_Alchemist_(musician)">The Alchemist</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Pharrell_Williams">Pharrell Williams</a>, amongst others.<sup><a href="#cite_note-Variety-26">[26]</a></sup> Alford and spiritual teacher <a href="/wiki/Eckhart_Tolle">Eckhart Tolle</a> are credited as narrators of several tracks.<sup><a href="#cite_note-pitchfork-27">[27]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-NYTimes-15">[15]</a></sup> Songwriting contributions came from a variety of artists such as singer-songwriter <a href="/wiki/Sam_Dew">Sam Dew</a>, production team Beach Noise, and pianist Duval Timothy, in addition to <a href="/wiki/Thundercat_(musician)">Thundercat</a>, <a href="/wiki/River_Tiber_(musician)">Tommy Paxton-Beesley</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Homer_Steinweiss">Homer Steinweiss</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-Variety-26">[26]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-P4K-28">[28]</a></sup>
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<h3>Themes[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Mr._Morale_%26_the_Big_Steppers&amp;action=edit&amp;section=5">edit</a>]</h3>
<p>Due to its "messy but honest" lyrical content, many critics have regarded <i>Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers</i> as Lamar's most confessional body of work.<sup><a href="#cite_note-29">[29]</a></sup> Its concept provides an independent analysis and reflection of his life experiences during his <a href="/wiki/Psychotherapy">therapy</a> journey.<sup><a href="#cite_note-30">[30]</a></sup> Throughout the album, Lamar revolves around personal themes regarding his <a href="/wiki/Childhood_trauma">childhood</a> and <a href="/wiki/Transgenerational_trauma">generational trauma</a>,<sup><a href="#cite_note-Complex22-31">[31]</a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Sexual_addiction">sexual addiction</a> and <a href="/wiki/Infidelity">infidelity</a> to Alford,<sup><a href="#cite_note-32">[32]</a></sup> and struggles with <a href="/wiki/Celebrity_worship_syndrome">celebrity worship</a> and fame.<sup><a href="#cite_note-Guardian-33">[33]</a></sup> Other topics addressed on the album include fatherhood, <a href="/wiki/Toxic_masculinity">toxic masculinity</a>,<sup><a href="#cite_note-indyreview-34">[34]</a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Father_complex">daddy issues</a>,<sup><a href="#cite_note-35">[35]</a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Epiphany_(feeling)">therapeutic breakthroughs</a>, <a href="/wiki/Consolation">spiritual consolation</a>,<sup><a href="#cite_note-36">[36]</a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Gender_identity">gender identity</a>,<sup><a href="#cite_note-37">[37]</a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Accountability">accountability</a>,<sup><a href="#cite_note-38">[38]</a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Fake_news">fake news</a>, <a href="/wiki/Cancel_culture">cancel culture</a>, <a href="/wiki/Capitalism">capitalism</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Performative_activism">performative activism</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-39">[39]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-NPR-16">[16]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-NYTimes-15">[15]</a></sup> Regarding the album's candid viewpoint, Dr. Christopher Driscoll, assistant professor of religion, Africana, and American studies at <a href="/wiki/Lehigh_University">Lehigh University</a>, writes "Within the intensely polarizing times we live today, very few artists across genres have the skill and the willingness to be so responsibly honest. Hip hop's always been better than many cultural spaces when it comes to unflinching honesty. [Lamar] runs with the latitude afforded by the hip hop culture he loves. The results are healing."<sup><a href="#cite_note-40">[40]</a></sup>
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<h3>Songs[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Mr._Morale_%26_the_Big_Steppers&amp;action=edit&amp;section=6">edit</a>]</h3>
<p>In "<a href="/wiki/Auntie_Diaries">Auntie Diaries</a>", Lamar recollects a story concerning his <a href="/wiki/Transgender">transgender</a> uncle and cousin, while referencing issues regarding societal and religious views of gay and trans individuals and those who associate with the <a href="/wiki/LGBT_community">LGBTQ+ community</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-CNN-41">[41]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-Okayplayer-42">[42]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-Independent-43">[43]</a></sup> The eighth track, "<a href="/wiki/We_Cry_Together">We Cry Together</a>", samples <a href="/wiki/Florence_and_the_Machine">Florence and the Machine</a>'s song "<a href="/wiki/High_as_Hope">June</a>". Lyrically, it revolves around a heated argument enacted by Lamar and actress <a href="/wiki/Taylour_Paige">Taylour Paige</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-NYTimes-15">[15]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-NPR-16">[16]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-RollingStone-44">[44]</a></sup>
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<h2>Release and promotion[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Mr._Morale_%26_the_Big_Steppers&amp;action=edit&amp;section=7">edit</a>]</h2>
<p>On April 18, 2022, Lamar revealed the album's title and release date through a <a href="/wiki/PGLang">PGLang</a>-headed letter.<sup><a href="#cite_note-45">[45]</a></sup> Following the announcement, his website was updated with a page entitled "The Heart", which contained 399 empty computer folders.<sup><a href="#cite_note-46">[46]</a></sup> Lamar confirmed the project would be a double album on May 3, by sharing a photo of the album's <a href="/wiki/Mastering_(audio)">master copy</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-47">[47]</a></sup> The album artwork was revealed on May 11.<sup><a href="#cite_note-48">[48]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-49">[49]</a></sup> <i>Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers</i> was released via digital download and streaming on May 13.<sup><a href="#cite_note-50">[50]</a></sup> The album was released on CD on May 27,<sup><a href="#cite_note-CD-51">[51]</a></sup> and on vinyl and cassette tape on August 26.<sup><a href="#cite_note-LP-52">[52]</a></sup>
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<h3>Live performances[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Mr._Morale_%26_the_Big_Steppers&amp;action=edit&amp;section=8">edit</a>]</h3>
<p>On June 23, 2022, Lamar performed four songs from <i>Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers</i>—"Savior", "Rich Spirit", "Count Me Out" and "<a href="/wiki/N95_(song)">N95</a>"— at French fashion house <a href="/wiki/Louis_Vuitton">Louis Vuitton</a>'s Men's Spring/Summer 2023 show, in honor of their late artistic director <a href="/wiki/Virgil_Abloh">Virgil Abloh</a>, during <a href="/wiki/Paris_Fashion_Week">Paris Fashion Week</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-53">[53]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-54">[54]</a></sup> Hours after the performance, he headlined Milano Summer Festival.<sup><a href="#cite_note-55">[55]</a></sup> Lamar headlined <a href="/wiki/Glastonbury_Festival">Glastonbury Festival</a> on June 26, becoming the first hip hop artist to close out the festival.<sup><a href="#cite_note-56">[56]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-57">[57]</a></sup> As apart of his concert tour, he headlined <a href="/wiki/Rolling_Loud">Rolling Loud</a> on July 24.<sup><a href="#cite_note-58">[58]</a></sup> On October 1, Lamar served as the musical guest on the <a href="/wiki/Saturday_Night_Live_(season_48)">season 48 premiere</a> of <i><a href="/wiki/Saturday_Night_Live">Saturday Night Live</a></i>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-59">[59]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-60">[60]</a></sup>
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<h3>Singles[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Mr._Morale_%26_the_Big_Steppers&amp;action=edit&amp;section=9">edit</a>]</h3>
<p>To help anticipate <i>Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers</i>' arrival, Lamar <a href="/wiki/Surprise_album">surprise released</a> "The Heart Part 5" as a promotional single on May 8, 2022, with an accompanying music video.<sup><a href="#cite_note-61">[61]</a></sup> The fifth installment to his "The Heart" song series was met with widespread critical acclaim and peaked at number 15 on the US <a href="/wiki/Billboard_Hot_100"><i>Billboard</i> Hot 100</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-62">[62]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-63">[63]</a></sup> On May 14, Lamar released the music video for "N95".<sup><a href="#cite_note-64">[64]</a></sup> The song, which debuted at number three on the Hot 100, was sent to Italian <a href="/wiki/Contemporary_hit_radio">contemporary hit radio</a> on May 20, as the album's lead single.<sup><a href="#cite_note-65">[65]</a></sup> The second single "<a href="/wiki/Silent_Hill_(song)">Silent Hill</a>" was serviced to American <a href="/wiki/Rhythmic_contemporary">rhythmic radio</a> formats on May 31.<sup><a href="#cite_note-66">[66]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-67">[67]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-68">[68]</a></sup> "<a href="/wiki/Die_Hard_(song)">Die Hard</a>" was sent to American rhythmic contemporary radio on August 9, as the album's third single.<sup><a href="#cite_note-69">[69]</a></sup>
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<h3>Tour[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Mr._Morale_%26_the_Big_Steppers&amp;action=edit&amp;section=10">edit</a>]</h3>
<p>On May 13, 2022, following and in promotion of the album's release, Lamar announced his fifth solo headlining tour, the Big Steppers Tour, which visited Europe, North America and Oceania. Baby Keem and <a href="/wiki/Tanna_Leone">Tanna Leone</a> served as the opening acts for three of the tour's four legs.<sup><a href="#cite_note-70">[70]</a></sup> The October 22 performance at <a href="/wiki/Accor_Arena">Accor Arena</a> in Paris, France was <a href="/wiki/Livestreaming">livestreamed</a> on <a href="/wiki/Amazon_Music">Amazon Music</a>'s <a href="/wiki/Twitch_(service)">Twitch</a> channel to commemorate the ten-year anniversary of the release of Lamar's second studio album <i><a href="/wiki/Good_Kid,_M.A.A.D_City">Good Kid, M.A.A.D City</a></i> (2012).<sup><a href="#cite_note-71">[71]</a></sup> A director's cut of the performance was released as a concert film, titled <i>Kendrick Lamar Live: The Big Steppers Tour</i>, exclusively to <a href="/wiki/Amazon_Prime_Video">Amazon Prime Video</a> on November 23.<sup><a href="#cite_note-72">[72]</a></sup>
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<h2>Reception[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Mr._Morale_%26_the_Big_Steppers&amp;action=edit&amp;section=11">edit</a>]</h2>
<h3>Critical response[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Mr._Morale_%26_the_Big_Steppers&amp;action=edit&amp;section=12">edit</a>]</h3>
<table><caption>Professional ratings</caption><tbody><tr><th>Aggregate scores</th></tr><tr><th>Source</th><th>Rating</th></tr><tr><td><a href="/wiki/AnyDecentMusic%3F">AnyDecentMusic?</a></td><td>8.7/10<sup><a href="#cite_note-AnyDecentMusic?-73">[73]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><td><a href="/wiki/Metacritic">Metacritic</a></td><td>85/100<sup><a href="#cite_note-Metacritic-74">[74]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><th>Review scores</th></tr><tr><th>Source</th><th>Rating</th></tr><tr><td><a href="/wiki/AllMusic">AllMusic</a></td><td><sup><a href="#cite_note-Thomas-75">[75]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/wiki/Beats_Per_Minute_(website)">Beats Per Minute</a></i></td><td>88%<sup><a href="#cite_note-76">[76]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/wiki/The_Daily_Telegraph">The Daily Telegraph</a></i></td><td><sup><a href="#cite_note-The_Daily_Telegraph-77">[77]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/wiki/Evening_Standard">Evening Standard</a></i></td><td><sup><a href="#cite_note-78">[78]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/wiki/The_Guardian">The Guardian</a></i></td><td><sup><a href="#cite_note-Guardian-33">[33]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/wiki/The_Independent">The Independent</a></i></td><td><sup><a href="#cite_note-indyreview-34">[34]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/wiki/NME">NME</a></i></td><td><sup><a href="#cite_note-Williams-79">[79]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/wiki/Pitchfork_(website)">Pitchfork</a></i></td><td>7.6/10<sup><a href="#cite_note-pitchforkrv-21">[21]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/wiki/Rolling_Stone">Rolling Stone</a></i></td><td><sup><a href="#cite_note-rollingstonerv-23">[23]</a></sup></td></tr><tr><td><i><a href="/wiki/The_Times">The Times</a></i></td><td><sup><a href="#cite_note-Hodgkinson-22">[22]</a></sup></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p><i>Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers</i> was met with widespread critical acclaim.<sup><a href="#cite_note-80">[80]</a></sup> At <a href="/wiki/Metacritic">Metacritic</a>, which assigns a <a href="/wiki/Standard_score">normalized</a> rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an <a href="/wiki/Weighted_arithmetic_mean">average</a> score of 85, based on 26 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".<sup><a href="#cite_note-Metacritic-74">[74]</a></sup> Aggregator <a href="/wiki/AnyDecentMusic%3F">AnyDecentMusic?</a> gave it 8.7 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.<sup><a href="#cite_note-AnyDecentMusic?-73">[73]</a></sup>
</p><p>Ben Bryant of <i><a href="/wiki/The_Independent">The Independent</a></i> called the album a "tender opus from the defining poet of his generation", writing, "The rapper's first album in five years is a haunting and surprising meditation on fatherhood and family".<sup><a href="#cite_note-indyreview-34">[34]</a></sup> In a five-star review for <i><a href="/wiki/The_Guardian">The Guardian</a></i>, <a href="/wiki/Alexis_Petridis">Alexis Petridis</a> praised the themes, lyricism and style.<sup><a href="#cite_note-Guardian-33">[33]</a></sup> Robin Murray from <i><a href="/wiki/Clash_(magazine)">Clash</a></i> enjoyed the album, saying, "<i>Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers</i> is one of his most profound, complex, revelatory statements yet, a double album fueled by sonic ambition, the will to communicate, and Kendrick's staunch refusal to walk the easy path".<sup><a href="#cite_note-Murray-81">[81]</a></sup> Steve Loftin of <i><a href="/wiki/The_Line_of_Best_Fit">The Line of Best Fit</a></i> said, "It being one so vulnerable and exposing (including using his family for the artwork), stripping the skin down to the bone, is bold, beautiful, but most importantly, a reminder that an artist like Kendrick Lamar is once in a generation".<sup><a href="#cite_note-LOBF-82">[82]</a></sup> Reviewing the album for <i><a href="/wiki/NME">NME</a></i>, Kyann-Sian Williams stated, "The rapper's first album in five years sees him overcome 'writer's block' to triumph with a collection on which his observational skills go into overdrive".<sup><a href="#cite_note-Williams-79">[79]</a></sup> Rob Moura of <i><a href="/wiki/PopMatters">PopMatters</a></i> said, "On <i>Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers</i>, renowned rapper Kendrick Lamar observes the strife plaguing his kingdom and consciously abdicates the throne".<sup><a href="#cite_note-Moura-25">[25]</a></sup> Writing for <i><a href="/wiki/Exclaim!">Exclaim!</a></i>, Riley Wallace stated, "Kendrick Lamar lets it all out, and even if it's the last time we hear from him in this form, he's metaphorically put his whole heart on the table, with yet another body of work worthy of multiple spins and endless dissection".<sup><a href="#cite_note-Wallace-83">[83]</a></sup> Fred Thomas from <a href="/wiki/AllMusic">AllMusic</a> also stated that "While not always an easy listen, the album shows more of its intention as it goes, and ultimately makes sense as the next logical step forward in Lamar's increasingly multi-dimensional artistic evolution".<sup><a href="#cite_note-Thomas-75">[75]</a></sup>
</p><p>In a four-star review for <i><a href="/wiki/The_Daily_Telegraph">The Daily Telegraph</a></i>, Will Pritchard praised the album's concept and the Kendrick's ability to take "big swings" on songs such as "Father Time" and "Worldwide Steppers". Pritchard lightly criticized the "occasional blip" on the album, citing the command to "stop tap dancing around the conversation" in "We Cry Together" as the album's most obvious misstep.<sup><a href="#cite_note-The_Daily_Telegraph-77">[77]</a></sup> In a positive review, <i><a href="/wiki/Pitchfork_(website)">Pitchfork</a></i>'s Stephen Kearse said, "On his fifth album, Kendrick retreats from the limelight and turns to himself, highlighting his insecurities and beliefs. It's ambitious, impressive, and a bit unwieldy".<sup><a href="#cite_note-pitchforkrv-21">[21]</a></sup> <i><a href="/wiki/Rolling_Stone">Rolling Stone</a></i> critic Jeff Ihaza said, "The <a href="/wiki/Pulitzer_Prize">Pulitzer Prize</a>-winning rapper spends much of his fifth studio album deconstructing his own mythology. The result is at moments brilliant but on the whole, frustratingly uneven".<sup><a href="#cite_note-rollingstonerv-23">[23]</a></sup> In a more mixed review, Miloslaw Archibald Rugallini of <a href="/wiki/Sputnikmusic">Sputnikmusic</a> praised the album's writing and performance, but criticized the production and perceived lack of cohesion, stating that "the instrumentals rarely serve the performances they exist to enhance", and that "the listening experience is defined by languorous stretches between big moments, and becomes more of an exercise in patience than an engaging and enlivening journey".<sup><a href="#cite_note-84">[84]</a></sup> <a href="/wiki/Jon_Caramanica">Jon Caramanica</a> of <i><a href="/wiki/The_New_York_Times">The New York Times</a></i> opined that "<i>Mr. Morale</i> is probably Lamar's least tonally consistent work", "rangy and structurally erratic, full of mid-song beat switches, sorrowful piano and a few moments of dead air".<sup><a href="#cite_note-85">[85]</a></sup>
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<h3>Controversy[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Mr._Morale_%26_the_Big_Steppers&amp;action=edit&amp;section=13">edit</a>]</h3>
<p>Despite being met with widespread acclaim, <i>Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers</i> also received backlash. The inclusion of rapper <a href="/wiki/Kodak_Black">Kodak Black</a> on the album garnered controversy due to him having been accused of rape in 2016 and pleading guilty to first-degree assault and battery.<sup><a href="#cite_note-86">[86]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-87">[87]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-88">[88]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-89">[89]</a></sup> While "Auntie Diaries" was met with praise from critics and some transgender listeners,<sup><a href="#cite_note-90">[90]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-91">[91]</a></sup> the song was also met with heavy criticism due to Lamar's repeated usage of "<a href="/wiki/Faggot_(slang)">faggot</a>", in addition to <a href="/wiki/Deadnaming">deadnaming</a> and <a href="/wiki/Misgendering">misgendering</a> his trans relatives and media personality <a href="/wiki/Caitlyn_Jenner">Caitlyn Jenner</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-92">[92]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-93">[93]</a></sup><sup><a href="#cite_note-94">[94]</a></sup>
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<h3>Year-end lists[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Mr._Morale_%26_the_Big_Steppers&amp;action=edit&amp;section=14">edit</a>]</h3>
<h2>Industry awards[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Mr._Morale_%26_the_Big_Steppers&amp;action=edit&amp;section=15">edit</a>]</h2>
<p><i>Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers</i> was the most nominated album by a male artist at the <a href="/wiki/65th_Annual_Grammy_Awards">65th Annual Grammy Awards</a>, receiving eight including <a href="/wiki/Grammy_Award_for_Album_of_the_Year">Album of the Year</a>, <a href="/wiki/Grammy_Award_for_Best_Rap_Album">Best Rap Album</a>, <a href="/wiki/Grammy_Award_for_Song_of_the_Year">Song of the Year</a> and <a href="/wiki/Grammy_Award_for_Record_of_the_Year">Record of the Year</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-105">[105]</a></sup> Lamar became the first artist in any genre to be nominated for Album of the Year with four consecutive lead studio albums since <a href="/wiki/Billy_Joel">Billy Joel</a> (1979–1983).<sup><a href="#cite_note-106">[106]</a></sup>
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<h2>Commercial performance[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Mr._Morale_%26_the_Big_Steppers&amp;action=edit&amp;section=16">edit</a>]</h2>
<p>Upon release, <i>Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers</i> received the largest first day streams of 2022 on <a href="/wiki/Apple_Music">Apple Music</a>, garnering over 60 million streams.<sup><a href="#cite_note-UPROXX1-111">[111]</a></sup> In the United States, the album debuted at number one on the <a href="/wiki/Billboard_200"><i>Billboard</i> 200</a> chart, opening with 295,000 <a href="/wiki/Album-equivalent_unit">album-equivalent units</a> that consisted of 35,000 album sales and 258,000 streaming units (calculated from the 343.02 million on-demand streams the album's tracks received). <i>Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers</i> became Lamar's fourth number-one album in the country, and was the largest opening week for an album in 2022 at the time.<sup><a href="#cite_note-B200-112">[112]</a></sup> The album became the first hip hop album of 2022 to reach one billion streams on <a href="/wiki/Spotify">Spotify</a>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-113">[113]</a></sup>
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<h2>Track listing[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Mr._Morale_%26_the_Big_Steppers&amp;action=edit&amp;section=17">edit</a>]</h2>
<p><i><b>Big Steppers</b></i>
</p>
<p><i><b>Mr. Morale</b></i>
</p>
