Studio Album · No. 3
To Pimp a Butterfly Songwriting Credits by Kendrick Lamar
Produced by Flying Lotus, Thundercat, Terrace Martin, Sounwave, Rahki, Boi-1da, LoveDragon, Knxwledge · Engineered by Derek Ali (MixedByAli)
Top Dawg Entertainment / Aftermath Entertainment / Interscope Records
Hip HopWest Coast Hip HopJazz RapConscious Hip HopExperimental Hip HopFunkNeo Soul
100%
Authorship
Kendrick Lamar wrote 16 of 16 documented tracks
Authorship Breakdown 16 / 16 documented
Who wrote the songs?
Scored across the 16 tracks with documented writers, by whether Kendrick Lamar carries a lyricist or composer credit.
16 trackswritten by Kendrick Lamar
0 tracksoutside writers
Kendrick Lamar's roles on this album
Share of the 16 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
Lyricist100%
Composer0%
Producer0%
Performer100%
By the Numbers
16
Tracks
44
Lyricists
17
Producers
2015
Released
Awards & Recognition 4
Best Rap Album (2016)
Best Rap Performance (2016)
Best Rap Song (2016)
Best Rap/Sung Performance (2016)
Data Insight
Kendrick Lamar wrote his own verses on To Pimp a Butterfly, working with a deeply collaborative cast of musicians that pushed the album into live jazz, funk, and soul. The instrumentation features bassist Thundercat, saxophonist Kamasi Washington, pianist Robert Glasper, and saxophonist and producer Terrace Martin, with production from Sounwave, Flying Lotus, Pharrell Williams, Boi-1da, Knxwledge, Taz Arnold, and others. George Clinton appears on the opening track, and co-writers contributed across the record's interconnected suite of songs. Derek Ali handled mixing, balancing the dense layers of live and programmed sound.
Released March 15, 2015, To Pimp a Butterfly is a densely layered exploration of Black identity, systemic racism, and self-worth, wrapped in jazz, funk, and spoken word. Recorded largely live with studio musicians in Los Angeles, the album features Thundercat, George Clinton, Bilal, and Snoop Dogg. It won five Grammy Awards and is frequently cited as one of the greatest albums ever made.
Track Listing & Credits 16 tracks
Written by the artist
Written by outside writers
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Wesley's Theory
|
Kendrick LamarGeorge ClintonFlying LotusRonald ColsonThundercatBoris Gardiner | Kendrick DuckworthGeorge ClintonSteven EllisonRonald ColsonStephen BrunerBoris Gardiner | Flying LotusFlippaSounwaveThundercat | George Clinton (Vocals)Thundercat (Vocals) |
| 2 |
For Free? (Interlude)
|
Kendrick LamarTerrace MartinRose McKinney | Kendrick DuckworthTerrace MartinRose McKinney | Terrace Martin | Kendrick Lamar (Rap) |
| 3 |
King Kunta
#58
|
Kendrick LamarSounwaveJohnny BurnsMichael JacksonAhmad LewisRedfoo | Kendrick DuckworthMark SpearsJohnny BurnsMichael JacksonAhmad LewisStefan Gordy | SounwaveTerrace Martin | Kendrick Lamar (Rap) |
| 4 |
Institutionalized
|
Kendrick LamarRahkiFredrik HalldinSam Barsh | Kendrick DuckworthColumbus SmithFredrik HalldinSam Barsh | RahkiTommy Black | Bilal (Vocals)Anna Wise (Vocals)Snoop Dogg (Vocals) |
| 5 |
These Walls
#94
|
Kendrick LamarTerrace MartinRose McKinneyLarrance DopsonJames Fauntleroy | Kendrick DuckworthTerrace MartinRose McKinneyLarrance DopsonJames Fauntleroy | Terrace MartinLarrance DopsonSounwave | Bilal (Vocals)Anna Wise (Vocals)Thundercat (Vocals) |
| 6 |
u
|
Kendrick LamarTaz ArnoldMichael Brown | Kendrick DuckworthTaz ArnoldMichael Brown | Taz ArnoldWhoareiSounwave | Kendrick Lamar (Rap) |
| 7 |
Alright
#81
|
Kendrick LamarSounwavePharrell Williams | Kendrick DuckworthMark SpearsPharrell Williams | Pharrell WilliamsSounwave | Kendrick Lamar (Rap) |
| 8 |
For Sale? (Interlude)
|
Kendrick LamarTaz Arnold | Kendrick DuckworthTaz Arnold | Taz ArnoldSounwaveTerrace Martin | Kendrick Lamar (Rap) |
| 9 |
Momma
|
Kendrick LamarTaz ArnoldGlen BootheSylvester StewartLalah HathawayRahsaan PattersonRex Rideout | Kendrick DuckworthTaz ArnoldGlen BootheSylvester StewartLalah HathawayRahsaan PattersonRex Rideout | KnxwledgeTaz Arnold | Kendrick Lamar (Rap) |
| 10 |
Hood Politics
|
Kendrick LamarSounwaveThundercatDonte PerkinsSufjan Stevens | Kendrick DuckworthMark SpearsStephen BrunerDonte PerkinsSufjan Stevens | Tae BeastSounwaveThundercat | Kendrick Lamar (Rap) |
| 11 |
How Much a Dollar Cost
|
