{This blog is in response to Judith Butler’s book, Frames of War: When Is Life Grievable?… I know its might the third time in a row I have spoken about her work. But I think I may of found a connection between her work and Kendrick Lamar’s new album, “ To Pimp a Butterfly,” that I want to discuss.

For those who have not heard it yet, “To Pimp a Butterfly” is a musical roller coaster. Kendrick Lamar’s retro approach to the album’s production ads character this his words. Lamar’s lyrics may be the best I have heard in some time. Lamar is known for his ability to tell a story through his words. His album is structured in sequential order, each song, in one from of another, builds off the previous song. }

I must begin by saying this is not an attempt to delve into the nitty-gritty of each song. Truthfully, I don’t think I have the right. I am no expert on lyrical meaning and have no relationship with the album’s author. Therefore, I intended to speak holistically on what I consider to be one of Kendrick Lamar’s overarching themes.

In a lot of ways Kendrick Lamar is speaking about the connection and disconnection between people of difference, in this case, I think it is a racial difference as well as a class difference. I believe his metaphorical title illustrates this. To pimp means nothing more than to exploit. The butterfly, once caterpillar, remains exploited. In my estimation, the butterfly is emblematic of the transformation of The Black Man. The once shackled specimen has evolved. Albeit to something beautiful, the butterfly remains restricted, in effect, he is still not free.

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Judith Butler’s work seems to be motivated by the inhumanity of war. Essentially she asks, who is to be the judge of one life is being better or worse then the next? Her rebuttal seems to argue that the frameworks which shapes are lives such as the media, structure the lens we see through. In effect, our knowledge and understanding of the world, is not our own organic creation. According to Butler, the media moulds it.

Music, especially on the main stream, should be considered a form of media, a frame, which moulds the way we view the world. Herein lines the value of this blog. Kendrick Lamar, from my interpretation of his work, speaks on the plight of The Black Male. In essence, he is engaging and expanding the black consciousness in America. I applaud him for using rap as a medium to educate the masses.