<div><table><caption>Side three</caption><tbody><tr><th><abbr>No.</abbr></th><th>Title</th><th>Writer(s)</th><th>Producer(s)</th><th>Length</th></tr><tr><th>1.</th><td>"Count Me Out"</td><td><div><ul><li>Duckworth</li><li>Dew</li><li>Spears</li><li>Natche</li><li>Pounds</li></ul></div></td><td><div><ul><li>Oklama</li><li>Sounwave</li><li>DJ Dahi</li><li>J. Lbs</li><li>Maxey<sup><a href="#endnote_b">[b]</a></sup></li></ul></div></td><td>4:43</td></tr><tr><th>2.</th><td>"Crown"</td><td><div><ul><li>Duckworth</li><li>Dew</li><li>Timothy</li></ul></div></td><td>Timothy</td><td>4:24</td></tr><tr><th>3.</th><td>"<a href="/wiki/Silent_Hill_(song)">Silent Hill</a>" (with <a href="/wiki/Kodak_Black">Kodak Black</a>)</td><td><div><ul><li>Duckworth</li><li>Kapri</li><li>Samuels</li><li>Spears</li><li>Sweet</li><li>Schaeffer</li><li>Jo. Kosich</li><li>Ja. Kosich</li></ul></div></td><td><div><ul><li>Boi-1da</li><li>Sounwave</li><li>Sweet</li><li>Beach Noise<sup><a href="#endnote_b">[b]</a></sup></li></ul></div></td><td>3:40</td></tr><tr><th>4.</th><td>"Savior (Interlude)"</td><td><div><ul><li>Duckworth</li><li>Carter</li><li>Spears</li><li>Pounds</li></ul></div></td><td><div><ul><li>Oklama</li><li>Sounwave</li><li>J. Lbs</li></ul></div></td><td>2:32</td></tr><tr><th>5.</th><td>"Savior" (with <a href="/wiki/Baby_Keem">Baby Keem</a> and <a href="/wiki/Sam_Dew">Sam Dew</a>)</td><td><div><ul><li>Duckworth</li><li>Dew</li><li>Tannenbaum</li><li>Spears</li><li><a href="/wiki/Cardo_(record_producer)">Ronald LaTour</a></li><li>Pounds</li><li>Mario Luciano</li><li>Tobias Breuer</li><li><a href="/wiki/River_Tiber_(musician)">Tommy Paxton-Beesley</a></li></ul></div></td><td><div><ul><li><a href="/wiki/Cardo_(record_producer)">Cardo</a></li><li>J. Lbs</li><li>Sounwave</li><li>Oklama</li><li>Luciano<sup><a href="#endnote_a">[a]</a></sup></li><li>Rascal<sup><a href="#endnote_a">[a]</a></sup></li></ul></div></td><td>3:44</td></tr></tbody></table></div>
<div><table><caption>Side four</caption><tbody><tr><th><abbr>No.</abbr></th><th>Title</th><th>Writer(s)</th><th>Producer(s)</th><th>Length</th></tr><tr><th>1.</th><td>"<a href="/wiki/Auntie_Diaries">Auntie Diaries</a>"</td><td><div><ul><li>Duckworth</li><li><a href="/wiki/Homer_Steinweiss">Homer Steinweiss</a></li><li>Daniel Krieger</li><li>Tannenbaum</li><li>Tyler Mehlenbacher</li><li>Sergiu Gherman</li><li><a href="/wiki/Best_Kept_Secret_(production_team)">Craig Balmoris</a></li><li>Schaeffer</li><li>Jo. Kosich</li><li>Ja. Kosich</li></ul></div></td><td><div><ul><li>Bekon</li><li>The Donuts</li><li>Balmoris</li><li>Beach Noise<sup><a href="#endnote_b">[b]</a></sup></li></ul></div></td><td>4:41</td></tr><tr><th>2.</th><td>"Mr. Morale" (with <a href="/wiki/Tanna_Leone">Tanna Leone</a>)</td><td><div><ul><li>Duckworth</li><li><a href="/wiki/Tanna_Leone">Avante Santana</a></li><li>Dew</li><li><a href="/wiki/Pharrell_Williams">Pharrell Williams</a></li></ul></div></td><td>Williams</td><td>3:30</td></tr><tr><th>3.</th><td>"Mother I Sober" (featuring <a href="/wiki/Beth_Gibbons">Beth Gibbons</a>)</td><td><div><ul><li>Duckworth</li><li><a href="/wiki/Beth_Gibbons">Beth Gibbons</a></li><li>Dew</li><li>Bruner</li><li>Spears</li><li>Tannenbaum</li><li>Pounds</li><li>Maxey</li></ul></div></td><td><div><ul><li>Sounwave</li><li>Bekon</li><li>J. Lbs</li><li>Maxey</li></ul></div></td><td>6:46</td></tr><tr><th>4.</th><td>"Mirror"</td><td><div><ul><li>Duckworth</li><li>Krieger</li><li>Stuart Johnson</li><li>Spears</li><li>Natche</li><li>Tannenbaum</li><li>Mehlenbacher</li><li>Gherman</li><li>Balmoris</li></ul></div></td><td><div><ul><li>Sounwave</li><li>DJ Dahi</li><li>Bekon</li><li>The Donuts</li><li>Balmoris<sup><a href="#endnote_b">[b]</a></sup></li></ul></div></td><td>4:16</td></tr><tr><th>Total length:</th><td>38:16</td></tr></tbody></table></div>
<p><b>Notes</b>
</p>
<ul><li><sup><b><a href="#ref_a">^[a]</a></b> </sup> signifies a co-producer</li>
<li><sup><b><a href="#ref_b">^[b]</a></b> </sup> signifies an additional producer</li></ul>
<p><b>Sample credits</b>
</p>
<ul><li>"United in Grief" interpolates "Paradise", written by John Scherer and Tim Maxey, as performed by Not the Twos.</li>
<li>"Worldwide Steppers" contains samples of "Break Through", written by <a href="/wiki/Vincent_Crane">Vincent Crane</a> and Pat Darnell, as performed by <a href="/wiki/The_Funkees">The Funkees</a>; contains samples of "Look Up Look Down", written by Phillip Hunt, as performed by Soft Touch; and contains an uncredited excerpt from the clip "When There is No Cheese at the Cookout", as performed by Radel Ortiz.<sup><a href="#cite_note-114">[114]</a></sup></li>
<li>"Die Hard" contains a sample of "Remember the Rain", written by <a href="/wiki/Marvin_Eugene_Smith">Marvin Eugene Smith</a>, as performed by <a href="/wiki/Kadhja_Bonet">Kadhja Bonet</a>; and contains a sample of "Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko-Bop", written by Robert T. Smith, as performed by <a href="/wiki/Little_Anthony_and_the_Imperials">Little Anthony and the Imperials</a>.</li>
<li>"Father Time" contains samples of "You're Not There", written by Kennis Jones, as performed by Hoskins 'NCrowd.</li>
<li>"We Cry Together" contains a sample of "<a href="/wiki/High_as_Hope">June</a>", written by <a href="/wiki/Florence_Welch">Florence Welch</a>, as performed by <a href="/wiki/Florence_and_the_Machine">Florence and the Machine</a>; and contains samples of "Valentine", written by Gary Peacock, as performed Gary Peacock, Art Lande, and Eliot Zigmund.</li>
<li>"Count Me Out" interpolates "Paradise", written by John Scherer and Tim Maxey, as performed by NOT THE TWOS.</li>
<li>"Crown" contains samples of "Through the Night", as performed by Duval Timothy.</li>
<li>"Savior" contains samples of "Hypnotized", written by <a href="/wiki/River_Tiber_(musician)">Tommy Paxton-Beesley</a>, as performed by <a href="/wiki/River_Tiber_(musician)">River Tiber</a>.</li>
<li>"Mr. Morale" contains an uncredited excerpt from the clip "Dallas Cowboys look pathetic vs the Seahawks", as performed by Josh Shango, courtesy of <i>The Dallas Cowboy Show</i>.<sup><a href="#cite_note-115">[115]</a></sup></li>
<li>"Mother I Sober" interpolates "Paradise", written by John Scherer and Tim Maxey, as performed by NOT THE TWOS.</li>
<li>"The Heart Part 5" interpolates "<a href="/wiki/I_Want_You_(Marvin_Gaye_song)">I Want You</a>", written by <a href="/wiki/Leon_Ware">Leon Ware</a> and <a href="/wiki/Arthur_Ross_(musician)">Arthur Ross</a>, as performed by <a href="/wiki/Marvin_Gaye">Marvin Gaye</a>.</li></ul>
<h2>Personnel[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Mr._Morale_%26_the_Big_Steppers&amp;action=edit&amp;section=18">edit</a>]</h2>
<p>Credits adapted from liner notes.<sup><a href="#cite_note-Album_Credits-116">[116]</a></sup>
</p>
<p><b>Musicians</b></p><div>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/Cover_Drive">Amanda Reifer</a> – vocals (4)</li>
<li>Anneston Pisayavong – choir (10)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Baby_Keem">Baby Keem</a> – drums (4), vocals (13, 14)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Bekon">Bekon</a> – bass (5, 18), keyboards (5, 15, 18), strings (15, 18), background vocals (15, 18), percussion (18)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Beth_Gibbons">Beth Gibbons</a> – featured vocals (17)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Blxst">Blxst</a> – vocals (4)</li>
<li>Brenton Calvin Lockett – choir (10)</li>
<li>Bryce Xavier – choir (10)</li>
<li>Daniel Krieger – guitar (15, 18)</li>
<li>Danny McKinnon – guitar (10), bass (10)</li>
<li>Denise Stoudmire – choir arranger (10)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/DJ_Dahi">DJ Dahi</a> – programming (5, 7, 18), bass (7), percussion (7), drums (10, 18), background vocals (10)</li>
<li>Duval Timothy – piano (1, 5, 6, 11)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Eckhart_Tolle">Eckhart Tolle</a> – narration (10, 13, 16)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Florence_Welch">Florence Welch</a> – sampled vocals (8)</li>
<li>Frano – keyboards (7), programming (7)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Ghostface_Killah">Ghostface Killah</a> – vocals (9)</li>
<li>Grandmaster Vic – strings (4, 17)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Homer_Steinweiss">Homer Steinweiss</a> – drums (15)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Kendrick_Lamar">Kendrick Lamar</a> – vocals (1–5, 7–12, 14–18)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Kodak_Black">Kodak Black</a> – narration (3, 18), vocals (6, 12)</li>
<li>Immryr LoBasso Spencer – choir (10)</li>
<li>Jaheen King Tombs – choir (10)</li>
<li>J. Lbs – bass (10)</li>
<li>Mike Larsen – programming (16)</li>
<li>Paris Burton – choir (10)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Sam_Dew">Sam Dew</a> – background vocals (7), vocals (14)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Sampha">Sampha</a> – featured vocals (5), background vocals (6)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Sounwave">Sounwave</a> – drums (5, 7, 18), programming (18)</li>
<li>Stuart Johnson – percussion (18)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Summer_Walker">Summer Walker</a> – vocals (9)</li>
<li>Sydney Bourne – choir (10)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Tanna_Leone">Tanna Leone</a> – vocals (16)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Taylour_Paige">Taylour Paige</a> – vocals (8)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Thundercat_(musician)">Thundercat</a> – bass (4, 17)</li>
<li>Whitney Alford – narration (1, 5, 8)</li></ul>
</div>
<p><b>Technical</b>
</p>
<div>
<ul><li>Ray Charles Brown Jr. – engineer (1, 3–9, 11–15, 17)</li>
<li>Jonathan Turner – engineer (1, 3–7, 9, 11–13, 15, 17–18)</li>
<li>Matt Schaeffer (Beach Noise) – engineer (1–5, 8–9, 12, 15, 17–18)</li>
<li>Johnny Kosich (Beach Noise) – engineer (1, 4–5, 15)</li>
<li>James Hunt – engineer (5, 14, 15)</li>
<li>Derek Garcia – engineer (6, 8, 12)</li>
<li>Raymond J. Scavo III – engineer (9)</li>
<li>Andrew Boyd – engineer (14), assistant engineer (1–12, 15–17)</li>
<li>Chad Gordon – engineer (15)</li>
<li>Matt Anthony – engineer (15, 18)</li>
<li>Sedrick Moore II – assistant engineer (1, 2, 5)</li>
<li>Wesley Seidman – assistant engineer (4, 12, 18)</li>
<li>Brandon Wood – assistant engineer (5, 8)</li>
<li>Kaushlesh "Gary" Purohit – assistant engineer (5)</li>
<li>Rob Bisel – assistant engineer (5)</li>
<li>Tristan Bott – assistant engineer (5, 8)</li>
<li>Erwing Olivares – assistant engineer (6)</li>
<li>Logan Haynes – assistant engineer (8)</li>
<li>Evan Fulcher – assistant engineer (9)</li>
<li>Johnny Morgan – assistant engineer (11, 18)</li>
<li>Hannah Kacmarsky – assistant engineer (15)</li>
<li>Thomas Warren – assistant engineer (15)</li>
<li>Zach Acosta – assistant engineer (15)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Manny_Marroquin">Manny Marroquin</a> – mixer (1–7, 9–18)</li>
<li>Cyrus "Nois" Taghipour – mixer (8)</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Derek_Ali">Derek "MixedByAli" Ali</a> – mixer (8)</li>
<li>Anthony Vilchis – assistant mixer (1–7, 9–18)</li>
<li>Trey Station – assistant mixer (1–7, 9–18)</li>
<li>Zach Pereyra – assistant mixer (1–7, 9–18)</li>
<li>Brandon Blatz – assistant mixer (8)</li>
<li>Curtis "Sircuit" Bye – assistant mixer (8)</li>
<li>Michelle Mancini – mastering</li></ul>
</div>
<p><b>Miscellaneous</b>
</p>
<div>
<ul><li>Kendrick Lamar – executive production (as Oklama), creative direction</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Dr._Dre">Dr. Dre</a> – executive production</li>
<li><a href="/wiki/Dave_Free">Dave Free</a> – creative direction</li>
<li>Renell Medrano – album photography</li>
<li>Chris Burnett – album design and layout</li></ul>
</div>
<h2>Charts[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Mr._Morale_%26_the_Big_Steppers&amp;action=edit&amp;section=19">edit</a>]</h2>
<h2>Certifications[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Mr._Morale_%26_the_Big_Steppers&amp;action=edit&amp;section=22">edit</a>]</h2>
<h2>Release history[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Mr._Morale_%26_the_Big_Steppers&amp;action=edit&amp;section=23">edit</a>]</h2>
<h2>See also[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Mr._Morale_%26_the_Big_Steppers&amp;action=edit&amp;section=24">edit</a>]</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/wiki/2022_in_hip_hop_music">2022 in hip hop music</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/List_of_number-one_albums_of_2022_(Australia)">List of number-one albums of 2022 (Australia)</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/List_of_number-one_albums_of_2022_(Canada)">List of number-one albums of 2022 (Canada)</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/List_of_number-one_albums_from_the_2020s_(New_Zealand)">List of number-one albums from the 2020s (New Zealand)</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/List_of_UK_R%26B_Albums_Chart_number_ones_of_2022">List of UK R&amp;B Albums Chart number ones of 2022</a></li>
<li><a href="/wiki/List_of_Billboard_200_number-one_albums_of_2022">List of <i>Billboard</i> 200 number-one albums of 2022</a></li></ul>
<h2>References[<a href="/w/index.php?title=Mr._Morale_%26_the_Big_Steppers&amp;action=edit&amp;section=25">edit</a>]</h2>
<div><ol>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b> <cite>Alvarez, Lauren. <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurenalvarez/2020/05/24/where-is-hip-hops-reigning-king-kendrick-lamar/">"Where Is Hip-Hop's Reigning King Kendrick Lamar?"</a>. <i>Forbes</i>. Retrieved December 29, 2022.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b> <cite>Carmichael, Rodney; Madden, Sidney (February 21, 2018). <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2018/02/21/587334273/black-panther-the-album-is-kendrick-lamar-s-parallel-pan-african-universe">"'Black Panther: The Album' Is Kendrick Lamar's Parallel, Pan-African Universe"</a>. <i>NPR</i>. Retrieved December 29, 2022.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b> <cite>Zo (July 27, 2019). <a href="https://www.okayplayer.com/music/kendrick-lamar-fiancee-whitney-alford-welcome-first-child.html">"Kendrick Lamar and Fiancée Whitney Alford Welcome Baby Girl"</a>. <i>Okayplayer</i>. Retrieved December 29, 2022.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b> <cite>Khalifeh, Mona (October 12, 2022). <a href="https://www.etonline.com/kendrick-lamar-details-unconditional-love-for-his-children-in-rare-interview-192546">"Kendrick Lamar Details 'Unconditional Love' for His Children in Rare Interview"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Entertainment_Tonight">Entertainment Tonight</a></i>. Retrieved December 29, 2022.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b> <cite>Alter, Rebecca (March 5, 2020). <a href="https://www.vulture.com/2020/03/kendrick-lamar-pglang-explained.html">"Kendrick Lamar, Pulitzer Prize Winner, Launches Something 'Selfless'"</a>. <i>Vulture</i>. Retrieved December 29, 2022.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b> <cite>Grove, Rashad (May 13, 2022). <a href="http://www.ebony.com/kendrick-lamar-makes-his-triumphant-return-with-mr-morale-and-the-big-steppers/">"Kendrick Lamar Makes His Triumphant Return With 'Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers'"</a>. <i>Ebony</i>. Retrieved December 29, 2022.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.roskilde-festival.dk/en/years/2021/news/kendrick-lamar-roskilde-festival-2021/">"Kendrick Lamar Is a New Headliner at Roskilde Festival"</a>. <a href="/wiki/Roskilde_Festival">Roskilde Festival</a>. December 30, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2021.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b> <cite>Richards, Will (December 31, 2020). <a href="https://www.nme.com/news/music/kendrick-lamar-has-new-material-dropping-soon-say-roskilde-festival-2847064">"Kendrick Lamar has 'new material' dropping soon, say Roskilde Festival"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/NME">NME</a></i>. Retrieved January 4, 2021.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b> <cite>Skinner, Tom (May 4, 2021). <a href="https://www.nme.com/news/music/roskilde-festival-2021-cancelled-due-to-coronavirus-restrictions-2932773">"Roskilde Festival 2021 cancelled due to coronavirus restrictions"</a>. <i>NME</i>. Retrieved December 29, 2022.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-10">^</a></b> <cite>Brandle, Lars (May 4, 2021). <a href="https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/roskilde-festival-2021-cancelled-covid-19-9566896/">"Roskilde Festival 2021 Is Cancelled Due to COVID-19"</a>. <i>Billboard</i>. Retrieved December 29, 2022.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-announcement-letter-nu-thoughts_11-0">^</a></b> <cite>Darville, Jordan (August 20, 2021). <a href="https://www.thefader.com/2021/08/20/kendrick-lamar-final-album-nu-thoughts-oklama">"Kendrick Lamar announces 'final album' for Top Dawg Entertainment"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/The_Fader">The Fader</a></i>. Retrieved May 16, 2022.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-12">^</a></b> <cite>Martinez, Jose (August 3, 2022). <a href="https://www.complex.com/music/kendrick-lamar-shares-reflective-message-tour-photos-instagram">"Kendrick Lamar Shares Reflective Message Alongside Huge Batch of Tour Photos"</a>. <i>Complex</i>. Retrieved October 15, 2022.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-W_13-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-W_13-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-W_13-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <cite>Younger, Briana (October 11, 2022). <a href="https://www.wmagazine.com/culture/kendrick-lamar-interview-2022">"Kendrick Lamar's Life Lessons"</a>. <i>W</i>. Retrieved October 15, 2022.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-Sounwave_GQ_14-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Sounwave_GQ_14-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <cite>Hyman, Dan (August 2, 2022). <a href="https://www.gq.com/story/sounwave-kendrick-lamar-mr-morale-big-steppers-interview">""We Knew This Was Going to Be a Tough Listen": Sounwave On the Making of Kendrick Lamar's Mr. Morale &amp; The Big Steppers"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/GQ">GQ</a></i>. Retrieved August 2, 2022.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-NYTimes_15-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-NYTimes_15-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-NYTimes_15-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-NYTimes_15-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <cite>Sisario, Ben (May 13, 2022). <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/13/arts/music/kendrick-lamar-new-album-mr-morale-and-the-big-steppers.html">"Kendrick Lamar Returns With 'Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers'"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/The_New_York_Times">The New York Times</a></i>. Retrieved May 13, 2022.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-NPR_16-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-NPR_16-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-NPR_16-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-NPR_16-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a> <cite>Cills, Hazel; Pointer, Ashley (May 13, 2022). <a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/05/10/1048194633/kendrick-lamar-new-album-may-2022">"Kendrick Lamar returns, 5 years later and a world away"</a>. <a href="/wiki/NPR_Music">NPR Music</a>. Retrieved May 13, 2022.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-17">^</a></b> <cite>Parks, Topher (May 13, 2022). <a href="https://www.iamtunedup.com/kendrick-lamar-mr-morale-and-the-big-steppers/">"Kendrick Lamar – Mr. Morale &amp; The Big Steppers"</a>. <i>Tuned Up</i>. Retrieved December 2, 2022.</cite>
</li>
<li>^ <a href="#cite_ref-auto_18-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-auto_18-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <cite>Daramola, Israel (May 13, 2022). <a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/kendrick-lamars-mr-morale-and-the-big-steppers-raps-pulitzer-winning-poet-has-never-sounded-so-uneasy">"On 'Mr. Morale &amp; The Big Steppers,' Kendrick Lamar Has Never Sounded So Uneasy"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/The_Daily_Beast">The Daily Beast</a></i>. Retrieved May 15, 2022.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-19">^</a></b> <cite>Amorosi, A. D. (August 11, 2022). <a href="https://philadelphiaweekly.com/kendrick-lamar-myth-mirth-and-mr-morale/">"Kendrick Lamar: Myth, Mirth and Mr. Morale"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Weekly">Philadelphia Weekly</a></i>. Retrieved September 8, 2022.</cite>
</li>
<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-20">^</a></b> <cite>Powell, Kevin (May 14, 2022). <a href="https://www.complex.com/music/kendrick-lamar-mr-morale-big-steppers-essay/">"The Emancipation of Kendrick Lamar"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Complex_(magazine)">Complex</a></i>. Retrieved May 15, 2022.</cite>
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<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-153">^</a></b> <cite><a href="https://www.mtv.de/info/3812dy/jahrescharts-2022-album">"Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts 2022"</a> (in German). <a href="/wiki/GfK_Entertainment_charts">GfK Entertainment charts</a>. Retrieved December 16, 2022.</cite>
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<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-DenmarkKendrick_LamarMr._Morale_&amp;_The_Big_SteppersalbumCertRef_160-0">^</a></b> <cite><a href="http://ifpi.dk/node/11742">"Danish album certifications – Kendrick Lamar – Mr. Morale &amp; The Big Steppers"</a>. <a href="/wiki/IFPI_Danmark">IFPI Danmark</a>. Retrieved October 18, 2022.</cite>
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<li><b><a href="#cite_ref-163">^</a></b> <cite>Aderoju, Darlene (May 13, 2022). <a href="https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/kendrick-lamar-mr-morale-and-the-big-steppers-listen-1235070403/">"Kendrick Lamar's Highly Anticipated Album 'Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers' Is Here: Stream It Now"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Billboard_(magazine)">Billboard</a></i>. Retrieved May 18, 2022.</cite>
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 * (Top)
 * 1 Background
 * 2 Recording
 * 3 Music and lyrical themes
 + 3.1 Composition
 + 3.2 Themes
 + 3.3 Songs
 * 4 Release and promotion
 + 4.1 Live performances
 + 4.2 Singles
 + 4.3 Tour
 * 5 Reception
 + 5.1 Critical response
 + 5.2 Controversy
 + 5.3 Year-end lists
 * 6 Industry awards
 * 7 Commercial performance
 * 8 Track listing
 * 9 Personnel
 * 10 Charts
 + 10.1 Weekly charts
 + 10.2 Year-end charts
 * 11 Certifications
 * 12 Release history
 * 13 See also
 * 14 References
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 Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers

