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Music Recommendations

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To Pimp a Butterfly is the essential album everyone should listen thoroughly at least once. It is a landmark in music history and social advancement that will stand the test of time. Although I believe TPAB is the greatest album ever produced, there are many artists who commentate on similar concepts through their own nuanced narratives.

For example, when Lamar grew up, many hip hop artists rose to popularity for exposing the brutal African American narrative and appalling the public. Some notable rap artists (and one important album of theirs) who likely influenced Lamar heavily:

N.W.A - Straight Outta Compton; A raw depiction of life in a gang-ridden Los Angeles that shed light on the harsh realities of the city's violence and police racial profiling.

Tupac Shakur - Me Against the World; Tupac reflects on the challenges black youth often face and the permanent impact it leaves on them.

Ice Cube - The Predator; An album that displays themes of systemic racism, police brutality, and urban survival in the aftermath of the Rodney King verdict and the Los Angeles riots.

Public Enemy - Fear of a Black Planet; The rap group highlights the fear of Black empowerment in white-dominated societies while celebrating Black unity, pride, and resistance against oppression.

Nas - Illmatic; A brutal description of life in New York during the 90's that captures the realities and struggles of living surrounded by gang violence.
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The 2010's saw an insurgence of social rights movements, with Black Lives Matter arguably leading the way for other organizations. Some notable (I attempted to list some underrated music to introduce something new) albums that were created during similar times as TPAB include:

The Roots - Undun; A concept album that narrates the moments before a young man's death caught in the cycle of poverty and crime.


Solange - A Seat at the Table; A R&B exploration of Black pride, pain, and the healing process amid systemic racism.

Run the Jewels - RTJ2; An experimental album that addresses issues like police violence and economic disparity using intense instrumentals and fierce lyricism.

Lupe Fiasco - Tetsuo & Youth; A complex lyrical project that addresses themes of urban struggles, systemic oppression, and personal growth.

Freddie Gibbs and Madlib - Piñata; A modern gangsta rap album that blends soul, sample-dominated instrumentals with themes of street life, crime, and survival.
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As mentioned, TPAB involved many artists and producers as well as took heavy sonic inspiration from other African American genres such as jazz (Solis 2019, 25-7). These last few albums listed are related to TPAB's soundscape, especially the funky, jazz, and soul fusion aspects:

Miles Davis - Bitches Brew; A fusion/experimental jazz album that captures the improvisational energy found throughout TPAB.

George Clinton - Computer Games; A progressive funk album by Clinton, a major contributor to TPAB, that combines electronic sounds, synthesizers, and P-Funk grooves.

The Pharcyde - Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde; A smooth and funky album that served as a landmark for jazz-rap and lyricism.

Erykah Badu - Mama’s Gun; An album created at the turn of the millennia that infuses soul, jazz, and funk with introspective lyrics similarly to TPAB.
A Tribe Called Quest - The Low End Theory; One of the most influential and best jazz rap albums that blends jazz samples with social criticism.
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Many of these albums are some of my favorites to listen to and have helped me appreciate TPAB even more than I did before. If you enjoyed TPAB or my commentary on it throughout this project, I'd highly recommend listening to some of these albums. Even if you didn't, maybe you'll find an album that you enjoy amongst these recommendations. Personally, I would start at Illmatic because it is relatively accessible and is one of the most famous hip hop albums ever created. However, I think Undun is definitely a must listen to at some point because of simply how good it is (the Roots project is one of five 10/10 albums for me in addition to TPAB). 

I hope you take the time to listen enjoy some of these incredible albums soon!!

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