Even with the misfire on “Blacker The Berry,” TPAB delivered food for thought on every track. The album’s producers masterfully fused elements of Funk, Jazz, and Soul with Hip-Hop, and Lamar penned a 360 degree commentary on Blackness.
In March, Lamar released To Pimp A Butterfly, a versatile, unapologetically pro-Black offering. “Alright’s” status as the anthem for nonviolent resistance is the crowning achievement of a topsy-turvy 2015 for Lamar, and brings one question to mind: has he redeemed himself from his problematic statements? He, unlike Pharrell, is still carving his legacy. While Pharrell’s presence on “Alright” seems like a right place, right time moment that won’t change his public perception, Lamar needed a record like this. Irregardless, the youth are chanting their song at the very rallies Lamar marginalized. Pharrell and Lamar both have made controversial comments that drew the ire of the Black conscious community. That said, there is significant irony in Lamar and “ New Black ” Pharrell delivering the anthem for a movement they’re in fundamental disagreement with. Seemingly every week, new footage of Black youth chanting the song’s hook at harassing police goes viral.Įvery time I see the videos, I think to myself, “so this is what elders mean by Hip-Hop impacting change.” Critics and fans alike have been calling for music that caters to the Black conscious community, and “Alright” provides that.
Classic Hip-Hop hooks are marked by universally relatable sentiment ripe for mass recitation, and “Alright” undeniably delivers.
#Play alright by kendrick lamar series#
Here is the third of a series of videos produced by from original content from Rap Rehab.īy virtue of being a defiant rallying cry of Millenial protestors from Ferguson to Yale University, Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright” is the most powerful song of this era. Williams even samples the ‘dah’ chord from Spectrasonic’s Vocal Planet Sample Pack, layering it in a way so that it harmonizes in the background (supporting Kendrick’s vocals and further highlighting his message).Rap Rehab, and All Def Digital have teamed up to bring our content to life. The jazz elements are apparent all over the album and work to reassure as well as empower listeners on this track. It features saxophones, drums, and cymbals, which mix with more brash hip-hop instruments like bass and kicks to create an uptempo beat. The production is extremely jazz-oriented, courtesy of Pharrell Williams and Sounwave. The lyrics educate listeners on the reality of life as a black person in America and empower those who are black in America, with the production accentuating both of those aspects. The chorus works to remind black people that “We gon’ be alright.” Even though they have to fight, things will come out equal at the end of the day, everyone will be okay. “Alright” details the harsh reality of life for black people in America, talking about police brutality and continued injustices deep within every part of life you can think of. The album itself was inspired by the impact Tupac Shakur left on the rap community, with Lamar picking up where Shakur left off. “All’s my life I had to fight.” Those words speak volumes not only on this song but for black people, everywhere. While the entire album travels through the inner mind of a black person, “Alright” specifically focuses on reassuring and empowering our fellow brothers and sisters. Yet, those outputs don’t capture the inner mind of a black person as well as To Pimp A Butterfly.
His later albums, Good Kid, Maad City, and DAMN, do a good job speaking on the harsh experiences black people in America face each day. Kendrick Lamar has been actively rapping about the reality of being black in America ever since he released his first project in 2009, The Kendrick Lamar EP. One of the most important songs on the Grammy-winning album is “Alright.” With today’s current climate of systematic racism and police brutality, Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly is relevant now more than ever.