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 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers 
  
 Studio album by Kendrick Lamar 
 Released May 13, 2022 
 Recorded Early 2019–May 2021 
  * Ameraycan (North Hollywood) 
  * Circle House (Miami) 
  * EastWest (Los Angeles) 
  * IGA (Santa Monica) 
  * Larrabee Sound (North Hollywood)
  * LVRN (Atlanta) 
 Studio * No Excuses (Santa Monica) 
  * No Name (Tarzana) 
  * Other Islands (Miami Beach) 
  * Stellar House (Los Angeles) 
  * Shangri-La (Malibu) 
  * United (Los Angeles) 
  * Windmark (Santa Monica) 
 Genre Conscious hip hop 
 Length 78 : 37 
  * PGLang 
 Label * TDE 
  * Aftermath 
  * Interscope 
  * The Alchemist 
  * Baby Keem 
  * Beach Noise 
  * Bekon 
  * Boi-1da 
  * Cardo 
  * Craig Balmoris 
  * DJ Dahi 
  * DJ Khalil 
 Producer * The Donuts 
  * Duval Timothy 
  * Frano 
  * Grandmaster Vic 
  * Jahaan Sweet 
  * J. Lbs 
  * Oklama 
  * Pharrell Williams 
  * Sounwave 
  * Tae Beast 
 Kendrick Lamar chronology 
 Black Panther: The Album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers 
 (2018) (2022) 
  
