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Kendrick Lamar’s ‘To Pimp A Butterfly’ album’s outro features a conversation in Tupac. In addition to lyrically flexing on ‘Mortal Man’ K. Dot shares gems with Pac and introduces a beautiful poem he wants the rapper to hear. Butterfly was written by a close friend of Kendrick, and metaphorically explains the rapper’s current state of mind and his new album’s concept. Thanks to Vibe, read the full transcription below.
“The caterpillar is a prisoner to the streets that conceived it. Its only job is to eat or consume everything around it in order to protect itself from this Maad City. While consuming its environment, the caterpillar begins to notice ways to survive. One thing it notices is how much the world shuns him but praises the butterfly
The butterfly represents the talent, the thoughtfulness and the beauty within the caterpillar. But having a harsh outlook on life, the caterpillar sees the butterfly as weak and figures out a way to pimp it to its own benefits. Already surrounded by this Maad City, the caterpillar goes to work on the cocoon which institutionalizes him. He can no longer see past his own thoughts, hes trapped. While trapped inside these walls certain ideas take root. Such as goin home and bringing back new concepts to this Maad City. The result: wings begin to emerge, breaking the cycle of feeling stagnant. Finally free, the butterfly sheds light on situations that the caterpillar never considered, ending a lifetime of struggle. I know the caterpillar and the butterfly are different. They are one in the same.
Whats your perspective on that? Pac Pac”