Kendrick LamarRose McKinneyJames FauntleroyTerrace MartinJosef LeimbergRonald Isley | Kendrick DuckworthRose McKinneyJames FauntleroyTerrace MartinJosef LeimbergRonald Isley | LoveDragon | James Fauntleroy (Vocals)Ronald Isley (Vocals) |
| 12 |
Complexion (A Zulu Love)
|
Kendrick LamarThundercatSounwaveRapsody | Kendrick DuckworthStephen BrunerMark SpearsMarlanna Evans | ThundercatSounwaveTerrace MartinThe Antydote | Rapsody (Vocals) |
| 13 |
The Blacker the Berry
|
Kendrick LamarBoi-1daStephen KozmeniukKen LewisBrent KolataloJefferey CampbellAlexander IzquierdoZale Epstein | Kendrick DuckworthMatthew SamuelsStephen KozmeniukKen LewisBrent KolataloJefferey CampbellAlexander IzquierdoZale Epstein | Boi-1daKOZTerrace Martin | Kendrick Lamar (Rap) |
| 14 |
You Ain't Gotta Lie (Momma Said)
|
Kendrick LamarTerrace MartinRose McKinneyJosef LeimbergSounwave | Kendrick DuckworthTerrace MartinRose McKinneyJosef LeimbergMark Spears | LoveDragon | Kendrick Lamar (Rap) |
| 15 |
i
#39
|
Kendrick LamarRahkiRonald IsleyO'Kelly Isley Jr.Ernie IsleyMarvin IsleyRudolph IsleyChristopher Jasper | Kendrick DuckworthColumbus SmithRonald IsleyO'Kelly Isley Jr.Ernie IsleyMarvin IsleyRudolph IsleyChristopher Jasper | Rahki | Kendrick Lamar (Rap) |
| 16 |
Mortal Man
|
Kendrick LamarSounwaveThundercatFela Kuti | Kendrick DuckworthMark SpearsStephen BrunerFela Anikulapo Kuti | Sounwave | Kendrick Lamar (Rap) |
Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 64 contributors
KD
Kendrick Duckworth
Writer
KL
Kendrick Lamar
Writer · Rap
S
Sounwave
Writer · Producer
MS
Mark Spears
Writer
TM
Terrace Martin
Writer · Producer
T
Thundercat
Writer · Producer · Vocals
RM
Rose McKinney
Writer
SB
Stephen Bruner
Writer
TA
Taz Arnold
Writer · Producer
R
Rahki
Writer · Producer
CS
Columbus Smith
Writer
JF
James Fauntleroy
Writer · Vocals
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Frequently Asked Questions To Pimp a Butterfly
What genre is To Pimp a Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar?
To Pimp a Butterfly blends jazz rap, funk, and conscious hip hop with experimental and neo soul elements. It moves well beyond conventional rap production by featuring live jazz and funk musicians. The album was released March 15, 2015.
Did Kendrick Lamar write To Pimp a Butterfly himself?
Yes. Kendrick Lamar wrote his own verses on To Pimp a Butterfly. The album's themes of Black identity, fame, and self-worth came from his own perspective, and he worked with co-writers and live musicians to shape the music. His authorship anchors the record's spoken-word framing device that builds across the tracklist.
Which musicians played on To Pimp a Butterfly?
To Pimp a Butterfly features bassist Thundercat, saxophonist Kamasi Washington, pianist Robert Glasper, and saxophonist and producer Terrace Martin. Flying Lotus, Sounwave, Pharrell Williams, and Boi-1da contributed production, and George Clinton appears on the album. The live instrumentation gives the record its jazz and funk foundation.
Why is Alright from To Pimp a Butterfly significant?
'Alright' became a protest anthem associated with the Black Lives Matter movement after its 2015 release. It won Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song at the 2016 Grammy Awards. The song peaked at number 81 on the Billboard Hot 100.
What is King Kunta by Kendrick Lamar about?
'King Kunta' draws its title from the character Kunta Kinte and addresses power, success, and resentment within the music industry. The funk-driven single peaked at number 58 on the Billboard Hot 100. It is one of the most prominent tracks on To Pimp a Butterfly.
Did To Pimp a Butterfly win any Grammy Awards?
Yes. To Pimp a Butterfly won Best Rap Album at the 2016 Grammy Awards, while 'Alright' won Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song, and 'These Walls' won Best Rap/Sung Performance. Kendrick Lamar received eleven nominations that night, the most for any rapper in a single ceremony at the time.
How did To Pimp a Butterfly perform commercially?
To Pimp a Butterfly debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with about 324,000 first-week units in the United States. It was later certified Platinum by the RIAA. The album also topped charts in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.