  
 Singles from Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers 
 1. " N95 " 
 Released: May 20, 2022 
 2. " Silent Hill " 
 Released: May 31, 2022 
 3. " Die Hard " 
 Released: August 9, 2022 
  
 

 Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers is the fifth studio album by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, released on May 13, 2022, by PGLang, Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), Aftermath Entertainment, and Interscope Records. The double album is Lamar's first studio album release since Damn (2017), his first album release under his creative collective PGLang, and his final project with TDE (under which he previously released four albums and was one of their flagship artists).

 Regarded as Lamar's most confessional body of work, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers is a concept album that analyzes and reflects on his life experiences during his therapy journey. Its lyrics touches on a variety of personal themes, including childhood and generational trauma, infidelity, and celebrity worship. Primarily a conscious hip hop record, the album experiments with minimalist production while incorporating elements of jazz, R&B, trap, and soul. It features narration by Whitney Alford and Eckhart Tolle, and guest appearances from Blxst, Amanda Reifer, Sampha, Taylour Paige, Summer Walker, Ghostface Killah, Baby Keem, Kodak Black, Sam Dew, Tanna Leone, and Beth Gibbons of Portishead. Lamar, who executive produced the album under the pseudonym Oklama, reunited with frequent collaborators Sounwave, J. Lbs, DJ Dahi, and Bekon for the majority of the album's production.

 Upon release, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers was met with widespread acclaim from critics, who praised Lamar's lyricism and the album's scope, although a few found it inconsistent. The album was supported by three singles: "N95", which was a top-five hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, "Silent Hill", and "Die Hard". Other promotional initiatives included headlining performances at Glastonbury Festival and Rolling Loud, and a musical guest appearance on the season 48 premiere of Saturday Night Live. Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers debuted atop the Billboard 200, marking Lamar's fourth number-one album in the United States. The album won Best Rap Album at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards and received eight nominations, including a historic fourth nomination for Album of the Year. To further promote the album, Lamar is embarking on his fifth solo headlining tour, titled the Big Steppers Tour, which is visiting Europe, North America and Oceania.

 Background [ edit ]

 Following the release of his fourth studio album Damn (2017), Kendrick Lamar took a five-year musical hiatus.[1] During this time, he executive produced the soundtrack album for the superhero film Black Panther (2018),[2] became a father of two children with his longtime romantic partner Whitney Alford,[3][4] and founded the entertainment company PGLang with his creative partner Dave Free.[5] Lamar cites a two-year stretch of writer's block as one of the reasons behind his long absence.[6]

 In December 2020, the Roskilde Festival announced that Lamar would be headlining the festival's 50th anniversary event in 2021, noting that "new material [was] on the way".[7][8] However, the festival was cancelled in May 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions.[9][10] In an August blog post, Lamar announced that he was in the process of producing his final album under Top Dawg Entertainment, writing:

 I spend most of my days with fleeting thoughts. Writing. Listening. And collecting old Beach cruisers. The morning rides keep me on a hill of silence. I go months without a phone. Love, loss, and grief have disturbed my comfort zone, but the glimmers of God speak through my music and family. While the world around me evolves, I reflect on what matters the most. The life in which my words will land next. As I produce my final TDE album, I feel joy to have been a part of such a cultural imprint after 17 years. The Struggles. The Success. And most importantly, the Brotherhood. May the Most High continue to use Top Dawg as a vessel for candid creators. As I continue to pursue my life's calling. There's beauty in completion. And always faith in the unknown. Thank you for keeping me in your thoughts. I've prayed for you all. See you soon enough.[11]

 Recording [ edit ]

 Rap has truly helped my expansion of self. Beyond the perception of who I believed to be. [...] Music is air to a young nigga at this point. Mr. Morale, the catalyst of my self-expression.

 — Kendrick Lamar on Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers[12]

 Lamar described Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers ' songwriting as material he's written in the past that's "just now seeing daylight" due to his own personal insecurities. He and his longtime producer, Sounwave, began recording the album in early 2019 during a week-long brainstorming session in London; the only song from the session that made it onto the album was "Father Time". Both Lamar and Sounwave described making the album as "one of the toughest creative processes imaginable" due to Lamar's privacy, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the deaths of Nipsey Hussle and Kobe Bryant.[13][14]

 During recording sessions, Lamar shielded the album away from most of his family members because he didn't want their influence or feelings to override his own; had he told them about it, then "them shits would've never came out." Sounwave admitted that there were times during the album's creation where "I was almost ready to give up music. Not going to lie to you. I was that lost and that down 'cause there was nobody dropping music and nothing coming out to inspire you." In an attempt to "stay alive and keep my hope alive in music," he took on an A&R position for both Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers and Baby Keem's The Melodic Blue (2021).[13][14]

 Lamar credits becoming a father as what made him "question everything the most." When Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers was nearing completion in May 2021, he contemplated scrapping the project because of how personal it was. He ultimately released the album because of how beneficial it would be for his children in the future.[13]

 Music and lyrical themes [ edit ]

 The standard edition of Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers is a double album consisting of 18 songs split into two sections, titled Big Steppers and Mr. Morale, of nine tracks.[15] The digital version found on streaming services contains "The Heart Part 5", originally released as a stand-alone promotional single, as a bonus track.[16] With a playing time of over 78 minutes, it is Lamar's second-longest recorded studio album behind To Pimp a Butterfly (2015).[17]

 Composition [ edit ]

 Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers is a conscious hip hop record primarily rooted in minimalist production.[18][19] It also incorporates elements of free jazz, funk,[20][21] psychedelic jazz,[22] blues, quiet storm,[23] R&B,[24] soul,[21] trap,[25] and West Coast hip hop.[18] Much of the album was produced by Lamar's frequent collaborators Sounwave, J. Lbs, DJ Dahi, and Bekon.[16] Other production contributions came from Boi-1da, Baby Keem, Jahann Sweet, The Donuts, Tae Beast, The Alchemist, and Pharrell Williams, amongst others.[26] Alford and spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle are credited as narrators of several tracks.[27][15] Songwriting contributions came from a variety of artists such as singer-songwriter Sam Dew, production team Beach Noise, and pianist Duval Timothy, in addition to Thundercat, Tommy Paxton-Beesley, and Homer Steinweiss.[26][28]

 Themes [ edit ]

