Kendrick Lamar's 'To pimp a butterfly' is clearly (personal opinion, but I mean.. come on!) one of the best hip hop albums of all time. 

 

And really, simply calling it that feels like I'm doing it a disservice. It's to limited. It's not just hip hop. It's not just music. Kendrick has created an amazing piece of art.

 

As a (visual) artist I felt compelled to do something more than just loop the album over and over. And I just started doodling. After a while I had quite a few things done and this collection was put together.

 

To Pimp A Butterfly: An Illustrated Tribute is just that. One artist being inspired by another and wanting to turn consumption into creation.

 

Below are some images, some more closely connected to lines and songs than others.

 

Enjoy! And go listen to the album.

 

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 his own benefits

What you want, you a house or a car
40 acres and a mule, a piano, a guitar?
Anything, see my name is Lucy, I'm your dog

the blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice

Now I run the game got the whole world talkin', King Kunta

This feeling is unmatched
This feeling is brought to you by adrenaline and good rap

we gon' be alright

Pay me later, wear those gators
Cliché, then say, "Fuck your haters"

And if this bottle could talk *gulp* I cry myself to sleep
Bitch everything is your fault

Found myself screaming in the hotel room
I didn’t wanna self destruct
The evils of Lucy was all around me

Money trees is the perfect place for shade and that's just how I feel