My project will attempt to bring Pulitzer Prize winning artist Kendrick Lamar’s jazz-infused album To Pimp a Butterfly into conversation with the works of prominent African American authors including W. E. B. Du Bois, James Baldwin, and Ta-Nehisi Coates. Such authors have penned literary masterpieces focused on the issues that continue to deeply affect the African American existence. Kendrick’s music can be interpreted in a similar light despite it being a different form of expression. The commentary done within the project will dissect the following tracks from Kendrick’s third album:
- Institutionalized
- These Walls
- Alright
- How Much a Dollar Cost
- The Blacker the Berry
- i
- Mortal Man
The significance of this project lies in the contemporary themes that Kendrick addresses through his music. His poetic expression stands out amongst his peers within hip-hop whose content never seems to digress beyond wealth and fame. The musical composition of To Pimp a Butterfly incorporates elements of funk, jazz, and soul. The lyrics address an array of issues faced by African Americans ranging from socio-economic marginalization to police brutality. Kendrick himself has stated in an interview that his songs seek to capture emotions. Not only does he tell his own story through his music, he also seeks to tell the stories of those around him. Through the influence of his art, Kendrick tries to both represent and empower. Finding the connections between his music and renowned literary works is important to understand both the message he tries to convey and what it means to those who are inspired by him.
I will be submitting this project in the form of a video essay that will suture together his songs, music videos, and interviews to express a visual understanding of Kendrick’s creative process and artistic ambition. The composition and lyrics of his music will be analyzed by drawing comparisons to the works of the aforementioned African American authors to show how the thematic correlations resonate with listeners in this day and age.
Decoloniality and Decolonization 