 Due to its "messy but honest" lyrical content, many critics have regarded Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers as Lamar's most confessional body of work.[29] Its concept provides an independent analysis and reflection of his life experiences during his therapy journey.[30] Throughout the album, Lamar revolves around personal themes regarding his childhood and generational trauma,[31] sexual addiction and infidelity to Alford,[32] and struggles with celebrity worship and fame.[33] Other topics addressed on the album include fatherhood, toxic masculinity,[34] daddy issues,[35] therapeutic breakthroughs, spiritual consolation,[36] gender identity,[37] accountability,[38] fake news, cancel culture, capitalism, and performative activism.[39][16][15] Regarding the album's candid viewpoint, Dr. Christopher Driscoll, assistant professor of religion, Africana, and American studies at Lehigh University, writes "Within the intensely polarizing times we live today, very few artists across genres have the skill and the willingness to be so responsibly honest. Hip hop's always been better than many cultural spaces when it comes to unflinching honesty. [Lamar] runs with the latitude afforded by the hip hop culture he loves. The results are healing."[40]

 Songs [ edit ]

 In "Auntie Diaries", Lamar recollects a story concerning his transgender uncle and cousin, while referencing issues regarding societal and religious views of gay and trans individuals and those who associate with the LGBTQ+ community.[41][42][43] The eighth track, "We Cry Together", samples Florence and the Machine's song "June". Lyrically, it revolves around a heated argument enacted by Lamar and actress Taylour Paige.[15][16][44]

 Release and promotion [ edit ]

 On April 18, 2022, Lamar revealed the album's title and release date through a PGLang-headed letter.[45] Following the announcement, his website was updated with a page entitled "The Heart", which contained 399 empty computer folders.[46] Lamar confirmed the project would be a double album on May 3, by sharing a photo of the album's master copy.[47] The album artwork was revealed on May 11.[48][49] Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers was released via digital download and streaming on May 13.[50] The album was released on CD on May 27,[51] and on vinyl and cassette tape on August 26.[52]

 Live performances [ edit ]

 On June 23, 2022, Lamar performed four songs from Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers—"Savior", "Rich Spirit", "Count Me Out" and "N95"— at French fashion house Louis Vuitton's Men's Spring/Summer 2023 show, in honor of their late artistic director Virgil Abloh, during Paris Fashion Week.[53][54] Hours after the performance, he headlined Milano Summer Festival.[55] Lamar headlined Glastonbury Festival on June 26, becoming the first hip hop artist to close out the festival.[56][57] As apart of his concert tour, he headlined Rolling Loud on July 24.[58] On October 1, Lamar served as the musical guest on the season 48 premiere of Saturday Night Live.[59][60]

 Singles [ edit ]

 To help anticipate Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers' arrival, Lamar surprise released "The Heart Part 5" as a promotional single on May 8, 2022, with an accompanying music video.[61] The fifth installment to his "The Heart" song series was met with widespread critical acclaim and peaked at number 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100.[62][63] On May 14, Lamar released the music video for "N95".[64] The song, which debuted at number three on the Hot 100, was sent to Italian contemporary hit radio on May 20, as the album's lead single.[65] The second single "Silent Hill" was serviced to American rhythmic radio formats on May 31.[66][67][68] "Die Hard" was sent to American rhythmic contemporary radio on August 9, as the album's third single.[69]

 Tour [ edit ]

 Main articles: The Big Steppers Tour and Kendrick Lamar Live: The Big Steppers Tour

 On May 13, 2022, following and in promotion of the album's release, Lamar announced his fifth solo headlining tour, the Big Steppers Tour, which visited Europe, North America and Oceania. Baby Keem and Tanna Leone served as the opening acts for three of the tour's four legs.[70] The October 22 performance at Accor Arena in Paris, France was livestreamed on Amazon Music's Twitch channel to commemorate the ten-year anniversary of the release of Lamar's second studio album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012).[71] A director's cut of the performance was released as a concert film, titled Kendrick Lamar Live: The Big Steppers Tour, exclusively to Amazon Prime Video on November 23.[72]

 Reception [ edit ]

 Critical response [ edit ]

 Professional ratings
 Aggregate scores 
 Source Rating 
 AnyDecentMusic? 8.7/10[73]
 Metacritic 85/100[74]
 Review scores 
 Source Rating 
 AllMusic [75] 
 Beats Per Minute 88%[76] 
 The Daily Telegraph [77] 
 Evening Standard [78] 
 The Guardian [33] 
 The Independent [34] 
 NME [79] 
 Pitchfork 7.6/10[21]
 Rolling Stone [23] 
 The Times [22] 
 

 Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers was met with widespread critical acclaim.[80] At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an average score of 85, based on 26 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[74] Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 8.7 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.[73]

 Ben Bryant of The Independent called the album a "tender opus from the defining poet of his generation", writing, "The rapper's first album in five years is a haunting and surprising meditation on fatherhood and family".[34] In a five-star review for The Guardian, Alexis Petridis praised the themes, lyricism and style.[33] Robin Murray from Clash enjoyed the album, saying, "Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers is one of his most profound, complex, revelatory statements yet, a double album fueled by sonic ambition, the will to communicate, and Kendrick's staunch refusal to walk the easy path".[81] Steve Loftin of The Line of Best Fit said, "It being one so vulnerable and exposing (including using his family for the artwork), stripping the skin down to the bone, is bold, beautiful, but most importantly, a reminder that an artist like Kendrick Lamar is once in a generation".[82] Reviewing the album for NME, Kyann-Sian Williams stated, "The rapper's first album in five years sees him overcome 'writer's block' to triumph with a collection on which his observational skills go into overdrive".[79] Rob Moura of PopMatters said, "On Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, renowned rapper Kendrick Lamar observes the strife plaguing his kingdom and consciously abdicates the throne".[25] Writing for Exclaim!, Riley Wallace stated, "Kendrick Lamar lets it all out, and even if it's the last time we hear from him in this form, he's metaphorically put his whole heart on the table, with yet another body of work worthy of multiple spins and endless dissection".[83] Fred Thomas from AllMusic also stated that "While not always an easy listen, the album shows more of its intention as it goes, and ultimately makes sense as the next logical step forward in Lamar's increasingly multi-dimensional artistic evolution".[75]

 In a four-star review for The Daily Telegraph, Will Pritchard praised the album's concept and the Kendrick's ability to take "big swings" on songs such as "Father Time" and "Worldwide Steppers". Pritchard lightly criticized the "occasional blip" on the album, citing the command to "stop tap dancing around the conversation" in "We Cry Together" as the album's most obvious misstep.[77] In a positive review, Pitchfork ' s Stephen Kearse said, "On his fifth album, Kendrick retreats from the limelight and turns to himself, highlighting his insecurities and beliefs. It's ambitious, impressive, and a bit unwieldy".[21] Rolling Stone critic Jeff Ihaza said, "The Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper spends much of his fifth studio album deconstructing his own mythology. The result is at moments brilliant but on the whole, frustratingly uneven".[23] In a more mixed review, Miloslaw Archibald Rugallini of Sputnikmusic praised the album's writing and performance, but criticized the production and perceived lack of cohesion, stating that "the instrumentals rarely serve the performances they exist to enhance", and that "the listening experience is defined by languorous stretches between big moments, and becomes more of an exercise in patience than an engaging and enlivening journey".[84] Jon Caramanica of The New York Times opined that "Mr. Morale is probably Lamar's least tonally consistent work", "rangy and structurally erratic, full of mid-song beat switches, sorrowful piano and a few moments of dead air".[85]

 Controversy [ edit ]

 Despite being met with widespread acclaim, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers also received backlash. The inclusion of rapper Kodak Black on the album garnered controversy due to him having been accused of rape in 2016 and pleading guilty to first-degree assault and battery.[86][87][88][89] While "Auntie Diaries" was met with praise from critics and some transgender listeners,[90][91] the song was also met with heavy criticism due to Lamar's repeated usage of "faggot", in addition to deadnaming and misgendering his trans relatives and media personality Caitlyn Jenner.[92][93][94]

 Year-end lists [ edit ]

 Select year-end rankings of Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
 Publication List Rank Ref. 
 Billboard The 50 Best Albums of 2022 4 [95] 
 Complex The Best Albums of 2022 1 [96] 
 Exclaim! Exclaim! ' s 50 Best Albums of 2022 6 [97] 
 The Guardian The 50 Best Albums of 2022 2 [98] 
 The Independent The Best Albums of 2022 3 [99] 
 NME The 50 Best Albums of 2022 5 [100]
 Pitchfork The 50 Best Albums of 2022 13 [101]
 Rolling Stone The 100 Best Albums of 2022 11 [102]
 Slant Magazine The 50 Best Albums of 2022 7 [103]
 Time The 10 Best Albums of 2022 8 [104]
 

 Industry awards [ edit ]

 Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers was the most nominated album by a male artist at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards, receiving eight including Album of the Year, Best Rap Album, Song of the Year and Record of the Year.[105] Lamar became the first artist in any genre to be nominated for Album of the Year with four consecutive lead studio albums since Billy Joel (1979–1983).[106]

 Awards and nominations for Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
 Year Ceremony Category Result Ref. 
 2022 American Music Awards Favorite Hip Hop Album Won [107]
 BET Hip Hop Awards Album of the Year Won [108] 
 People's Choice Awards The Album of 2022 Nominated [109] 
 2023 Grammy Awards Album of the Year Nominated [110]
 Best Rap Abum Won 
 

 Commercial performance [ edit ]

 Upon release, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers received the largest first day streams of 2022 on Apple Music, garnering over 60 million streams.[111] In the United States, the album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, opening with 295,000 album-equivalent units that consisted of 35,000 album sales and 258,000 streaming units (calculated from the 343.02 million on-demand streams the album's tracks received). Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers became Lamar's fourth number-one album in the country, and was the largest opening week for an album in 2022 at the time.[112] The album became the first hip hop album of 2022 to reach one billion streams on Spotify.[113]

 Track listing [ edit ]

 Big Steppers

 Side one
 No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
  * Kendrick Duckworth 
  * Sam Dew * Oklama 
  * Mark Spears * Sounwave 
  * Jason Pounds * J. Lbs 
 1. "United in Grief" * Duval Timothy * Duval Timothy 4:15 
  * Matt Schaeffer * Beach Noise[b] 
  * Johnny Kosich * Tim Maxey[b] 
  * Jake Kosich 
  * Timothy Maxey 
  * Duckworth 
  * Dew * Boi-1da 
 2. "N95" * Matthew Samuels * Sounwave 3:15 
  * Spears * Sweet 
  * Jahaan Sweet * Baby Keem[b] 
  * Hykeem Carter 
  * Duckworth 
  * Dew 
  * Spears * Sounwave 
 3. "Worldwide Steppers" * Donte Perkins * Tae Beast 3:23 
  * Pounds * J. Lbs[b] 
  * Vincent Crane 
  * Pat Darnell 
  * Phillip Hunt 
  * Duckworth 
  * Matthew Burdette 
  * Amanda Reifer 
  * Dew 
  * Stephen Bruner * Sounwave 
  * Victor Ekpo * DJ Dahi 
 4. "Die Hard" (with Blxst and Amanda Reifer) * Spears * Baby Keem 3:59 
  * Dacoury Natche * J. Lbs 
  * Carter * FnZ[a] 
  * Pounds 
  * Michael Mulé 
  * Isaac De Boni 
  * Marvin Eugene Smith 
  * Robert T. "Bob" Smith 
  * Duckworth 
  * Sampha Sisay 
  * Spears * Sounwave 
  * Natche * DJ Dahi 
  * Schaeffer * Beach Noise 
 5. "Father Time" (featuring Sampha) * Jo. Kosich * Bekon 3:42 
  * Ja. Kosich * Timothy 
  * Daniel Tannenbaum * Grandmaster Vic 
  * Timothy 
  * Ekpo 
  * Kennis Jones 
 
 Side two
 No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
  * Bill Kapri 
 1. "Rich (Interlude)" * Dew Timothy 1:43 
  * Timothy 
  * Duckworth 
  * Dew 
  * Spears 
  * Natche * Sounwave 
 2. "Rich Spirit" * Frano Huett * DJ Dahi 3:22 
  * A. Thomas * Frano 
  * D. Dennis 
  * G. Jackson 
  * M. Hall 
  * Duckworth 
  * Daniel Maman * The Alchemist 
 3. "We Cry Together" (with Taylour Paige) * Pounds * J. Lbs[a] 5:41 
  * Tannenbaum * Bekon[b] 
  * Florence Welch 
  * Gary Peacock 
  * Duckworth 
  * Summer Walker 
  * Dennis Coles 
  * Dew * Sounwave 
  * Anthony Dixson * DJ Khalil 
 4. "Purple Hearts" (with Summer Walker and Ghostface Killah) * Spears * J. Lbs[b] 5:29 
  * Khalil Abdul-Rahman * Beach Noise[b] 
  * Pounds 
  * Schaffer 
  * Jo. Kosich 
  * Ja. Kosich 
 Total length: 34:49 
 

