With today’s current climate of systematic racism and police brutality, Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly is relevant now more than ever. One of the most important songs on the Grammy-winning album is “Alright.”
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. 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. Yet, those outputs don’t capture the inner mind of a black person as well as To Pimp A Butterfly. 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.
Lamar opens this track with seven words. “All’s my life I had to fight.” Those words speak volumes not only on this song but for black people, everywhere. The album itself was inspired by the impact Tupac Shakur left on the rap community, with Lamar picking up where Shakur left off. “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 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. 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 production is extremely jazz-oriented, courtesy of Pharrell Williams and Sounwave. It features saxophones, drums, and cymbals, which mix with more brash hip-hop instruments like bass and kicks to create an uptempo beat. The jazz elements are apparent all over the album and work to reassure as well as empower listeners on this track. 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).
“Alright” is an empowering song that is especially relevant in today’s world given the many protests happening in the wake of the unlawful death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American father, at the hands of Derek Chauvin, a white Minneapolis Police Department Officer. Kendrick’s words speak volumes on the track and will continue to speak volumes and invoke change within our communities.
What are your thoughts on the Kendrick Lamar track “Alright?” Are you a fan of the Compton rapper? Do you think To Pimp A Butterfly is his best album? Let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comment section. If you want more music and style content in your life, make sure to check out our Instagram @audiblwav and YouTube channel. On our Instagram, we keep your feed fresh with daily song suggestions, concert videos, music/style news, and more! We also work to provide you with weekly video content on our YouTube channel. Don’t miss out, tap the links above.