To Pip A Bird Analysis

Considered by many to be the, “Most talented Rapper of his Generation,” Kendrick Lamar has become extremely influential and popular since the release of his hit album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (Stone). It is this great influence around which his second and most recent album, To Pimp A Butterfly, is based. Throughout the album Lamar struggles in dealing with his wealth and influence: each song is a slow progression from an abusive, wealthy consumer to a wiser man who understands the good he can do with his power and influence. At the beginning of his album, Lamar blatantly abuses his power: he is a carless, all consuming “caterpillar” (Mortal Man). Lamar “abusing [his] power” is an idea that is conveyed through the repeated imagery of wealth alongside …show more content…
Although he blames himself for this abuse, Lamar places part of the blame on society for hypnotizing him into misusing his wealth; these seductive powers of society are repeatedly personified through a woman known as Lucy. Introduced similarly to Uncle Sam, Lucy enters the album in the song Alright by saying, “What you want, a house or a car \ 40 acres and a mule, a piano a guitar \ Anything, see my name is Lucy...” (Alright). The idea of offering things to Lamar has similar hypnotic powers to those of uncle sam, who was a personification of society’s evils. Since the two are so similar in their motives and demanding tone, it could be inferred that Lucy is also a personification of the evils of society. The only difference between the two is that Lucy is personified through a woman character rather than an old intimidating man, making Lucy more attractive. The seductive abilities of Lucy are further suggested in the song For Sale? by Lamar’s claim that Lucy, “looked me in the eyes about 45 times \ Till I was hypnotized then you clarified \ That I (want you)” (For Sale?). Not only does the word “hypnotize” prove that Lucy is manipulating Lamar’s actions, but also the fact that Lucy seems to be putting words into Lamar’s mouth, when Lucy tells Lamar wants he wants by saying, “That [Lamar (wants] you)” (For Sale?). Lucy’s hypnotic powers over Lamar and her ability to control Lamar’s whims suggests …show more content…
It is at home that Lamar sees many problems in the world, and he realizes that he should use his influence to help free society from its corruption. Through the repeated imagery and description of society’s many problems and their solutions, it is clear that Kendrick Lamar has become enlightened: he understands that he sould use his influence to preach the world’s problems and how to fix them. Lamar begins his political and social preaching in the song “Hood Politics,” Lamar says, “From Compton to Congress, it’s set trippin’ all around \ Ain’t nothin’ new but a flow of new DemoCrips and ReBloodlicans” (Hood Politics). Suggesting that United States politicians are no different than gangs, Lamar is clearly attempting to spread a message concerning the problems in today's politics. Lamar continues his tirade in the song “The Blacker The Berry” when he talks about how police brutality is no different than gang violence. Lamar says, “So why I weep when Trayvon Martin was in the street? \ When gang banging make me kill a nigga blacker than me? \ Hypocrite!” (The Blacker The Berry). This song’s ideas are a strong statement on the world’s issues with violence, and the media’s focus on only certain issues in the world. Through these two songs and several others, Lamar describes the world’s problems, but he offers no solution, until the the album’s final two songs, “I” and “Mortal Man”. In “I” Lamar offers