 Mr. Morale

 Side three
 No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
  * Duckworth * Oklama 
  * Dew * Sounwave 
 1. "Count Me Out" * Spears * DJ Dahi 4:43 
  * Natche * J. Lbs 
  * Pounds * Maxey[b] 
  * Duckworth 
 2. "Crown" * Dew Timothy 4:24 
  * Timothy 
  * Duckworth 
  * Kapri 
  * Samuels * Boi-1da 
 3. "Silent Hill" (with Kodak Black) * Spears * Sounwave 3:40 
  * Sweet * Sweet 
  * Schaeffer * Beach Noise[b] 
  * Jo. Kosich 
  * Ja. Kosich 
  * Duckworth * Oklama 
 4. "Savior (Interlude)" * Carter * Sounwave 2:32 
  * Spears * J. Lbs 
  * Pounds 
  * Duckworth 
  * Dew * Cardo 
  * Tannenbaum * J. Lbs 
  * Spears * Sounwave 
 5. "Savior" (with Baby Keem and Sam Dew) * Ronald LaTour * Oklama 3:44 
  * Pounds * Luciano[a] 
  * Mario Luciano * Rascal[a] 
  * Tobias Breuer 
  * Tommy Paxton-Beesley 
 
 Side four
 No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
  * Duckworth 
  * Homer Steinweiss 
  * Daniel Krieger 
  * Tannenbaum * Bekon 
 1. "Auntie Diaries" * Tyler Mehlenbacher * The Donuts 4:41 
  * Sergiu Gherman * Balmoris 
  * Craig Balmoris * Beach Noise[b] 
  * Schaeffer 
  * Jo. Kosich 
  * Ja. Kosich 
  * Duckworth 
 2. "Mr. Morale" (with Tanna Leone) * Avante Santana Williams 3:30 
  * Dew 
  * Pharrell Williams 
  * Duckworth 
  * Beth Gibbons 
  * Dew * Sounwave 
 3. "Mother I Sober" (featuring Beth Gibbons) * Bruner * Bekon 6:46 
  * Spears * J. Lbs 
  * Tannenbaum * Maxey 
  * Pounds 
  * Maxey 
  * Duckworth 
  * Krieger 
  * Stuart Johnson * Sounwave 
  * Spears * DJ Dahi 
 4. "Mirror" * Natche * Bekon 4:16 
  * Tannenbaum * The Donuts 
  * Mehlenbacher * Balmoris[b] 
  * Gherman 
  * Balmoris 
 Total length: 38:16 
 
 Digital bonus track
 No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
 * Duckworth 
 * Jo. Kosich 
 1. "The Heart Part 5" * Schaeffer Beach Noise 5:32 
 * Ja. Kosich 
 * Leon Ware 
 * Arthur Ross 
 

 Notes

 * ^[a] signifies a co-producer
 * ^[b] signifies an additional producer

 Sample credits

 * "United in Grief" interpolates "Paradise", written by John Scherer and Tim Maxey, as performed by Not the Twos.
 * "Worldwide Steppers" contains samples of "Break Through", written by Vincent Crane and Pat Darnell, as performed by The Funkees; contains samples of "Look Up Look Down", written by Phillip Hunt, as performed by Soft Touch; and contains an uncredited excerpt from the clip "When There is No Cheese at the Cookout", as performed by Radel Ortiz.[114]
 * "Die Hard" contains a sample of "Remember the Rain", written by Marvin Eugene Smith, as performed by Kadhja Bonet; and contains a sample of "Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko-Bop", written by Robert T. Smith, as performed by Little Anthony and the Imperials.
 * "Father Time" contains samples of "You're Not There", written by Kennis Jones, as performed by Hoskins 'NCrowd.
 * "We Cry Together" contains a sample of "June", written by Florence Welch, as performed by Florence and the Machine; and contains samples of "Valentine", written by Gary Peacock, as performed Gary Peacock, Art Lande, and Eliot Zigmund.
 * "Count Me Out" interpolates "Paradise", written by John Scherer and Tim Maxey, as performed by NOT THE TWOS.
 * "Crown" contains samples of "Through the Night", as performed by Duval Timothy.
 * "Savior" contains samples of "Hypnotized", written by Tommy Paxton-Beesley, as performed by River Tiber.
 * "Mr. Morale" contains an uncredited excerpt from the clip "Dallas Cowboys look pathetic vs the Seahawks", as performed by Josh Shango, courtesy of The Dallas Cowboy Show.[115]
 * "Mother I Sober" interpolates "Paradise", written by John Scherer and Tim Maxey, as performed by NOT THE TWOS.
 * "The Heart Part 5" interpolates "I Want You", written by Leon Ware and Arthur Ross, as performed by Marvin Gaye.

 Personnel [ edit ]

 Credits adapted from liner notes.[116]

 Musicians

 * Amanda Reifer – vocals (4)
 * Anneston Pisayavong – choir (10)
 * Baby Keem – drums (4), vocals (13, 14)
 * Bekon – bass (5, 18), keyboards (5, 15, 18), strings (15, 18), background vocals (15, 18), percussion (18)
 * Beth Gibbons – featured vocals (17)
 * Blxst – vocals (4)
 * Brenton Calvin Lockett – choir (10)
 * Bryce Xavier – choir (10)
 * Daniel Krieger – guitar (15, 18)
 * Danny McKinnon – guitar (10), bass (10)
 * Denise Stoudmire – choir arranger (10)
 * DJ Dahi – programming (5, 7, 18), bass (7), percussion (7), drums (10, 18), background vocals (10)
 * Duval Timothy – piano (1, 5, 6, 11)
 * Eckhart Tolle – narration (10, 13, 16)
 * Florence Welch – sampled vocals (8)
 * Frano – keyboards (7), programming (7)
 * Ghostface Killah – vocals (9)
 * Grandmaster Vic – strings (4, 17)
 * Homer Steinweiss – drums (15)
 * Kendrick Lamar – vocals (1–5, 7–12, 14–18)
 * Kodak Black – narration (3, 18), vocals (6, 12)
 * Immryr LoBasso Spencer – choir (10)
 * Jaheen King Tombs – choir (10)
 * J. Lbs – bass (10)
 * Mike Larsen – programming (16)
 * Paris Burton – choir (10)
 * Sam Dew – background vocals (7), vocals (14)
 * Sampha – featured vocals (5), background vocals (6)
 * Sounwave – drums (5, 7, 18), programming (18)
 * Stuart Johnson – percussion (18)
 * Summer Walker – vocals (9)
 * Sydney Bourne – choir (10)
 * Tanna Leone – vocals (16)
 * Taylour Paige – vocals (8)
 * Thundercat – bass (4, 17)
 * Whitney Alford – narration (1, 5, 8)

 Technical

 * Ray Charles Brown Jr. – engineer (1, 3–9, 11–15, 17)
 * Jonathan Turner – engineer (1, 3–7, 9, 11–13, 15, 17–18)
 * Matt Schaeffer (Beach Noise) – engineer (1–5, 8–9, 12, 15, 17–18)
 * Johnny Kosich (Beach Noise) – engineer (1, 4–5, 15)
 * James Hunt – engineer (5, 14, 15)
 * Derek Garcia – engineer (6, 8, 12)
 * Raymond J. Scavo III – engineer (9)
 * Andrew Boyd – engineer (14), assistant engineer (1–12, 15–17)
 * Chad Gordon – engineer (15)
 * Matt Anthony – engineer (15, 18)
 * Sedrick Moore II – assistant engineer (1, 2, 5)
 * Wesley Seidman – assistant engineer (4, 12, 18)
 * Brandon Wood – assistant engineer (5, 8)
 * Kaushlesh "Gary" Purohit – assistant engineer (5)
 * Rob Bisel – assistant engineer (5)
 * Tristan Bott – assistant engineer (5, 8)
 * Erwing Olivares – assistant engineer (6)
 * Logan Haynes – assistant engineer (8)
 * Evan Fulcher – assistant engineer (9)
 * Johnny Morgan – assistant engineer (11, 18)
 * Hannah Kacmarsky – assistant engineer (15)
 * Thomas Warren – assistant engineer (15)
 * Zach Acosta – assistant engineer (15)
 * Manny Marroquin – mixer (1–7, 9–18)
 * Cyrus "Nois" Taghipour – mixer (8)
 * Derek "MixedByAli" Ali – mixer (8)
 * Anthony Vilchis – assistant mixer (1–7, 9–18)
 * Trey Station – assistant mixer (1–7, 9–18)
 * Zach Pereyra – assistant mixer (1–7, 9–18)
 * Brandon Blatz – assistant mixer (8)
 * Curtis "Sircuit" Bye – assistant mixer (8)
 * Michelle Mancini – mastering

 Miscellaneous

 * Kendrick Lamar – executive production (as Oklama), creative direction
 * Dr. Dre – executive production
 * Dave Free – creative direction
 * Renell Medrano – album photography
 * Chris Burnett – album design and layout

 Charts [ edit ]

 Weekly charts [ edit ] Year-end charts [ edit ] 
   
 Weekly chart performance for Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers 2022 year-end chart performance for Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
 Chart (2022) Peak Chart (2022) Position 
  position Australian Albums (ARIA)[145] 30 
 Australian Albums (ARIA)[117] 1 Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[146] 63 
 Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[118] 2 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[147] 28 
 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[119] 1 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[148] 87 
 Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[120] 2 Canadian Albums (Billboard)[149] 27 
 Canadian Albums (Billboard)[121] 1 Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[150] 36 
 Czech Albums (ČNS IFPI)[122] 4 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[151] 25 
 Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[123] 1 French Albums (SNEP)[152] 118 
 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[124] 1 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[153] 75 
 Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[125] 1 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[154] 23 
 French Albums (SNEP)[126] 3 Portuguese Albums (AFP)[155] 81 
 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[127] 3 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[156] 22 
 Irish Albums (OCC)[128] 1 UK Albums (OCC)[157] 36 
 Italian Albums (FIMI)[129] 6 US Billboard 200[158] 17 
 Japanese Albums (Oricon)[130] 65 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[159] 8 
 Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[131] 21  
 Lithuanian Albums (AGATA)[132] 1  
 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[133] 1  
 Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[134] 1  
 Polish Albums (ZPAV)[135] 11  
 Portuguese Albums (AFP)[136] 3  
 Scottish Albums (OCC)[137] 4  
 Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[138] 7  
 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[139] 1  
 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[140] 2  
 UK Albums (OCC)[141] 2  
 UK R&B Albums (OCC)[142] 1  
 US Billboard 200[143] 1  
 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[144] 1  
   
 

 Certifications [ edit ]

 Certifications for Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
 Region Certification Certified units/sales
 Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[160] Gold 10,000 
 New Zealand (RMNZ)[161] Gold 7,500 
 United Kingdom (BPI)[162] Gold 100,000 
 Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
  
 

 Release history [ edit ]

 Release dates and formats for Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
 Region Date Label(s) Format(s) Ref. 
  * PGLang 
 Various May 13, 2022 * TDE * Digital download [163]
  * Aftermath * streaming 
  * Interscope 
 May 27, 2022 CD [51] 
 Japan July 20, 2022 Universal Music Japan CD [164]
  * PGLang 
 Various August 26, 2022 * TDE * LP [52] 
  * Aftermath * cassette 
  * Interscope 
 

 See also [ edit ]

 * 2022 in hip hop music
 * List of number-one albums of 2022 (Australia)
 * List of number-one albums of 2022 (Canada)
 * List of number-one albums from the 2020s (New Zealand)
 * List of UK R&B Albums Chart number ones of 2022
 * List of Billboard 200 number-one albums of 2022

 References [ edit ]

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 * v 
 * t 
 * e 
 Kendrick Lamar 
 * Discography 
 * Songs 
 * Videography 
 * Awards and nominations
  * Section.80 (2011) 
  * Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012) 
 Studio albums * To Pimp a Butterfly (2015) 
  * Damn (2017) 
  * Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers (2022) 
 Compilations * Untitled Unmastered (2016) 
 Soundtracks * Black Panther: The Album (2018) 
 EPs * Kendrick Lamar (2009) 
 Mixtapes * C4 (2009) 
  * Overly Dedicated (2010) 
  * The Damn Tour 
  * The Championship Tour 
 Concerts and tours * Super Bowl LVI halftime show 
  * The Big Steppers Tour 
  * Kendrick Lamar Live: The Big Steppers Tour
  * PGLang 
  * Black Hippy 
 Related articles * Top Dawg Entertainment 
  * Dr. Dre 
  * Baby Keem 
  * Dave Free 
 
 Awards for Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers 
 * v  
 * t  
 * e  
 BET Hip Hop Award for Album of the Year 
 * King (2006)  
 * T.I. vs. T.I.P. / Finding Forever (2007) 
 * Tha Carter III (2008)  
 * Paper Trail (2009)  
 * The Blueprint 3 (2010)  
 * My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2011) 
 * Watch the Throne (2012)  
 * good kid, m.A.A.d city (2013) 
 * Nothing Was the Same (2014) 
 * 2014 Forest Hills Drive (2015) 
 * Views (2016)  
 * DAMN. (2017)  
 * Everything Is Love (2018)  
 * Astroworld (2019)  
 * Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial (2020) 
 * Call Me If You Get Lost (2021) 
 * Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers (2022) 
   
 * v  
 * t  
 * e  
 Grammy Award for Best Rap Album 
  * Poverty's Paradise – Naughty by Nature (1996) 
 1990s * The Score – Fugees (1997) 
  * No Way Out – Puff Daddy and the Family (1998) 
  * Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life – Jay-Z (1999) 
  * The Slim Shady LP – Eminem (2000) 
  * The Marshall Mathers LP – Eminem (2001) 
  * Stankonia – Outkast (2002) 
  * The Eminem Show – Eminem (2003) 
 2000s * Speakerboxxx/The Love Below – Outkast (2004) 
  * The College Dropout – Kanye West (2005) 
  * Late Registration – Kanye West (2006) 
  * Release Therapy – Ludacris (2007) 
  * Graduation – Kanye West (2008) 
  * Tha Carter III – Lil Wayne (2009) 
  * Relapse – Eminem (2010) 
  * Recovery – Eminem (2011) 
  * My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy – Kanye West (2012)
  * Take Care – Drake (2013) 
 2010s * The Heist – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis (2014) 
  * The Marshall Mathers LP 2 – Eminem (2015) 
  * To Pimp a Butterfly – Kendrick Lamar (2016) 
  * Coloring Book – Chance the Rapper (2017) 
  * Damn – Kendrick Lamar (2018) 
  * Invasion of Privacy – Cardi B (2019) 
  * Igor – Tyler, the Creator (2020) 
 2020s * King's Disease – Nas (2021) 
  * Call Me If You Get Lost – Tyler, the Creator (2022) 
  * Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers – Kendrick Lamar (2023)
   
 
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
	 
   Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers          Studio album by   Kendrick Lamar      Released May 13, 2022   Recorded Early 2019–May 2021   Studio  
 Ameraycan (North Hollywood)
Circle House (Miami)
 EastWest (Los Angeles)
IGA (Santa Monica)
 Larrabee Sound (North Hollywood)
LVRN (Atlanta)
No Excuses (Santa Monica)
No Name (Tarzana)
Other Islands (Miami Beach)
Stellar House (Los Angeles)
 Shangri-La (Malibu)
 United (Los Angeles)
Windmark (Santa Monica) 
     Genre   Conscious hip hop    Length 78:37    Label  
  PGLang 
 TDE 
 Aftermath 
 Interscope  
    Producer  
  The Alchemist 
 Baby Keem 
Beach Noise
 Bekon 
 Boi-1da 
 Cardo 
 Craig Balmoris 
 DJ Dahi 
 DJ Khalil 
The Donuts
Duval Timothy
Frano
Grandmaster Vic
Jahaan Sweet
J. Lbs
 Oklama 
 Pharrell Williams 
 Sounwave 
 Tae Beast  
    Kendrick Lamar chronology   
 
  Black Panther: The Album  (2018)
  Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers  (2022)
            Singles from  Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers      
 "N95"Released: May 20, 2022
"Silent Hill"Released: May 31, 2022
"Die Hard"Released: August 9, 2022 
    
  Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers  is the fifth studio album by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, released on May 13, 2022, by PGLang, Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), Aftermath Entertainment, and Interscope Records. The double album is Lamar's first studio album release since  Damn  (2017), his first album release under his creative collective PGLang, and his final project with TDE (under which he previously released four albums and was one of their flagship artists).
 Regarded as Lamar's most confessional body of work, Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers is a concept album that analyzes and reflects on his life experiences during his therapy journey. Its lyrics touches on a variety of personal themes, including childhood and generational trauma, infidelity, and celebrity worship. Primarily a conscious hip hop record, the album experiments with minimalist production while incorporating elements of jazz, R&amp;B, trap, and soul. It features narration by Whitney Alford and Eckhart Tolle, and guest appearances from Blxst, Amanda Reifer, Sampha, Taylour Paige, Summer Walker, Ghostface Killah, Baby Keem, Kodak Black, Sam Dew, Tanna Leone, and Beth Gibbons of Portishead. Lamar, who executive produced the album under the pseudonym Oklama, reunited with frequent collaborators Sounwave, J. Lbs, DJ Dahi, and Bekon for the majority of the album's production. 
 Upon release, Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers was met with widespread acclaim from critics, who praised Lamar's lyricism and the album's scope, although a few found it inconsistent. The album was supported by three singles: "N95", which was a top-five hit on the US  Billboard Hot 100, "Silent Hill", and "Die Hard". Other promotional initiatives included headlining performances at Glastonbury Festival and Rolling Loud, and a musical guest appearance on the season 48 premiere of  Saturday Night Live . Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers debuted atop the  Billboard 200, marking Lamar's fourth number-one album in the United States. The album won Best Rap Album at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards and received eight nominations, including a historic fourth nomination for Album of the Year. To further promote the album, Lamar is embarking on his fifth solo headlining tour, titled the Big Steppers Tour, which is visiting Europe, North America and Oceania.
Background[edit]
Following the release of his fourth studio album  Damn  (2017), Kendrick Lamar took a five-year musical hiatus. [1]  During this time, he executive produced the soundtrack album for the superhero film  Black Panther  (2018), [2]  became a father of two children with his longtime romantic partner Whitney Alford, [3]   [4]  and founded the entertainment company PGLang with his creative partner Dave Free. [5]  Lamar cites a two-year stretch of writer's block as one of the reasons behind his long absence. [6] 
 In December 2020, the Roskilde Festival announced that Lamar would be headlining the festival's 50th anniversary event in 2021, noting that "new material [was] on the way". [7]   [8]  However, the festival was cancelled in May 2021 due to COVID-19 restrictions. [9]   [10]  In an August blog post, Lamar announced that he was in the process of producing his final album under Top Dawg Entertainment, writing:
 I spend most of my days with fleeting thoughts. Writing. Listening. And collecting old Beach cruisers. The morning rides keep me on a hill of silence. I go months without a phone. Love, loss, and grief have disturbed my comfort zone, but the glimmers of God speak through my music and family. While the world around me evolves, I reflect on what matters the most. The life in which my words will land next. As I produce my final TDE album, I feel joy to have been a part of such a cultural imprint after 17 years. The Struggles. The Success. And most importantly, the Brotherhood. May the Most High continue to use Top Dawg as a vessel for candid creators. As I continue to pursue my life's calling. There's beauty in completion. And always faith in the unknown. Thank you for keeping me in your thoughts. I've prayed for you all. See you soon enough. [11]   
Recording[edit]
 Rap has truly helped my expansion of self. Beyond the perception of who I believed to be. [...] Music is air to a young nigga at this point. Mr. Morale, the catalyst of my self-expression. — Kendrick Lamar on Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers  [12]    
Lamar described Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers' songwriting as material he's written in the past that's "just now seeing daylight" due to his own personal insecurities. He and his longtime producer, Sounwave, began recording the album in early 2019 during a week-long brainstorming session in London; the only song from the session that made it onto the album was "Father Time". Both Lamar and Sounwave described making the album as "one of the toughest creative processes imaginable" due to Lamar's privacy, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the deaths of Nipsey Hussle and Kobe Bryant. [13]   [14] 
 During recording sessions, Lamar shielded the album away from most of his family members because he didn't want their influence or feelings to override his own; had he told them about it, then "them shits would've never came out." Sounwave admitted that there were times during the album's creation where "I was almost ready to give up music. Not going to lie to you. I was that lost and that down 'cause there was nobody dropping music and nothing coming out to inspire you." In an attempt to "stay alive and keep my hope alive in music," he took on an A&amp;R position for both Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers and Baby Keem's  The Melodic Blue  (2021). [13]   [14] 
 Lamar credits becoming a father as what made him "question everything the most." When Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers was nearing completion in May 2021, he contemplated scrapping the project because of how personal it was. He ultimately released the album because of how beneficial it would be for his children in the future. [13] 
Music and lyrical themes[edit]
The standard edition of Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers is a double album consisting of 18 songs split into two sections, titled Big Steppers and Mr. Morale, of nine tracks. [15]  The digital version found on streaming services contains "The Heart Part 5", originally released as a stand-alone promotional single, as a bonus track. [16]  With a playing time of over 78 minutes, it is Lamar's second-longest recorded studio album behind  To Pimp a Butterfly  (2015). [17] 
Composition[edit]
 Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers is a conscious hip hop record primarily rooted in minimalist production. [18]   [19]  It also incorporates elements of free jazz, funk, [20]   [21]  psychedelic jazz, [22]  blues, quiet storm, [23]  R&amp;B, [24]  soul, [21]  trap, [25]  and West Coast hip hop. [18]  Much of the album was produced by Lamar's frequent collaborators Sounwave, J. Lbs, DJ Dahi, and Bekon. [16]  Other production contributions came from Boi-1da, Baby Keem, Jahann Sweet, The Donuts, Tae Beast, The Alchemist, and Pharrell Williams, amongst others. [26]  Alford and spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle are credited as narrators of several tracks. [27]   [15]  Songwriting contributions came from a variety of artists such as singer-songwriter Sam Dew, production team Beach Noise, and pianist Duval Timothy, in addition to Thundercat, Tommy Paxton-Beesley, and Homer Steinweiss. [26]   [28] 
Themes[edit]
Due to its "messy but honest" lyrical content, many critics have regarded Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers as Lamar's most confessional body of work. [29]  Its concept provides an independent analysis and reflection of his life experiences during his therapy journey. [30]  Throughout the album, Lamar revolves around personal themes regarding his childhood and generational trauma, [31]  sexual addiction and infidelity to Alford, [32]  and struggles with celebrity worship and fame. [33]  Other topics addressed on the album include fatherhood, toxic masculinity, [34]  daddy issues, [35]  therapeutic breakthroughs, spiritual consolation, [36]  gender identity, [37]  accountability, [38]  fake news, cancel culture, capitalism, and performative activism. [39]   [16]   [15]  Regarding the album's candid viewpoint, Dr. Christopher Driscoll, assistant professor of religion, Africana, and American studies at Lehigh University, writes "Within the intensely polarizing times we live today, very few artists across genres have the skill and the willingness to be so responsibly honest. Hip hop's always been better than many cultural spaces when it comes to unflinching honesty. [Lamar] runs with the latitude afforded by the hip hop culture he loves. The results are healing." [40] 
Songs[edit]
In "Auntie Diaries", Lamar recollects a story concerning his transgender uncle and cousin, while referencing issues regarding societal and religious views of gay and trans individuals and those who associate with the LGBTQ+ community. [41]   [42]   [43]  The eighth track, "We Cry Together", samples Florence and the Machine's song "June". Lyrically, it revolves around a heated argument enacted by Lamar and actress Taylour Paige. [15]   [16]   [44] 
Release and promotion[edit]
On April 18, 2022, Lamar revealed the album's title and release date through a PGLang-headed letter. [45]  Following the announcement, his website was updated with a page entitled "The Heart", which contained 399 empty computer folders. [46]  Lamar confirmed the project would be a double album on May 3, by sharing a photo of the album's master copy. [47]  The album artwork was revealed on May 11. [48]   [49]  Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers was released via digital download and streaming on May 13. [50]  The album was released on CD on May 27, [51]  and on vinyl and cassette tape on August 26. [52] 
Live performances[edit]
On June 23, 2022, Lamar performed four songs from Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers—"Savior", "Rich Spirit", "Count Me Out" and "N95"— at French fashion house Louis Vuitton's Men's Spring/Summer 2023 show, in honor of their late artistic director Virgil Abloh, during Paris Fashion Week. [53]   [54]  Hours after the performance, he headlined Milano Summer Festival. [55]  Lamar headlined Glastonbury Festival on June 26, becoming the first hip hop artist to close out the festival. [56]   [57]  As apart of his concert tour, he headlined Rolling Loud on July 24. [58]  On October 1, Lamar served as the musical guest on the season 48 premiere of  Saturday Night Live . [59]   [60] 
Singles[edit]
To help anticipate Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers' arrival, Lamar surprise released "The Heart Part 5" as a promotional single on May 8, 2022, with an accompanying music video. [61]  The fifth installment to his "The Heart" song series was met with widespread critical acclaim and peaked at number 15 on the US  Billboard Hot 100. [62]   [63]  On May 14, Lamar released the music video for "N95". [64]  The song, which debuted at number three on the Hot 100, was sent to Italian contemporary hit radio on May 20, as the album's lead single. [65]  The second single "Silent Hill" was serviced to American rhythmic radio formats on May 31. [66]   [67]   [68]  "Die Hard" was sent to American rhythmic contemporary radio on August 9, as the album's third single. [69] 
Tour[edit]
On May 13, 2022, following and in promotion of the album's release, Lamar announced his fifth solo headlining tour, the Big Steppers Tour, which visited Europe, North America and Oceania. Baby Keem and Tanna Leone served as the opening acts for three of the tour's four legs. [70]  The October 22 performance at Accor Arena in Paris, France was livestreamed on Amazon Music's Twitch channel to commemorate the ten-year anniversary of the release of Lamar's second studio album  Good Kid, M.A.A.D City  (2012). [71]  A director's cut of the performance was released as a concert film, titled Kendrick Lamar Live: The Big Steppers Tour, exclusively to Amazon Prime Video on November 23. [72] 
Reception[edit]
Critical response[edit]
 Professional ratings   Aggregate scores   Source Rating    AnyDecentMusic?  8.7/10 [73]      Metacritic  85/100 [74]     Review scores   Source Rating    AllMusic    [75]       Beats Per Minute   88% [76]       The Daily Telegraph     [77]       Evening Standard     [78]       The Guardian     [33]       The Independent     [34]       NME     [79]       Pitchfork   7.6/10 [21]       Rolling Stone     [23]       The Times     [22]     
 Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers was met with widespread critical acclaim. [80]  At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an average score of 85, based on 26 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". [74]  Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 8.7 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus. [73] 
 Ben Bryant of  The Independent  called the album a "tender opus from the defining poet of his generation", writing, "The rapper's first album in five years is a haunting and surprising meditation on fatherhood and family". [34]  In a five-star review for  The Guardian , Alexis Petridis praised the themes, lyricism and style. [33]  Robin Murray from  Clash  enjoyed the album, saying, "Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers is one of his most profound, complex, revelatory statements yet, a double album fueled by sonic ambition, the will to communicate, and Kendrick's staunch refusal to walk the easy path". [81]  Steve Loftin of  The Line of Best Fit  said, "It being one so vulnerable and exposing (including using his family for the artwork), stripping the skin down to the bone, is bold, beautiful, but most importantly, a reminder that an artist like Kendrick Lamar is once in a generation". [82]  Reviewing the album for  NME , Kyann-Sian Williams stated, "The rapper's first album in five years sees him overcome 'writer's block' to triumph with a collection on which his observational skills go into overdrive". [79]  Rob Moura of  PopMatters  said, "On Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers, renowned rapper Kendrick Lamar observes the strife plaguing his kingdom and consciously abdicates the throne". [25]  Writing for  Exclaim! , Riley Wallace stated, "Kendrick Lamar lets it all out, and even if it's the last time we hear from him in this form, he's metaphorically put his whole heart on the table, with yet another body of work worthy of multiple spins and endless dissection". [83]  Fred Thomas from AllMusic also stated that "While not always an easy listen, the album shows more of its intention as it goes, and ultimately makes sense as the next logical step forward in Lamar's increasingly multi-dimensional artistic evolution". [75] 
 In a four-star review for  The Daily Telegraph , Will Pritchard praised the album's concept and the Kendrick's ability to take "big swings" on songs such as "Father Time" and "Worldwide Steppers". Pritchard lightly criticized the "occasional blip" on the album, citing the command to "stop tap dancing around the conversation" in "We Cry Together" as the album's most obvious misstep. [77]  In a positive review,  Pitchfork 's Stephen Kearse said, "On his fifth album, Kendrick retreats from the limelight and turns to himself, highlighting his insecurities and beliefs. It's ambitious, impressive, and a bit unwieldy". [21]   Rolling Stone  critic Jeff Ihaza said, "The Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper spends much of his fifth studio album deconstructing his own mythology. The result is at moments brilliant but on the whole, frustratingly uneven". [23]  In a more mixed review, Miloslaw Archibald Rugallini of Sputnikmusic praised the album's writing and performance, but criticized the production and perceived lack of cohesion, stating that "the instrumentals rarely serve the performances they exist to enhance", and that "the listening experience is defined by languorous stretches between big moments, and becomes more of an exercise in patience than an engaging and enlivening journey". [84]  Jon Caramanica of  The New York Times  opined that "Mr. Morale is probably Lamar's least tonally consistent work", "rangy and structurally erratic, full of mid-song beat switches, sorrowful piano and a few moments of dead air". [85] 
Controversy[edit]
Despite being met with widespread acclaim, Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers also received backlash. The inclusion of rapper Kodak Black on the album garnered controversy due to him having been accused of rape in 2016 and pleading guilty to first-degree assault and battery. [86]   [87]   [88]   [89]  While "Auntie Diaries" was met with praise from critics and some transgender listeners, [90]   [91]  the song was also met with heavy criticism due to Lamar's repeated usage of "faggot", in addition to deadnaming and misgendering his trans relatives and media personality Caitlyn Jenner. [92]   [93]   [94] 
Year-end lists[edit]
Industry awards[edit]
 Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers was the most nominated album by a male artist at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards, receiving eight including Album of the Year, Best Rap Album, Song of the Year and Record of the Year. [105]  Lamar became the first artist in any genre to be nominated for Album of the Year with four consecutive lead studio albums since Billy Joel (1979–1983). [106] 
Commercial performance[edit]
Upon release, Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers received the largest first day streams of 2022 on Apple Music, garnering over 60 million streams. [111]  In the United States, the album debuted at number one on the  Billboard 200 chart, opening with 295,000 album-equivalent units that consisted of 35,000 album sales and 258,000 streaming units (calculated from the 343.02 million on-demand streams the album's tracks received). Mr. Morale &amp; the Big Steppers became Lamar's fourth number-one album in the country, and was the largest opening week for an album in 2022 at the time. [112]  The album became the first hip hop album of 2022 to reach one billion streams on Spotify. [113] 
Track listing[edit]
  Big Steppers 
  Mr. Morale 
  Side three    No.  Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length   1. "Count Me Out"    Duckworth Dew Spears Natche Pounds       Oklama Sounwave DJ Dahi J. Lbs Maxey [b]      4:43   2. "Crown"    Duckworth Dew Timothy    Timothy 4:24   3. "Silent Hill" (with Kodak Black)    Duckworth Kapri Samuels Spears Sweet Schaeffer Jo. Kosich Ja. Kosich       Boi-1da Sounwave Sweet Beach Noise [b]      3:40   4. "Savior (Interlude)"    Duckworth Carter Spears Pounds       Oklama Sounwave J. Lbs    2:32   5. "Savior" (with Baby Keem and Sam Dew)    Duckworth Dew Tannenbaum Spears  Ronald LaTour  Pounds Mario Luciano Tobias Breuer  Tommy Paxton-Beesley         Cardo  J. Lbs Sounwave Oklama Luciano [a]   Rascal [a]      3:44    
  Side four    No.  Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length   1. "Auntie Diaries"    Duckworth  Homer Steinweiss  Daniel Krieger Tannenbaum Tyler Mehlenbacher Sergiu Gherman  Craig Balmoris  Schaeffer Jo. Kosich Ja. Kosich       Bekon The Donuts Balmoris Beach Noise [b]      4:41   2. "Mr. Morale" (with Tanna Leone)    Duckworth  Avante Santana  Dew  Pharrell Williams     Williams 3:30   3. "Mother I Sober" (featuring Beth Gibbons)    Duckworth  Beth Gibbons  Dew Bruner Spears Tannenbaum Pounds Maxey       Sounwave Bekon J. Lbs Maxey    6:46   4. "Mirror"    Duckworth Krieger Stuart Johnson Spears Natche Tannenbaum Mehlenbacher Gherman Balmoris       Sounwave DJ Dahi Bekon The Donuts Balmoris [b]      4:16   Total length: 38:16    
 Notes
    ^[a]   signifies a co-producer
   ^[b]   signifies an additional producer 
 Sample credits
 "United in Grief" interpolates "Paradise", written by John Scherer and Tim Maxey, as performed by Not the Twos.
"Worldwide Steppers" contains samples of "Break Through", written by Vincent Crane and Pat Darnell, as performed by The Funkees; contains samples of "Look Up Look Down", written by Phillip Hunt, as performed by Soft Touch; and contains an uncredited excerpt from the clip "When There is No Cheese at the Cookout", as performed by Radel Ortiz. [114]  
"Die Hard" contains a sample of "Remember the Rain", written by Marvin Eugene Smith, as performed by Kadhja Bonet; and contains a sample of "Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko-Bop", written by Robert T. Smith, as performed by Little Anthony and the Imperials.
"Father Time" contains samples of "You're Not There", written by Kennis Jones, as performed by Hoskins 'NCrowd.
"We Cry Together" contains a sample of "June", written by Florence Welch, as performed by Florence and the Machine; and contains samples of "Valentine", written by Gary Peacock, as performed Gary Peacock, Art Lande, and Eliot Zigmund.
"Count Me Out" interpolates "Paradise", written by John Scherer and Tim Maxey, as performed by NOT THE TWOS.
"Crown" contains samples of "Through the Night", as performed by Duval Timothy.
"Savior" contains samples of "Hypnotized", written by Tommy Paxton-Beesley, as performed by River Tiber.
"Mr. Morale" contains an uncredited excerpt from the clip "Dallas Cowboys look pathetic vs the Seahawks", as performed by Josh Shango, courtesy of The Dallas Cowboy Show. [115]  
"Mother I Sober" interpolates "Paradise", written by John Scherer and Tim Maxey, as performed by NOT THE TWOS.
"The Heart Part 5" interpolates "I Want You", written by Leon Ware and Arthur Ross, as performed by Marvin Gaye. 
Personnel[edit]
Credits adapted from liner notes. [116] 
 Musicians  
  Amanda Reifer – vocals (4)
Anneston Pisayavong – choir (10)
 Baby Keem – drums (4), vocals (13, 14)
 Bekon – bass (5, 18), keyboards (5, 15, 18), strings (15, 18), background vocals (15, 18), percussion (18)
 Beth Gibbons – featured vocals (17)
 Blxst – vocals (4)
Brenton Calvin Lockett – choir (10)
Bryce Xavier – choir (10)
Daniel Krieger – guitar (15, 18)
Danny McKinnon – guitar (10), bass (10)
Denise Stoudmire – choir arranger (10)
 DJ Dahi – programming (5, 7, 18), bass (7), percussion (7), drums (10, 18), background vocals (10)
Duval Timothy – piano (1, 5, 6, 11)
 Eckhart Tolle – narration (10, 13, 16)
 Florence Welch – sampled vocals (8)
Frano – keyboards (7), programming (7)
 Ghostface Killah – vocals (9)
Grandmaster Vic – strings (4, 17)
 Homer Steinweiss – drums (15)
 Kendrick Lamar – vocals (1–5, 7–12, 14–18)
 Kodak Black – narration (3, 18), vocals (6, 12)
Immryr LoBasso Spencer – choir (10)
Jaheen King Tombs – choir (10)
J. Lbs – bass (10)
Mike Larsen – programming (16)
Paris Burton – choir (10)
 Sam Dew – background vocals (7), vocals (14)
 Sampha – featured vocals (5), background vocals (6)
 Sounwave – drums (5, 7, 18), programming (18)
Stuart Johnson – percussion (18)
 Summer Walker – vocals (9)
Sydney Bourne – choir (10)
 Tanna Leone – vocals (16)
 Taylour Paige – vocals (8)
 Thundercat – bass (4, 17)
Whitney Alford – narration (1, 5, 8) 
 Technical
 Ray Charles Brown Jr. – engineer (1, 3–9, 11–15, 17)
Jonathan Turner – engineer (1, 3–7, 9, 11–13, 15, 17–18)
Matt Schaeffer (Beach Noise) – engineer (1–5, 8–9, 12, 15, 17–18)
Johnny Kosich (Beach Noise) – engineer (1, 4–5, 15)
James Hunt – engineer (5, 14, 15)
Derek Garcia – engineer (6, 8, 12)
Raymond J. Scavo III – engineer (9)
Andrew Boyd – engineer (14), assistant engineer (1–12, 15–17)
Chad Gordon – engineer (15)
Matt Anthony – engineer (15, 18)
Sedrick Moore II – assistant engineer (1, 2, 5)
Wesley Seidman – assistant engineer (4, 12, 18)
Brandon Wood – assistant engineer (5, 8)
Kaushlesh "Gary" Purohit – assistant engineer (5)
Rob Bisel – assistant engineer (5)
Tristan Bott – assistant engineer (5, 8)
Erwing Olivares – assistant engineer (6)
Logan Haynes – assistant engineer (8)
Evan Fulcher – assistant engineer (9)
Johnny Morgan – assistant engineer (11, 18)
Hannah Kacmarsky – assistant engineer (15)
Thomas Warren – assistant engineer (15)
Zach Acosta – assistant engineer (15)
 Manny Marroquin – mixer (1–7, 9–18)
Cyrus "Nois" Taghipour – mixer (8)
 Derek "MixedByAli" Ali – mixer (8)
Anthony Vilchis – assistant mixer (1–7, 9–18)
Trey Station – assistant mixer (1–7, 9–18)
Zach Pereyra – assistant mixer (1–7, 9–18)
Brandon Blatz – assistant mixer (8)
Curtis "Sircuit" Bye – assistant mixer (8)
Michelle Mancini – mastering 
 Miscellaneous
 Kendrick Lamar – executive production (as Oklama), creative direction
 Dr. Dre – executive production
 Dave Free – creative direction
Renell Medrano – album photography
Chris Burnett – album design and layout 
Charts[edit]
Certifications[edit]
Release history[edit]
See also[edit]
  2022 in hip hop music 
 List of number-one albums of 2022 (Australia) 
 List of number-one albums of 2022 (Canada) 
 List of number-one albums from the 2020s (New Zealand) 
 List of UK R&amp;B Albums Chart number ones of 2022 
 List of Billboard 200 number-one albums of 2022  
References[edit]
 
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^    a       b       c       d    Kearse, Stephen (May 16, 2022). "Kendrick Lamar: Mr. Morale &amp; The Big Steppers".  Pitchfork . Archived from the original on May 16, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2022.
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^    a       b    Moura, Rob (May 16, 2022). "Kendrick Lamar Steps Off the Pedestal on 'Mr. Morale &amp; The Big Steppers'".  PopMatters . Retrieved May 16, 2022.
^    a       b    Aswad, Jem (May 12, 2022). "Kendrick Lamar Finally Drops His Fifth Album: 'Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers'".  Variety . Retrieved May 13, 2022.
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Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Morale_%26_the_Big_Steppers